JRH13NJ

Warning: smokers this will scrap your ashtray.

who smokes in their 8 anyway? should be a crime


Goal: to install a sirius radio into the ashtray

Time: took me 20 minutes

Tools:

Dremel
Philips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Ducktape





Stuff:

Sirius radio starmate replay w/ car kit ( antenna and cig lighter power adaptor)





1. Remove ashtray and cig lighter sell on ebay lol



2. unscrew shifting **** (left to loose)



3. tape flathead screwdriver with ducktape so it doesnt scuff anything up



4. (right side) place flathead screwdriver in between the sliver trim and center console cover and start popping up the center cover ( make sure the e-brake is pulled all the way up and also make sure the center console is slide back so you can see the cup holders )



5. (right side) countinue popping up the center cover all the way down the side

JRH13NJ

6. once popped up enough pray the center cover off ( just be aware there are wires connected to it )



7. unplug anywires attached to the center cover I only have one but if you have heated seats there are two more wires connected



8. unscrew the two screws holding in the ashtray



9. pop out the ashtray be careful there are three wires attached to it! after you pop out the ashtray remove the two wires



and then remove the third one pushing one the white tab with the flathead screwdriver ( this one is a pain )



10. After the ashtray is out take it someplace with area to work and use the dremel on

WHEN USING THE DREMEL BE CAREFULL YOU DONT WANT TO MESS UP ANYTHING THATS GOING TO BE VISIBLE ONCE THE RADIO IS IN

- Using the dremel ***carefully*** cut out the middle section in the ashtray



- Still using the dremel shave down the part behind the clip be careful though don't hit the clip and shave it only up to the screw ( look on the back to see where the screw is) because the clip is what is going to hold in the radio : )



- After that see how the radio fits if its still not enough to close the lid do the following

- take the dremel and start shaving the bottom part of where you cut the middle piece out, (I shaved it down so far there is a hole )



- Stop occassionally and see how the radio fits if its good and the lid closes then you should be good to move on.

- If the radio still doesn't fit snuggly then try triming the following parts



10.5. after the radio fits in good use the dremel to cut all the way around the cig lighter orange circle so that the cig lighter falls out. we will use the cig lighter so keep it in ur eye

11. after the radio fits in snuggly and the lid closes your good and done cutting if you want you can smooth out the cuts but it doesn't rly matter because you can't see them once the radio is in the tray.

JRH13NJ

12. Wire it up first the antenna

take the magnetic antenna and go in the back seat of the driver side facing the rear window open up the plastic cover on the rear deck and place the antenna on the metal! then close the cover it will stick up alittle but rly its not noticable



13. take the antenna wire and tuck it behind the rear seat down to the side down to the sliver trim and then tuck the wire up the sliver trim all the way to the front driver side

***it should all tuck in nicely in the sliver trim all the way to the front



14. Take the ant wire and stuff it in behind the stick
( ANT WIRE COLORED GREEN IN PIC )

15. Take the radio cig lighter power adaptor and stuff it in where the yellow is
( POWER WIRE COLORED YELLOW IN PIC)



Make sure the wires are nicely placed and out of the way of anything else besides other wires

16. get the cig lighter port that you cut off the ashtray and plug it back into the two wires then take the power cord adaptor for the radio and plug that in to the cig lighter



17. Grab the ashtray and feed the two wires for the radio through ( the antenna wire and the power cord wire ) make sure u have atleast a foot of each wire through that why you can grab the radio out if you want. makes it easier to disconnect.

then connect the white piece with the light back onto the tray should just slide back in to its place and click

18. Then clip the ashtray back into its rightful spot make sure the ciglighter that we cut out isn't blocking it. If it is just push the cig lighter back towards the front of the car more

19. Screw the two screws for the ashtray back in



20. take the center console cover and plug the heated seats plugs back in and/or just the one light plug back into it like me



21. Check all the wires one more time make sure they are out of the way from the clips that hold the cover on and the parking brake, push down the center console cover front down first be carefull not to scratch the front part of the ashtray
push down on all parts of the cover and make sure it clicks in and is flush



22. screw the shift **** back on and your done!!!

23. Go take your 8 out on a lovely cruise listening to your sirius which is cleanly hidden in what use to be the ashtray!!!



Hope this helped you guys out!!! if you got any questions just post them!

rock on!

vOc

Wow thanks a million for taking the time to make this DIY. Looks great but I think you're a tad braver than I am!

JRH13NJ

no problem, haha

JRH13NJ

you could always just get it and put it in the cup holder just take the antenna idea

jstkilntim

Nice write up!

JRH13NJ

thanks

PeteC

Nice work. Thanks for posting all of the pics.

Rtimes8

Thanks for taking the time to submit this, and for the gr8 pics.

CarAndDriver

Thanks for the detailed pics. Also helps with taking center console off.

JRH13NJ

No problem,

shinka213

looks great...thanks for posting all those pics....
the antenna fits nicely there....
i have one question about that...does it interfere with reception?

JRH13NJ

I get great reception! very rarely I lose it

tx-rx

The XM sportscaster fits in the ashtray in the same manner

licid222

Nice looking man. I was wondering how you did it in 20 minutes and now I see.

I am actually looking to replace my current model with this model. I was wondering if it would fit (I used the Starbase, its smaller, is hardwired for both power and antenna; but doesn't have as nice of features as this model... I REALLY want the memo for artist OR songs and the increased 40 memory bank!).

Congrats man.

Edited to correct current sirius model I have installed (https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=sirius)

JRH13NJ

Well after some cutting and trimming it does fit nicely, I really like the features on mine like the memory bank but it only holds 30 which is good enough for me. such a cool feature lol

NVMYGT

Thanks for the write up. This may be my weekend project.

amstarvid

Are you just using the unit as a FM transponder, or do you have this connected directly to the head unit? Just curious what your thoughts on sound quality if using the FM.

JRH13NJ

yep im just using the built in fm sender, I think it gets good quality sound

NVMYGT

Thanks again JRH13NJ. Motivated by your thread, I decided to trim up my ashtray console this evening. I didn't chop quite as much out of the console as you did, but was able to get the receiver inside the ashtray and close the lid. Needless to say, I'm one happy camper. My complete write-up as well as pictures can be found on my site.

Ajax

I did something similar.
I hate to say it though, the ash tray mod will soon no longer be necessary.
Sirius has released a new version of the Starmate Replay due out in October that's smaller and thinner and should fit w/o mods.
I'll let you know when I get my hands on one, but here's a pic:

NVMYGT

Sweet. Any idea on the price of this one?

*quietly curses self for always having to have the latest and greatest*

JRH13NJ

Nice man looks good, yeah if I were to do it again I would cut up alot less lol the dremel made me do it

JRH13NJ

nice, mines probably going to burn out by then lol always seems to get so damn hot I wonder how hot this one gets?

^ thats in and out of the car