Aftermarket Nav Integration

Sections: DIY | Reviews Jun 27th, 2005 29 Comments

My wife and I have always been big fans of having navigation units installed in our cars as they really help when trying to get around in unfamiliar territory. However, my wife’s new 2005 MINI Cooper S was ordered without a factory navigation system in order to save us some money. For our navigation needs, we opted to go with a (much cheaper) Garmin Quest portable navigation system instead. The Quest portable navigation unit works great for our needs and its super small size fits nicely with the whole “MINI” theme.

The Quest is a fully portable navigation device, but it still comes with a cradle kit that is used to mount the unit within the vehicle (via a suction cup that attaches to the window glass). The mount itself contains a permanently attached 12 volt power supply cord that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter socket and provides power to the unit while in the car. The power cord also houses a small external speaker from which the unit gives voice routing directions while it is sitting within the cradle. The problem with this setup is that the small external speaker sounds absolutely terrible. It’s very distorted and it’s very hard to hear when the car is moving at freeway speeds and/or the radio is on.

Fortunately, MikeyTheMini comes to our rescue once again! Mikey offers a navigation interface kit that will integrate most portable navigation systems into your MINI’s radio (factory or aftermarket). Mikey’s navigation interface kit will auto-switch the front right speaker(s) of the MINI’s radio whenever your navigation unit speaks. A separate speaker output on your navigation unit is all that’s required in order for the interface kit to connect to. The installation is 100% plug-n-play (as far as the car is concerned) and so you won’t have to cut a single wire in your MINI’s factory wiring harness in order to install it.

Since the Garmin Quest has an external speaker, it’s a perfect candidate for Mikey’s navigation interface kit. At long last, we’ll be able to get rid of that horrible sounding external speaker that came with the unit and route all of the unit’s voice commands through our MINI’s factory installed radio head unit instead.

To install the navigation interface kit I simply unscrewed the plastic casing on the Garmin Quest cradle’s power supply cord, cut the existing wires going to the external speaker (i.e. the two small red & black wires going to the speaker in the following photo), and hooked them up to the black speaker wire extending from the navigation interface kit instead:

The MINI’s radio was then removed and its wiring harness was unplugged from the back and exchanged for the one that’s part of the navigation interface kit. The radio was then reinstalled into the car and the navigation interface kit’s wiring harness (and magic black box) was routed down into the cubby panel below the steering column:

Mikey also offers a power take-off adaptor kit that can be combined with the navigation interface kit in order to provide take-off power from the radio that can be used to power your portable navigation unit. In the following photo you can see that the power take-off adapter kit (which ends in a cigarette lighter socket) has been added (by Mikey) to the navigation interface kit. The Garmin Quest cradle’s 12 volt power supply cord has then been plugged into the take-off power adapter. This has the added bonus of freeing up the cigarette lighter socket in your MINI for use by other accessories or for use by the cigarette lighter itself if you’re a smoker.

The entire (and very large!) wiring loom for the navigation kit is then neatly tucked up into the cubby hole and the magic black box (which does all of the work) is secured in place using a few wire ties:

The installation is very easy and it takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The end result is a great sounding voice output from your portable navigation device that runs through your MINI’s radio. It’s absolutely fantastic!

Mikey’s navigation interface kit will work with just about any portable navigation unit that uses an accessible external speaker, or that has a speaker output jack. You simply tell Mikey which version you need (and if you want a power take-off adapter added to the kit), and he’ll set you up. For more information on Mikey’s navigation interface kit checkout his web site at: www.newministuff.com

Written By: Mike

nervous

When the GPS “talks”, if the stereo is playing, does the music cut-out on all of front & rear speakers & is replaced by the GPS only on the front right speaker? Or, is music cut-out only on the front right speaker, replaced with the GPS voice while the other three continue to play music?
Mike (The Office Maven)

When the GPS “talks”, if the stereo is playing, does the music cut-out on all of front & rear speakers & is replaced by the GPS only on the front right speaker? Or, is music cut-out only on the front right speaker, replaced with the GPS voice while the other three continue to play music?

