INSTALL XM IN A MODEL 3

[Paul Wolff]

How to install XM in a model 3.

Buy this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016NXEBU2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a good XM receiver and a modulator for FM.

You'll need to cut off the male end of the antenna wire from the modulator and strip it back so about 1" of the inner wire is showing. You then will stuff it into the antenna input, which is located on the rear passenger pillar. See pic.

Routing the wires takes a while, but just make sure to wire everything BEHIND air bags.

All the crap about the IR filter on the glass blocking SAT is total crap. I get reception even in an underground garage sometimes.

See the pics and enjoy. I WIN. Sorry Elon...

 

[jmaddr]

Really nice work. Thanks for sharing.
Did you ever just look at streaming the XM stations over your cell phone? I could see wanting this if living in low coverage areas or if you have a limited data plan, but it seems to be easier and still able to get to the XM content?

 

[hcdavis3]

How to install XM in a model 3.

Buy this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016NXEBU2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a good XM receiver and a modulator for FM.

You'll need to cut off the male end of the antenna wire from the modulator and strip it back so about 1" of the inner wire is showing. You then will stuff it into the antenna input, which is located on the rear passenger pillar. See pic.

Routing the wires takes a while, but just make sure to wire everything BEHIND air bags.

All the crap about the IR filter on the glass blocking SAT is total crap. I get reception even in an underground garage sometimes.

See the pics and enjoy. I WIN. Sorry Elon...

View attachment 403693 View attachment 403694View attachment 403694 View attachment 403695 View attachment 403696 View attachment 403697 View attachment 403698 View attachment 403699 View attachment 403700 View attachment 403701

Awesome Paul. I’m not skilled enough to do a great install like you have. For now I’m using a SiriusXM streaming only subscription with unlimited data on my Verizon cell service on my iPhone. It works great for me, but probably doesn’t have the audio quality you have, but since I mostly listen to CNN or MSNBC it’s all I need. I had a radio subscription on the car that I traded in, but canceled that and went with streaming. I pay 6 bucks a month for a subscription. As long as I have cell service it works great.

 

[MP3Mike]

You'll need to cut off the male end of the antenna wire from the modulator and strip it back so about 1" of the inner wire is showing. You then will stuff it into the antenna input, which is located on the rear passenger pillar. See pic.

I'm not seeing this picture. (But I do see two of a different one.)

 

[mswlogo]

Why did you add the ugly circuit board again?

Why not just use double side 3M tape and stick just the Antenna to the glass. It would be whole lot nicer looking.

 

[quikshifter]

why not just use the APP and steam it off your phone for much better quality than 64kb XM? I dont understand...

 

[Prunesquallor]

Really nice work. Thanks for sharing.
Did you ever just look at streaming the XM stations over your cell phone? I could see wanting this if living in low coverage areas or if you have a limited data plan, but it seems to be easier and still able to get to the XM content?

I try streaming from my iPhone. When it works, it sounds great. But it drops out a lot. The cell signal, not the BlueTooth.

 

[Paul Wolff]

Really nice work. Thanks for sharing.
Did you ever just look at streaming the XM stations over your cell phone? I could see wanting this if living in low coverage areas or if you have a limited data plan, but it seems to be easier and still able to get to the XM content?

You need a good connection and a good plan, and you don't always get 4G or 5G, so it becomes as bad as their "TUNE-IN" crap.

 

[Paul Wolff]

Awesome Paul. I’m not skilled enough to do a great install like you have. For now I’m using a SiriusXM streaming only subscription with unlimited data on my Verizon cell service on my iPhone. It works great for me, but probably doesn’t have the audio quality you have, but since I mostly listen to CNN or MSNBC it’s all I need. I had a radio subscription on the car that I traded in, but canceled that and went with streaming. I pay 6 bucks a month for a subscription. As long as I have cell service it works great.

Yea, I have CNN, MSNBC, CNN INT and classic vinyl, and Beatles. I guess that makes us liberals...

 

[Paul Wolff]

I'm not seeing this picture. (But I do see two of a different one.)

 

[Paul Wolff]

I'm not seeing this picture. (But I do see two of a different one.)

View attachment 410721

 

[hcdavis3]

Yea, I have CNN, MSNBC, CNN INT and classic vinyl, and Beatles. I guess that makes us liberals...

Yup and proud of it!

 

[crackers8199]

the XM antenna works just fine on the rear deck, it's metallic so the magnet sticks it wherever you want it...all you need to do is hide the wires. it looks much cleaner than a circuit board shoved in under the headliner...

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20181209_232856-jpg.359752/

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20181209_232834-jpg.359753/

here's the post from how i ran the wires (less pictures though, once i pull the console to add power i plan on taking more pics but i haven't gotten to it yet)...

Successful Installation of SiriusXM radio

i've also since moved the onyx down into the console, it looks cleaner here and allows you to both use the phone dock and close the lid without having to move anything...

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20190507_133350-jpg.406440/

 

[crackers8199]

View attachment 410721

i'm still not clear on what you used here...i get the idea of putting the wire into the antenna connection (i think) from having looked at it myself when i tried to figure this out, but what wire exactly are you stuffing in there?

 

[Paul Wolff]

i'm still not clear on what you used here...i get the idea of putting the wire into the antenna connection (i think) from having looked at it myself when i tried to figure this out, but what wire exactly are you stuffing in there?

 

[Paul Wolff]

the XM antenna works just fine on the rear deck, it's metallic so the magnet sticks it wherever you want it...all you need to do is hide the wires. it looks much cleaner than a circuit board shoved in under the headliner...

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20181209_232856-jpg.359752/

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20181209_232834-jpg.359753/

here's the post from how i ran the wires (less pictures though, once i pull the console to add power i plan on taking more pics but i haven't gotten to it yet)...

Successful Installation of SiriusXM radio

i've also since moved the onyx down into the console, it looks cleaner here and allows you to both use the phone dock and close the lid without having to move anything...

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_20190507_133350-jpg.406440/

You can't see inside the car from the outside, and you can't see from under because of the headliner I sewed into the black insert. When you are at the far end coasts, having the antenna higher eliminates the car blocking the sharp angle from the sat angle.

 

[crackers8199]

You can't see inside the car from the outside, and you can't see from under because of the headliner I sewed into the black insert. When you are at the far end coasts, having the antenna higher eliminates the car blocking the sharp angle from the sat angle.

i live in southern california and have had almost no issues with the antenna being blocked on the rear deck. very, very rarely it will drop the signal for a second or two...not nearly often enough for me to worry about it.

View attachment 417936

see my post here, there is an antenna adapter and method that will work for this 100% of the time now (without having to strip wires / shove wires randomly into existing connections loosely)...

installing satellite radio (or other aux input) via FM direct adapter