I have an 04SL with the Bose and DPP. I have learned from previous posts that car is prewired for the Satellite Radio. What is needed from a parts perspective to make this feature operational? How much should it cost to have the dealership perform this and will it operate just like if it were originally installed at the factory?

As always, your feedback and help are greatly appreciated.

 

there is a part that is coming out the will convert the sat input into a aux port, and you can use an alterntive xm device like the delphi, which i use. Not sure the link of this product I lost it, somebody will post it im sure. If you want the facotrey receiver than I bet you need to go through Nissan.

 

The radio kit is available from dealers such as courtesyparts.com. It's a pretty involved process, but detailed instructions are available.

Joe

 

Popular spot for those who frequent the forums (best price I've seen for 6th Gen Satellite kit) is @ Grubbs Infiniti. The link is below:

Grubbs Infiniti

 

For my dealer to install they wanted about $600. So i skipped it. that link from hotb99 looks promising if u wanna do the work. You can use your screen and controls then.

You could add a pioneer or kenwood and use your cassette input for about 200 that u can also use at home.

Either way I would go with Sirius, They have actually no commercials, more stations, and lifetime subscription for $500 by August.

 

Definitely SIRIUS all the way!!! I got the 15 months for $150 pkg...

 

just beware if you do a lifetime subscription. Sirius has from the begining (without signs of getting much better) serious financial trouble. So lifetime could also mean the lifetime of the company. In my past experience when companies start offering lifetime subscriptions it isn't a good thing. Typically they are trying to get quick money at the expense of longterm solidity. Also note that monthly sirius is more expensive. They are both commercial free on the music channels.

Sports people would probably prefer Sirius sense they have the NFL, NHL, and NBA coverage, XM has Nascar coverage.


I don't have sat radio, but from riding in cars with sirius and xm I have noticed that xm's sound quality is better.

You really need to look at lineup. There are a few that each have that the other doesn't. Also see if you can find friends with XM/Sirius and listen to both in your area. Even though it is satilite based, there are quality issues on both in given areas. See which one is best in yours.

 

ordered mine from grubbs on friday it they said 3 to 5 days i'll you know how everything goes when i get it. $326.00 including shipping

 

I went with XM (and artist/track titles are limited to 10 characters.. is it the same with Sirius? I notice that when there is no artist/song titel available, it will say "NO ARTIST TITLE AVAILABLE" (or somehing like that) indicating that it is capable of displaying more than 10 characters...). I too bought my kit from Grubbs (fantastic services + cheap prices). They even sent a printout for 2 months worth of free service. I installed mine myself, except I just set the tail on the back desk (seems to work 99% of the time).

 

I've had the XM factory unit since last October. The antenna that came with the package was large (old style Terk) so it's been since replaced with a slim version which I placed just above the rear window. The cables were run behind the weather stripping on either side of the glass, as well as along the top. That is the most time consuming part of the installation in my opinion.

If your Max is already pre-wired the receiver just plugs in and you're ready to go (after the antenna is installed of course.) It's very simple.

In my opinion this is the best possible option, although the most expensive, for satellite radio in the Max. I am annoyed at the character limitation though, when displaying titles/artists.

I bought my XM from Grubbs Infinity as well.

 

how can you tell if your Max is pre-wired for the Sat? Would that be a part of a certain option package that came with the car, or if the car was manufactured after a certain date? And if its the date part, how do you tell the date based on the VIN #? Which characters, etc tell you the date? I just came back on a 6 hour trip with a buddy going wakeboarding and listened to XM the whole way, and I really want it now!

 

Open the driver door and look for a sticker that says something like....pre-wired for satellite

 

I have posted about the Sirius vs. XM topic before. Someone said in an earlier post that Sirius is in financial trouble, you are way off. In fact Sirius's balance sheet is a lot healthier than XM's... Anyhow, I had both services (2 with XM and 1 with Sirius) and I am totally a Sirius person now. To me, it is more about quality and Sirius has that over XM. For the extra 3 bucks a month, I get online listening for no additional cost and all the sports I want. If you complain about cost, you should have purchased an Accord over a Maxima. Not dissing, just making a point. I also like the talent that is on SIrius and the playlist. However, I am only one person. You need to decide for yourself what suits you best. For me, it's Sirius.

 

For those of you that bought the XM tuner from Grubbs, did it come with detailed install instructions? Would you recommend doing it yourself, or getting a professional installer?

 

I though Sirius changed their price to $9.99/month. Am I wrong? Anyway, when I decide to spend the money I'm buying Sirius for several reasons. They are very financially sound and have great service. XM was recently dropped by almost every radio distributor available due to poor customer service. Pioneer continues to offer XM and G.M. continues to offer XM due to a binding contract...other then those two I believe everyone else has dropped XM. Just my opinion but Sirius will eventually exceed XM's book of clients.

 

Yeah, I think so.. if not, there was a PDF floating around that had good instructions. I however was not comfortable whipping out a grinder to install the antenna, so I chickened out and just installed it on the rear deck (by placing the antenna wires in 3/8" tubing for protection). Still had to drill though, and that is nerve racking enough...

