I installed a stereo and speakers into my wife's clubby estate (2 x 4" in the dash, 10" sub and amp under the seats and head unit under the dash) a week ago. Someone nicked it last night by popping the window out of the rear door. They left the rear 6" speakers as they're pop rivited into steel mounting plates, and at least the window wasn't broken, but the fact they looked for the sub under the seat means they must have had some time or at least been relaxed about the whole thing.

Don't think I'll put another one it, but I will fit some sort of immobiliser. I have a Jaycar kit (cuts the ignition a random time after starting to simulate a lack of fuel), and the plans for that one you deactivate by waving a magnet over a hidden reed switch. Not sure quite which is best, if either. I really don't like those things you lock to the steering wheel but may look into fabricating a lock for the gear and hand brake levers.

Ho hum.

PS Anyone know the best way to get the rear window of a van/estate back in? It sort of looks like a 'put rope around it, put in in and pull the string' kind of affair, but it doesn't have a locking strip so not the same a s front or rear window in a saloon.

ive seen those jaycar ones in action and what a pain in the ass to start a car if u dont know where it is.... a customer droped off her car with that system in it but didnt tell me where it was, so here i am waving this little magnet thing all over the car like a nut job to finally swipe it over the inner door panel and presto ignition comes to life.....

sounds system and minis do not mix. minis are easy to break into and any flashy lookin system will get knocked off unless it is used for shows and never driven as a daily.

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

That'd be a recommendation then?

Going to try and put the window back in this afternoon. They scratched the paint a little but at least they didn't break the hardish-to-source estate windows.

yeah thats true, atleast they were kind enough about that lol. if u are going to put that system in put it in the most awkward of spots but at the same time somewhere were someone watching wont see where it could be. door seals a good spot cause its the last place anyone would check same with the inside the door (except with minis the weather might get the them). try to avoid under the dash, next to the handbrake, or near the dash board completely.

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

how annoying! im so sorry to hear that

it really sucks when people have to destroy something you worked so hard for.

an immobiliser will hopefully stop your car from being stolen, but it wont stop them from taking things inside unfortunately

when i get my new sound system, im getting the best alarm system there is so no loser ever pinches my car or stuff again!

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Mellow Yellow 1976 Leyland

how about just keep it basic and hidden. see pearls got 2 speakers in the back and an amp mounted under the rear seat. and im thinking of adding speakers under there aswell. all hidden and they will do the job perfectly. remember its a mini theres not much of a car for the sound to travel around in

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

All useless suggestions for a mini which has no wiring in the doors - unless you want to cut the doors and run wiring into them (still would be pretty obvious if you have a two wires running into the door).

What's wrong with a remote controlled 3 point immobiliser or one with one of those micro chip keys? There's no point to go crazy - you need enough protection to be a hassle and deter a non determined thief (and one of those blinking LED lights immobilisers come with, indicates that the car is secured). Making installed equipment not obvious will help a lot as its not pros that stole your few hundred dollars worth of ICE but opportunistic thieves (those punk good for nothing stoner kids again) and a loud alarm will also at least add to the hassle.

Otherwise its a cliche really that any determined thief will bypass most non mechanical security measures in minutes. I mean I could wire up a mini to run bypassing all the car's wiring in 10-20 minutes and I don't steal cars (+12v to fuel pump from the fuse box, +12v to coil, +12v to a switch and the switch to the starter solenoid...DONE). tinymorris1969 couldn't though coz he'd still be waiving a magnet around doors connected to the car all up by two hinges and with no wiring running into them.