You can actually have it either way… By default (i.e. the way that Mikey sends it to you unless you specify otherwise), the music continues to play on all of the speakers. When your GPS speaks, the right front speakers (only) are slightly muted and the voice directions are given over the top of them. However, you can also have Mikey set it up so that all of the speakers will mute (100%) whenever your GPS speaks. When your GPS has finished speaking, the radio will then un-mute itself and the music will resume (just like a phone kit would do). However, I much prefer it the way that it is setup by default as with a 100% mute it can get very annoying if your GPS unit talks frequently (i.e. your music will keep switching on and off). The way it is now, it sounds great, and you can definitely hear the navigation voice over the music at any volume level (as the louder you turn up your music, the louder the navigation voice gets).

I hope this helps some…
Steve

Is that first pic from your car? The speedo is on the steering column, so I would’ve thought that car has factory navigation. Nitpicky, I know…

How do you like the Garmin?
HH

My speedo is in the steering column and I do not have Nav fitted either – then again I ordered it with the Chrono pack!
Mike (The Office Maven)

This one’s not actually my car (which does have factory nav). It’s my wife’s car and she has the Chrono Pack instead (which also places the speedo up on the steering column – where I like it to be).

As for the Garmin Quest… We love it! It’s super small, feature packed, and works very well. It’s MUCH easier to use than the factory nav, but I don’t think that it gives near as good of routing directions as the factory one does.
Wraith

my only question is, can the Garmin Quest give instructions in a British accent? :)
Pamlico

Looks good. The Garmin specs say the unit can be used outside of the car. We’re about to get into geocaching and are looking for a dual purpose system. Garmin has one or two others, but none have a voice prompt when using in a car. Have you used the Quest outside of the car? Thanks.
Mike (The Office Maven)

my only question is, can the Garmin Quest give instructions in a British accent? :)

YES! It sure can…

Starting with firmware version 3.40 (and later), you can now have the Garmin Quest speak in many different languages including British. I have mine setup to speak with a British accent and it’s way cool. [GRIN]

You can download the voice files free from Garmin’s web site here:

Quest Updates & Downloads
Mike (The Office Maven)

Looks good. The Garmin specs say the unit can be used outside of the car. We’re about to get into geocaching and are looking for a dual purpose system. Garmin has one or two others, but none have a voice prompt when using in a car. Have you used the Quest outside of the car?

Yes, the Quest can be used outside of the car (as it has a rechargable battery in it). You can load Garmin’s Blue Chart maps and Topo maps on it for boating, hiking, etc. However, the Quest is lacking many of the nicer “outdoor” use features of some of Garmins other outdoor-based units (like the Legend C, Vista C, 60C(S), 76C(S), etc.) which can also do point-to-point routing. The Quest is better than those units for in-car navigation for sure (since it has voice routing and many car routing specific features such as detours, etc.), but they’re better for Geocaching, hiking, etc. Personally, I use the Garmin Quest in the car, and I use a Garmin Vista C for my Geocaching needs.

I guess it just depends on what you want more. If you want a portable in-car navigator more than you want a portable GPS unit for Geocaching, hiking, etc. then get the Quest. If you want a portable GPS unit more for hiking, etc. then take a look at one of the other units I’ve listed.
Steve

Whoops! Forgot about the chrono pack. I’ve been considering the TomTom unit, but have heard that it has old maps…
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

Garmin maps aren’t well updated, either, in my opinion. You really should prepare yourself to be disappointed by either one at any point in time. Map data is still an art, not a science (at least as far as the GPS companies are concerned).

