I've been an XM subscriber for many years, so I wanted to add it to my "new" XK8. The units I've used in the past just didn't seem to "fit" so I began looking for an alternative, and I found the "Snap" radio. It's small, very easy to install and use, looks good and works well (see pictures).

Here's how I installed it:

1) Place the magnetic antenna at the upper right corner of the windscreen frame.
2) Route the wire under the A-pillar weatherstrip, between the edge of the dash and door opening, behind the glovebox and along the edge of the console. Tuck it in so it's not visible.
3) Remove the console storage bin strike plate (two screws). This will allow you to run the wire into the ashtray. Reinstall the plate.
4) Push the Snap unit into the lighter socket, plug in the antenna, set the FM frequency to a blank station and activate the radio.

The entire process is totally reversible--and if you want the unit out of the way, just unplug the antenna and pull the unit out of the socket.

I found my Snap on ebay for $25 with free shipping, new in the box. You will get better sound quality with a cassette adaptor, which I had from an older XM unit (that's the wire coming in over the console), but most of the time the FM modulator works fine for me. I did use the cassette adaptor on a long trip simply because that saved me from driving into an area with a strong station on the frequency I chose.

Happy listening!

 

Nice job Gator!! Thanks for sharing and posting with pics!

 

If I may put my views on this, I have almost the same set up as I use a docking station for my Iphone to get XM radio thru that. The difference is on mine I did not want the antenna on the outside of the car anywhere. So i just ran the line up around the bottom of the windshield and set it right in the middle of the dash there! I had some reservations about this location as some say that it would not have good signal.. but I have not had any problems at all. And I never have a eyesore of the antenna on the outside of the car! My next project is to add the switch to stop the antenna from rising up when i need to use the Iphone as it is a FM Modulator that sends the music to the radio!

Just saying!!!

 

That certainly would work too. I do find with my black top that I barely even notice the antenna, though.

 

How about just replacing the antenna altogether? SteveJacks disconnected the alien beacon and installed an antenna behind the rear bumper. That motivated me to try something similar. I installed an $8 antenna from Radio Shack in the space where the convertible top goes when it is retracted. I'll be posting a video showing my installation tonight or tomorrow. My new antenna works almost as good as the factory antenna.

 

When I installed my XM, to eliminate the changeing signal as you went from city to city, I pulled the antennna power fuse, no antenna extention, no interference from strong stations