I'm at the last phase of installing XM, but I'm a little confused how to get the antenna to go outside of my car w/out ruining the molding or whatever.

The only location I've seen so far to lead the wire outide the car is just out the upper side of the rear door. The wire does not seem to get damaged when the door closes.

Can anyone recommend a different option?

Thanks

 

Center of trunk lid running the wire the same way your wires for the trunk release go, on roof above rear window tucking wire into weatherstripping to get it into trunk (harder/easier depending on what gen max you have), or top of the dash where the dash meets the windshield (easiest with a 5th gen) are the most common places.

 

4th gen btw

 

This is how I have mine done on my 4th gen.

 

Is there a write up for this method? I'm not sure I understand how exactly to do it..

 

Mine is in the middle of the trunklid beside my navi antenna.

 

ok, tell me if this is the correct way to do it. My plan is to lead the wire to the top of the back seat. Then, lead the wire behind the back seat and sort of through the ski passthrough. Then, channel it around the trunk until I get to the bar which holds my trunk lid. Using that bar, I'll either put the wire through it or against it and lead it to the trunk lid itself, from which I'll put the antenna on.

Is this the correct approach? Also, where do I put the extra wire to give slack for when the trunk lid opens up?

 

On my 4th gen, I routed the wire under the carpet on the side of the car, near the doors and went under the rear seat on the side, then up the back corner of the trunk to the hinge where the trunk deck attaches, then wrapped the wire around the hinge and along the underside of the deck lid using electrical tape (make sure to use alcohol to make it dry/clean if you do this), then up over the edge to sit on the middle of the deck lid, next to the rear windshield. Obviously, this only works if you have a metal deck lid.

 

Have you had any water leakage from the antenna leading from the decklid into the trunk? Other people have complained about it in other forums, but if its not an issue I'd rather not worry about it...

 

If done properly, there should be no leakage issues.

 

The antenna wire is quite thin and the weatherstripping around the deck lid is fairly thick, so I doubt you'd have a problem. I've never noticed any leakage.

 

Thanks guys, always a pleasure to DIY instead of paying BB or CC to screw it up.

 

I have mine located on my drivers dash...neat little location, no recpetion problems whatsoever/

 

I have mine running through the weatherstripping on my front windshield. Great place for me with no wire stretching.