XM Radio
- Thread starter JGRIMBALL
- Start date
Hey everyone,
I'm new to this forum, also new to the 4Runner (Ex Jeep owner) Anyway, I had XM in my Cherokee and loved it. I just bought my 03 Sport a couple weeks ago and I'm going through withdrawal.
I think I've found the answer though. I'm 99.9% everything is going to work. I ordered a Scion radio because it had MP3 and XM capability built in. Supposedly I can just remove the factory radio, swap the 4Runner brackets onto the Scion radio, and install it. I'll have to buy the receiver and antenna, but this way I'll have a completely stock looking, clean install.
I'll keep you guys posted and post pictures when it's done (which should be this week)
Glad to be on the forum!
Grant
I'm new to this forum, also new to the 4Runner (Ex Jeep owner) Anyway, I had XM in my Cherokee and loved it. I just bought my 03 Sport a couple weeks ago and I'm going through withdrawal.
I think I've found the answer though. I'm 99.9% everything is going to work. I ordered a Scion radio because it had MP3 and XM capability built in. Supposedly I can just remove the factory radio, swap the 4Runner brackets onto the Scion radio, and install it. I'll have to buy the receiver and antenna, but this way I'll have a completely stock looking, clean install.
I'll keep you guys posted and post pictures when it's done (which should be this week)
Glad to be on the forum!
Grant
GoneToCarolina
New member
Hey Grant, what stock system do you have in your 2003 4runner? I'm guessing it's not the 10-speaker JBL.
Your Scion head unit swap project is really interesting. But the Scion has only six speakers. I know that I'm not a car stereo genius, but I was just wondering how you were going to rig up the Scion head unit to run the existing 10 speaker system in a 4Runner (assuming you have the JBL system).
Your Scion head unit swap project is really interesting. But the Scion has only six speakers. I know that I'm not a car stereo genius, but I was just wondering how you were going to rig up the Scion head unit to run the existing 10 speaker system in a 4Runner (assuming you have the JBL system).
I do not have the JBL system in my 4Runner, just the basic system.
The radio came in today, so after work tomorrow I'm going to head back to the shop, get out the service manuals to get the dash apart, and see if it works. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Everything seems to look the same. Like mentioned above, I'm only worried about my steering wheel controls working. The other bad part is the cost of Scion's XM receiver. The radio was the cheap part. Now, I'm going to have to buy the receiver and antenna made for the Scion radio, which is not the same as the other aftermarket Pioneer receiver's out there (Thanks, Toyota!) I'm not sure whether my parts department can get Scion accessories since I live in Illinois, but I'm going to talk to the rep tomorrow and see if he can just give me the part numbers I need and then just punch it in on the computer. The cheapest I've seen it so far for someone off the street is $488.00!
Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted as to how it turns out. If it works, this will be a sweet (but expensive) way to put XM in your 4Runner and have it completely stock looking without FM modulation.
Grant
The radio came in today, so after work tomorrow I'm going to head back to the shop, get out the service manuals to get the dash apart, and see if it works. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Everything seems to look the same. Like mentioned above, I'm only worried about my steering wheel controls working. The other bad part is the cost of Scion's XM receiver. The radio was the cheap part. Now, I'm going to have to buy the receiver and antenna made for the Scion radio, which is not the same as the other aftermarket Pioneer receiver's out there (Thanks, Toyota!) I'm not sure whether my parts department can get Scion accessories since I live in Illinois, but I'm going to talk to the rep tomorrow and see if he can just give me the part numbers I need and then just punch it in on the computer. The cheapest I've seen it so far for someone off the street is $488.00!
Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted as to how it turns out. If it works, this will be a sweet (but expensive) way to put XM in your 4Runner and have it completely stock looking without FM modulation.
Grant
Well, I got the Scion radio in today and everything worked perfectly. The Scion radio has some different settings that make the stock speakers sound even better (I only have the six speaker system)
I haven't gotten the XM receiver yet, but I'll do it eventually. The steering wheel controls worked and worked better. Instead of the seek button controls on the wheel just seeking for the next station, the Scion radio makes them go through and seek the presets instead. Something I wanted instead of the regular seek feature.
I'll get some pictures posted tonight.
Grant
I haven't gotten the XM receiver yet, but I'll do it eventually. The steering wheel controls worked and worked better. Instead of the seek button controls on the wheel just seeking for the next station, the Scion radio makes them go through and seek the presets instead. Something I wanted instead of the regular seek feature.
I'll get some pictures posted tonight.
Grant
is there an adapter?
Grant,
Thanks for posting all of that info on the Scion radio. That's a fantastic idea. I also see that they have a 6 disc changer version,
so I could fill my two desires with one unit if I were to go that route to upgrade my own base (i.e. not JBL) unit. That's pretty cool that you don't lose use of the steering wheel controls too.
I'm not all up on XM radio, but isn't there some sort of adapter part that one can get to connect stock "XM-ready" radios to aftermarket receivers? I thought I read somewhere (but forgot where) that there's some sort of "XM Direct" part sold by XM to bypass these silly attempts by car manufacturers to make their units proprietary. Just an idea worth check into before sinking $500 into something that should only cost you $200 max.
If you don't mind my asking, how much was the Scion/Pioneer headunit?
Chris
'03 Sport Edition
Grant,
Thanks for posting all of that info on the Scion radio. That's a fantastic idea. I also see that they have a 6 disc changer version,
so I could fill my two desires with one unit if I were to go that route to upgrade my own base (i.e. not JBL) unit. That's pretty cool that you don't lose use of the steering wheel controls too.
I'm not all up on XM radio, but isn't there some sort of adapter part that one can get to connect stock "XM-ready" radios to aftermarket receivers? I thought I read somewhere (but forgot where) that there's some sort of "XM Direct" part sold by XM to bypass these silly attempts by car manufacturers to make their units proprietary. Just an idea worth check into before sinking $500 into something that should only cost you $200 max.
If you don't mind my asking, how much was the Scion/Pioneer headunit?
Chris
'03 Sport Edition
The head unit ran me $200 at the Toyota dealer I work for. Probably a little bit pricey, but who cares, it was new, not used, and one of my techs put it in.
I'm still checking on the XM Direct stuff. So far, it's really only BMW/Mini. I'm going to cover all my bases before I plunk down the cash for the factory Scion receiver and antenna. I totally agree that it should only cost about $200 max, but you know how Toyota is!
I'm still checking on the XM Direct stuff. So far, it's really only BMW/Mini. I'm going to cover all my bases before I plunk down the cash for the factory Scion receiver and antenna. I totally agree that it should only cost about $200 max, but you know how Toyota is!
The cost on the radio was my employee cost. It retail's for around $450, so if your going to get one, check Ebay or a place like that first because you may be able to get one cheaper.
The radio is for a 2004 Scion, that's the only model year Scion has right now. It does play MP3s and it's a direct plug in to your old radio. Just take the stock radio out, put the Scion in. The only thing you'll have to do is separate the wiring harness a little because the Scion radio plugs are farther from each other than the Toyota radio is.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Grant
The radio is for a 2004 Scion, that's the only model year Scion has right now. It does play MP3s and it's a direct plug in to your old radio. Just take the stock radio out, put the Scion in. The only thing you'll have to do is separate the wiring harness a little because the Scion radio plugs are farther from each other than the Toyota radio is.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Grant
