Bear Cub

Well, I pick up my new '08 Astra 3dr XR tomorrow afternoon.

I own a Sirius Starmate 4, which is currently in my Camry, running through a cassette adapter.

Unfortunately, there is no AUX input in the Astra stereo, so I will have to go with an FM modulator setup, and will be hardwiring it in there while I'm at it, as I'm not a huge fan of having cords running every which way in a new car.

I was planning on using this install kit:
The problem I'm having, is that I can't figure out for sure just what else I need. Because the Astra is so new, most websites aren't listing compatible parts, so I have no clue whether or not there will be a need for me to buy any sort of additional antenna adapters, which I have a hunch that I will, being that the car is just a rebadged Opel and built overseas.

Plenty of you are more savvy with this than I am. Can anyone else figure out just what I need to put my precious Sirius into the new car?

Well, someone on a Saturn message board shot me a message saying that it uses the newer style Motorola antenna, so I will need both the male to female and female to male adapters.

He also clued me in that there are no switched 12v sources for the radio, only constant, so I'll need to grab a switched 12v from the passenger side kick panel via an unused connector, which uses brown for ground and black for positive (go figure, silly Europeans).

Now to figure out just how I'm going to mount the thing.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

Zweiblumen

Are you sure that there is no AUX input, in some cars you just have to ask (and pay) for it. I have a europian Ford were the AUX can be enabled and the plugs of your choice will be added in the glovecompartment. Among the choices is ipod plug so the ipod can be out of sigth and controled from the steeringwheel.
Check with the dealer before spending $.
Best of luck with your new car, I had Astra once and loved it.

Just my $.02,
Yours
Zweiblumen

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Sodomy non sapiens. : I'm buggered if I know

Bear Cub

Definitely not. The aux port that was available on the European versions is not available on the US versions, because it is used by the OnStar system.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

Zweiblumen

Sorry, my bad.
Best of luck hope you get some more helpful advices than mine.

Yours
Zweiblumen

__________________
Sodomy non sapiens. : I'm buggered if I know

Bear Cub

No biggie. I found out that the Euro antenna adapters are the same as for VW and BMW, which my buddy has on hand in his shop. I ordered the remainder of the install kit today. Don't need the RCA cables or mount that comes with it, but I won't have to cut apart my existing 12v to 5v cigarette adapter to install it, and it comes with the FM modulator anyways. Should be in next week, the hard part will be figuring out where to put it on the dash.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

cj2112

Why not unplug the Onstar, put in a Y adapter, and plug both your onstar, and your Ipod into the adapter?

Bear Cub

Unfortunately, the radio in this car is tied in to the cars computer and computer display pretty heavily, including the nav system. A few people on Saturn message boards tried the same thing, and the electronics and readouts went haywire.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

DEI37

The Astra is a nice little car. Please, though...tell me you got the manual trans.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Bear Cub

Of course. Car has no balls over 4000 rpms practically, but is a hoot to take on a twisty road. If I wanted to go fast though, I'd hop in one of my other cars.

I contemplated the auto ONLY because where I'm moving will have a ridiculous amount of gridlock, but the MPG difference alone did it for me.

__________________
Living in the United Socialist States of America.