I noticed that they all have the "SAT" button, but is there any other special hardware module you have to buy? Or can you just activate the radio ESN with a subscription?

 

no they do not all come with sat radio but you can add it yourself if you like

Heres a DIY

 

i have a complete VAIS sirus radio kit out of my 06 for sale. very easy to install and thats it youll have sat radio

PM me if your interested

 

Any idea how I would know if it comes with Sirius pre installed?

I find it mind blowing that a car that retails for near $60K doesn't come with Sat radio. (Even in 07-08)

 

i doubt any would come sirius installed. if anything at that time lexus were working with xm

 

Sorry, I meant sattelite radio in general. XM/Sirius doesn't matter.

 

Mine was $63k and it didn't come with it. Its a cheap part from Sewell and takes a hour or two to install.

 

pretty simple, flip the aux to sat and see if you get anything lol

 

it is not preinstalled

and if the previous owner added it youd see the little black antenna somewere on the outside roof or trunk

 

Mine is inside the rear window on the rear deck. No shark fin, no stupid block sitting on the trunk lid.

My sat unit is in the trunk pass side mounted to the rear deck plate.

 

Id give you the direct link to the part if I knew the year and model of the car.

You get a discount if you sign up as a member of Club Lexus.
http://lexus.sewellparts.com/

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/mob...-complete.html

cheaper then sewell and complete

 

Maybe not enough interest/subscribership in the 2006-07 timeframe to facilitate full development and mass rollout of radio units w/SAT in the vehicles. They just gave you the option to purchase aftermarket kits that will work using that SAT button. After they realized SAT was catching on, and here to stay for the moment, they decided to up the game and make SAT part of the standard stereo package.

Could it have been Mark Levinson and not Toyota, at least in the Lexus? I wonder how early on some of the other auto manufacturers rolled out intergrated SAT?

 

So that one comes with 6months free service and a warranty? I'm kidding that's a good deal. I for one am glad I installed it on my car. I don't even listen to regular radio anymore.

Not sure with how all the newer Lexus cars are coming but my 07 GSh it was a dealer option. The kit was installed after you checked the box off that you wanted it. So essentially, what your buying from Sewell is the exact same unit that the service dept is going to install if you optioned it that way. (so i was told)

OP...don't be put off if you bought or are buying a 3rd gen w/o sat. So many of us have installed it in our cars that we could walk your through it easily.