XM Radio

Chad H · September 18, 2005

Hey guys,

I was talking with the service manager at my local Chevrolet dealership today and he mentioned XM's new add-on kit for the 03 to 05 Chevy trucks/suv's. He said it was a direct plug and play. It came with two boxes, plugs, and magnetic small antenna. He priced it to me for $249.99. Which I didn't think was that bad. He also said it plugged into the back of the radio just like the factory kit and displayed through the radio exactly like factory also. Does anybody have this or can give me any input on it? The only thing making me re-consider it, is the antenna. Where can it be mounted?

Thanks,

Chad

highup1500hd · September 18, 2005

You can either mount it by your 3rd brake light, running the wire under the lens into the cab. Or you can do what I did in my last truck, and just put the antenna on the dash up near the windshield. It worked fine and all I did was velcro it to the dashmat.

good luck

gotitbad · September 18, 2005

There were several of them for sale on Ebay for much less than that. Look under the heading of GM XM.

TONY

Chad H · September 18, 2005

I wouldn't mind getting that kit at all. But I am worrying about two things now.

-Does it have the same sound quality as the factory GM XM kit?

-If they route the antenna out the third brake light, will it leak?

99-2door · September 18, 2005

I just installed a Pioneer XM tuner into a 2003 Tahoe.

I used a PIE GM12/pc-Piox interface to hook them together.

Works great and sounds as good as the factory stuff.

PIE adapter was $90

Pioneer tuner with antenna was $90 on sale . GEX-P920XM

Bought it from logjamelectronics lless than $200 shipped for the complete set-up.

You can use any Pioneer tuner with that adapter, but the P920xm is the newer one and the unit is smaller than the older ones and it comes with an antenna that looks good and is really small.

highup1500hd · September 18, 2005

I wouldn't mind getting that kit at all. But I am worrying about two things now.

-Does it have the same sound quality as the factory GM XM kit?

-If they route the antenna out the third brake light, will it leak?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If it is the kit like JP customs sells that plugs in the back, the sound quality will be just like factory. If it plays through the antenna jack with an fm modulator it will sound less desirable.

As for the antenna, the third brake light is just the easiest way into the cab, not the only way. I thought you were going to install it yourself. An installer may go a different route, but then again they very well may use the light too. The wire is very very thin, if you run it under the bottom of the brake light there is very little chance of it leaking. If you are still worried about it though, you can always put the antenna on your dash. That is an easy install, you only have to run the wire a few feet and you don't have to worry about anything.

Ape0r · September 18, 2005

I believe this is the kit of which he speaks, I bought the same one a year ago for $300. Plugs straight in, works just like stock, even displays song name on existing radio screen. Sounds incredible. Programming on XM radio leaves something to be desired, but its still better than FM!

Installation takes 30-45 minutes tops, depending on the complexity of your antenna routing.

http://www.myradiostore.us/xm-radio-receiv...s-xmdgm100.html

It's $200 even there, by the way =). Same place I bought it for $300 a year ago.. grr..

BRUTONMOTORSPORTZ · September 18, 2005

Try this.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm?s...number=12498768

Chad H · September 18, 2005

I didn't realize the kit came with that much. What are the two silver boxes? Is one a bracket? What does the other do and where would mount that other silver box. I just want to make sure that is the exact right kit because, that is a killer price!! Also, what is the UM7 radio? Thanks for finding it!

gotitbad · September 18, 2005

I just installed this factory kit in my 05 sierra a week ago....one piece is the actual reciever, the other is the bracket you use to mount the reciever behind the glove box (tight fit!)...ONE thing to keep in mind....if you put this kit in, you have to pull two wires (hot and ground) out of the factory plug from the harness to your radio, and change them out with two in the XM harness that comes with the kit....its really rather easy, but the instructions show the picture of the plug in the back of the radio, with the radio UPSIDE DOWN!....its an orange wire, and a brown or black wire at each end of the plug....the orange is the hot. Its really rather easy to do, and takes only about an hour and a half...the thing that seems to bother most people are the two holes to drill in the roof....on is 3/16, the other, i cant remember off my head, but a pretty good bit larger than 1/2"...i used a hole saw....if you (or anyone) decide to get one, email me....i can make things a lot simpler for you than these directions show (and im also a GM parts manager..!!)..lol...

TONY