Xm Satellite Radio Option On A 2005 Es330

mwolfson · October 26, 2004

Has anyone out there with a new (2005) ES330 tried to get the XM Satellite Radio option installed?

As you may know, there is a button for Satellite Radio on the 2005 radio. So I thought I'd investigate how much it might cost. Here's what my inquiries found.

The part you need is a receiver. Sewell Lexus of Ft. Worth Texas will sell you that receiver (brand new) for $369. Seeing that price, I figured it shouldn't be that big a deal to install it so I called the closest dealership to me - Lexus of Roseville (California). Their price for the receiver and installation was...(gulp!) $1,600!!!!!!!

OK, I then figured I'd try my other "local" dealer - Lexus of Sacramento. His price... $995+tax.

So I thought I'd try a couple of other dealers. Coliseum Lexus of Oakland - $700+tax

Lexus of Westminster (in Orange County, CA) - $544.

After these calls, I phone Lexus Customer Care and vented my frustration at these wildly divergent prices. He said, each dealer was free to set his own price. Fine, I said, the real question is just how long does it take to actually install one of these receivers? He wasn't willing to make some calls to find that information out for me.

This is a very un-Lexus like situation. It's more like the crap you get from your typical Chrysler dealer.

Have any of you had a similar experience? If so, how did you deal with it?

Mark W.

SW03ES · October 26, 2004

Generally most dealers charge $700. Lexus is right though, prices change depending on the area. I'd let the $544 dealer do it...

There's a thread in this forum showing the process of installing the kit posted by iammikey. Look for it, it has pics and everything. Its not *hard* but it involves running wires to the trunk, mounting the antenna, removing the console and center stack. Its difficult if you don't have a working knowledge of how the car goes together.

jtarvin · October 27, 2004

I also just got an 05 ES330. I just asked the dealer about XM installation. They quoted $369 for the kit + 5 hrs at $125/hr labor.

sunman · October 28, 2004

I bought the kit myself for 340 and installed it myself. It's very easy to install.

iammikey · October 28, 2004

mwolfson: Its real easy to do. In fact Lexus of Roseville figured it out after I showed them my install. Get in touch with me and I can help you install it in about 1.5 hours. I live in Roseville and will be back home in the middle of November.

Here's my install: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...threadid=131951