Has anyone used this to install their XM units?

http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=267

It looks to be well integrated into the factory radio.

A dealer install of Sirius would have been $950(?)

I have an '08 MCS with the 10 speaker Hi-Fi system and was looking for options other than the external XM units. Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

 

Not listed to work with the R56 models.

I've used one of these with a GM vehicle with great success. Full integration including steering wheel controls. Works as just another radio band like AM/FM. Comes up as XM1/XM2...

 

Yes, its not compatible with the 2nd gen units as they use an optical MOST connector. Blitzsafe has not indicated any desire to do a unit for the 2nd gen. I'm hoping that will change.

 

I have been exchanging emails with Tom at European Auto Source since last November. He very recently told me the R56 compatible kit is done and tested and awaiting XM approval. Then they should be on their website. Lets keep our fingers crossed!!

 

I tried an xm adapter on my mazda 3 and it was quite tedious. You didn't have any station presets and it was very slow to change stations. Did the setup for the older MINIs allow presets?

 

Once they produce a unit for the R56, can you use the existing satellite antenna connection under the seat. I'd rather not put another antenna on the roof.

 

They say you can, but it might not work as well as the included one.

 

For what it's worth, I installed an XM radio and connected it to my MC roof antenna and had very poor reception. I finally had to add a separate XM antenna and now reception is perfect.

 

I guess you could replace the guts in the roof antenna with the XM antenna.

 

You are probably the second person that I've read about here who had trouble with the on board sat antenna. Did you connect it to the sat antenna or perhaps the nav antenna? I have had my XM connected since last fall and get excellent reception.

 

I had it professionally installed after reading a number of posts about how the pax seat had to be removed to get to the connection location. The installer was quite knowledgable, having installed other radios in Minis and assured me he used the right cable, etc. I had quite good reception as long as the car was not moving but the minute we drove it, we lost all of the channels above about 30. Delphi even replaced the radio for me but with the same result. As soon as the radio was connected using the supplied antenna, it worked perfectly. Go figure!