You’d really have to compare them side-by-side and try to display maps of areas you’re interested in, to see if they’re accurate. Also, don’t expect good map coverage for rapidly growing areas; it takes quite a few years for new roads to make it into the mapping programs.
kimgee

Will that affect the air bags when they pop out? (touch wood)

btw, very nice install!
Mike (The Office Maven)

Hmm… I guess that it could get knocked around by the side air bag if it happens to deploy. I’ll probably have other issues to worry about if that happens though. :-)

However, the GPS unit’s cradle is only held on by a suction cup and so you can move/place it anywhere you want though.
AlanB

I travel by plane a lot. I have the Street Pilot III and the iQue 3600. Both work great in the MCS and travel with me on the plane. The speaker in the unit is no big deal and not that bothersome to tear apart the car. I would NEVER buy one fixed in a car for that reason. Yes, you can get “Betty” to speak Japaneese, German and I think, British English.
Mike (The Office Maven)

…The speaker in the unit is no big deal and not that bothersome to tear apart the car. I would NEVER buy one fixed in a car for that reason….

I have to totally disagree with you on this one I’m afraid. I’ve also had a Garmin SPIII and the external speaker in it was just as bad as the one in the Quest. Also, Mikey’s nav interface is 100% plug-n-play and so there’s no “tearing apart of the car” required. All you have to do is remove the radio in order to plug it in. How hard is that???

I also have a factory nav installed in my own MINI (i.e. one that’s “fixed in the car” as you put it) and it sounds totally awesome. The voice for the nav system comes right out of my MINI’s factory H/K radio. Thus, I don’t really understand why you say you would “NEVER buy one fixed in a car for that reason”??? Am I missing something here?
Joe K.

I wonder, can Mikey’s interface kit be added if one has already installed the ipod interface kit?
Mike (The Office Maven)

I wonder, can Mikey’s interface kit be added if one has already installed the ipod interface kit?

Since this kit plugs in using the exact same plug that the factory radio does, I wouldn’t see any reason why the ipod interface wouldn’t work (I know for sure that it will work with the AUX input). I’ve never seen one of the ipod interfaces so I can’t say for sure, but you can always write Mikey an e-mail and ask him directly.
alanb

I would never buy one fixed in a car because I live in a place I know my way around. I would get tired of the GPS systems I see that have to be on all the time to work other items in the car. When I travel ON A PLANE and rent a car, I don’t know my way around. I have all my contacts and routing in my GPS when I travel. Works best that way. Calm down!
Del Kimbler

No mention of an antenna connection. I opted for the Magellan, similar in size and function to the Garmin. It has an external antenna connection, but I have not been able to figure out how to connect it to the Mini antenna. Not really crazy about buying one of the antenna kits and looping it out the window.
Mike (The Office Maven)

Del,

Mikey’s nav interface doesn’t include an attachment for an external antenna as that’s not what it’s about/for. However, the Garmin Quest does indeed have an external antenna connection that you can use if required.

Personally, I’ve never had a single problem with the unit getting a satellite lock where I use it and so I’ve never had the need to explore using an external antenna any further.

BTW, Magellan make some really nice GPS units as well. If they have an external speaker or and external speaker jack, then they will work with the nav interface discussed here as well.
Mike (The Office Maven)

I would never buy one fixed in a car because I live in a place I know my way around.

It’s nice living in a small town isn’t it. :-) I live in LA (which is HUGE) and so there’s no possible way I could learn every nook and cranny of it. Thus, a GPS really helps for those times when you have to go somewhere you aren’t familiar with.

I would get tired of the GPS systems I see that have to be on all the time to work other items in the car.

Maybe so, but the MINI’s GPS (i.e. the car that’s relevant here) doesn’t do this. It has a feature where you can turn it off if you don’t want to look at it any more.

When I travel ON A PLANE and rent a car, I don’t know my way around. I have all my contacts and routing in my GPS when I travel.

Yes, that’s a perfect argument for having a portable GPS unit (and the reason I have one as well). Although, a good argument for having an in-car unit is that most of them are equipped with “dead reckoning”. This allows the navigation system to still know where you are even when it looses signal (like in a big city with lots of tall buildings, etc.). None of the portable units would have that feature.

