I have a 2006 350 with XM but with the trunklid "pillbox" antenna. Any idea how hard it will be to mount and switch over to the sharkfin? I've even thought about mounting the sharkfin for looks and leaving the small trunk one as is. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Why would you want to do that? It looks cleaner without the BMW-wanna be sharkfin on the roof. Putting a non-functioning sharkfin on the roof is ghetto, imo. Leave it alone, you are driving a Lexus, man.

 

I second that comment!

 

I third that, but would also hate having the little black wart on my trunk. I'd probably try to hide it in the third brakelight housing, but if that didn't work, I'd at least move it to the rear parcel shelf.

 

the 07s have the sharkfin, the 06s don't. Someone else must think this is better. I actually think it looks better than the little "thing" on my trunklid.

 

i very much want to get XM Radio but simply dont like the options thus far with both the antenna and the kind of recievers they have

 

I love the sharkfin, it definately looks much better

 

This is one of the reasons why im glad I waited and got a 07. I plan to purchase the Lexus XM kit and the kit just plugs into the sharkfin through the trunk. If I had to mount some kind of external antenna to the trunk I would not get the XM kit.

 

Yea sharkfin looks nasty....... leave it off! I'm glad I got the '06 model without

 

anybody know if it's an easy switch to the sharkfin or if one can be bought and installed for looks?

 

I don't know why everyone frets about this....let me explain as I work in the wireless industry and certainly understand a few things about Satellite radio...

XM...unlike Sirius....uses a lot more repeters (sp?) in addition to the XM signal brought from the satelites. Sirius may have a few but not near as much as XM...

The result from this....XM will hold its reception A LOT better than Sirius and you should have no problem with XM and mounting the antenna inside the rear window (atop the thrid brakelight).

If you read a little more and do some searching you will find that most people having problems with their satelite radio and the antenna on the third brake light...are having it with SIRUS.

Therefore if you want sirius then you need to mount it outside..if XM...mount on the thrid brakelight, you shouldn't have a problem.


I just got mine and am installing it tomorrow like that (XM)

 

Is it possible to use the car's FM antenna which is built into the rear window for XM?

 

No, the FM antenna is tuned to a completely different wave length.

 

I like the shark fin........

 

I'd prefer without. It's a cleaner and smoother top without it.
And because I get snow where I am, I don't want to end up
knocking the fin (oops!) when brushing snow off the top.