I have seen so many posts about installing Sirius/Xm in the 2005 Pathfinder but no one has ever gone into detail or provided instructions to do it...so here goes!
I don't have pictures but I did find the instructions online for the 2005 Pathfinder sirus radio install and have installed the until myself last night.
SIRIUS INSTALL INSTUCTIONS for 2005 PATHFINDER W/ BOSE:
http://www.leeparts.com/instructions/2005pathsat.pdf
I bought the tuner from Grubbs Performance for $219:
http://www.grubbsperformance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=999U9
I bought the Terk-Mini antenna from Amazon for $33:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ref=sr_1_1/102-1342843-6052958?_encoding=UTF8
I bought the tuner bracket from mynissanpart.com for $14.50:
http://www.mynissanparts.com/pc-711-78-satellite-radio-hardware.aspx
All of these vendors had quick shipping. Both Grubbs and MyNissanParts shipped the same day I ordered and had the parts in 2-3 days via UPS.
Here are my instructions for the install.
1. Start with the antenna. I placed mine on the roof directly in the rear of the truck in the center (follow directions with the antenna for lead length/adhesive. etc). I pulled some of the weather stripping away from the rear door so I could run the antenna into the car. USE ELECTRICAL TAPE around the metal edges underneath the weatherstripping so you don't cut the wire. From there I just tucked the antenna wire under the plastic trim on the inside of the car, leading to the driver side. Keep tucking the antenna wire into the top most trim all the way to the driver side pillar and then down to the emergency brake.
2. Follow the PDF directions and remove everything they say (it is all needed). You will have to remove some kick panels, an electrical box, unclip a large wire strand and unwrap the bus cable.
3. Attach the bracket to the tuner. I wish I had pictures for that because the pdf picture is not correct. The tuner label will be on the OUTSIDE and the inputs to the tuner are DOWN. The largest bracket goes on the RIGHT side.
4. Get and 12mm ratchet and a utility light and crawl under. The right nut is very hard to see. It is on the driver side high above emergency brake. Feel around for it. Take that nut off. The other nut is easier to see but is VERY tight to get into. It is located right where the electrical box is that they had you unscrew. Take off that nut.
5. Place the tuner on the exposed bolts (remember label out/inputs down). Tighten up the nuts to secure everything in place.
6. Attach the antenna and bus cable to the tuner (there are two inputs for a harness but the bus cable only fits in one. No idea what the other input is for).
7. Put everything back together and back outta the garage. Call sirius/go online (I do it online) to activate and you are good to go (took 2 mintues online and had channels in about 1 minute)!
All in all it took me about an hour to install the tuner (if you have the right directions) and maybe 15 minutes for the antenna. If you enjoy farting around on cars this is an easy project. If you don't have the install directions for the bracket I can guarantee you will NOT figure this out. I had the directions for a 2004, not 2005 (Thanks Grubbs!) and nothing matched and I couldn't figure where to mount the thing. Finally found the 2005 directions online and then it all went smooth.
My wife has had a FM modulated XACT radio in her car and that works pretty well. I have used her unit in the pathfinder on long trips and it also worked fine. The major drawback is having to change the FM channel A LOT due to interference. In the city you never have to change it but traveling you almost always do.
As for the clarity. There is no comparison between the direct plug in and FM modulated...the OEM direct is much clearer than the FM version.
The controls are OK. Press the radio button once and you are there (FM-->SAT-->AM). The Category button lets you browse the categories and then press seek to go to that category. Use the tune button to change channels. Press the tune button to change the display (channel name/artist/song, etc). You can then use your ABC presets to keep you favorite channels.
The only thing I like better about the XACT controller is you can browse what is playing before actually changing the channel.
good luck! :thumbup: