Anyone have any advice on mounting the XM Commander in the compartment under the radio? I like Bass Mechanic's mount in the not an ashtry but I'm not ready to do that right now.

I just have no idea how I can mount the display and make it look decent. Any suggestions/advice?

I have the Kenwood H2A mounted in there now, but I'm not impressed with Sirius so I'm going to swicth to XM.

Thanks much!

 

Hey AJB,

Read your PM. Sorry for not responding sooner.

 

I went to Home Depot and got some plexi-glass ($2). I'm going to sand it and thow some bondo on it and paint it black. If you have any other ideas I'd love to hear them. My XM Commander is on the way, so I have still have time to change my plans. What was your response DEVO? I'ld be interested in hearing it.

 

Devo was responding to something else I had asked him a week ago, unrelated to this subject.

I have mine mounted in the upper compartment. I went to Home Depot and purchased an L bracket. Used 1" bolts to secure it to the box itself. To mount the XM Commander bracket to the L bracket I used recessed 1/2" bolts. I used a counter sink drill bit, made 2 holes in the bracket (this allowed the actual display to fit flush in the bracket).

I got a peice of plexi-glass myself to finish the project but I have not done so. Might be a week or so before I get to this project.

It looks very good (in my opinion) as it sits right now. There's a 1/4" gap all way around the XM Commander bracket (trim plate) right now. Of course I'll make the gap disappear once I trim out the plex glass.

I'll post some pic's of it as it sits now if anyone is interested.

Right now I am using the FM modulator. I've ordered the AUX input from LogJam but don't expect it until later this week.

FYI - You do not have to remove the radio to get to the antenna jack for this. Once you remove the upper compartment, look to the right and down and you'll find the actual antenna wire. Mine was wrapped in black tape. Remove the tape and you'll find the antenna wire connector. Just plug in the FM modulator box right there and you're done.

I also found a spot under the passenger side glove box to mount the controller box. Remove the black peice of plastic under the glove box (floor board area). There is a nice area of open space once you remove the black plastic peice just to the left and up of the glove box. I used several zip ties to mount the controller box. I did not want to screw in this area since you're close to the HVAC fan unit and air ducts.

For wiring I went off the fuse box for constant power, cigarette lighter for ACC power, and there is a nice grounding bolt (Radio and AMP use it) in the back of the upper compartment. Easiest way to use/get to this bolt is removing the small peice of plastic trim in the passenger side floor board area. Use a phillips head screw driver, turn the plastic screw 1/2 turn and pull up and out to release. Then you need to remove the black HVAC air duct. Pull up and out. Best to run all your wires while you have these peices removed.

Overall the installation was pretty easy. Just took awhile to find the best mounting place of the controller unit and routing all the wires in a nice/clean manner. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Cool! Your install sounds identical to what I'm planning on doing. I'll take pics when I'm done and post them. I have the plexiglass and adapter ready, but I'm waiting on the XM. Thanks again!

 

BTW if anyone is looking to get an XM commander i will have access to them for about 140.00 and possibly 130.00 in a group buy within a couple months.

 

Would love to see some pix of the brackets you made from plexiglass. Just waiting for my SNHOND3 to come in but not sure how I'm going to mount the XM Commander.

 

I'm actually working on it right now....as soon as I'm done I'll be sure to post pics as long as someone can host them. New to this bondo thing, but I'll give it a try.

 

cant wait to see the pix man!


im going to be doing the commander in a few weeks, right now though i am about to install a pioneer fm mod unit that i ahve laying around, just so i have xm.

 

Don't get your hopes up too much...this is the first time I've ever done any custom install before. You have to start somewhere though right? We'll see how it comes out...so just sit back and.....

 

I will be using an ABS plastic sheet to make the trim piece for my XM Commander install. I have the plastic, SHOND3, and the XM Commander... all I am waiting for is the..........

CAR!

(May 18th can't come fast enough!!!!!)

I will post pics of my install the first week I get the car.

Funny how I have all kinds of TSX parts & accessories ordered or already laying about, but no freaking car. (That's how I know I have the sickness!)

Oh well... soon to be owner of a TSX

Carbon/Ebony/6MT/Navi

 

I'm guessing I can buy black ABS plastic at a hobby shop or can I get it at Home Depot or Lowes? I'd prefer to not have to paint anything.

I'm also guessing that all of you still plan on using the included cradle with whatever trim you add?

I thought I might go ahead and install in the storage compartment, but it seems like I might get a cleaner look with the "not an ashtray" install. I'd hate to give up the valuable storage. To anyone with the Commander installed in the "not an ashtray": Do you have issues changing channels with the gear shift sitting so close. That's my only concern.

 

If you dont want to use the remote that comes with the Commander, then you will have only a slight difficutly changing stations, when the dear shifter is forward. but at that it isnt a big deal.

I use the remote all the time, and the IR signal is strong enough where you can basically point it anywhere in the car and the XM Commander still responds. Actually the remote has IR transmitter on moth ends of it. weird news.

 

Listen to Roger...


Roger's the man! Got more gadgets in his TSX than 007. James Bond called, and he wants his ride back, dude! LOL

Gonna have to hit you up with some questions when I get my car... I wanna know a few things about how you interfaced your LCD display to your PC and what equipment you used, etc. (And lessons learned: If you had to do it all over again, what would you do different?)

Your car is nutz, Bravo!

 

werd