Thought I’d give a quick little write-up of how my XM/iPod install is. I brought the car in last week, but they hadn’t known I was going to do the iPod/line driver/switch thing, and had only set aside 1 hour for an XM install. Also, I guess they didn’t write down that I had a TSX, because they said they couldn’t rush through that, it would take too long to take apart, and it was such a great time. Everytime I talked to the guys, they fell all over themselves to compliment the car.

As far as the install, they put the little switch in the glovebox, which is okay but not great, since it is hard to reach there. The XM is installed in the main storage compartment below the stereo, and there is a 3 or 4” lead in the armrest compartment that plugs into the Belkin powerplug thingy. The iPod (in its little leather Dooney & Bourke sleeve) goes into the Belkin Tunedok cupholder mount, which is not perfectly accessible, but not bad.

The sound quality with the iPod is excellent, and with the XM it’s okay. If I unplug the iPod powerplug when the XM is playing, it gets a little better, but there is some engine noise. I could probably benefit from a GLI, and may add one later. Other problems were that they didn’t put the storage compartments back in perfectly, I think they are a little cocked and don’t operate as smoothly as they used to, and they forgot to reattach the glovbox damper, but I fixed that thanks to another thread last night. Also, they refused to put the XM antenna anywhere inside the car, but did a good job wiring it invisibly through the trunk panels onto the trunk lid.

If your interested in my total costs, here they are. They could be lessened in some places by using lower quality stuff, or buying online, but this is about what I paid:

Aux in (navi): $130
XM Commander (store-bought): $170
iPod Mini: $250
line driver: $35
switch: $65
Monster RCA cables (1m): 3x$12=$36
Belkin powerplug/line out: $50
Belkin 2->1 adaptor (1/8”->RCA): $15
Belkin Tunedok: $25
Installation (Tweeter in Waterford, CT): $130

Total: $906

The total will be a little more or less, based on shipping, taxes, my rounding, and whether or not you already have an iPod. I also didn’t include the D&B iPod case, that was $65

Thanks for all who helped me on this board with where and what to buy. I appreciate it.

Here are some pics of the install:

 

Nicely done

 

good work

 

Hi. Nice set up - very similiar to mine (using an Ipaq instead of an ipod).

Question: Like the shift nob - whats the story on that? thanks!

 

not a bad spot for the antenna...

 

This is great but of no use of us who have OEM factory installed XM (i.e. '05 TSX and '04 Accord).

But it's a really nicely done, clean install.

 

Sorry, rjairam, I wish I had the integrated XM of the '05...but us '04s are the majority here still

Fintracity, thanks about the shift knob, bought it on ebay...do a search here, on my name and wood shift knob, should come up from last spring. It was ~$75 if I remember correctly.

 

HondaGuy...check your PM

 

You have El Guapo on your plates, that's freaking hilarious. Later Later.