I purchased the Audiovox express because it was a complete kit and the size of the unit was perfect

Here's the kit (mounting bracket, docking station, antenna, the unit itself, lighter plug and hardwire adapter):


I took apart the dash thanks to a lot of help from this forum and from this link:
http://www.jtephoto.com/mustang/idiots_guide/Idiots.htm

The only thing different is I have a stick, so I just unscrewed the shift **** instead of having to lift the bezel around the auto.

Once I had everything apart, I made a bracket from a piece of thin aluminum and attached some self stick felt to one side. The felt is there to protect the aluminum dash behind where the bracket is to be installed.

Both these items are readily available in Lowes.

I then shaped the bracket by holding the metal under the part of the dash between the two center vents, marking each spot where I needed to make a turn and then simply putting the metal in a vice, bending it first by hand, then with a hammer to get a nice tight radius on the bend. I wasn't too concerned about hammer marks since barely any of the bracket will be visible in the finished project.


I did not make the last bend on the vice (the softer bend nearest the large section, I simply bent it by hand around the dash to get the right angle for it to be flush to the dash.

This part is out of order, since I didn't discover this damn tab at the top of the control panel until I was ready to re-install it:


So I had to take the bracket out and cut this hole with my dremel tool (it only took a minute so it wasn't a big deal):

This allowed the tab to go through the bracket and click into it's slot in the dash.

I then wired the hard wire adapter the appropriate radio wires (black ground on the adapter to black/purple ground for the radio, and red wire on the adapter to yellow/grey +12 volt switched wire for the radio)

I don't think I ever would have found the right wires without the help of LisaJ429 who pointed me to a post by afixer, which led me to this wiring diagram:
http://www.2005stang.com/gallery/alb...0281/c290d.pdf

Then I plugged in the power cable for the XM and zip tied it outside the metal frame that holds the radio so it would not get in the way or come loose.


At this point, I re-installed the radio, reconnected the negative battery lead and made sure everything worked, amazingly it did....on the first try even!
So I snapped the bracket in place between the two center a/c vents:

then attached the XM mounting bracket to the metal bracket I had made using the included cleaners and "peel and stick" applicator.

While that was drying, I ran the antenna cable from the bracket to the trunk. This was much easier than I thought. First I stuck the antenna where I wanted it (it's magnetic) then put the rest of the cable in the trunk. Getting into the passenger cabin is easy on the convertible, there is a horizontal split in the upholstery of the back seats that goes right through to the trunk. I passed the cable through this opening at the very edge of the seat near the drivers door. I then just began tucking the cable. It fit snugly between the seat and the quarter panel, then under the plastic moldings of the scuff plates, then under the plastic molding that makes up the side of the foot well on the drivers side. As I brought the cable across under the dash towards the radio, I zip tied it to some other cables that are under there. Right before I brought the cable into the radio compartment, I zip tied all the slack in a loop and zip tied the loop to another wire that was under the dash. This way there is no risk of it falling and getting tangled in my feet.

With all the wires no run, I slid the docking station onto the mounting bracket, plugged the radio into the docking station and plugged in the power lead and the antenna. When I was satisfied all the wires were in discreet places and would not get pinched, I reinstalled the control panel part of the dash. Before I installed all the screws, I made sure my AC and fan controls worked correctly as well as the info buttons, hazard lights and power port. When the all did, I reinstalled the console and VIOLA, I was done. The unit is small enough, and with the docking station out far enough to where it does not interfere at all with aiming the center a/c vents. Here are a few pics of the finished product:







The only think I'm really discourage about is how easily the plastic on the side panels of the radio scratches. It's not actually as visible as in the last picture except in certain light, but that was caused by another piece of plastic sliding across it (with some, but not a lot of friction) does anyone have any remedy for fixing this without replacing it?


I know this is simple stuff to some of you on the board, heck even for me total project time was about two hours. Thank you to all the people on the board that have given me so much information and I hope this helps some of you that may be looking into something like this. If so, I'm glad I can give back a little to pay for all the info I've asked for! Good luck.

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Nice, I may put mine XM Roady that way.

'06 Coupe
V6
Torch Red