Adding Factory XM and/or Nav

[TSR6]

What would it take to add "Factory" XM to a 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 with BOSE. The stock head unit I beleive is the stock CD/Cassette ( if that matters ). I would love to integrate my dad's aftermarket Delphi Myfi XM receiver into the dash/head unit with the stock equipment, just adding the GM XM module, or whatever is required. Reason being, he...like me.. does not like the "aftermarket cluttered" look of an external Sat. Radio receiver mounted on the dash. Plus 90% of the time when he leaves his truck overnight, he forgets to shut off his XM receiver.

 

I installed Nav & Sirius on my Dodge Ram with the stock mopar equip, and all that was required was the head unit, wire harnesses, and drilling a hole in the roof for the antenna. I did it all myself in ~30 minutes.

 

My dad's truck already has the antenna on the roof for ONSTAR, so I didn't know if it just wired into that?

 

What are my options? How much would this cost?

 

I may also look into installing the Nav System. I just don't know if this is something dad would - ever - use. So while I doubt i'd do Nav too.... I'm curious to what it would take to install Nav.

 

 

Depending on what YOU people say, I might "steal" my dad's truck for a day right before christmas and see what i can do.....

[roden001]

Nav install would be really easy. You'd have to buy the headunit (available on ebay used for $300 to $400), and a GPS antenna (available new on eBay for around $50), and a nav DVD (available for anywhere between $40 and $200, depending on whether you want the newest version of the disc, or are willing to settle for an old one). You'll likely have another expense after the install, because you'll probably have to get the theftlock removed by a dealer. This can be free if the dealer is cool/knows you, but it will likely cost between $50 and $100, because they will charge that much to hook up their Tech II scanner to your Dad's truck. This is a lot of money for 1 minute of labor.

 

Anyways, once you have the parts, you pull off the front dash plate (2 minutes) take out the three headunit screws (2 min), pull out the stereo, disconnect it, plug in the new headunit, stuff the GPS antenna back in there somewhere where it won't rattle(you can properly mount this thing, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble), and then reassemble.

 

You can run a VSS (vehicle speed sensing) wire--I recommend it to make GPS tracking more smooth--which means you have to pull out the guage cluster and tap into a specific wire and run it over to the Headunit harness. This doesn't add much time to the install (maybe 30 min).

 

That's it for the nav install, as long as you're buying a non-lux nav headunit. If you want a lux headunit, you'll also have to buy a lux bose amp from an 03-06 Denali or Escalade (anywhere from $200 to 400 on eBay, depending on the market fluctuations), but this would require a bit of pin relocating on the amp harness, and also removing the console to access the amp. You'd get much better, cleaner sound than what he curently has, but it's a fair amount of extra work.

 

Also, if you go with the lux route, make sure you get a used, not new, lux amp, because new ones have to be programmed, and you can't program them inside a Silverado--it'll fry them. They have to be programmed inside a Denali or Escalade which came with that kind of amp originally. This would mean you'd have to find someone who would trust you enough to rip out their console, plug in your amp, and take it to the dealer to have it programmed (again, probably $50 to $100).

 

As for factory XM, there is a product called XM Direct, which you can get on eBay for $129 plus shipping, which is much cheaper than the Dealer Kit, and its install is similar in difficulty, but I haven't done mine yet, so I can't give you the details.

 

Good luck. I think it'd be a great gift, and not too hard at all if you go non-lux.

[TSR6]

What is the difference between the Lux-Nav and the Non-Lux? This truck does have the BOSE system already, so why would I have to purchase an extra Bose amp?

 

I don't think sound is much of a concern. Country music, the XM comedy channels is about all he listens to.. lol.

 

Thanks for the help.

[roden001]

You won't have to fool with the amp, as long as you buy a non-lux nav headunit. The only reason to go the lux route would be to upgrade the sound from what you already have.

 

Your dad's truck almost certainly does not have the lux system. You can be sure by checking the RPO codes on the inside of the glove box lid. If you don't find Y91 or Y92, the truck has the regular (or as GM calls it, the Premium) Bose system. If you do find either Y91 or Y92, you have the lux system.

 

GM puts out 2 versions of their Bose systems, Premium and Lux. The luxury systems are typically only found in the Denali's and Escalades. The speakers are the same, and the only difference between this system and the Premium (cheaper) system, is that the luxury systems have a different (smarter) amp, and that there are a few wiring differences in the harness that connects the headunit to the amp. Some guys figured out how to make the upgrade in our Silverados, by installing a used luxury amp that came out of a Denali or Escalade, and rewiring a few pins in the amp plugs.

 

Any given headunit (Nav or non-nav) is programmed to work either with the Premium system or the lux system, but not both. So if you're planning on keeping your Premium system, make sure the nav headunit you buy is specified as Non-Lux. Again, in that case, no need to fool with the amp, or give any more mind to it at all.

 

If you want to do the lux upgrade, and plan on buying a lux amp, make sure to buy a headunit specified as Lux.

[TSR6]

OK, that totally makes sense to me now.

 

I'm just trying to decide if dad would use a Nav system or not. I know he would use the XM side of things though. He drives his truck in total i'd imagine at least 3 hours total through the day - plus sitting in it at the jobsite, which is why I'm looking at something to do in it.