I have been reluctant to look at these devices knowing full well it would mean tearing my MCS 2002 radio apart. I finally gave in when I read about this device by Delphi. It is the Roady2 that is pretty slick and is running about $129 on the street. Has everything in the kit and you can get the home kit free right now for a short period of time. The big deal is that it connects in the usual way with a 12 volt adapter, comes with a very small magnet antenna, and has an FM transmitter that REALLY WORKS! May not be CD-quality but you can hard wire it too. Open the box and pop it in your car. You will be up and running with the XM test station. Call up and pay your sign up fee and the radio is activated. I comes with a couple of different ways to mount and you can move it between cars, into your house, and coming soon--a wearable adapter to carry with you!

 

This sounds like an XM commercial. I dislike XM cuz they are owned by Clearchannel. They may not have commercials but they still play the same songs again and again. I got Sirius cuz of their music and now they have live play-by-play coverage of the NFL.

Also they have had peiced like this that uses wireless fm modulators. But why would you want to do that. Have mini put in the Ipod adapter ($40) that goes in the glovbox and gives you an aux input. Better sound quality!

 

Why didnt you get the XM Direct? Get to use your Stering wheel buttons to control it. AWSOME>

I have XM Direct and love it.
http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1804

 

Hey! I do not even look at Clear Channel billbords when I go past them on the road. I do not listen to any of their regular stations either. If you feel the emotional need to call what I say an advert-fine! I did it to inform others of what is out there. I am using it on my work car and do not want to cut or modify anything. I sometime dirive long distances for work where there are no stations.

 

Great Link Justin

 

Alan_B,

I just got the Roady XM kit for my birthday. Now I'm trying to figure out how to integrate the darn thing into my dash. My wife borrowed my 2002 MINI (w/out MFSW) for a couple of hours yesterday and had it installed as a surprise. They placed the unit on the dash to the left of the tach with the mounting bracket double stick taped to the dash.

Where did you end up placing yours?

John

 

I have the Roady2 and move it from car to car. I use the air vent mounting clips on my GM work car. For the Mini, I used the velcro and put it between the seats. They tell you to mount the antenna outside the car and I did put it out the boot by the other antenna. Works fine so far inside too. If I would be mounting the head unit for it in a more permanent placement, I would probably put it near the bin above the 12-volt power outlet. The Roady2 has a neat IR optional remote, so you do not have to have great access. In a Mini however, everyting is pretty much close at hand.

 

Alan,

She got me the Roady rather than the Roady2. Maybe it was on deep discount and I my wife absolutely LOVES a bargain - bless her heart. The Roady doesn't seem to be as flexible or portable. I'm going to see about trading it in for the Roady2 ASAP. Then we'll be able to switch it between cars and house.

Thanks,
John

 

I just got back from the audio store that sold the Roady to my wife. It turns out she wasn't bargain hunting after all. They didn't have a Roady2 and they didn't even know it existed!

After looking it up they said they could get one from their other store and swap it for about $65 plus uninstall of the old one and reinstall of the new one for a total of about $145. Ouch!

 

I bought my wife the Roady for her birthday - the roady2 came out a few weeks later...

We did not want the XM direct because we move the unit around - we use it in the house with the free home kit we got by mail - we are also trying to get extra magnetic car antennas so we can use it in the other cars (we have 2 classic cars we only take out on nice days).

My wife also uses a Garmin iQue GPS unit - and the Roady interferes with the GPS signal. Delphi has acknowleged that as a known problem, and they might replace the Roady with a Roady2 as a solution... Still working on that though...

We're pretty happy with the XM overall...

 

What store told you that? I would return it and go somewhere else.

 

Quality Autosound in Boulder, CO. I would like to return it for a refund and go elsewhere. I think it may be tough to get a refund on the installation time.

 

Well, I finally got the Roady exchanged for a Roady2 and got an extra antenna for my wife's Rav4.

I found an old FM transmitter/cell phone holder (in my basement with some other useless junk ) that has a pretty decent articulated stalk combined with the cigarette lighter plug. I've discarded the FM transmitter and only want to use the plug and adjustable stalk. Now I want to splice the power wire from the cell phone holder to the power wire for the Roady2. My concern is that the Roady2 takes 6 volt power and I have no idea what the voltage is coming out of the cell phone holder - probably 12 volts. Does anybody know of a nice compact transformer that I can use to connect the two parts? Other ideas?

 

While searching for the transformer (no luck), I ended up at Soundtrack. Their installer told me that the Roady power cord can be tapped into 12v lines and all is well. He spliced my two lines together for free and sent me on my merry way.:smile:
Now I have XM on a plug-in stalk that I can easily shift between cars.

 

Justin,
could you post a few pics of your antenna placement and setup? where did you put the box? If one does the HAI, could you put the box in the old airbox location?

...and most importantly, does it work on an 02 MCS?

 

YEah sure, ill take a few pics tonight or tomorow for you. I put the box back where the AMP is for the HK speakers. and if oyu dont have the HK speakers it is in the BOOT on the right side in the cubby hole area. I will look for a link that shows you exactly how to do it all. It took me 5 min to have it up and running.

 

it works with an 02 head?

the great link you sent says satellite ready units only...03 or newer?

 

Here is a link to an xm direct install http://nickpresley.com/xm/
I did some research and ended up buying the kit last week. 10 minute install, very easy. Much easier than the delphi with fm modulator I was running, better sound too. It seems to me that if you have the AUX wires in the right side boot compartment it should work. I got mine from http://www.myradiostore.us/bundles/car/ and they have a 21 day return policy. So if it didn't work on an 02, it could be easly returned.

Nik

 

I think as long as you have CD changer controls in the back it should work. I have an 04 so im not totaly positive. You can call Ziggy at http://www.myradiostore.com and ask him. He would know

 

That first link is the one i used when installing my kit. Mine looks exactly like it.

 

I checked out the radiostore website...thanks for the link...but it only works for 03 and newer as you mentioned. I'm waiting to hear back about other options. I have the MFSW and want that interface that you enjoy.

we'll wait and see

 

Please call Ziggy he will be abale to make sure for you.

 

Called them and talked to a women who had no idea what I was talking about. Anyway, what I am trying to find out is how I can go about installing satellite radio in my '02 and have it controlled by the head unit. What I believe I need to do is buy a tuner (XM commander for example) and install it in the boot with a blitzsave adapter for an extra $100. Is this true?

 

Sounds like you want the XMDirect unit - did you review the NickPresley link above?

 

Yes, good link. But will it work in a 2002? Will I need to add a Blitzsafe unit?


Jim