SIRIUS Satellite Radio Factory Installations Available For MB 2005 Model Years
SIRIUS System and 14 Months of SIRIUS Service Included for $699
NEW YORK and MONTVALE, NJ - November 17, 2004 - Mercedes-Benz USA and SIRIUS, the premium satellite radio provider known for delivering the most compelling commercial-free music and sports programming to cars and homes across the country, today announced the availability of SIRIUS as a factory-installed option on select 2005 model-year Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Mercedes-Benz factory installs SIRIUS systems at its three port processing facilities in the United States, and expects to broaden this factory availability of SIRIUS to nearly all 2005 models over the next 90 days
The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the SIRIUS feature is $699, and includes 14 months of SIRIUS service. The SIRIUS Satellite Radio option being offered by Mercedes-Benz is specifically engineered for their vehicles, and is fully integrated into the Mercedes-Benz audio system. This allows the Mercedes-Benz customer to enjoy digital sound and to view content information, such as song title, artist name, and sports scores on the head-unit display.
Mercedes-Benz drivers can enjoy 65 channels of digital-quality, commercial-free music; the entire NFL game lineup; a comprehensive selection of college sports; and an unmatched variety of comedy, local traffic, weather, news and entertainment programming.
- I assume factory installation just means that it is installed before it gets to the dealership).I have searched and read numerous posts on this issue and to be honest they have left me rather confused (doesn't take a lot
). So my questions are:Has anyone had a factory installed sat radio?
Are they still mounting via a hole in the trunk lid?
How big really is the antenna (a picture would be nice)?
Has anyone had it painted at the dealership (my car will be mars red and therefore the metallic paint is not an issue)?
I know that a lot of people are using the SIR-SAF and SIR-MINI with a splitter, or having the MB antenna moved to a less obvious position on or below the rear deck, but those are all installs at the dealer after the car has arrived there.
Any advice from anyone who has gone through the factory install process for satellite radio would be much appreciated.
All the pictures I've seen are of a large, hideous, block. Plus that looks like the decreased aerodynamics will cost a coupla mpg.
-s-
Thanks.
I will let you know what I find out.
A tech at my local dealership said they were quite reluctant to place antenna anywhere except where factory recommended placement. They have had some less than impressive results with other installations. On one hand, I can kind of accept this; on the other hand, I think the antenna was "over-engineered" with zero concern for aesthetics. I do have substantial electronic engineering experience.
I have a friend with a Beamer and a Mercedes who throws his XM antenna on the shelf behind the back seat of either car and plugs his receiver into his cigarette lighter and takes off on long trips. He uses the FM modulation technique to get the signal into his car radio. Loves it.
Trending Topics
Thank you for your recent internet inquiry.
The antenna for the Satellite Radio is still mounted on the trunk but it is
now smaller and will be body color. Since you ordered the SIRIUS Satellite
Radio with the vehicle, the unit will be installed at the Vehicle
Preparation Center (VPC.)
If we can be of any further assistance, please feel free to e-mail us again
or call us at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372).
Sincerely,
Mark Sluscavage
Consumer Promotions
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
No indication of just how much smaller it is though!!
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I was also gratifed to see that you appear to have received a quick response to your direct inquiry to Mercedes. I haven't done that before, fearing that my questions would become lost in the mist of corporate cyberspace.



