another xm radio question

green03sierra · December 21, 2004

I went to order my xm add on kit part # 12498768 from a online part supplier and received an e-mail saying that the part was discontinued.I called them and spoke to someone and they told me that the kit is only compatible with the new model year (2005).according to my many hours of research the kit should fit 2003-on. am I wrong or was the parts guy I spoke with a moron ? the other question I have is what kind of wiring does the antenna have ? is it the old style plug with two wires or the new style with one wire ? I've read other posts regarding the install and it seems straight forward but I'm not real thrilled with drilling an 7/8 hole in my roof and would rather use the smaller magnetic style. I've since placed another order with a different dealer and will see if I get better results. thanks everybody and happy holidays.

truck in question is a 2003 Gmc Sierra with the bose system

lrymal · December 21, 2004

Wow..... I dunno. Kit 12498768 is still showing up at both JPCUSTOMS and GMPartsDirect. However, GMPartsDirect claims the kit will not work with the U7 radio. I have no idea which radio that is.

Regarding the antenna, it is a single line feed. I'm not sure if an off-brand antenna will work since the antenna lead-in line length is figured as part of the impedance formula, I would think. Not much comment on my end regarding drilling the hole. "No pain, no gain..."

The 12498768 kit is (was???) configured for the 2003-2004 model trucks. It is still showing up on the websites so am not sure why you are being told this 2005 and discontinuation thing.

green03sierra · December 21, 2004

ok here's the latest, I contacted another online dealer that had the part for listed for $297.87 so I order it. today I get an e-mail from them saying the price has gone up to $350.00 plus shipping. so I'm back on my quest to find the part for a reasonable price. as far as what the first place told me about it not being available I think there just playing stupid or couldn't be bothered,either way they won't get my business again.

green03sierra · December 21, 2004

post continued,

I also found another kit offered at www.radiosandmore.com for $299.00. but in there picture it shows the same receiver and antenna I can buy in Best Buy for $49.99. I call them to try and get an explanation for the price difference and they said it has an interface harness and adaptor. I can understand that much but it must be one heck of an adaptor to add $250 to the price. anybody use this kit before? what other options do I have to install XM in my truck without adding one of those external receiver units that broadcast through a F.M modulator which I don't want to use.

lrymal · December 21, 2004

To be frank, if the links above reveal that the GM XM kit is discontinued, then the only other REAL satisfactory solution is aftermarket, in spite of all the other kits that allow you to use OEM radio. I've been through this. You have your PACs and the PIEs type adapters, and basically, they get the OEM radio to pick up the satellite, but at a price of very slow performance. Heck, I have one of those around the house somewhere that I'd even give you. Works very well, but disgustingly slooooowwwwwwwww. I used it for two days and pulled it, buying the GM kit.

The "XM Direct Satellite Radio Receiver w/ GM Harness" is the only one of this genre that looks good to me. The price near $300 indicates that a lot of events are occuring to pipe a signal to the OEM radio that the OEM unit can use. If the GM kit hadn't been available, this is probably the kit I would have migrated to.

So, the other solution on getting XM into the truck is to pull the OEM radio and replace it with the many aftermarket radios that are out there. Gosh, there are many. Stop fighting it and just go with it.

Here is what mine used to look like before I removed it and installed the GM kit. I need to put it on eBay instead of letting it sit in the house. Perfectly great performance but I tired of all the bling-bling and wanted something a lot more conservative. Anyway, that is my recommendation:

Oh yeah, I'd call up any of the sales droids and let them know that you have a Bose system in the truck. I haven't worked with one of these and not sure what these kind of kits do with them.

sperry · December 22, 2004

Actually, from what I've seen & heard anyway. the XM-Direct is the most practical for a HU display model. No theftlock hassle when you transfer it to another vehicle, etc.

Chances are there's confusion with the bus systems. Several of the car models went to the CAN bus (GM-Lan) in 05, leaving accessory retrofits to that year (or later likely). But that isn't so for the trucks yet (06 and that may be just some items). So there may have been some confusion on his part.

There may be an exception to trucks with the Colorado & Canyon. Looking at some entertainment prints, it appears that the MP3 capable HU may be GM-Lan.

Coax, if length specific, would indicate that it's used as an impedance-matching conduit.

If devices at each end were the same as each other's impedance and the cable's characteristic impedance, then the only concern with the length, is the inherent loss.

bigdogs · December 24, 2004

I find that odd they would discontinue it just a few months after it was released. I sure hope it is not because I would like to add this to mine..

OLERED04 · December 30, 2004

I just added XMdirect to my dad's 03' yukon xl with bose it worked like a champ and only took about 1hr to do the install and have it up and running. I bought it from radios and more they sent it to me overnight for free. I reserched this for him for a long time and found this was best way to go for the factory look.

Weejuns · December 31, 2004

OLERED04 , where did you mount the ant? Looking at the same kit. How long is the ant. cable? Thinking of running it out by the third brake light if cable is long enough. THANKS.

green03sierra · January 3, 2005

** update

I received my kit on thursday and I'm up and running. I ended up getting from P&G parts zone,the price wasn't the cheapest I found but after all the previous hassles I just wanted it done. the installation was straight forward but the included instructions were a little confusing at first regarding removing the pins from the plug. I dropped the little white plug that's supplied and was confused about that part but once I found the plug it was very easy. as far as the antenna I was not going to drill a hole in my roof and use the supplied very large and dorky looking antenna so I bought a Terk magnetic mount. the only "problem" was the plug is a little bit different. the GM receiver has two notches on the plug but the antenna only had a groove in it for one, after a little trimming of the plug on the reciever the plug fit fine and works well so far. I ran the wire down the driver's side a pillar inside the weatherstrip and down under the fender to under the hood and through a grommet in the firewall. eventually I'd like to move it to the rear of the roof and run the wire through the third brake light. but it was getting dark and was rather cold outside so it will have to do for now. if anybody wants a GM factory xm antenna and wire harness let me know.

OLERED04 · January 3, 2005

I ran it from the 3rd brake light to under the glove box i did need the short ext. The ant wire was about 3' short .

Traveling Fox · January 6, 2005

green03sierra,

FYI. I ordered the GM XM Player Kit about three weeks ago from my local Chevrolet dealer. They installed it today into my 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD LT. Works great!!! GM recommends 1.4 hrs labor to install, so I let them do it.

Install looks as though it was factory original.

My trucks radio is the AM/FM Sereo W/CD, Cassette, and Bose Speaker System which is XM ready (had the "Band" button).

Good luck!! Traveling Fox

PS Don't worry about the hole drilling. The kit has a template and very good step by step instructions.

bigdogs · January 6, 2005

What did the labor cost you for them to install it??

green03sierra · January 7, 2005

the install costed me nothing as I did the entire thing myself. as far as the antenna goes it does come with a nice template to lay out the holes but I just don't like the idea of drilling a hole in the roof of my truck,plus the antenna is ugly looking. the install wasn't bad at all other than me losing the supplied plug on the floor when I opened the bag with wire harness ( I didn't know it was in there). the magnetic mount antenna works very well and I get a good signal where ever I'm at so I'm happy. the only thing I don't like is the display on the radio since it doesn't have enough space it sometimes cuts off the name of a song. now that I have XM screw regular radio. one small bit of advice when you activate the system do it online since they charge you $9.99 instead of $15.00 and it doesn't take any longer to do,within ten minutes after I did the activation I was up and running