[Smurof Evitomotua]

I was in the middle of buying an '05 Yukon XL that was equipped with latest iteration of the factory Touch Screen Navigation Radio, including XM. This head unit replaces the 6 disc in dash changer / head unit that comes standard on the 1SD package.

I thought, no problem, since I had seen the GM Navigation unit in Denalis and in the GM Yukon brochures, and there was always a REMOTE 6-disc in-dash changer mounted in the Denali front facing center console (like where the remote cassette player used to be in older Suburban/Yukons).

But in this 2005 Yukon XL with Nav, there was NO remote CD changer, and upon further reading at the dealership, there is apparently NO option or provision at the factory or at the dealership to have the front facing center console mounted remote 6-disc in-dash CD changer (Option code "UC6") when the touch screen navigation radio (Option code "UM8") is installed.

That was a shock.

After spending $2,145.00 for a Navigation Radio, (yes, a mid '05 price increase from the former $1,995.00 earlier this model year), it turns out that GM apparantly expects it's Yukon XL customers to be satisfied with having to REMOVE the navigation DVD (hence disabling navigation) in order to play a single CD in it's place.

That is downright silly.

I am buying the navigation system to help me navigate, at all times. I don't necessarily want to listen to XM radio all day, because I have reading to do, and I can get that reading done with audio books on tape (well, I can't anymore because there is no cassette player either) or nowadays, audio books on cd.

I don't like the idea of an aftermarket stereo shop cutting and splicing the multiplexed wires in a new $55,000 GM vehicle, one that is already known to have various random heater, a/c and radio problems anyway. I simply want a GM factory cd player solution like I saw in the Yukon brochure.

Anyway, this was the deal killer. Not being able to have navigation going while listening to books or one's own choice of music (on a GM plug and play factory cd player) is beyond belief for the amount of premium on has to pay for that lack of capablity.

Can anyone help? I otherwise very much like the Yukon XL. I cannot get the Denali or the Escalade for several reasons, including 1) needing a less glitzy and more commercial appearance, as this is for work, 2)needing the 3/4 ton capacity, and 3) needing the 4wheelsteering option which is not available on the Denali or the Escalade.

It's now 2:AM in the morning, New Year's Eve, and I've spent the better part of the last 4 (FOUR) hours searching google for help or suggestions, with no luck. The trouble is, all the appropriate search terms like "2005" "Yukon XL" "navigation" "remote" "in-dash" "6-disc" "changer" turn up is a 1000 million sites that want to either sell me the Yukon, or review the Yukon.

This is in fact the first decent Yukon-specific forum I've found, and I was hoping that someone else might have noticed the same problem with the GM Navigation versus CD player I did. Not being able to play a cd while having navigation in use in a vehicle designed for long travel trips and towing is just plain unacceptable! Has someone found a way to plug and play a Denali console mounted cd changer, either the concealed vertical kind under the lid, or the forward facing in-dash kind (preferred)? Or something else?

I do not want the factory wires cut, spliced, or tapped into. No way do I want to live through the warranty voiding nightmare that may invite.

Is there a GM Factory plug and play solution to this dilemna? I can't buy this SUV it there isn't. Can anyone help, or direct me to some other good forums where people might know?

My apologies, this ended up being kind of long for my first post, but I wanted to give you enough information to help you help me! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to any answers, ideas, or links you may have. In the absence of that, perhaps you may know of names of other good Yukon forums where I can ask.

BTW, the selling dealership offered no solutions (not even to save the deal) other than for me to see this local aftermarket guy that works out of his van!.