I'd like to add either XM or Sirius, using aftermarket or factory parts. I noticed blitzsafe is mentioned quite a few times in searching. What's the easiest/best route without replacing the head unit or losing steering wheel controls?

 

Simplest, but with the least features is to add the blitzsafe, and the reciever...it all plugs in in the pax side rear on a gen1 mini in the sidewall in the trunk...then you can fish the anteanna around the inside of the rear sidewall, and have the anteanna wire come out at the very top of the trunk....mag mount it to the roof...
Pro's..not noticable, clean oem like install, cheaper than the oem siriurus kit...near perfect kit since no fm modulator is used..when one is used, the "best" it can ever sound like is fm..pretty good, but direct wire is better, with less chances of interfence.
Cons..system is dated, limited info and features...
Other ways to do it are the "commander" type addons, but you have extra wires, etc.
A new head (with built in satellite, and maybe HD radio) might be the best, but but the HK complicates it a bit....

 

Ps if you do have a '07 S it is a cabrio, unless you have a gen2.. Then it is different. On the cabrio, the anteanna install would be different....possiblely on a pad by the trunk you could add....or remote mount one on the dash....

 

Yes, it is the cab. Will the blitzsafe still allow for the steering wheel controls and integrate with the display on the stock HK headunit?

 

Yup (with the regular CD unit...but is the same head you have, you just get better speakers and an amp I think)....100%, just like the factory kit...the factory radio is tricked into thinking the XM box is a Sirius. Not sure where you would mount the antanna...I have a hard-top. The tuner plugs into the cable that the factory CD changer would have pluged into...
there are 3 or 4 different Blitxsafe adapters(for the MINI)...One for no CD changer...one for CD+satellite radio....One for CD/sat radio, and and extra plug to hook up an line in jack (the one negative about this kit is you must then run an extension cable to the from of the car for the AUX jack...Mini actually has a part # for the cable if you wanted it...the same thing had to be done on MINI factory satellite/CD changer cars....
It is like I said a nice clean install...
The factory radio then has AM1/FM1/FM2/FMa/SAT1/SAT2/SAT3 for saved chanel...so you get 18 saved for the sat...the mode button toggles between the CD/amfm/Sat radio (aux too I guess if you had that option).
Is this kit the best way to go now...maybe not, but 4 years ago it was...I still like the kit...clean install...if you can get the correct blitxsafe box and the radio for a decnt price, and can life with the limitations (limited-screen display of the factory radio...then it is good. Some newer kit like i said have many more features, but do not integrate with the factory head unit.

 

Does the head unit need to be satellite capable or all of the stock head units satellite capable?

Blitzsafe said to use BMW/xm cmd V.1, assuming it's not fiber optic.

 

I have been ready about the blitzsafe set up. Is it possible to hook it up and use my steering controls for the XM? How can I determine if my car is satellite ready? I did find the antenna cable under my front passenger seat and hooked up a cable to get rid of my XM cable. When I scroll thru the OEM radio I only see TUNER/CD/AUX? Any suggesstions would be helpful.