Go aftermarket. I just sold my head unit from a Mazda6 to someone on ebay with the Mazda6 base model (Sport manual.) He paid $200 for the head unit. He wanted bluetooth, so he paid me another $75 for the bluetooth module. Then he discovered he doesn't have the right wiring harness to hook it...
For those of you who have replaced the stock head unit, did you sell the old one? A new one is over a grand, but is there even a market for a used one as this point?
Bluetooth is rock solid for both music and phone. I haven't noticed any contact download lag at all, but I generally use Siri (via a programmed steering wheel control) to make calls. Music resumes from where you left it when you turn on the system.
I have the 4000NEX, too. I'll answer what I can.
- Start-up time is minimal. If you were last listening to something over bluetooth, it can take a minute or so to start playing again when you turn on the car. Everything else is pretty much instantaneous.
- Backup camera is very quick...
jlcpremier, did you get these working? I programmed the voice control as a short press, but you have to long press to engage Siri. (Much like how you have to long press the home button on an iPhone.)
I'd be happy to sell you the OEM head unit I just pulled out of my 2015 (Deep Crystal Blue) Mazda6. ;-) But honestly, I wouldn't bother. My car remembers the settings formerly controlled by the head unit if the battery is disconnected. Otherwise, they would have reset during the install of...
I have also replaced my head unit (Pioneer 4000NEX). The stock speakers already sound much improved. My next step is to add a small powered sub to help out with the low end (Kenwood KSC-SW11). Then the head unit won't have to work so hard because I will set the crossover (using the head unit)...
Couldn't agree more with jlcpremier, and now he's provided an EXACT blueprint for how to wire up your own adapter. Wish I had seen that before I hacked mine up!
I had an extra wiring harness, so I pulled a wire from there and pushed it into the correct spot on the PAC (orange) harness. Connects to the purple/white wire from the Pioneer.
Check your PAC harness...you may already have the wire you need. It's also possible the wiring is a little...
Great write-up! I ended up moving the mic to the headliner because the sound of the Pioneer mic was muffled when sitting in the box formerly occupied by the stock mic. Siri (and my wife!) could barely understand me. From what I've been told, the noise cancelling holes at the back of the mic...