Bushwack

I was told when I bought my car new in 2007 (NAV but no ML) that they were pre-wired for satellite and XM was installed by the dealer (not the factory) upon purchase. Last week I had XM installed (by a reputable third party) and the installer said the car was not pre-wired and placed a mini hockey-puck antenna on the roof above the passenger side (barely noticeable).

Just wondering whether the XM installer is telling me the truth, the dealership was NOT telling me the truth, or the installer was too lazy to use the shark fin already on the car (I thought that was the sole purpose of the shark fin?).

bigblack06

iTrader: (20)

first do you have a shark fin antenna on your car, if so then yes it should have been there, if not I think they are prewired but you have to install a puck size antenna, but the wires already run through the car.

LexusVRGN

My understanding is that even with the shark fin they are not prewired. It did not make since to me either but that's what my dealer told me when I inquired about having XM installed. The fin is there but it still needs wired.

Bushwack

I do have the shark fin on the car. But what the hell is it for - what purpose does the fin have??? Doesn't make sense to have the hockey puck installed if the fin was factory installed for future satellite radio service.

LenniePaz

You should just need the SFA12M cable from here:

http://www.vaistech.com/ecart/agora.cgi?product=10

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think the shark fin is wired if you have the SAT button on your stereo, otherwise it's not wired and not ready for the cable I listed.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

if you have the shark fin, i believe it's antenna pre-wired. the antenna comes down to the trunk area behind the lining on the right hand side. all you need is the factory tuner. if you got an aftermarket one, the antenna plug might not fit unless you have an adapter

Bushwack

Is that the adapter that Lennie provides a link to in a previous post?

Bushwack

As a side note... Just as a matter of record and for anyone who may search the forum for this information, I just bought an annual subscription for XM satellite radio for $77.00+ music royalty and tax - total was $85.32. You have to mention the $77.00 price or the sales rep will push you towards the on-line price schedule.

Channels excluded are Howard Stern (not a fan), Playboy (worthless w/o pictures), weather (there's rarely 'weather' in L.A.) and traffic (it's always rush hour in L.A.).

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i know that adapter will connect between the factory antenna plug to the xm tuner that vaistech uses. does it work with yours, that i can't say with confidence

shlinmd

Should be prewired. Installed the factory tuner on my 07 in the trunk myself after ordering it online. Uses the sharkfin.