I meant to post this one here and not on the LX forum.

I bought my RX a couple of weeks ago and didn't get the XM installed that day. I want it now and dealer is quoting $795!! Ouch, does anyone else have XM if so, how much did you pay for dealer install?

 

I bet it would vary from dealer to dealer. Try to find a reputable car audio place and you will be surprised at the skill of their installation. It does take time and labor to do it right and things can go wrong. I know my dealer charged an arm and a leg just to install my Escort radar detector with the hidden front and back detectors. Routing wires can be tricky.

 

You might want to check around a little. I had it installed in a 2005 Camry XLE and it cost something like $200 for the receiver and I paid ....I believe it was under $50 to the mechanic (under the table) to install. The grip I have is they sell those vehicles with a sticker that says XM ready. You have to buy the receiver and a mechanic to install. $750 sounds pretty strong to me. I think I would look at DIY before I would pay that much. My .02 cents.

Good luck and enjoy,

lar

 

It seems the price really varies. We bought an '07 rx400h this past weekend across the state, and the dealer said it would be $595 to install XM. My 2 local dealers quoted $795. Another dealer about an hour away is $635.

I also wanted an auxiliary input installed, and was told by 2 dealers that this was impossible with XM radio. I'm shocked. I have a cassette player but no ipod input?! Another dealer said that they could install the Vais technology aux input with xm, but the that would run about $1350. That seems a little ridiculous.

Anyone out there have satellite radio AND an aux input? I'm hoping a non-dealer sound specialist can help.

Jessica

 

^ I would look into installing it yourself.

 

Can someone help me with a related XM question? I just bought a used RX400h. The dealer told me that XM is not installed and wanted $800 to put it in. I laughed and told him no.

Later, I was playing with the CD player. I switched on the CD without a disk and hit a couple of buttons. I then heard what sounds like a pitch for XM, basically a 60-second loop with samples and pitchman. I don't know how, but I can receive some signal that appears to come from XM.

Does this make sense to anyone?

 

In the Sat mode, go to channel 0 and wait until a random set of letters and numbers show up (8 digits) on the screen. If you get those numbers, all you have to do is call XM and activate.

Also, just call XM @ 1-800-347-0600. Tell the person that you want the $77/year promotion you "saw" on-line. They gave it to me with no problems! They didnt ask me for a promotional code. Also, if your car was never set up for the 3 month free trial, then ask for that to begin before your 1 yr promo offer (so 15 months for $77!).

If you're really lucky you can inquire about the $12.95 credit for having a credit card on file, they gave that to me, too!

One slight warning: When my 1 year is up, they will begin billing me @ $38 per quarter unless I call them back to specify otherwise.

 

Vais makes an interface with an auxiliary input along with the sat input. Then again, you can always use a cassette adapter,

 

Argh, no! Cassette adapters sound awful!

 

You can always have both units installed in the same car, one for iPod and one for XM. It's available for all '05 and up Lexus. SL2i-UP will do iPod and SL2xMT with CNP2000 tuner will do XM. This way both iPod and XM are integrated into the radio with text display and control. You don't need to use cassette adapters, you can have them both integrated with great sound quality.

Email us for recommended dealers in your area. But $1350 for one unit is definitely way too much.....