 

for the Sirius 9.99, i think it was a promo. They can't be doing too bad, they made a huge deal for better technology to be installed by end of 05.
Also, XM tends to replay clearchannel or regular radio programs. Sirius also has an exclusive deal with Chrysler and others that won't have xm factory installed.

If i get ahead of these Max payments, I might get the Sirius tuner that can go from my car to my home stereo with the liftetime subscription.

 

Do you think a mobile audio installation place could take the console plate and drill out where the tape deck is and mount a Sirius tuner in there so it fits flush with the rest of the center console? Can you take out just the tape deck and leave everything else? Or would you suggest getting an aftermarket head unit, buy the new custom-cut console, and get that installed to add the Sirius?

 

a good place should be able to do whatever u want, if u have the $$. I'm guessing with the cd changer space may be limited if you want to replace the tape deck.

It depends if you want the portable one to use at home too. For that I might see if one fits nicely in the storage below the tape deck.

If u just want it for the max, I would compare the cost of custom fitting it somewhere in the dash (the shop would know the best options) and the cost of buying/installing a factory unit. That would be nice to use the screen and wheel controls.

Personally I would want my money worth and get a portable, if i could find a convenient spot for it, to use at home too.

There are a few aftermarket models out now and more still to come.

 

I'm definitely looking at getting the dash kit, an aftermarket receiver with sirius-ready and mp3 playback, and then the tuner/antenna. I mean for the $300 for the factory XM tuner, I could get an aftermarket stereo and tuner/antenna for almost the same price and get more audio tuning features. We'll see.

By the way, if I do this, I'd probably look to get rid of my Sony 10-disc mp3 changer, so if anyone's interested in it, PM me.

 

Hey thanks, ethorn for that great info!!! Didn't realize "lifetime subscriptions" was a clue that a company may be having financial difficulties... BUT, what I don't understand is that sooooo many people have SIRIUS and it sells well (SIRIUS equipment always empty or low in stock in stores)...wonder why they would be having money issues...???

 

True what you say... I have posted on this subject before as well, but one really does have to sample what each (XM/SIRIUS) has to offer. One must sample each company's programming first thru their websites if one is planning to go w/ SAT. I posted the links to the two websites before...here they are again:

SIRIUS WEBSITE

XM WEBSITE

 

You know, I just remembered that SIRIUS also has Satellite "video" in development as we speak. That's right! I do believe that SIRIUS will have the ability to transmit video thru your existing receiver equipment...all you need to purchase is a video screen... Has anyone else heard about this?

 

Well, I'm gonna go with Sirius. I just ordered the Clarion DXZ945 head unit off ebay, which will come also with the free Sirius tuner, all for $511 including shipping, the head unit is $699 alone on Crutchfield, so I think I got a pretty good deal.

And yeah, I heard something about the satellite video too, that would be pretty sweet. I wonder if you'd have to have the video screen in-dash, or would it connect to screens that are in the headrests too. And where would they get their video from? Since they already have a deal with Dish network, would they just partner up with them again to do a reverse service, offering Dish channels to Sirius customers? For a premium price, I'm sure.

 

My dealer did the XM package for $400 out the door as part of the deal. I believe that this was cost for them. It sounds very good, but I believe that this signal does not have the full range found on commercial CD's. Compression is always a sat problem. I sometimes lose the signal if I get very close to tall building on the south and of course some tunnels wipe you out. Not all though. A major artery tunnel into Pittsburgh has been XM wired!

The only thing I dislike is the mouse like antenna near the rear window. If it did not have that conduit for the wire, it would look more factory.

 

Original, could you post some pictures of the antenna, where it is in your car, and how it looks from various angles? Thanks!

 

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/616176/4

The inside is just like yours except that my Sat button activates the unit. Other than the antenna, you would never know it is there.

 

Thanks original... doesn't look too bad, hopefully on my red the black antenna will look ok! gettin' excited!

 

Dude, if you go to the Grubbs Inifiniti website I posted previously, you will note that there are other antenna options (more streamline) if you don't want the bulbous looking antenna on your roof. Only thing is, you have to pay the extra $$$ for the "replacement" antenna. The huge a$$ (original) antenna comes w/ the SAT kit and you can't "swap" antennas, unless you have a cool svc/parts person who will hook you up.

 

Well since I'm not going with the factory XM setup (sirius instead), I have access to a much wider selection. Terk is coming out with a mini antenna that looks pretty sweet, only a half-inch tall or something like that. It's not available until the end of the month according to Crutchfield, so I'll see what my installer has as far as antenna's go, see what it looks like.

 

You MUST post pics of your alternative setup. Depending on how yours is looks/works, I may go the same route...

 

Don't worry, I definitely will! I'm pretty exited, got the Clarion touch-screen head unit, the DXZ945, for $200 less than Crutchfield, including the $150 tuner for free. Going to have them uninstall my trunk-mounted mp3 cd changer, since I cant hook it into the head unit and with sat radio, I really wont need access 1,500 mp3s anymore. Should look good!!! I want the new Terk Mini antenna though, but it doesnt come out until the end of the month. Don't know if I can wait that long

 

Man, I know you're excited, but you HAVE TO wait!!! Those other antennas are too big and take away from the sleekness of the MAX's lines... Hold off, you won't regret it!