{"id":1319,"date":"2015-04-30T05:29:49","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T05:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.specr53.com\/blog\/?p=1319"},"modified":"2015-04-30T05:29:49","modified_gmt":"2015-04-30T05:29:49","slug":"shark-fin-diy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/diy\/shark-fin-diy\/","title":{"rendered":"Shark Fin DIY"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MINI has an amazingly complex antenna system called the diversity antenna. It includes a signal amplifier; logic board to select from two antenna arrays; and pounds of wiring. What <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/SharkFinFinalSmall__51278.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-thumbnail wp-image-1331 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/SharkFinFinalSmall__51278-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Shark Fin as Intended to Be Used\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>makes it amazing is that it sucks. It&#8217;s another example of unnecessary complexity that keeps creeping into automotive design. In this post we aren&#8217;t ready to pitch it entirely but we will eliminate the aerial and the base (saving 4 oz at the highest point in the car and eliminating a major source of drag).\u00a0 We&#8217;ll make the CravenSpeed Shark Fin Antenna designed for the 2002-2004 antenna base work with a 2006 (larger) base.<\/p>\n<p>[If you&#8217;re wondering about installing the Shark Fin on a 2002-2004 R53 MINI: It&#8217;s super easy &#8212; zero wrenches on the difficulty scale. Basically steps 1 &amp; 2 below, attach the wire to the base, and attach the Shark Fin to the car. 3-5 minutes tops.]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Difficulty:<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/3-wrenches.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-thumbnail wp-image-1284 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/3-wrenches-150x30.jpg\" alt=\"3 wrenches\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Difficulty-Scale.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-1282 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Difficulty-Scale-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Difficulty Scale\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nProceed only if you&#8217;re comfortable with Soldering and using a cutting wheel. (Interesting that so many of my projects involve cutting wheels&#8230;.)<br \/>\n<strong>Tools &amp; Materials Required:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Phillips Screwdriver<\/li>\n<li>22mm Socket &amp; driver<\/li>\n<li>Soldering Iron<\/li>\n<li>Optional: Silicon sealant, grommet, and expanding foam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Time Required:<\/strong> 45-60 Minutes<br \/>\nI found a quote about the antenna system online attributed to a book called &#8220;MINI Complete&#8221; that states:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>The Aerial Diversity Unit has coaxial inputs from the roof aerial and the rear screen aerial amplifier unit. The unit also has the output coaxial to the radio headset and a radio on wire. The switching action of the diversity unit is configured to ensure that no noise is heard through the radio (diversity crackle). The unit constantly scans the aerial inputs for the best signal, which is then fed to the radio headset via the coaxial cable. The diversity function is only operational in the FM mode, when AM stations are being received the diversity function is deactivated.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Let&#8217;s see if we can keep the functionality, but fit it into a sleeker form factor. Since the CravenSpeed Shark Fin was designed for the earlier (smaller) base, we&#8217;ll just eliminate the base entirely.<br \/>\n<strong>Remember there is no warranty if using the shark fin in this way and a new base will set you back $50-$150 if you aren&#8217;t satisfied. Make sure you get a good seal or you will get water leaks. We&#8217;re using three strategies to leak-proof: Adhesive tape; a grommet; and expanding foam.\u00a0 Water will always find a path if it&#8217;s available so there&#8217;s no guaranty what we are describing will work for you. Proceed at your own risk.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Instructions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Remove the aerial from the stock base.<\/li>\n<li>Attach the wire to the antenna mount and test fit the Shark Fin over the base.\u00a0 Even if it doesn&#8217;t fit over the base, turn on your radio and make sure it works before proceeding.<\/li>\n<li>If it fits, congratulations you have the older style (smaller) mount and you&#8217;re halfway done. Use tape to mark out where you want it to be; put adhesive on the bottom of the base without removing the tab; attach wire to antenna mount; test fit again; if all is good-to-go, then expose rest of the adhesive and press firmly in place.\u00a0 You&#8217;re done.<\/li>\n<li>If it didn&#8217;t fit over your base in step 2, then keep reading.<\/li>\n<li>In the photos below, I removed the extra tab on the bottom, but it isn&#8217;t necessary if you&#8217;re removing the stock mount completely. Turn the Shark Fin over and attach the adhesive keeping the red 3M side down.<\/li>\n<li>Before you remove the stock mount, put down some tape and mark the center-line of the vehicle.\u00a0 This will make it easier to line up later.<\/li>\n<li>Work your way to the underside of the base. Gently separate the roof liner from the roof until you can get your hand on the base nut. Use a 22mm socket to work it loose.<\/li>\n<li>Follow the wires back to a junction panel and unplug them.\u00a0 The smaller wire simply unplugs.\u00a0 The coaxial wire has an unnecessarily complex plug, so go ahead and break the pink pins and save time.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll tape it back together later.<\/li>\n<li>Pull the antenna base free of the car. (Now is a good time to clean the roof that was under the old base with a clay-bar.) The bottom of the base is attached with four impossibly small Torx screws. Unscrew them if you have the appropriate sized Torx bit. Since this base is getting junked, we just drilled them out.