Ferg

I went to Circuit City today to buy one and get it installed. The installer couldn't even figure out how to pull my radio out and now my ashtray is partially broken (my bad on that one...I don't hold him responsible). He put the two little prongs in the openings on the face of the radio and was almost unable to get them back out again...and he couldn't get the faceplate of the radio to budge one mm. I don't think that I need to let him try again (his quote: "Why don't you come back Wednesday evening when the manager is here? He has much better luck with these things than I do." YEAH, RIGHT!). This is AFTER he and I had spent about 10 minutes or so with me explaining that I didn't want the XM if they had to do any alterations or mods to the OEM radio in order to get the XM to work. I don't want to do anything that might cause warranty problems or that might have the slightest possibility of creating electrical gremlins in the car.

He never got the radio out and he never cut or spliced any wires (thank goodness!), but he wasn't able to put the ashtray back together completely. There was one little part on the spring of the ashtray that he didn't know how to get back in. So now my ashtray "clicks" and doens't move smoothly when I open/close it. I'll take it back to the dealership and have them fix it because it rattles a little now, too.

But I would STILL like to have XM radio, damnit! Those of you who have the XM, could you please tell me:

1. By whom did you have it installed? I am not willing or competent to do it myself, so that option is right out!
2. Where did you mount the faceplate?

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

Ferg

HipsTTR

1) I had it installed by someone who had done it before. He had installed my stereo upgrade. I would NEVER trust Circuit City to even look at my car, let alone touch it. Sorry you had to learn that lesson the hard way.

2) I have the Pioneer. The head unit was originally installed on the third visor. But it hung down and covered part of the rear view mirror. So I had it moved to the dash right below the driver's side vent. It is attached with velcro.

Just as a hint. Try the dealer. Or the parts dept at the dealer. Ask them who does the top end Porsche custom stereo installs in your area.

Ferg

AM to get Shawn (the tech) to fix the damn ashtray. It's a minor thing, but I don't like the rattle and I don't like it not being perfect.

I had hoped that Circuit City would do me right since they are a big, nationally-known company. I guess it was not my night!

I'll ask Shawn about whom to call for the install. I just had hoped to get it done here in my hometown since the dealership is an hour's drive away...

Can you post a pic of how your XM unit looks in your car?
:-p

aktif8

i work for the company, and i'll say this:

only get work done if the installer has worked on the car. we have some very competent, even excellent, installers - but if they've never done the car, they won't have had any experience with it (we don't really receive much in the way of car specific training..)

fwiw, one of the installers at my store just put in a nav system in my identical car, only black..came out beautifully.

if you were in jersey, i could recommend our shop, but as is, i'll apologize for the bad experience

White LighTTning

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/40271/xmradio.jpg"></center><p>

aktif8

yup, mine is getting installed in a few days, same spot

TTigg

I haven't listened to reg radio since May when I installed mine ready for TTE. Check my fotki for pics and drop us an email for details.

BocaRatonTT

Had mine done at Circuit city, no problems. Got the Pioneer unit. Face pllate installed right below drivers a/c vent (velcro). Antenna installed on dash dead center against glass. No problem with reception.