Oem Xm Install

jyoungiii · October 9, 2007

Finally I have XM radio in my new truck... what a debacle that was. I went to the parts counter after picking up my truck to order the XM Module and they parts guy gave me some phone number United Audio or some something like that. Apparently they have OEM parts so I made the call. They sent me some XM aftermarket kit and swear that it would work. Shipped $164 had it next day. Took it to Best Buy install only to find out that the hardware was not compatible. The Best Buy guy spent an hour and a half trying to get it to work and spent time on the phone with United Radio... telling him he needed to disconnect the battery blah blah blah. Long story short I sent the crap back. Best Buy was cool and didn't charge me the $55.

So here I was with no XM... When I surfed the GM accessory website I found and ordered the OEM $225 XM Module. Apparently this is the only thing that works. Believe me aftermarket on the NBS for XM modules that work with your factory radio don't work. I digress to my point.

Now I have the OEM part and Best Buy is quoting me $130 for the install, because the onstar antenna needs to be swapped out, which requires dropping the headliner 3hour project. Well I looked over the instructions and it was basically a couple of screws, 7 and 10 mil sockets and retaining clips, so I figured what the heck I'll do it myself.

It took 4 hours to install and the hardest part was releasing the connection on the onstar antenna... which after 30 minutes of squeezing my arms in the headliner found that there is 2 release clips that you can only get from the whole from where you remove the ceiling center counsel.

It took me 40 mins to mount the housing under the glove box that holds the XM unite because the design SUCKED. They had extra plastic protruding around the screws holes that prevented you from getting a wrench in there and a socket didn't fit because of the depth in which you have to work with.

Needless to say if it wasn't for those two hang ups it went really well. Especially for an accountant. Hindsight being 20/20, I could have continued to find a leftover 07 Sierra with XM, but I think I will be happy with the results. Especially since I took the extra time to put it back together to make sure there is no rattles from the new wires.

dsmazz · October 9, 2007

Well, at least you got it done. I installed XM in my '07, but it only took me about an hour and a half. I did not run into any problems either. Pretty straight forward install.

jyoungiii · October 9, 2007

Well, at least you got it done. I installed XM in my '07, but it only took me about an hour and a half. I did not run into any problems either. Pretty straight forward install.

I was happy to keep the money in my pocket. Going to use that to replace these factory speakers! Any chance you've done that too?

Are the rear's 6.5"s? how deep of a speaker can the doors take 2.5"? Any speaker recommendations out there?

dsmazz · October 10, 2007

I had an audio shop install a Memphis MClass Amp and six Memphis Audio MClass speakers. So I don't know what size they used. You can go to crutchfield dot com and plug in the year and model and come up with what will fit.

sawdustmaker49 · February 16, 2008

how do release the trim around the radio? installation of the xm antenna was not so bad,but i cant see how the trim releases.

swipter · February 16, 2008

how do release the trim around the radio? installation of the xm antenna was not so bad,but i cant see how the trim releases.

On my 05 Sierra SLE you just pull the plastic trim around the dash portion around the radio heater, etc. area and the plastic will pop off. I found this by accident one day. Yours may be different. I think they do this for aftermarket "wood" dash trim.