<\/li>\n<li>Separate the halves and you will see a small logic board and enough room for a small Sat-radio antenna.\u00a0 That must have been the reason for the redesign &#8212; to make room for a second antenna. [If you have an aftermarket sat radio tuner like XMDirect, you could probably squeeze a small Terk antenna into the Shark Fin before you seal it up.]<\/li>\n<li>Use a Dremel cutting wheel and free the logic board. Since cutting is easier than splicing coaxial cable, you&#8217;ll save time this way.<\/li>\n<li>Solder a small piece of wire there to have a lead to make the connection to the Shark Fin where the old antenna base made contact with the board.<\/li>\n<li>Cover the backside of the logic board in electrical tape.<\/li>\n<li>Drop the wire through the hole in the roof and test-fit the Shark Fin.\u00a0 Use the tape with the center-line as a reference. Step back and look down the roof to make sure it is straight.\u00a0 Tape all around the Shark Fin, then remove it again.<\/li>\n<li>Place a grommet in the hole in the roof and seal it with silicone sealant.<\/li>\n<li>Drop the wire from the Shark Fin through the opening in the roof and connect it to your logic board using the nut and screw provided with the Shark Fin.<\/li>\n<li>Reconnect the plugs (using tape to secure the one you broke) and plug them back into the junction panel.<\/li>\n<li>Tuck the logic board between the headliner and the roof, circuit side down so you don&#8217;t make contact with the roof.<\/li>\n<li>Position the Shark Fin roughly where you want it but do not attach it just yet.\u00a0 Turn on radio and check that everything works as expected.<\/li>\n<li>If radio works fine, proceed to the next step.\u00a0 If not, retrace your steps and troubleshoot.<\/li>\n<li>Fill the underside of the Shark Fin about 50% full with low expanding foam sealant. Wait for it to expand until it is almost level with the bottom.<\/li>\n<li>Remove the red film to expose the adhesive and position it where you marked it earlier. Hold it in place with tape and weigh it down until the foam dries.<\/li>\n<li>Check under the roof to see that a little foam is expanding through the opening in the roof.<\/li>\n<li>Reattach roof liner and ensure hatch seal keeps it in place.<\/li>\n<li>When foam has dried, remove tape.<\/li>\n<li>Put a band of silicon sealant (black or white) around the base to prevent water leaks if you want an additional level of protection.<\/li>\n<li>Stand back an admire your handy-work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3209-e1430330814128.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1328\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3209-e1430330814128-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Antenna Parts\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3210-e1430329779882.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1330 size-thumbnail alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3210-e1430329779882-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"SharkFin Underside\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1326\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Under base\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3217.jpg 880w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3226.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1329 size-thumbnail alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3226-e1430329843710-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_3226\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1368\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Use Tape to Mark Location\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3290.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1366\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"seal grommet\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3292.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-thumbnail wp-image-1323 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"InsideBase\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/InsideBase.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1324\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Freed Board\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Newboard.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1365\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Use foam\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3295.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3296.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1367\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3296-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Press down Firmly\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3296-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3296-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3296.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1369\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Check Under-side\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3297.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3225-e1430330486690.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1333 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_3225-e1430330486690-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Installed Shark Fin\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MINI has an amazingly complex antenna system called the diversity antenna. It includes a signal amplifier; logic board to select from two antenna arrays; and pounds of wiring. What makes it amazing is that it sucks. It&#8217;s another example of unnecessary complexity that keeps creeping into automotive design. In this post we aren&#8217;t ready to &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/diy\/shark-fin-diy\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Shark Fin DIY&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,14],"tags":[98,248],"class_list":["post-1319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diy","category-mini","tag-drag-reduction","tag-shark-fin"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1319"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcomotorsports.com\/specr53\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}