XM radio - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wsimpson110 · #1 08-01-2004, 07:34 AM

I recently received an XM Roady satellite radio as a gift. I would like to mount it in my 98 e320. I have the stock head unit with the cassette player. I am wondering if the head unit has a line in jack or plug in so I can easily connect it to my system. Or, do I have to rely on an FM modulator to do the trick??

fturco · #2 10-21-2005, 11:37 AM

It is my understanding that Mercedes only started putting an AUX port on their radio in 2005. My best guess is that you will have to use the FM transmitter.

It has been my experience that the FM Transmitter on these Sat Receivers is pretty weak. I drive MB station wagons with the antenna at the rear. The reception is bad. As a test, I put the satellite unit in the back of the station wagon using the 12 V power port back there. The reception was very good. However, it is pretty hard to tune a receiver that is in the back of the vehicle.

Incidently, I was just on the phone with the parts man at the local MB dealer. He tells me that there is only one connector on the back of the 2005 radio and it is for the fiber optics connection. So much for that line-in jack idea!

Walrus · #3 10-21-2005, 11:48 AM

There are also kits which go in-line, between the antenna wire, and the jack on the headunit, which work very well. You can even find them in the satellite radio section of most electronic stores, and Wal-Mart-type discount stores. XM makes a kit specifically for this type application, and was available at my local Wal-Mart last time I was there... It is basically an FM modulator, that does not require the signal to be sent "over the airways", similar to the way a kids nintendo works on the cable input of a TV...

Good luck. I love my XM Roady on long trips... I use the tape adaptor, and often move my unit from car to car... The tape unit works very well, but the wire hanging from the unit is kinda ugly (as is the antenna wire, lying on the dash). This is the price I am willing to accept to have portability. Incidently, I have excellent reception even though it is recommended NOT to lay the antenna on the dash (no ground-plane)... I do suffer drop-outs as I pass underneath large bridges... but only for a brief second or less.

TX76513 · #4 10-21-2005, 02:02 PM

The modulator works Excellent. I mounted mine on the center (little) sun visor. Easy access to power at the dome light and antenna slips neatly out the sunroof channel.

brianc320 · #5 10-24-2005, 03:45 PM

I installed a "Roady" a few months ago in my 02 C320. I used the cassette adapter and mounted the unit on the center-left dash vent with the provided clip. The FM modulator worked so-so, but the cassette adapter was 10 times sharper. I ran the antenna wire up under the dash, tucked under the door sills, under the back seat and thru the trunk up to the roof by the existing stub antenna. I notched the metal under the trunk seal and ran the wire up around the rear window seal. Can't see it unless you realy look close and it says put in the "channel".

Buy the remote. It beats fumbling with the awkward controls on the Roady.

tvpierce · #6 10-24-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianc320

I installed a "Roady" a few months ago in my 02 C320. I used the cassette adapter and...

An '02 Benz came with a CASSETTE player... that's inexcusable.

I don't think you could even buy a pre-recorded album on cassette in 2002, could you?

jp

POS · #7 10-24-2005, 08:25 PM

I've had XM for four years now, and I just bought a Delphi XT kit for my wife's truck. I tried the FM modulation way using broadcasting and it's an utter failure - drive through a strong FM signal on that channel and the XM cuts out a bit. Annoying.

Delphi makes a FM adapter kit that is a small box that you plug your car antenna into, then plug the box into the radio's antenna slot. Of course, you hook up the controller to the same box. Result? FM modulation without any FM interference. Much, much better.

brianc320 · #8 10-25-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvpierce

An '02 Benz came with a CASSETTE player... that's inexcusable.

I don't think you could even buy a pre-recorded album on cassette in 2002, could you?

jp

Tell me about it. Then MB wants almost a grand to install a cd changer. They must have been using up all the old stuff in the "parts bin" :-)

No matter. I don't listen to tapes or cd's, so the XM is great and the tape player being there was a +.

BENZ-LGB · #9 10-26-2005, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

I've had XM for four years now, and I just bought a Delphi XT kit for my wife's truck. I tried the FM modulation way using broadcasting and it's an utter failure - drive through a strong FM signal on that channel and the XM cuts out a bit. Annoying.

Delphi makes a FM adapter kit that is a small box that you plug your car antenna into, then plug the box into the radio's antenna slot. Of course, you hook up the controller to the same box. Result? FM modulation without any FM interference. Much, much better.

I agree. Here is a pic of my XM unit (installed in my 1998 E320). I love satellite.

I recently bought a CPO 2002 C320 wagon for my daughter. It comes with a casette unit too. go figure.