Also, one thing you need to note is that it’s illegal to use a GPS on most commercial airplanes within the U.S. I think. Last time I checked, the GPS wasn’t included in most airline’s “list of approved electronic devices”. Maybe this will change someday (and maybe it already has for some airlines), but I wouldn’t want to get caught using my GPS unit ON A PLANE when I’m not supposed to.

Calm down!

I am calm and I always have been. I’m sorry if you took it any other way.
Marc

Does the Garmin Quest work with a MacIntosh? I understand you have to load it with state detail maps as you travel from state to state…

Chinachen

Christian Louboutin Very Prive Peep-Toe Shoes Black,Up to 95% OFF! Christian Louboutin Very Prive Peep-Toe Shoes Black Black leather. Peep toe. Covered platform. 4 7/10″ stiletto heel. Signature red sole. Made in Italy,100% Best Quality and Lowest Price Guarantee! If you feel interested in the Christian Louboutin Very Prive Peep Toe Shoes Black,you can order Christian Louboutin Very Prive Peep-Toe Shoes.Whether you want to look stunningly beautiful at party or want to be a stylish lady at work, these Christian Louboutin boots can actually turn a simple going everyday girl to an exceptionally gorgeous lady.

marc

Also, with the hard wired Nav unit co-exist with a wired bluetooth kit like Parrot? i.e. will both plug into the Radio correctly ?
http://www.TheOfficeMaven.com Mike (The Office Maven)

Does the Garmin Quest work with a MacIntosh?

Nothing works with a Mac. That’s why I don’t/won’t own one. :-)

Seriously though, I don’t know if Garmin’s mapping software will work on a Mac. I have a funny feeling that it won’t though.

I understand you have to load it with state detail maps as you travel from state to state…

The U.S. version of the Quest only has 115 MB of available memory for map storage and so you will indeed have to load it with different map sets if you’re traveling cross country. It does have a base map though and so I generally only load in my destination point and other important stopping points along the way and that works just fine. It will use the base-map (which covers the entire U.S.) when not in the extended map coverage areas.

I find that the Quest works well for me even though it can only hold 115 MB of map data. I can load all of the So Cal City Select maps in and that’s where I spend 99% of my time. However, if you’re a big traveler, then you might be better off looking at one of Garmin’s other units such as the StreetPilot c330, StreetPilot 2620, etc. These units come with an internal hard drive that is pre-loaded with the maps for the entire U.S. and so you never have to load map data onto them (unless you’re upgrading your map version that is).
http://www.TheOfficeMaven.com Mike (The Office Maven)

Also, with the hard wired Nav unit co-exist with a wired bluetooth kit like Parrot? i.e. will both plug into the Radio correctly ?

Yes, the radio plugs will daisy chain together just fine.
http://HallowCreek.com Ray Caramanna

I bought this unit after reading this stuff and it’s a good fit for the Cooper, unloaded with a british voice (I call Moneypenny) and in it’s cradle I managed to wedge behind the tach and on the steering collumn, it’s snug and happy. Now as soon as I have the time and cash I’ll hard wire it all in.

I just got back from a cross USA and back trip and minor hick ups.. Typical in any GPS, but it worked. Wish it had a Macintosh hook up though.

Good pick though!
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

I just realized that this routes the audio through the right speaker. Presumably this is so that our friends across the pond who drive on the wrong side of the car can hear it better. I suppose this is kind of like having a navigator in the front seat, but it seems to me that it would be better to have the left speaker do the voice trick.

It’s still easy to hear it with the audio across the car from you coming out of only one speaker?
http://www.TheOfficeMaven.com Mike (The Office Maven)

blalor,

Yes, you are quite right in that the nav interface kit does indeed route sound through the right set of speakers. However, it sounds just fine to me and I don’t have any trouble whatsoever hearing it. In fact, it’s hard to even tell that the sound is only coming out of just the right channel.

If it concerns you too much, I’m more than sure that Mikey could wire it into the left channel for you. All you’d need to do is ask him.

← The MINI One D Gets an Upgrade Exhaust Popping →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.