I am thinking about buying a 2004 XLR and it didn't come from the factory with XM radio. Can it be put in and look factory, I do not want an aftermarket unit hanging on the dash. Is the head unit XM ready or do you need one that is.

Welcome to the XLR Forum.

To answer your question, in my assessment if you buy the car I would go with the Pioneer unit as opposed to a GM unit. It has so much more to offer at a better price. Please use the search function to turn up more info and experiences.

Regards

The stock head unit is XM-ready, in the sense that you can either purchase, install and connect the stock satellite receiver and antenna, or purchase a standalone unit that transmits it's signal via FM to the stock head unit. For the price of the OEM receiver you can buy a new head unit, but as you'll see from other posts, installing an aftermarket head unit creates a new set of issues to deal with --RAP circuit and Class 2 bus compatibility, among them.

CC :cheers

To the best of my memory, all 2004 XLRs came XM ready. The option was to have the dealer install the antenna on the trunk and make the connection so that you could subscribe to XM service.

If I am correct, you would only need to make sure that you have the antenna mounted and make the connection in order to get XM radio.

I have an 05 XLR without XM radio. It is however; XM ready. XM ready means the the head unit in the dash has a wiring harness installed that runs behind the passenger seat, which is where a stock XM tuner would be installed (it is a separate unit from the in dash head unit). For me to have XM radio, I would have to:

a) purchase an XM tuner, to install behind the passenger seat.
b) have an XM antenna installed somewhere in/on the car (originally a fin on the rear deck, but newer XLRs usually have them in the side mirror)
c) subscribe to a monthly service