XM radio, Garmin Nuvi, and radar detector installed
03-01-2007, 08:20 PM
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My Ride: 2007 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
Designo Graphite with white leather interior
Keyless Go, Heated/Ventilated seats, Parktronic
Over the past few weeks I've installed a few things in the car and I just thought I'd show them off 
.
I prefer XM radio over Sirius so I've been trying to find a relatively inexpensive way to install XM in the car. I picked up the XM Sportscaster which fits PERFECTLY in the dash pocket (for those of you without NAV). I absolutely hate having wires all over the dash, so I spent some time and successfully hid all of the wires. I mounted the XM radio in the dash pocket and the antenna INSIDE the car discretely placed just underneath the front window in the center. The unit is FM modulated, but I bought a FM hardwire kit that gives better reception (sound quality) vs just running it wirelessly through the radio. I'm no audiophile, but the sound is very good and I've never had reception problems travelling across the country.
I also hardwired my Escort Passport 8500 x50 radar which was surprisingly a VERY easy job thanks to the DIY instructions from another e60 member.
I really regretted getting the car without navigation until I drove a friend's '05 530 home from the bar the other night. I was very disappointed with the nav system and thought the nav in my old '05 Acura TL was MUCH better. I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 350 and hardwired it as well. Needless to say, I've taken apart the wood trim on the dash a couple times now and removed the overhead console as well. I'm typcially not too handy when it comes to this kind of stuff, but thanks to e60.net I gathered up the courage to tackle these tasks.
.I prefer XM radio over Sirius so I've been trying to find a relatively inexpensive way to install XM in the car. I picked up the XM Sportscaster which fits PERFECTLY in the dash pocket (for those of you without NAV). I absolutely hate having wires all over the dash, so I spent some time and successfully hid all of the wires. I mounted the XM radio in the dash pocket and the antenna INSIDE the car discretely placed just underneath the front window in the center. The unit is FM modulated, but I bought a FM hardwire kit that gives better reception (sound quality) vs just running it wirelessly through the radio. I'm no audiophile, but the sound is very good and I've never had reception problems travelling across the country.
I also hardwired my Escort Passport 8500 x50 radar which was surprisingly a VERY easy job thanks to the DIY instructions from another e60 member.
I really regretted getting the car without navigation until I drove a friend's '05 530 home from the bar the other night. I was very disappointed with the nav system and thought the nav in my old '05 Acura TL was MUCH better. I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 350 and hardwired it as well. Needless to say, I've taken apart the wood trim on the dash a couple times now and removed the overhead console as well. I'm typcially not too handy when it comes to this kind of stuff, but thanks to e60.net I gathered up the courage to tackle these tasks.
03-22-2007, 06:30 PM
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My Ride: 2007 550i White/Black, SMG, Sports Pkg, Comfort Access, Nav, HUD, Satellite Radio, Anthracite Maple Trim
2006 X5 3.0, Black/Black, Sports Pkg, Premium Pkg, Xenon Adaptive Headlight, NAV, Rear Climate Pkg, Anthracite Trim
You're right XM is way better than Sirius.. I wish I knew that before I ordered Sirius on my car.. Wasted $500 on that crap..Man I miss XM.. Great job on your car.. Looks very clean 
03-23-2007, 10:17 AM
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My Ride: 2007 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
Designo Graphite with white leather interior
Keyless Go, Heated/Ventilated seats, Parktronic
Originally Posted by jrsamps' post='405849' date='Mar 22 2007, 09:11 PM
Where r u pulling power from?
Everything I've read online says that you can't simply cut off the end of the nuvi cord and hardwire it. Doing that would make the Nuvi think that it's in "computer mode" for some reason. What I did was install an additional 12V outlet inside the center console and plug the cord in that way. The power outlet is beneath the storage compartment in the center console so no wires are present and I still have the storage area in the center console for my Red Bull
.
03-23-2007, 09:43 PM
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My Ride: 2007 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
Designo Graphite with white leather interior
Keyless Go, Heated/Ventilated seats, Parktronic
Originally Posted by Yoko' post='406079' date='Mar 23 2007, 01:22 PM
Nice placement for the radar.
I have the same radar as yours.
could u tell me how to place it like that? Thanx
I have the same radar as yours.
could u tell me how to place it like that? Thanx
I followed the DIY posted by "Don Juan" in this thread:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=708
You can either cut the male plug off of the coiled power cord of purchase the hardwire kit from Escort. The kit is about $15 and is is a little bit easier to work with....but either will work.
03-28-2007, 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by wasupdu' post='406075' date='Mar 23 2007, 11:17 AM
Everything I've read online says that you can't simply cut off the end of the nuvi cord and hardwire it. Doing that would make the Nuvi think that it's in "computer mode" for some reason. What I did was install an additional 12V outlet inside the center console and plug the cord in that way. The power outlet is beneath the storage compartment in the center console so no wires are present and I still have the storage area in the center console for my Red Bull .
.