Recently, from a thread on MINI2, I bought a toggle switch panel with properly chromed rings. Today, encouraged by a visit from Jared, I got round to removing my old toggle switch panel (which I installed in Jareds MINI in place of his which was missing the rear fog toggle) and installing the chromed one. At the same time I did some other long-pending changes to the “between downtubes” area of GBMINI, including installing the latest official storage solution:
This newest storage option also comes with a piece that fits in front of the hand brake which fits tight against the seats; I am not yet sure how practical it is …
Previously I had put in the storage which comes with ’05 MINIs, but I did not find it very useful for storing stuff. Of course it is better than the nothing you get with pre-’05 MINIs!
Also today, I removed the useless Kenwood / Sirius satellite radio tuner; I had it installed last summer but it always dropped out if I drove near trees which I do a lot on my way to/from work – trying a different antenna, different mounting position, etc, all made no improvement. There are just too many trees in Essex county!
When Jared arrived, we replaced his brake light mod with a soldered diode mod, so that he can have the rear fog lights activated – then we installed my old toggle switch panel so that he has the needed rear fog toggle switch.
M&I / GBMINI 
hey Ian, cool updates. Do you have the part #(s) for the “new” storage solution? (assuming it’s MINI) I bought a two shelf system (like the Hot Pocket) but I’m afraid the AUX jack on my downtube is preventing me from using it so I’m probably going to have to do something like what you did.
Thx.
Chris
Huh. I never saw any mention of yet another utility box, where did you learn of it? I don’t think I like it as much, doesn’t look as integrated. The ’05 one is still fine with me, all I store in it is my work ID and whatever I temporarily want to throw there. Surprisingly, nothing has ever fallen out.
Did you switch to a new sirius unit or cancel it altogether? A ton of new models were introduced last week at CES.
Are those cocomats? How do you like them?
The part number for the new storage options is 51 16 0 305 535; good price too (I think about $25 for both pieces).
I cancelled Sirius altogether – the advantage of the Kenwood version was full integration with my HU so any other manufacturer would be a pain, even if it was able to receive through trees!
I had these cocomats since I got GBMINI; I remove them for summer. But I am thinking now they are so nice, I really should leave them in always – they look much better than the worn out MINI mats I just removed.
Actually sirius is taking over the receiver process and standardizing it, so there will be a new one for kenwood soon.
Did you ever try roof-mounting the antenna or just on the cowl?
I really am impressed by the few dropouts of my system. Perhaps you could give it one more try if MOP would let you “borrow” the OEM sirius antenna?
I bought another antenna (CX-SR20) and mounted it on the roof; strung the wire through the car so it had no kinks to cause loss … just as many drop-outs.
The signal was obviously coming low in the sky at certain times of day, and could not make it through the trees.
Ian, from what I understand, Sirius and XM have different satelitte positions – XM satellites are on the horizon. In hilly area, like NJ, you will loose the station going down hills and when in deep valleys. Sirius will cut out with overhead passes, bridges and the like. Plus when the trees are in full bloom, they can cut out if you get a nice tree lined street.
There is a great thread here talking about the differences. I’ve had very few probems with my XM. FWIW
The XM satellites are at fixed positions in the sky – like satellite TV. So if you lose the signal due to a building, tree or hill, you will *always* lose the signal at that point.
The Sirius satellites are in orbit and continually moving. The claim that they have three instead of two so are better is false – at any time, one of them is around the back of the world! Typically one will be high in the sky and one will be low down near the horizon.
Depending on the time of day however, the Sirius satellites might be east or west of you, or overhead – apparently when I drove to work & drove home, the satellites were most frequently behind the trees lining the roads I drive along.
Thanks for the link by the way – some good info.
The part number for the new rubber storage pieces can be found in this MINI2 thread as 51-16-0-305-535