Sirius Satellite Install... NOT HAPPY
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Sirius Satellite Install... NOT HAPPY
Unfortunately, I go down as a stupid consumer. I just picked up my brilliant silver c230K on Tuesday of last week and noticed a large black *** on the back of my car. I had ordered the sirius package and the dealer had put it in the day before... however, I did not realize that the blob would be placed on the rear of the car! I expected a painted unit like Audi or BMW on top of the vehicle...
When I orderd the package, nobody explained to me that the receiver would be placed on the trunk. I have obviously contacted the dealer that let them know of my frustration. I see this as a potential down the road problem with resale value... after all, they did put a hole in my trunk!
I have asked them to replace the trunk with OEM factory painted deck lid, and I am still waiting to hear from them. However, I am not holding my breath for them to do this for me...
Does anyone else have any experience with this. I have searched the board , and have seen that some cars have been replaced because of this. However, I ordered my car with the Xenon lights, and they are rare on the east coast, so a replacement is not easily at hand! Also, I don't think it is a reasonable thing for me to ask simply because I didn't ask the right questions.
Any advice on what to do????
When I orderd the package, nobody explained to me that the receiver would be placed on the trunk. I have obviously contacted the dealer that let them know of my frustration. I see this as a potential down the road problem with resale value... after all, they did put a hole in my trunk!
I have asked them to replace the trunk with OEM factory painted deck lid, and I am still waiting to hear from them. However, I am not holding my breath for them to do this for me...
Does anyone else have any experience with this. I have searched the board , and have seen that some cars have been replaced because of this. However, I ordered my car with the Xenon lights, and they are rare on the east coast, so a replacement is not easily at hand! Also, I don't think it is a reasonable thing for me to ask simply because I didn't ask the right questions.
Any advice on what to do????
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
LOLz, you didn't know the receiver would be put on the top of the trunk? I think most people know about this and avoid this option. I've only seen one car that has it from previous meets.
anywayz, since this is not a factory installed option, the only way for them to put the receiver is on the top of the trunk for easy wiring, etc. BUT I think if it's one of the independent shop that does it, they would've just hide the receiver some where under the dashboard. in conclusion: dealerships are run by monkeys that can't do anything right, and you are out of luck on this one because that is how they instructed the dealership to install the sirius satellite receiver.
anywayz, since this is not a factory installed option, the only way for them to put the receiver is on the top of the trunk for easy wiring, etc. BUT I think if it's one of the independent shop that does it, they would've just hide the receiver some where under the dashboard. in conclusion: dealerships are run by monkeys that can't do anything right, and you are out of luck on this one because that is how they instructed the dealership to install the sirius satellite receiver.
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 172
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From: Portland, OR
2005 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
My dealer offered the TERK aftermarket antenna, which is small and sits beneath the roof antenna. It is black, but smaller and looks fine there, it cost me an extra $150, but well worth not having a hole in the trunk. I would be angry as hell if I were you, they need to expain that first when you're ordering the option.
However, I had to call two advisors to get them to even investigate the Sirius option. He said if I didn't have a SAT button, then I couldn't get Sirius. I said RTFM, it is a soft key in the HK unit. After they recognized I knew more than they did, the dealer researched it and scheduled the install, offering me the aftermarket option. I haven't heard of an interior antenna install with Sirius, seems like the reception would be crap. Another option would be to replace the antenna you have now (since the hole's already there) with a painted one...it's been mentioned on this forum.
However, I had to call two advisors to get them to even investigate the Sirius option. He said if I didn't have a SAT button, then I couldn't get Sirius. I said RTFM, it is a soft key in the HK unit. After they recognized I knew more than they did, the dealer researched it and scheduled the install, offering me the aftermarket option. I haven't heard of an interior antenna install with Sirius, seems like the reception would be crap. Another option would be to replace the antenna you have now (since the hole's already there) with a painted one...it's been mentioned on this forum.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Dewey Beach, Delaware
Missing my beloved Benz
Well duh, Everyone who has satelite radio installed at the dealership has that reciever in the exactly the same place. Its on there with double stick tape that can be pulled OFF. Look at the other cars on the road! Imagine if you had a spoiler, as I do. My reception SUCKS because the spoiler blocks the reciever some what. I'm in the process of moving it.
Last edited by nicedeboy; Apr 4, 2005 at 06:11 PM.
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
MPG+ ROLFCOPTER
Originally Posted by nicedeboy
Well duh, Everyone who has satelite radio installed at the dealership has that reciever in the exactly the same place. Its on there with double stick tape that can be pulled OFF. Look at the other cars on the road! Imagine if you had a spoiler, as I do. My reception SUCKS because the spoiler blocks the reciever some what. I'm in the process of moving it.
