jiggawho0o

Hello all, still relatively new to the forum. But from what I have seen in some pictures of the 3rd Gen GS models, some appear to have the sharkfin xm receiever attached. I'm not sure whether these models are from japan or not, but I currently own a 06 GS300 and was wondering, if it would be possible to attach a factory sharkfin reciever to my GS.

Budd28

It's stock on the GS350, and I think its for celluar.

jwa

How do you know it's stock on the GS 350? It's not on the 450H, and the audio/cellular electronics for the two should be identical.

oneeyejack

there's a person who installed it on their IS. check the IS forums and do a search for sharkfin.

jwa

If you have to install it yourself, I wouldn't call it "stock." Also, the IS is not a GS; just because it works on one, doesn't mean it will work on the other.

Budd28

I can guarantee its stock on the 350 and 430 in Japan, and if can get your hands on 1 it doesnt just stick on your roof , your gonna have to drill a big hole on top and theres a some wires coming out of it with a big connector to connect to another harness on in your ceiling which I assume is not inside the U.S. version anyways.

jwa

I've also seen sharkfins on the GS 450H's at US auto shows and some of the media models, but they didn't make it to the production models. There may be a technical reason they need them in Japan and other countries- like a larger antenna or a type that can't be integrated. Either way, I would be surprised if the US based GS 350 somes stock with a sharkfin antenna.

If you really want the sharkfin, just stick on a dummy. No one will no the difference, and you can pull it off when you get ready to sell.

GreatSmile

I think this is what you are talking about....

http://www.auto-web.co.jp/NEW_CAR/LEXUS/GS350.html

Click on the first photo on left side

kissbang

I don't know, but for some reason, a shark fin antenna looks stylish to me...

hmm... a dummy, ay? ....hmm. i'm tempted... haha

Budd28

Heres what it would look like out of the box unpainted.

greg h

When I got my sirius satalite radio system(through the dealer) a month or so ago the antenna that came with that system was a sharkfin. I endend up getting the radio installed elsewhere(for $75 as opposed to $700). However, I wanted no part of that sharkfin on my roof so I purchased the small sirius antenna and have it on the top middle of my trunk(with my tint and for better reception).

Lenscap

I believe you are mistaken. If you get Sirius thru Lexus it comes with an antenna that mounts inside the car behind the rearview mirror. XM through Lexus comes with a magnetic black box that goes on the trunk lid. (A sharkfin would have required drilling holes in the roof to route the wires, and I highly doubt the dealer would do that when Lexus provides antennas that mount inside the car or on the trunk magnetically).

Here are the facts re: the sharkfin. Lexus is Japan has them (check the Lexus Japan website). The U.S. could not get the sharkfin because the design was patented in such a way that it could not be used here. That is all changing for the 2007 models (at least some of them). In the U.S., the 2007 LS will have the sharkfin as will the 2007 IS. No other models have been confirmed, but I would think the GS would get it as well.

The sharkfin in the U.S. will be used primarily for satellite radio. So, I'm not sure if all ISs and LSs will get the sharkfin, or only the ones equipped with satellite radio. And since only XM will come from the factory (Sirius, if it is still offered, will only be port- or dealer-installed), it is possible only factory-equipped XM models will get the sharkfin. We'll just have to wait and see. But the sharkfin will be on some 2007 U.S. Lexus models for sure.

greg h

Lenscape,

Your probably right. It looked like a sharkfin but perhaps is was meant for indoor mounting. While the small Sirius antenna I'm using now may not look as clean as a car with a inside mounted antenna, my recption is very good and thats what is most important to me.

Lenscap

Glad to hear your reception is good. Reception has been a problem with Lexus and the various antennas. The sharkfin should solve the problem for people who buy the 2007s (at least those who get XM as, again, I'm not sure if the sharkfin will function for Sirius).

greg h

Yes...I have heard from some people who had Lexus install the inside rear window antenna for their sirius system and they are very unhappy with their recption. Infact, a friend of mine who works at toyota HQ told me they put a "stop sales" on the sirius product(GS 300 unit) until they figure out whats wrong with it.