14 replies to this topic

[Lt-SilverDragon]

My new mini has a webber box welded into the bulkhead so don't think a cd player will fit there and don't want my cd player mounted under the dash because I need to be able to reach it so was thinking I could put the CD player where the switches and choke & heater cable are usually. I'd need to open the hole up a little I think and cut down the screws from the heater but it appears to get narrower the further in so was wondering if anyone has done this before? rerouting the cables and rocker switches should be easy enough, especially as I'll probably install a dash because of the unslightly webber box.

John

[tomsbluemini]

My new mini has a webber box welded into the bulkhead so don't think a cd player will fit there and don't want my cd player mounted under the dash because I need to be able to reach it so was thinking I could put the CD player where the switches and choke & heater cable are usually. I'd need to open the hole up a little I think and cut down the screws from the heater but it appears to get narrower the further in so was wondering if anyone has done this before? rerouting the cables and rocker switches should be easy enough, especially as I'll probably install a dash because of the unslightly webber box.

John

why not just get a dash with a hole already cut for the radio???

regards

Tom

[Lt-SilverDragon]

Webber box, takes up all the room. Not tried to see if my CD player will fit or not yet though just thought it might look good there. Worst case scenario I have to cut the webber box to give me more room.

[Tomf]

Nah if you have got a webber box the radio wont fit in the normal place in the dash. I guess you could mount it somewhere else in the dash bit then again you still wont be able to reach it. Have you tested to see if the cd player will fit in the switch panel hole, if it does then it should be fine to mount it in there.

[Sammy D]

Put it under the switched where the heater is.

Either move the heater or just dont have one.

[biggav]

I made a topper pad for the rear door bin and sat the head unit in that with the autochanger in the other pocket and amps under seat and in the boot... complete stealth install!!!!!!

[Protarmic]

Hey John man! You could fit a centre console and have the radio in that! I have one up at my old garage if you want one.

[binge]

A mate of mine called Ben fitted his head unit into the remains of the switch pannel.
He had to trim it out at each end slightly for it to fit. And a bit of fabricating the semi cirles holes at each end to tidy it up.
But yeh, it fitted no problem.

He then used the right hand switch pannel to house the main switches. And mounted the choke and Heater controls in the dash.

Worked well


afraid I have no pictures though.

<|Ben|>

[Retro_10s]

I wonder if this is possible do to, whilst retaining the original dash too....

[Lt-SilverDragon]

Cheers for the replys, really want to keep the CD player in arm reach so if I put it where the heater is I'll have to move to reach it plus I've driven with the heater just hanging and getting to the clutch is a b****rd. That'll mean a no for the centre console aswell as I like my space for my feet.

Good to hear it can be done, knew I'd have to open the hole up just by eye. Put my faceplate against the opening and it almost fit but the CD player is a bit bigger then it. I also had the thought of mounting the choke/heater cables and the switches into a dash where the CD player hole usually is and either cut out the little holes so I wouldn't need a fascia plate or cutting a hole the same shape as the original hole where the fascia plate goes into (if that makes sense). Don't have the side bit where the fog switch usually sits if I was going to reroute the switches but for some reason I want to keep it looking like it suppose to just an inch higher lol. Because of the squareness of the player I reckon I could keep the choke/hetaer cabes in the same place but don't know how/if they'll interfere with me pressing buttons etc on the player so will probably just move them up into the dash.

To mount the CD player I'm thinking of making a faceplate made of metal, cut in the shape of the opening like the original fascia plate but bigger and then cutting a hole for the player to slide into. Drill 2 holes either side of the face plate then bolt it into place. Can I peel off the vinyl that covers the bottom dash rail? As I'd like to recover it in the same kind of vinyl so once it's done it looks like it left the factory like that.

Something like this

Edited by Lt-SilverDragon, 10 April 2007 - 08:43 PM.

[Retro_10s]

the originaly vinyl will come off fine with a heat gun... but there's no need to take it off if your gonna cover it up anyway

[Lt-SilverDragon]

Arhh I couldn't stand it though knowing the old vinyl was still underneath, whats the dash rail made out of anyway. My top one is rather tatty so could recover that aswell at the same time, was thinking of doing it in red but I think that might be a bit OTT.

[Dom]

You could put it between the front seats. A chap in Germany did that, looked great, stealth.

[who_loves_the_mini?]

Binge - any pics of your friends instal? i want to put a screen where the switches are but would like to see it done first

[Tomf]

In binge's post it says

afraid I have no pictures though.

So i would guess that he doesnt have any pics.