Who cares how its affixed if there is a hole in the trunk lid for the cable to feed. 
And who cares about your Ford and its problems. Thats what you get for using a aluminum foil spoiler directly on top of your antenna so that it can't receive a satellite signal.
Once again you're showing your kindergarten derived technical know how.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
i saw steve install MB Sirius on an E500 and use an antenna from the CL's which was mounted inside the vehicle, on the rear shelf. it was hidden and no flat black blob on the trunk.
i have also seen an S430 with the Sirius antenna painted to match. i dont know who did it, or what but they said it works good.
i have also seen an S430 with the Sirius antenna painted to match. i dont know who did it, or what but they said it works good.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 911
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From: Rhode Island
Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
Originally Posted by CitronC230K_03
i have also seen an S430 with the Sirius antenna painted to match. i dont know who did it, or what but they said it works good.
Originally Posted by wingless
Try this company. This seems like the best option, at this point.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 281
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From: New Jersey (Metro)
S550 / S430 / E320
Sirius Antenna
There is a new Antenna from Mercedes that just came out. It's about 1/4 of the size and is painted to match the body color. They are installing them at the prep center on 06 cars that ordered Sirius from the factory.
Ask the dealer if he would be willing to replace this antenna with the new one.
Ask the dealer if he would be willing to replace this antenna with the new one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
FWIW, JCPennies has a free XM satelite radio, the Roady2 (with an incredibly tiny antenna) with $100 purchase of Dockers clothing http://www.dockersxmoffer.com/ The Roady 2 is an easy install, very small and thin, can work with it's built in FM transmitter or hook up to your radio's AUX in (best choice). I put my XM antena under the dash pad above my instrument cluster and it worked there or many put it on the rear shelf. It's very small, smaller than about 3 quaters stacked. I know it's not as good as having the factory radio control the sat radio but free vs. $1,000 + ugly large antenna (painted or not) + hole in trunk, seems like a no-brainer to me.
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Originally Posted by lccalvert_1999
Also, I don't think it is a reasonable thing for me to ask simply because I didn't ask the right questions.
It sucks to have a hole in your trunk, yet any reputable body shop should beable to fill it and repaint such that you'd never know it was there. As for resale, if you can't detect its there, what makes you think someone else is gonna beable to find it? Plus anyone that argues resale value over a small hole that was patched isn't someone you want to do business with anyways.
I've seen the big ugly black antenna mounted under the vents on the hood. Looked like an awesome install location, see if you can find the thread for it.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Connecticut
2009 C300 SPORT 4MATIC
Installation
I feel bad for you but it seems you could have some a little research first to figure out how it'd look like. For example, with a little extra effort, the dealer could have had the antenna installed just behind the rear glass.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...id=38555&stc=1
M-
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...id=38555&stc=1
M-
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by Buellwinkle
I put my XM antena under the dash pad above my instrument cluster and it worked there
Can you describe this a little better? What is a dash pad?
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Originally Posted by jmartinacevedo
I feel bad for you but it seems you could have some a little research first to figure out how it'd look like. For example, with a little extra effort, the dealer could have had the antenna installed just behind the rear glass.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...id=38555&stc=1
M-
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...id=38555&stc=1
M-
The great movie Funny Farm comes to mind in this example. I bet Mr. Farmer would not have eaten as many 'Lamb Fries' had he know they were sheep *********...
Do you really believe that when you walk into a dealership and spend $35,000 for a car that you should be required to do research about their accessories?
Like I said, I thought that the customary Fin (see BMW or Audi) would be present. Hell, even Nissan's with XM have the thing installed on the roof and come painted.
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
the Sirius brochure i got from the dealer shows an E-class with the antenna mounted on the trunk lid. it also says this is not the same antenna for CL, CLK and SL models.
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 139
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 C230K Coupe & 2005 C230 SS
Originally Posted by lccalvert_1999
I do realize that with a simple review of these forums, I would have found out about this. However, I do also strongly believe that it is the dealers responsibility to explain these types of things to the consumer!
The great movie Funny Farm comes to mind in this example. I bet Mr. Farmer would not have eaten as many 'Lamb Fries' had he know they were sheep *********...
Do you really believe that when you walk into a dealership and spend $35,000 for a car that you should be required to do research about their accessories?
Like I said, I thought that the customary Fin (see BMW or Audi) would be present. Hell, even Nissan's with XM have the thing installed on the roof and come painted.
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
The great movie Funny Farm comes to mind in this example. I bet Mr. Farmer would not have eaten as many 'Lamb Fries' had he know they were sheep *********...
Do you really believe that when you walk into a dealership and spend $35,000 for a car that you should be required to do research about their accessories?
