Sorry...posted in wrong forum first time...

We just bought our SRX with Ultraview yesterday and it didn't have XM but the salesman said GM was coming out with factory upgrade option that would be out "soon" for SRX. He made it sound like the radio would be able to take something like a firmware upgrade to add XM capabilities and they'd install antenna. Has anyone heard of this and does it sound feasible to load a firmware upgrade to the Nav/Radio system?

This has been a real issue for me. I took an '04 over an '05 due to a very good deal. The only options that we wanted but it did not have was XM and a trailer hitch. I was told both could be added no problem. The hitch was easy. XM has been a P.I.T.A.

The service departments and parts departments of three local dealerships have no idea what to order. My dealer referred me to a local preferred installer that wanted me to purchase a Delphi Roady with an FM modulator. No way!

I don't have the nav but do have the "XM ready" radio/6cd changer. To resolve the dealer cluelessness I turned to the best XM sources I know, www.xm411.com and www.myradiostore.us. Here is a thread that I've been particpating in on the XM411 forum...XM Direct Thread (http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=5815) The thread started questioning a product called XM Direct that is recently released. As the thread continues a person responded with the part number of GM's actual XM part. This is probably what your dealer is referring to riegern. According to the poster, it came out in August. I'm going to ask my dealer to investigate this.

How do I know if my radio is XM ready? I have the Nav system.

From what I was told, if you have a "Band" button vs an AM/FM button it will handle XM. The "Source" button switches between CD and radio. The antenna on the back of an SRX is for both XM and OnStar.

Remember the people who bought early manufactured SRXes have a kinky little wire antenna that sticks thru the rearmost right side window instead of the cute little dual purpose roof mounted antenna on the real SRXes.

Here's the deal folks. I found what I think is the official GM XM add on for folks that have the "combo" antenna on the very back center of the roof.

This is from www.gmpartsdirect.com and verified by a couple of local parts departments. According to my source it was released on August 16th. Before that there was nothing the dealer could do to add built-in-through-the-radio-XM.

GM PART # 12498768
CATEGORY: All
PACK QTY: 1 CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $397.14
OUR PRICE: $333.60
DESCRIPTION: Add on XM player for 2003-2004 trucks

Here's the rub. Nobody's got it in stock. If I'm the first to order it and it dosen't work out, no returns. If I could see it and look at the install instructions that I was told will come with it, I'm more than technically capable of installing it. Other wise, pay the dealer $550 plus to do it for me.

Hmmmm. What to do... What to do...

Just got an email from www.gmpartsdirect.com. I had sent them all my info including VIN and build date. I asked them if this part will indeed work on my SRX. They said it will not. Dayumn! :banghead:

Back to the drawing board. Called the service manager of my original dealer. (before I dealt with my salesperson and parts guys). Gave him the whole saga. I asked him to please, once and for all, find out how I can get XM in this beast without going to some kludgy external FM modulated gizmo. Tell me what is the bottom line price to get this done being mindful that a positive survey and future service income is hanging in the balance.

I'm a huge XM51 Music Lab fan and Holly loves Watercolors and other jazz stations. We want our XM. If I new it was going to be this much hassle, I would've gone with the '05 we were going to order originally. :crying:

I'm a huge XM51 Music Lab fan and Holly loves Watercolors and other jazz stations. We want our XM. If I new it was going to be this much hassle, I would've gone with the '05 we were going to order originally. :crying:

When I was looking at 04’s my dealer researched this matter and said a non modulated solution was not possible (after I pressed the matter and got past the “sure we can put XM in”). This is consistent with Nissan Muranos where even though the early production vehicles had a SAT button, retrofit of a “direct” solution was cost prohibitive and was never made available. We bought a 05 so I never researched it any further. Many salesman either purposely misrepresent or have their wires crossed so often it is difficult to go by what they say. Have any manufacturers made an after the fact direct retrofit available?

I know it’s not what you want, but I have seen many postings from people that have gone the modulated route and say the sound quality is great/not distinguishable. Obviously from a tech/spec standpoint there is a difference and maybe part of this is wishful thinking. Still in the real world/environment the difference may be small.

Will the part mentioned above work with ANY '04 SRX?

Will the part mentioned above work with ANY '04 SRX?

Nope.

Pulled the dash apart last night.

The Computer Interface (user features and radio functions) the Tuner and the CD changer are combined in one box made by Siemens, not Delphi. If you have the 1SB or 1SC package, the entire interior function (seats, lights, instruments etc) is down with the radio out. You can pretty much forget replacing the radio with aftermarket. You'll loose the tire pressure monitor, Onstar, seat and mirror memory...etc.

