My MINI is still at Tweeter; even after all the hassle and disappointment, Tweeter do not seem to consider it a priority that they restore my car to its previous audio condition and return it to me.
I am driving a friends Ford Escort today – very kind of him, but it really makes me realize how great the driveability of my MINI is (steering, clutch, etc).
GBMINI stereo – Tweeter failed to improve after THREE weeks!
Tweeter have had my MINI for three weeks now, while I was on vacation then working in Canada. Drove up to Nashua this lunchtime to check out the “improvements”.
Engine noise JUST AS BAD; at “normal” listening levels (where you can still talk to passengers) the engine whine is uncomfortably intrusive at 2500-300rpm. At higher volumes you can’t hear the whine, except in the gaps between tracks, but I guess it is still there hurting my ears because I get a headache really quick.
Tweeter claim to have tried everything including new HU, amp, wiring, etc, etc, etc. They say nothing helped. They are currently trying to blame the Lojack system suggesting that the noise is coming from it (“was it installed properly or by a cheap installer”) – I don’t see how engine rev noise can be emitted by Lojack. A continuous hiss, maybe, but don’t believe that Lojack transmits RPM signals …
Tweeter also said they have improved the overall sound quality – maybe they have, but it still does not “blow me away” or impress me as if it is worth $2000+ that it cost me. I now have no faith in Tweeter to improve anything … I have left the car with them to rip everything out that they did and put it all back to HK amp and speakers.
What a painful experience.
Advice for others: Go with someone that can prove they already did a system like you want on a MINI.
GBMINI stereo – back to Tweeter for “do or die” repair
I am taking my MINI back to Tweeter (again) tomorrow. I plan that this is their final “do or die” attempt to get a good stereo install in my car.
They must get rid of the engine noise (which appears to be pickup through the “Monster” RCA shielded twisted pair cables which cost $100!) and I also want them to make the system sound better than the Harman Kardon was before they ripped it out and replaced it.
On the initial install they got two speakers out of phase, and “tuned” the car to have ZERO bass.
On the second visit to eliminate the engine noise, they were completely unsuccessful and for extra points swapped the RCAs to cross front & rear fade, and dislodged the radio antenna connection.
I wonder what they can do on visit three!
I also discovered today that, despite my regular comments to leave the stock wiring untouched – backed up by my running all new wiring for them to use – they decided to CUT OFF some speaker wires which I found laying in the car.
I strongly DO NOT recommend Tweeter Nashua at the moment.
MANY thanks to Dan (DanzMINI2 on MINI2) who has kindly offered to meet me at Tweeter in his HK equipped MINI so I can show them what my car used to sound like!
M&I / GBMINI 