Just took delivery of a 2008 Mini S Cabrio with upgraded HK stereo. I wanted Sirius installed but the dealer had to order it, but I have already included it in the deal (paid for it). Today in the news I see the merger is about to happen and I wonder if I should see if I can cancel the install and wait to see if I should get a satellite radio after the merger. I understand that the ala carte option (pick and choose stations) will only be available on new radios after the merger. My MA told me that they charge $950 for the Sirius installed with a one year subscription, but a lady he recently sold one to got a lifetime subscription when she activated with Sirius. Thoughts, opinions, advice?

 

Go ahead and get the lifetime subscription. They should honor it when the two merge.

 

It is better to do it now. I have XM and they don't have a lifetime subscription.

+1

 

Sirius gives lifetime subscriptions for $500 to anyone, but they are non transferable (so is the one you get through Mini), so its not really that great of the deal, unless your keeping the car for over 5 years. No one knows specifics about the merger yet, and its probably still a long way off, so I cant see why you would wait. iirc to add Sirius after delivery is a $500 option (dealer may then charge for install), with a one year subscription, $1000 lifetime is only available when initially buying the car.

 

Read the post, the Dealer didn't offer him a lifetime subscription. It looks like it is a dealer install with a one year for $950. thats not a good deal, unless you just have to have the integrated Sirius and don't want to add it on. It is NOT the factory install, I believe, that is only $600 with one year.

 

1) $950 is INSANE... (unless the parts were like 800 of the total price)
2)both XM and sirius are all about customer service, so they will do anything in their power to keep you as a customer (you wont get denied service if/when the merger happens)
3)if the merger does happen, sirius will be buying out XM, and with you getting sirius not XM installed, you should not have any issues.
4)this merger has been "about to happen" for almost a year.
5)do not get the sirius activated through the dealer do it on your own (that way you can get the lifetime instead of the one year subscription and hopefully shave some of that 950 off.)

 

True, but an old friend of mine is VP in charge of programming at XM. He told me two weeks ago to look out for some FCC news in the next few weeks. He was correct. He also said he expect serious turmoil at XM early this summer. We'll see about that, but I have no reason to doubt him now. Just throwing that out there - do with it what you will.

 

Thanks for all your thoughts. I decided to cancel the Sirius install at the dealer and ordered a Dice unit for the iPod for now. I'll wait to see what happens with the merger. I am an existing Sirius subscriber paid up for another year or so and will use the auto unit from my old car in my house. I'll just miss Jay Thomas in the afteroons, but Sirius often repeats the playlists on most channels, I've found.

 

I have a lifetime subscription to Sirius and I've added/removed units without any issue. $75 fee for adding units...no biggie.

DH's last vehicle came with a 6mo Sirius pkg...once the 6mo was done, I simply added that unit's serial number to the lifetime subscription.

I had two portable units...sold one to a co-worker...removed that unit's serial number from the lifetime subscription and the unit stopped working until my co-worker created his own subscription 10 minutes later.

I currently use the other portable unit at home...connected to the home theater system. The antenna is still installed on the Camry to allow the portable unit to still be used.

 

I thought the lifetime could be transfered with the car, not the owner. So if you sell the car the new buyer would get the Sirius account.

If after I get the lifetime sirius installed at the factory and I want to replace the unit can that be done?

 

That's what Sirius told me when I setup my lifetime account (came with the 07 year audio package).

 

Sirius is crap I miss XM, I will wait to see what the playlist look like......as if it mostly Sirius I will pass..........

 

I have both and can't see why you would say that, musically they are practically the same, XM channels are labeled a lot better I'll say that. But, when it comes to talk and entertainment Sirius is just a 1000 times better, its not even close.

 

I had XM in former car....now have Sirius. I'm primarily a jazz fan and I REALLY miss Watercolors. The Sirius playlist, at least for the jazz channels, just doesn't match my tastes.

 

I loved XM, Sirius is not as good.... I have it in my crossfire....and want XM again....