Folks, I'm throwing in the towel here. I'm going the XM Commander with wired FM modulator route. I can see now why the dealer can't add XM. If you order it from the factory, you get a different head unit. If you get the Nav, you get yet another head unit and so on an so on.

I'm not so much concerned about perceived degraded sound from using an FM modulator as I am about lack of integration into the rest of the sound system. I'd like to utilize the nav systems large display for XM info rather than a seperate unit...

I may throw in the towel too...I saw a nice install job that was done in the center console ashtray area with the XM Commander. I am going to call though and bug my salesman who had quite an elaborate story about how the retrofits were coming soon...he even left the office and confirmed with a service tech at our Alexandria dealership. I bought into it hook line and sinker...if this doesn't work out, I'll at least give him a hard time about it.

Hey ustabawannab, I hear you about all the integration with seats, memory, etc., but doesn't it still seem feasible that they could upload new software to the head unit to enable XM functionality and then just deal with the antenna issue?? I see pics of the nav unit in the manual that looks exactly like mine except with added XM commands. It doesn't seem like they'd have two seperate head units just to accomodate nav w/o XM and nav w/XM.

Hey ustabawannab, I hear you about all the integration with seats, memory, etc., but doesn't it still seem feasible that they could upload new software to the head unit to enable XM functionality and then just deal with the antenna issue?? I see pics of the nav unit in the manual that looks exactly like mine except with added XM commands. It doesn't seem like they'd have two seperate head units just to accomodate nav w/o XM and nav w/XM.

Quite possible, but the hardest thing about this XM issue is no one so far will confirm or deny anything. XM Direct did release the GM kit but it's only for the C/K pickups so far, not our Sigmas.

The back of my Seimens head unit had only one antenna input. There wasn't a blank or a stamping for anything else. The Nav might be different. This weekend I'm going to pull portions of the headliner down to see if I can find the XM antenna lead. Ziggy at www.myradiostore.us has a lot of antenna adapter and extension resources if the need arises. I'm probably going to do the XM commander/ashtray mod. The commander has the integrated wired fm modulator. The factory conventional-antenna-to-rca style-antenna adaptor is right behind the ashtray. There's plenty of room for the commander module back there, too. The cigarette lighter power and ground is there as well. The XM Commander user interface almost fits in the ashtray opening so the mod is easy. When the lease is up, I'll just replace the ashtray assembly.

I'm still leaning on the Service Manager and Sales Manager, maybe they'll come through before I start cutting.

The actual XM receiver is located in the right rear quarterpanel area.

When my SRX was hit in the right rear last March, the XM receiver was damaged and needed to be replaced. When I got my SRX back from the bodyshop, I had to call XM Radio Customer Service to give them the serial number (ESN) from the new receiver.

Reeeeally. Thanks for the tip. Even the dealer didn't tell me that. I'll pull the panel this weekend.

Let us know what you find. :bouncy:

Great tip GMAN89!. I pulled the top of the right rear interior pannel. Sure enough, there's the subwoofer amp, the OnStar box and the XM antenna lead. Wohoo! :bouncy:

Sunday I'll pull the whole panel an photograph all the plugs. I'll post the results as well as refer the info to my XM resources. Worst case, I'd at least be able to use the factory antenna on my XM commander. Best case I'll get that part number I posted earlier to work.

My SRX doesn't have the DVD Navigation, but would I be able to use the existing stock radio if I retrofit XM?

Thanks in advance.

Stumbled on this last night:

http://www.xmradio.com/xm_direct/factory_installed.jsp

Is this the "upgrade" people have been waiting for?

Also, has anyone successfully upgraded their speakers with a "drop in" solution (no amp, just replace the speakers)? I have the bad sounding "standard" audio system. No XM like many here. Got a great deal on a demo car however. Very pleased with the SRX, even without XM and with the crappy speakers.

Thanks.

James

Stumbled on this last night:

http://www.xmradio.com/xm_direct/factory_installed.jsp

Is this the "upgrade" people have been waiting for?

Also, has anyone successfully upgraded their speakers with a "drop in" solution (no amp, just replace the speakers)? I have the bad sounding "standard" audio system. No XM like many here. Got a great deal on a demo car however. Very pleased with the SRX, even without XM and with the crappy speakers.

Thanks.

