XM Radio Installation Suggestions
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Joined: Jul 2006
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XM Radio Installation Suggestions
Hi - I wanted to get XM radio for my just acquired 03 ML 350 inspiration. Since I had XM on another car, XM gave me a deal on the Delphi SkyFi system (xm radio, cradle, cassette adapter, wireless, antenna mount, etc...). In looking at ALL the parts, I'm wondering if 1) I can do this myself and 2) Has anyone had experience with installing XM and is there a preferred method - wireless, mount (looks like a pain to wire up) or cassette adapter (hmm, not sure how that will work with the current stock ML radio/cassette with a wire sticking out...
Any advise is greatly appreciated. If you say, take it to an installer for best results, I'll consider that too. Thanks again!
Any advise is greatly appreciated. If you say, take it to an installer for best results, I'll consider that too. Thanks again!
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Arizona
BMW FTW
Originally Posted by Dallasgreg
Hi - I wanted to get XM radio for my just acquired 03 ML 350 inspiration. Since I had XM on another car, XM gave me a deal on the Delphi SkyFi system (xm radio, cradle, cassette adapter, wireless, antenna mount, etc...). In looking at ALL the parts, I'm wondering if 1) I can do this myself and 2) Has anyone had experience with installing XM and is there a preferred method - wireless, mount (looks like a pain to wire up) or cassette adapter (hmm, not sure how that will work with the current stock ML radio/cassette with a wire sticking out...
Any advise is greatly appreciated. If you say, take it to an installer for best results, I'll consider that too. Thanks again!
Any advise is greatly appreciated. If you say, take it to an installer for best results, I'll consider that too. Thanks again!
I really suggest if are willing to get an XM commander unit. I was able to get mine for $50 with a 1 year agreement. But for the best sound quality I bought a fiber optic converter which takes the place of the CD player and lets you have a aux input... Now with that aux input I routed it into a 3 way switch so I have 1 input of sat radio, 1 for ipod, 1 just waiting for a new toy. So far I have been impressed by it, but I will say the fiber optic converter is expensive around $250 but worth it. I had tried FM modulation before but being a sound quality nut I was not happy with it and I was not happy with the tape deck solution either. I spent a lot of time trying to find a place to put different XM radio, I wanted one of the portable ones but could not find a location that I liked so thats why I ended up going with the commander. If you are wondering it is being hold into place with velcro and so far it has worked perfectly and I have had no problems, I did it with velcro so when I sold the car I would not have any holes or instal evidence.
Feel free to PM me if you need any information on where to get the parts that I have such as the fiber optic converter.
