Adding Xm To Factory Radio

jfab1165 · August 24, 2008

I have a 2004 silverado and a 2005 Tahoe. I want to add the XM system that will work thru the OEM radio just like factory installed. Can any one give me the options and parts that I need to find. And how to install.

fbachman · August 24, 2008

I have a 2004 silverado and a 2005 Tahoe. I want to add the XM system that will work thru the OEM radio just like factory installed. Can any one give me the options and parts that I need to find. And how to install.

I guess a call to your local, friendly, dealership parts/accessory guy would be in order here.

If I recall, your radio head needs to be SAT READY, for this to be possible (using the factory head unit).

Ford used to do this: They would offer a SAT radio, but the Sirius option was a DEALER INSTALLED (only) accessory. They wanted $600-$700 to do it. It was a module/harness kit that installed to the back of the radio head, and they installed the sat antnna and ran the wire. Most of these are made by Terk (see below). I went ahead and installed a SkyFi2 myself, and saved $450-$500 over what the dealer wanted to install Sirius, and chose XM over Sirius. This was more because I already had the SkyFi2 unit.

I am thinking of a kit like this:

http://specialistscaraudio.com/product.php...=285&page=4

So, Ford dealers were charging $600-$700 for this $109 kit.

Again, I believe these only work with Sat-ready radio heads. Gotta do a little research. Try Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/). I know they have tons of this stuff. Go ahead and punch in your vehicle particulars and the site will tell ya what's available.

If your radio head(s) are NOT sat-ready, I think you are left having to install an aftermarket sat-radio unit via FM modulation. I am not syaing this as a negative. I have the XM in my truck. I like the fact that it's on the factory head, but the SKyFi2 had more features in terms of display, and versatility.

Most sat radio units have kits that also allow you to use the FM modulator, but cable it directly into your antenna jack for much better fidelity and no interference. I had one of these for years and liked it, and had NO problems. I had the kit that pushed the FM modulated signal straight into the antenna jack of the radio head.

Also, going THIS route, you can choose between XM and Sirius, although they have now, technically, merged. Not sure how much cross-over there will be on programming in the future.

Crutchfield also offers a slew of vehicle-specific integration kits/brackets for a clean looking install, if that is important to you. I had a pro-kit from them, and it looked like a nice, clean, install.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: Oh yeah, WELCOME to the forum.

2500HD 8.1 · August 24, 2008

I would go with Sirius over XM, but thats just my opinion. I ditched my XM for the Sirius SIR-GM1, and it was an easy swap. But if your vehicles did not come with a sat ready radio, I think you have to connect the sat radio through an antenna splitter. Check with Crutchfield electronic store. They are pretty good, and should sell everything you need.

MS3DALE · August 24, 2008

I have a 2004 silverado and a 2005 Tahoe. I want to add the XM system that will work thru the OEM radio just like factory installed. Can any one give me the options and parts that I need to find. And how to install.

GM has an accessory XM radio kit that will work with the factory radio (As long as you don't have the base "UM7" radio) Its just like the factory setup with the receiver,antenna,wiring,and all hardware needed.

I'm not at home right now or I'd give you the GM part number,but any GM dealer can order it for you.

MS3DALE · August 24, 2008

BTW...As long as you DON'T have the base "UM7" radio,Your factory radio is satellite ready.

dlstewart01 · August 24, 2008

I believe the factory part # is 12498768 and is $289.12 at gmpartsdirect.com. I put one in my 05 2 years ago and it has worked perfect.

have a good one,

Don

Pbaker003136 · August 25, 2008

I have factory XM in both of my vehicles, if I was adding it to one I would go with the portable one so you can use it in other vehicles, and in the portable radio thing they sell, for fishing/camping, etc....just my 2 cents

jfab1165 · August 25, 2008

I believe the factory part # is 12498768 and is $289.12 at gmpartsdirect.com. I put one in my 05 2 years ago and it has worked perfect.

have a good one,

Don

Just to be sure. The one you installed works thru the factory installed radio?

dlstewart01 · August 25, 2008

I believe the factory part # is 12498768 and is $289.12 at gmpartsdirect.com. I put one in my 05 2 years ago and it has worked perfect.

have a good one,

Don

Just to be sure. The one you installed works thru the factory installed radio?

That would be YES. Its factory,

Its easy to install, the hardest part is drilling a hole in the roof for the antenna.

Don

jfab1165 · August 25, 2008

BTW...As long as you DON'T have the base "UM7" radio,Your factory radio is satellite ready.

How do I figure out is I have a UM7 radio in either truck?

dlstewart01 · August 25, 2008

BTW...As long as you DON'T have the base "UM7" radio,Your factory radio is satellite ready.

How do I figure out is I have a UM7 radio in either truck?

UM7s are usually in work trucks and are AM/FM with no CD player.

Check out the RPO code in the glove box for UM7.

Don

gooie avy fan · May 17, 2014

trying to add xm mod to my 07 avy

heres what I have

2-xm moduale receivers incase one is junk

and a harness of mini coaxe cable which at one end is grouped in a cluster of 3 and individual at the other end which is color coded. my guess is the yellow to receiver and the blue and purple go to the Motorola on star reciver'but I cant find where the cluster of three hook up I know it goes to the shark fin ant.but I cant find it it should be behind the glovebox.the other thing is my dealership checked the vin and said all haerness is there except the coaxe cable which I bought.i cannot find the 16 pin plug which my dealer said is there.any ideas of how to get this thing going.i flasded the recievers already.thanks in advance

nfisherman · May 17, 2014

Here's another option:

http://store.xmfanstore.com/complete-sirius-install-kit-for-gm.html

I've bought a lot of stuff from xmfanstore and I like them. The GM kit for a factory radio is $230. The tuner seems to have a couple of features that aren't on the factory tuner. It comes with a pretty basic magnetic antenna, though. They work well but they're fragile in my experience. For another $50 I'd probably stick with the GM kit.