Beware!

I was so psyched to have XM for the long drive home in my new 04 we picked up on Saturday only to find out it is TOTALLY NOT READY!

Everything I read was this vehicle is "XM ready".

Well you must purchase not one, not two, but three options to make your 2004 XM ready!

We looked up the parts required at the dealer when I picked up the car.

You need an Antenna, an ENTIRE new radio with XM reciever and and XM cable.

This does not sound anywhere near XM ready to me!

The cost of the parts alone (without installation) varies from $400 (from the dealer I purchased at) to over $700 at a dealer in ABQ, NM.

I think I'll bypass the Honda parts and go with the new small XM Roady ($119 and FM Modulator $45) Install is only $40 at a local Santa Fe audio store.

 

That's good info, I wonder if someone who works for a dealer could follow up with more details on this or if you have the info (part numbers) and could post that would be great for those that consider "XM Ready" part of their purchase incentive for the 04.

 

I was able to take the part numbers back with me from Mark Roberts.

1) XM Antenna : 08A53-52A-100A (their price) $111.25
2) XM Radio : 08A53-S2A-100 (their price) $268.75
3) XM Cable : 08B15-S2A-100 (their price) $38.75

Installation as I said is completely on top of these prices!

 

Thanks for the info, in defense of Honda, the 04 S2000 fact sheet does list this in the fine print:
"Standard audio system is prewired to accept the dealer-installed accessory XM Satellite Radio hardware."

I guess that constitutes being "XM ready", the wiring harness will accept their add-on parts... duh (Honda). Gotta love the marketing gurus.

So, what exactly is the XM radio part? Is it just the receiver that then connects to your stock headunit on the 04?

 

Thats the hilarious part, you actually have to purchase a totally NEW radio WITH XM receiver built in!

The sticker says "pre-wired" for XM. Not sure what pre-wired gets you over any other car on the road?

Some versions of the new Accords actually come ready to rock and roll. Only activation is required and Honda will give you a 3 month free activation from what I have been told by another Honda dealer.

I called Honda this AM and told them I felt mislead a bit but I still LOVE THIS CAR!

 

Xm ready to take more of your money.

 

That's a cheap price for a whole new headunit ($268.75), there must be some core charge price reduction included in that for old stock headunit (meaning you can't keep your old headunit if you get the XM option). The 00-03 headunits are $600+ MSRP.

 

More than likely, and like I said this was a discounted price from the dealer in OK. The dealer in ABQ was wanting around $100 more just for the radio part.

Its not really XM taking the money here, its HONDA! The XM Roady would be perfect (very small) but you have to find a spot for the receiver somewhere.

Not sure exactly where that would be!

 

The part you have to buy (268.75) is most likely the xm receiver. And the cable you have to buy goes from the xm receiver to your stock head unit. That makes the most sense to me...

 

That's what I was thinking spapdx, that's why more info is needed (and pictures of the parts).