'11 II XM Install??

Just picked up our '11 II and am getting into installing a SiriusXM receiver separate from the built-in radio. The dealer said they have one for $350+ but I was a bit put off by that and didn't ask if it included installation. The parts guy suggested I try Best Buy.

Best Buy said they could do it but the labor alone would be $190 and I'd have to supply the unit (with car power accessory) plus a mount. They referred me to cellularmounts.com which doesn't show one online. All in that would be close to or more than the dealer quote if it included installation.

So.................. what's the best advice for an aftermarket install of a non-integrated SiriusXM receiver? I'd like to use something like the xmp3i Which is portable) but I've read a few things that suggest reception would be better with a permanent unit.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

If anyone has experience with an Audivox xmp3i (portable receiver) in a '10+ Prius II that would help too. I'm not sure I want to have to wire in an antenna and this unit gets some decent, if somewhat spotty, reviews without one. Major drawbacks would seem to be small screen size and lack of easily usable channel pre-sets.

 

Well................. I stopped by my local Walmart to give the Audovox Onyz a try. It was only $59.88 so I took one home. We listen to news and information channels mostly, so I'm not all that concerned about the sound quality at this price.............. assuming it's not TOO bad. The one issue I'm concerned about is the antenna. I don't really want to hassle with running wires and having to remove trim parts or winding up with an amateur look............

Is the built in XM antenna accessible for a novice??? Or is it accessible to a pro at a hopefully low cost? I've Googled my tail off to see if there's a simple plug-in antenna port in the car but have only found references to the receiver unit being mounted under a front seat. It would be cool if the antenna wire was there but I doubt I'm that lucky.

I bought a 1 year extended warranty for $6 to guard against the backlight failure I keep reading about on this unit, but I can just return the whole thing if a better inexpensive solution is out there. I'll check into salvage but that would seem to be more work than I'd be comfortable with.

 

Great! Now I just need the cojones to remove the head unit. Any easy instructions you can point me to?

BTW, I stopped by a local Auto Sound shop and the apparently knowledgeable guy there said he couldn't see anything that looked like an XM antenna on the car. It has an antenna at the rear of the roof that is about 8" long with looped ridges along it's length. He said that was a standard radio antenna. Is he mistaken............. I hope.

Thanks.

 

I found that reference and it should be really helpful in getting to the HU. Sorry to be so needy but I'm still hopeful of finding out exactly where the XM antenna lead is and how to identify it.

With apologies to jdimetal, I found some material that said it was under the center console because the built-in XM receiver is located under the driver seat when it's factory installed. That would be simple, but I'm guessing that might only be on cars that do have factory XM.

Thanks all.

 

Thanks. Now I just have to figure out how to install the antenna without tearing up the car or creating a stupid-looking install. My biggest concern is how to get the wire past the weatherstripping without causing a leak. The instructions that came with the unit aren't very specific about how to do that.

Also............... a local auto sound shop guy told me the antenna is better located above the front windshield which means going through a front door rather than the back hatch. AND............... the instructions with the unit suggest that the antenna should not be located near the radio antenna, so that means off-center if at the hatch (which seems kinda dorky to me).

Ah.............. decisions, decisions.

 

I thought I'd post back after completing my XM radio install in case anyone else has the same situation and questions.

I installed an Audiovox Onyx XM player in my '11 basic II. After a lot of searching it turned out to be really very simple. The biggest help was finding an Arkon mounting bracket that is 15" tall and mounts into the front passenger seat rail, under the bolt at the front of the rail. The unit now sits upright at a perfect height, just to the right of the center console.

Wiring turned out to be very simple too. The unit plugs into the 12V socket in the center console and connects to the radio through the AUX port in that same spot. I wound up using the antenna that came with the radio and it sits on the far right of the dash, just by the small window there. I anchored it with a 3M lightweight removable picture anchor and ran the wire neatly under the trim from the end of the dash, down underneath, and across to the center console. All the wires are kept neatly together with zip ties around the mount and 3M light wire anchors down low along the side of the console, so almost none of the wires show.

The unit works perfectly, even with the antenna inside the car. I was leery of trying to run that wire all the way to the rear and out the hatchback lid for a roof mount, so I tried it inside and it seems to work just fine. The XM unit even turns itself on when I start the car because of the way the 12V port works. Press the AUX button and away you go.

 

Not sure if that's addressed to me. I didn't install the unit in the dash. I installed an AudioVox XM receiver on a 15" tall Arkon mount just to the right of the console. At $79 for the unit + $26 for the mount, I have a perfectly good XM unit for my needs. BTW, I originally wanted to connect to the head unit through the built-in connectors but got conflicting info as to where they really were and found that I'd need a rather pricey cable adapter to do it. So I have two wires running up the side of the console and connect inside to the 12V and AUX ports inside. While I'd've preferred a completely clean in-dash install, it wasn't worth the money or the possible trouble. I also have a dash mounted Garmin, and this is a Prius II.

Now................ if you can get me some leather upholstery and a sunroof for a couple hundred bucks I'll be all set. :rockon: