Broke this out as a separate post for ease of finding:

2005-6 e320 CDIs had a Sirius Sat radio option available installed by MB or dealer when new.

The "bug" on back lid is post-VPC Sirius Antenna I believe. If vehicles had Sirius Sat. Radio added at dealership, this is where the Antenna was mounted and necessitated a hole being drilled in aluminum trunk lid

VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) prepared vehicles had the system added before being sent to dealers. I believe Mercedes mechanics added the Antenna to the roof in front of the communication antenna.

For vehicles without Sirius, you can install a MB command driven system which necessitates finding a MB Sirius module. These can only be found used I believe (~$100 on eBay for used one). The 2005 CDI was pre-wired for it I believe and the 2006 may not have been. You then have to install the module, an Antenna and the command unit needs to be programmed to recognize the module (no plug and play).

Easy aftermarket install

For my vehicle, I think I will bypass the MB Sirius system and install a stand alone system plugged into the Aux 1/8' jack in glove compartment, powered from fuse box on left of dash next to driver and place a small antenna near front window in center.

Here is a site describing what I am thinking about as done to a W211 wagon:

How To: Install a Satellite Car Radio - I

The link is from 2009, is this still the easiest (means best to me) way to do it?

There are stand lone units with lifetime subscription for the unit available on eBay for around $300

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Ack! Very unsightly. I passed on one a couple years ago that had one.

Agree....for Sirius, I recommend placing a small antenna under front window in front center. Wires can be easily hidden. See link in previous post which covers doing an installation in a W211 wagon.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

I added the factory command SIRIUS solution to my 2006 CDI, as you stated in your first post its not a hard modification to make and the benefits of having the factory integrated solution are significant.

You need a MB SIRIUS receiver module, a couple of fiber-optic connections and a grand total of 2 wires (hot, and ground) and provisions for a SIRIUS antenna. Took me a grand total of about 1 hour start to finish. Interestingly when I powered up the system after the install the Command system recognized that a new module was present on the fiber optic network and as I recall it worked without any SDS re-programming. I have access to an SDS machine and when I went into the MOST configuration screen the the SDS software indicated that the saved fiber-optic ring configuration stored in the vehicle didn't match the actual configuration.... but it still seemed to work? Seemed strange.

__________________
98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (123k)
13 GLK250 (135k)
06 E320CDI (323K)
16 C300 (62K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

Used modules are fairly inexpensive on eBay but I wonder if you can transfer an existing Sirius account (lifetime for example) over to the new set up?

The only advantage I think to MB system would be the Sirius read out directly on the Command screen. Antenna could probably go on rear window shelf or under trunk lid since it is AU (?).

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

I would say no to transferring a lifetime, it is for the lifetime of the original receiver, not the lifetime of the owner.

And a nit picky point, an Au (gold) trunk lid would make the car unaffordable and too heavy to move. I think you meant Al for aluminum. However that would still block the RF.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Thanks.....Yes, I should have said "AL". I should know better. Frank Hall, the person that invented a method for refining AL, lived about a mile from me. He founded what later was named Alcoa. He also left money to preserve the town square I live in.

RE: lifetime units, there are a number of these on eBay as well...though no MB module one.

Maybe some in MB modules in junkyards are as well....how would one know?

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

That is an interesting possibility. But I think you would do better with a lottery ticket than hitting one that is still active with lifetime. Only way you would know is to plug it in and see. I can't imagine SXM customer service giving you any help with looking up the ESN.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

You don't need customer service to get the ESN, the ESN can be directly displayed from the command screen.

I wasn't aware that there were SIRIUS radios out there that had lifetime subscriptions, that would be really nice. From what I know about SIRIUS service I'd guess that if the parts car you removed the control unit from had service you'd have service when you installed the unit in your car. I removed the SDARS receiver from an 2008 E350 and when I called to activate the service the SIRIUS person knew that my receiver was from an 2008 Mercedes, so they do have some info on hand.

__________________
98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (123k)
13 GLK250 (135k)
06 E320CDI (323K)
16 C300 (62K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

RE: lifetime units, there are a number of these on eBay as well...though no MB module one. I think a person use to be able to buy a lifetime subscription.....lifetime of unit anyway.

The aftermarket unit plugged though AUX port in glove should be easy to do.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991