I inquired with a seller on Ebay about these, and he said they will only work in an A3 if the last six digits of the VIN# are below 089000. The last six of mine are 168508. I guess I'm SOL until the merger then. I wonder, is this because the factory installed antenna is SIRIUS only from that point on? If so, isn't there any way to change the antenna?

 

Most likely you are correct. That is probably the cutoff for when Audi stopped offering XM in the A3. If the tuner worked in the earlier A3s, it will work in the newer ones too. You will need an antenna adapter to convert the car's antenna from one lead to two leads. You can still hook it up without the adapter, but your reception will suffer.

Something like this will do the trick: http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...AS&tp=1219

 

Right - I considered this, but that adapter is still for an XM antenna (new style antenna to old style tuner). I'm sure the tuner itself would work with the radio no problem. However, from what I understand, there are differences between the SIRIUS and XM antennas other than just the physical connection. Someone correct me if I am wrong here, but a SIRIUS antenna will not work with an XM receiver and vice-versa because of different frequencies, etc..

 

I used to think so too, but the stock antenna in the A3 works with both Sirius and XM. A few others on the board have successfully used the one-wire antenna with the older XM tuner. I believe XM and Sirius were both offered for the '06s, so the antenna would have been capable of working with either.

 

OK. I scored one. I figured for $100 it's worth a shot since I have now read in a few places that using one provider's antenna with the other's tuner has been successful in some cases (the real difference is the voltage - 4v for XM, 6.5v for SIRIUS). So regarding your last post, are you saying part# 8E0 057 593 A has 2 antenna inputs, and I will need that adapter from Crutchfield no matter what since my car has a newer (SIRIUS/single lead) antenna?

 

From what I understand, all of the Audi XM tuners have 2 leads. You can hook up the single lead from your stock antenna, but it will show the antenna error icon on your head unit. You will still get a signal, but your reception will be diminished. Using the adapter is the best way to do it.

If for some reason the tuner won't work in your car, you can always sell it, and probably make a profit at that! I've seen them go for $200 here. It should work fine though.

 

BTW, just listed my tuner for sale (sold my A3). It's a 8E0 035 593 A.

Check out the thread I posted Friday morning.

 

I FINALLY found the time to install the XM receiver I bought back in November (8E0-057-593-A) into my 2007 A3. Also found out from the seller that "8E0-035-593-A" and "8E0-057-593-A" are identical. The -035 units were installed at the factory and -057 units were dealer installed.

I purchased the splitter back when I bought the receiver as well (thanks BAMF!).

Installation was a breeze. You do have to trim one of the little "fins" off the pink male FARKA connector on the splitter, since the female SIRIUS antenna connector in the car is not meant to go into an XM tuner, etc..

Anyway, it's all connected/activated now and works like a champ!

So... Anybody wanna by a SIRIUS receiver???

 

I installed an older tuner 8E0-035-593A over the weekend in my 08 A3. Works GREAT. Just go ahead and have a TERK XM splitter on hand to keep the "antenna" message from always being on your radio and DIC. Bought mine used on E-Bay $71.00 incld. shipping. Best $500.00 I have ever saved!! Dont buy into the two antennas being different...Thats B.S

 

I have a 2006 A4 Cabriolet convertable.

Where can I get instructions to install the XM tuner? I know everyone says it is simple, but I would like to have instructions to use.

Any help is appreciated.