Like I said, I thought that the customary Fin (see BMW or Audi) would be present. Hell, even Nissan's with XM have the thing installed on the roof and come painted.
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
In my mind you have five choices:
1) Put up with what you have
2) Ask the dealer to fix the hole and put on a micro-antenna in front of the current tel-aid antenna
3) Same as 2, but ask him to relocate the large antenna
4) Ask the dealer to replace current antenna with the smaller one when they become available at the dealership
5) Order the colormatch antenna. From the posts I have seen here it does look much less obtrusive. Not perfect but better.
Whatever you do good luck!!
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Rhode Island
Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
Originally Posted by lccalvert_1999
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
The ulgy antenna is the reason I did not select that option on my ordered vehicle. At least on my wife's Cayenne all the antennas are hidden, with most in the rear spoiler.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Thanks for all the suggestions... I am going to order the colormatch antenna and ask the dealership to pay for it. Also, I plan on asking them to reduce the $854 I had to pay to have it installed (with labor). My plan is to agree that we were both responsible and split the cost. I am also going to have them get in touch with their Sirius rep and provide me with information about the 'new' antenna.
I want them to swap it out as soon as they come in.
Thanks again!
I want them to swap it out as soon as they come in.
Thanks again!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally Posted by Jim Banville
Can you describe this a little better? What is a dash pad?
I removed the instrument cluster using the $15 instrument cluster removal tool, fed the antena wire from the big hole in the the dash left by the missing instrument cluster to the where it can attach to the XM Roady, wedged the antena in a spot between the instrument cluster and the dashpad so it won't move at it's highest point in the dash, and put the instrument cluster back, walla, no visible antena. This is the MB approved method of retrofitting Comand sat antena and my Comand sat antena co-existed with my Roady antena and I can pickup 7-8 gps satelites on a good day. Other members have done this so I take no credit for being first. The new Roady 2 antena is half the size of my Roady antena so even if you just put it in the corner of your front window or stuck on the back shelf it won't be easily noticed. I can tell you one thing about having a huge ugly sat antena on your trunk lid, my kid had hers that way being an early adoptor of XM radio and it was too visible a target for theives and her Sat radio was stolen right from her car sitting in our driveway.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
The new smaller colored match antenna looks so much better. The shaping of it is much sleeker and more aerodynamic looking. If it could be mounted to the roof it would be perfect, but still being on the trunk lid really doesn't look bad at all. It disappears kind of because its much smaller and color matched.
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
Originally Posted by lccalvert_1999
I do realize that with a simple review of these forums, I would have found out about this. However, I do also strongly believe that it is the dealers responsibility to explain these types of things to the consumer!
The great movie Funny Farm comes to mind in this example. I bet Mr. Farmer would not have eaten as many 'Lamb Fries' had he know they were sheep *********...
Do you really believe that when you walk into a dealership and spend $35,000 for a car that you should be required to do research about their accessories?
Like I said, I thought that the customary Fin (see BMW or Audi) would be present. Hell, even Nissan's with XM have the thing installed on the roof and come painted.
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
The great movie Funny Farm comes to mind in this example. I bet Mr. Farmer would not have eaten as many 'Lamb Fries' had he know they were sheep *********...
Do you really believe that when you walk into a dealership and spend $35,000 for a car that you should be required to do research about their accessories?
Like I said, I thought that the customary Fin (see BMW or Audi) would be present. Hell, even Nissan's with XM have the thing installed on the roof and come painted.
I do accept a small amount of responsiblity, but the MB dealership needs to make this right somehow... I simply don't quite know what to ask for?
Now as for the Sat Ant being black. Well I see some painted and some black. Really makes no diference to me as back in the day you would see black Cell Phone Antennae's everywhere as well and no one seemed to mind them. As for me I have both Sat Antennae's inside my vehicles. In the C class it is in the front window close to the windshield on top of my center channel speaker. Small little one that no one even notices. The 190E it is on the back deck under the rear window. Both work just as well as when it was on my last cars roof. So I keep them inside.
A solution to your problem would be to have them remove the antennae and paint it to match. The put it back on. It will cost them about 10 bucks worth of paint to do this and a few bucks for time. That way you do not need to buy another antennae and spend more money, or them spend more money.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,161
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally Posted by mctwin2kman
I am sorry but this is what is wrong with today's consumers. It is not and I repeat not the salesperson's responsibility to really inform you of anything. They tell you as much as is needed to make a sale and unless you question them they tell you nothing else. It is the Consumer's responsibility to research the items they want to buy and only the consumers! You said it yourself that you expect more with a $35000 purchase. Well if you are spending $35,000 bucks maybe you should have asked more questions.
