Did anyone notice that for 2009, MINI stopped offering the factory Sirius with the lifetime subscription? Now it is only $500 and with one year.

 

Take it from a person who struggled for months to get their account set up correctly... You are better off. Those of us who got the lifetime option through MINI had all sorts of issues because MINI and Sirius never got their stories straight.

There's a thread somewhere with the details but suffice it to say that if you want lifetime and you want the integrated radio, spend the $500 with MINI then after you take delivery call Sirius and upgrade to lifetime.

It's the same money except you can't finance it.

 

I recently looked at Sirius' website to see if they even offerd an a'la'carte lifetime, but didn't see it as an option. I'm not sure that you can just call and upgrade to lifetime. Do you know if it's actually possible at this time?

 

I would have ordered that on my '08 if it was an option. I leased my car for 24 months and there was no way I was paying for the lifetime subscription for only 2 years of use.

 

I don't know. That may be why they don't offer it anymore. Plus the pending merger of XM and Sirius is gonna make lifetime subs a sticky-wicket for the combined company to resolve.


Good point, however the lifetime sub came with the option to transfer it twice for $75.00 each time if I recall correctly.

 

You can upgrade the one year to lifetime for $399.

 

I did, but I thought I was the only one who was examining the site for details like that! As others have suggested, it's probably wiser to get SIRIUS on your own and opt for the longer subscription at your leisure.

 

True. On the 08 that we have, one key fob settings works without difficulty and the other says to call sirius. Getting irritated at it too. When I try to scroll through all of the stations, It stops at channel 20. But, if I use the directional buttons, it scrolls through all of them.....

 

I set up my Sirius lifetime today and it went very quickly and smoothly. Lifetime set up no problem.
Only thing I don't care for is if i want to upgrade the actual radio unit I don't think it will be possible. I heard a rumor that once the merger happens you might have to get a special unit that will tune in both XM and Sirius chanels. Not sure about that though.

 

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM_Sirius_Merger:

"Currently, XM and Sirius use different compression and conditional access systems, currently making their receivers incompatible with each other's service, though both companies have guaranteed that existing receivers will be able to receive content from both services after the merger.


"Executives from both companies have stated that XM and Sirius will continue to operate as separate services. Buying another radio to receive programming from the other service will be optional. However, a unified receiver that can receive programming from both networks would allow subscribers to listen to the entire range of channels. Interoperable Technologies, a joint venture of both companies, was formed in 2003 and announced such a receiver in 2006. Mel Karmazin has confirmed the existence and operation of the radio, "We have one. It's in my office." Karmazin's dual system radio can expect competitors--according to tech-site Gizmodo, Onkyo is entering the interoperable radio arena.


"Subscriber growth is expected to slow significantly as consumers wait for interoperable receivers with a lifetime of approximately 15 years. Once the next generation of satellites is constructed and operating, combining satellite networks could result in a savings of US$40 million a year."

 

They would be fools to not combine the music channels and only offer one unified set of pop, rock, dance, etc. through both satellite systems. This means that both radios would then receive the same music channels. I can't imagine that they would they continue to spend the money to produce overlapping music channels after the merger. That's what I hope at least

 

Actually, music lovers who subscribe to both XM & Sirius will be the first to tell you that there is a HUGE difference in the way the two companies program their music channels. They do intend to do some merging of channels, but they'll have to be very careful as to not upset the masses.

From a bean-counter perspective, it would be great if they only had to carry 70 music channels. But in order to appease their current subscribers, they will have to maintain many more than that.

 

I've listened to both services for years and I could not care less about which one I have (relating to music channels only). As long as I have commercial free music and not FM radio then I am happy. I suppose I am in the minority on this though.

 

The major differences that you may or may not have noticed is

• XM has deeper playlists; Sirius is more repetitive
• XM has less talk on the music stations
• Sirius music channels are more about the personality and less about the music (IE: The Morning Mashup on Hits 1, Spider Harrison, MTV VJs on the 80's channels, Tony Hawk on some other music channel, Eminem on Shade 45, Cousin Brucey on the 50s channel
• Sirius Hits 1 will take the time to tell you about what's going on in the tabloids (IE: Brangelina are pregnant or something like that), and they'll take the time to tell you what this week's top ringtones are
• XM will let music play to completion which only makes sense since they don't have to fit in any commercials (IE: Not cutting off "Tainted Love" or "November Rain")

XM is more like listening to a 1,000,000-disc CD changer. Sirius is more like listening to your typical FM station minus the commercials. Can you tell which one I like better?

 

I sorta feel the same way. So far the Sirius has been soooooo much better then FM radio, I love it. I can't wait to see what the merger brings to the plate, to me it will just make it even better!! Especially after reading tim781996's post.

Any idea when the merge might take place and we will hear it on the radio?

 

The companies officially merged on July 29. The first original content to air on both services, Mad Dog sports radio, will begin mid-September. There's no official word as to when we'll hear what music channels get axed/shared, but they're expected to release some information by the end of September.

We should also see an A La Carte radio by the Winter. This will allow you to pick up most of one service and the best of the other. There will be various pricing and packages available depending on how much content you want to purchase.

Go to http://www.orbitcast.com for the latest news.

 

It seems that this is one merger that will benefit almost everyone. It will be awesome to select those XM stations us SIRIUS users crave and vice a versa. I wonder which ones they will have to OMIT. SIRIUS if you are listening please don't delete the beat or chill!!!!

 

If it's the Beat versus BPM, there might be a showdown.

 

It looks like October 6 is the integration day: http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/be...ctobe-6th.html