James

That's an interesting link...I'm not sure it'll work for the SRX. To be honest, I'm not sure what they mean by "Satellite Ready Radio." It would seem to be the solution but I'm skeptical.

Stumbled on this last night:

http://www.xmradio.com/xm_direct/factory_installed.jsp

Is this the "upgrade" people have been waiting for?


According to www.myradiostore.us , a very reliable XM source, this kit is only available for the C/K pickup, Cadillac Escalade style GM radios so far. Ziggy will be selling this "dealer only" kit soon. Ziggy runs www.xm411.com, one of the best sources of information and XM forums on the Internet.

I have the Audiovox fm modulator and sirius installed in the ashtray area. I had sirius and really like the modular version because we use it in all of our vehicles and our house.

I am very picky with regards to the music quality, I replaced the bose system in my A4 with a pretty nice Pioneer accompanying Boston Acoustics in the doors and a 10 inch sub in the trunk because it was too annoying to listen to. I like the sound of the SRX system and was very disapointed like all of us are, that there was no input for my iPod (and sat radio). The sound from this modulator (again the audiovox one has a switch to turn off the antenna while using the input) sounds very good. It was a pain to install, since the antenna cable in the car is a different size than stock (of course) so I cut mine and use video quality coax connectors and a barrel adapter to link it together. when i get to my home pc, i can send a link if anyone cares. I now have the option to play either my ipod or my sirius as I choose.

good luck to all!
bk

It was a pain to install, since the antenna cable in the car is a different size than stock (of course) so I cut mine and use video quality coax connectors and a barrel adapter to link it together.

Didn't you see the antenna connector behind the heater control/ashtray bezel? It's a normal antenna plug. It connects to a 9 to 10 inch cable that continues up to the factory radio's RCA-like plug. An FM modulator works at that point with no mods.

This is a XM commander XM that I installed in a SRX. I know its FM modualated and not factory, but it looks as close as possible.

no i didnt see any other connectors. it went from the small 90 degree plug in the back of the unit into the abyss of my console. maybe i didn't tug enough. it would have saved some hacking to get this to work. thanks for the note.

bk

This is a XM commander XM that I installed in a SRX. I know its FM modualated and not factory, but it looks as close as possible.
I like that too! I saw another post where someone had it installed in the ashtray area. I think I like this better. Very nice!

Neal

Just wanted to jump in here and settle some info/help.

EVERY SRX has the capability of XM radio. The XM radio is NOT internal to the headunit, it's a separate tuner that broadcasts a signal over the Class 2 Databus to the headunit and BCM to tell it it exists and to turn the feature on. Single disc, 6-disc, Nav, etc. The tuner also plugs into the headunit to provide the left and right audio signal input. There is nothing to "program" in the headunit to turn XM on or off.

Now, unfortunately, here is the information release on the factory install:

******************

ACC04-036 - Dealer Installed XM Radio Accessory

DESCRIPTION:
GM Accessories is pleased to announce that XM Radio is now available as a Dealer-installed accessory for Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac full-size trucks and SUVs.


INCENTIVE:
Standard discounts and allowances apply.


EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.


QUALIFICATIONS:
Model Years 2003-2005:
Chevrolet – Silverado, Avalanche, Tahoe, Suburban
GMC – Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Denali, Denali XL
Cadillac – Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT

************

I still don't understand why two dealers (in Northern Virginia) have told me the only way they can install is by using the FM modulation version. I have the Bose/Nav system and the manual from Cadillac clearly shows that the system can include XM (with the interface coming up on the nav screen). I've written several people at GM, but I still have not received a good response. The FM modulation route is ok, but I'd much rather have a built-in, direct connect system. If anyone has suggestions about how we might band together to get GM/Cadillac to offer a good answer, please let me know.
Frustrated,
R

I still don't understand why two dealers (in Northern Virginia) have told me the only way they can install is by using the FM modulation version. I have the Bose/Nav system and the manual from Cadillac clearly shows that the system can include XM (with the interface coming up on the nav screen). I've written several people at GM, but I still have not received a good response. The FM modulation route is ok, but I'd much rather have a built-in, direct connect system. If anyone has suggestions about how we might band together to get GM/Cadillac to offer a good answer, please let me know.
Frustrated,
R

I spoke to rep at Cadillac and he said they have a kit for XM that they can install and it will work through the existing radio but it will probably not be available for the SRX for a couple months. The one that's out now will work in the Escalade and a few others but not the SRX (Different systems). He said that they supposedly are waiting to see how good the kit works in the available vehicles before they bring more versions to the market.