Need to remove the factory ipod adaptor from my wife's 08 is250?

[white ghost]

I found out recently that my wife can't have both the ipod and sirius satellite radio. My wife would rather have the Sirius radio, so is there a "how to" around to remove the ipod so I can hook up a Sirius radio?

Also, it seems as though Sirius is not an option for Lexus. I can buy XM at the dealer pretty cheap. Since Sirius and XM have seemed to merged are the channels all the same or what? I'd don't want anything other than a factory-like setup with all of the wires hidden, all the channels on the Nav screen and full control of the satellite with the steering wheel control buttons.

Any help?

[Knightshade]

Originally Posted by white ghost

I found out recently that my wife can't have both the ipod and sirius satellite radio. My wife would rather have the Sirius radio, so is there a "how to" around to remove the ipod so I can hook up a Sirius radio?

Also, it seems as though Sirius is not an option for Lexus. I can buy XM at the dealer pretty cheap. Since Sirius and XM have seemed to merged are the channels all the same or what? I'd don't want anything other than a factory-like setup with all of the wires hidden, all the channels on the Nav screen and full control of the satellite with the steering wheel control buttons.

Any help?

Lexus offered both XM and Sirius kits... however the XM kit installs in an hour, is all plug and plug, uses the factory sharkfin antenna, and is done completely hidden in the trunk. Sirius is a much longer install, mounts under the passenger seat, uses a crappy looking additional antenna mounted on the windshield, and requires opening the dash up.

As you note since the merger there's really no reason to get Sirius over XM, so get the XM. Should be 200-300 in parts from Sewell or any of the other vendor/dealers, and you can easily install yourself.

The bad news is you'll need to open the dash anyway to remove the factory ipod kit.

As to doing that, here's a thread where there's shots of it being installed-
2008 Lexus iPod interface kit (merged threads) - Page 8 - Club Lexus Forums

Most likely combine that with any of the nav-hack threads that show you how to take the dash/console apart, and you'll have all you need to remove the unit.

[white ghost]

Thanks for your very informative post.

Just to clear something up; so there no Sirius unit that integrates into the car "like factory" that uses the factory roof antenna?

I know she'd rather have Sirius and I don't mind taking apart the car [I own my own body business, so taking apart the car is no problem] but I'd prefer to use the factory roof antenna and have it integrate into the Nav display like factory and steering wheel.

[white ghost]

I found this and confirmed by calling them that it would work exactly like a Lexus factory installed XM unit.

Here are the parts:

Lexus SIRIUS Interface Package W/O Auxiliary


And this is connect the above part to the factory roof antenna.

Lexus IS and LS Shark Fin Antenna Adapter


Let me know if anyone has used this and how it integrates into the car. THANKS!!!

[Knightshade]

That's a VAIS satellite adapter in your first link attached to a generic Sirius tuner, not the Lexus factory Sirius kit...VAIS stuff does integrated 3rd party items with factory head units, though usually not exactly the same as factory (sometimes better in the case of their ipod unit)... I think the factory Sirius kit is discontinued though...

Sewell Lexus Parts


I'd call Sewell and check with em to verify though

I've seen that adapter mentioned to use the shark fin, it certainly fits the Lexus Sirius unit, dunno about the VAIS one.... you'd likely need to run the cable to the back of the car (into the trunk would be my guess) but you seem quite capable of taking apart/wiring whatever you need to.

[white ghost]

I just received the above parts from TSS-Radio and have a few questions.

Can someone point me to some DIYer's that have installed this item? I'd like to get a little familiar with the procedure before I tackle it.

I need to remove the factory ipod connector first and I'm pretty sure this Sirius tuner replaces the ipod connection in the back of the head unit navigation.