Aftermarket reciever install pics?

[CTGrey02]

Hi guys. As many of you are, I'm less than impressed with the lack of options presented by the stock Mazda stereo's and have been researching aftermarket head units to replace it as I'm less than impressed with the other options available for MP3/Navigation and Satellite playback.

I did find a couple stereo's that will work with the steering wheel remote buttons but what I really want to see is how bad the center of the dash looks with out the factory equipement. What functionality is lost?

 

[tsunami]

everything you see there is gone... most of it is replaced with a new deck though climate control read out is gone for good, and imho i think the dash kits look like POO!! if you want nav maybe look into adding a deck to the upper dash where the stock nav is they sell a kit that looks good, or look into the jl audio clean sweep or similiar product (rockford fosgate has one as well as a few others now) or some people have custom mounted external decks in the glove box or ash tray to retain the stock deck...


good luck

 

[CTGrey02]

The Nav isn't that big of a deal... Grrr.. maybe the 08's will have better capabilities then.

 

[dcomiskey]

I think the stock system is so integrated that it's not worth the effort. Personally, I'm very happy with the Bose system, as it's way better than what I had in my VW before. You'd have to pull off a lot of fab work, re-wiriing, etc. I wish the auto manufacturers would stop doing this. It's a real pain.

 

[Hikaru9]

I think the stock system is so integrated that it's not worth the effort. Personally, I'm very happy with the Bose system, as it's way better than what I had in my VW before. You'd have to pull off a lot of fab work, re-wiriing, etc. I wish the auto manufacturers would stop doing this. It's a real pain.

I for one absolutely hate the Bose system that came with my MS3.
Although I understand this is an automobile, at the same time I take music very seriously. I think my Bose system is by far the worst system I've ever had, and I'm quite disappointed how it's integrated into the dash.

I, too, wish the automakers would leave the option of installing an
aftermarket unit unless the car comes with a $4000 Mark Levinson unit
by default.

 

[CTGrey02]

Maybe I'll just get a phatnoise box or something for it. I want some semblance of integration and I dont want loose wires hanging around. I'm kinda unimpressed with what I'm seeing about the IPod integration (wasn't nuts about spending money on a apple product to begin with). Really pisses me off about the lack of MP3 capability.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

Only thing I lost was the radio stations that came up on the LCD screen. No loose wires or anything either.

They sell a dash piece for a nav screen that sits up above the center vents, looks really clean IMO. Ive seen them go on ebay a few times.

 

[MadOzodi]

Keep the factory H/U and get a Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.2 like fourthmeal did!

 

[CTGrey02]

Keep the factory H/U and get a Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.2 like fourthmeal did!

I'm not looking for improved sound quality, just increased functionality over the stock HU, mainly MP3 playback. I unfortunately couldn't really see the picture Ninja posted, but what do you expect from a ninja? Everything they do is at night!

 

[clos561]

i have a speed3 and i installed a 7' flip out jensen tv reciever and i lost the gas milage which is pretty cool but a tv is better

 

[tsunami]

Only thing I lost was the radio stations that came up on the LCD screen. No loose wires or anything either.

They sell a dash piece for a nav screen that sits up above the center vents, looks really clean IMO. Ive seen them go on ebay a few times.

they made a kit that keeps the lcd display but looses the hu??? i didn't know about this.. more pics and detials man... wtf???

 

[dread]

04 and 05 the lcd is attached to the stock head unit and there is only one wire harness for both, 06 and up have two seperate wiring harnesses and the lcd will still work with an aftermarket head unit.

 

[Wesley Snipes]

Does anyone know how to keep the LCD display with 04 or 05 Mazda's? I had a look at mine, and it just is screwed onto the stock HU, and it plugs into the stock HU.. so anyone know how to re-wire it to make it work? Thanks.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

You will end up having to find which wires run power etc to the lcd screen, cut and devise a way to attach them to the connector pins (lack of better words)

I just taped the LCD onto the pocket for now, im going to fiberglass it in the near future. Ive got an 06 so I just plugged my LCD in, plugged my stock hu in, set the time and temp to *F unplugged the stock radio, new one in, and that was it. Its tricky to get everything lined up right and my radio is held in only by the clips and extra tightness from the tape. Looks legit though.

Someone really needs to make a kit that actually has brackets to hold the stock LCD and a connector\wiring diaragram for you 04\05ers so its almost plug and play.

Either way im happy to have my clock\temp display back again.

 

[dewey_86]

Lcd H/u

So how can I install the lcd screen in the car? I put in a 6" indash navigation reciever and I have this hole on thop of it where the stock display was. How can I go about in putting that back in? I have an '06 Mz 3 so I guess it should work.

Only thing I lost was the radio stations that came up on the LCD screen. No loose wires or anything either.

They sell a dash piece for a nav screen that sits up above the center vents, looks really clean IMO. Ive seen them go on ebay a few times.

 

[MadOzodi]

I'm not looking for improved sound quality, just increased functionality over the stock HU, mainly MP3 playback. I unfortunately couldn't really see the picture Ninja posted, but what do you expect from a ninja? Everything they do is at night!

LOL, damn ninjas. Unfortunately, just like the performance mods are taking a while to trickle in, I think the aftermarket stereo functionality will take a while also? When I finally get around to dusting off my iPod, I'm sure I'll be just as frustrated as you CTGrey.

It *IS* pretty bass ackwards that a cell phone can play MP3s and our stock H/U can't.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

Little bit of tape and some difficult times puttin it back it. With the 06 you will have a separate wire harness for the LCD to allow it to function. Plug that in. You will need your stock headunit plugged in to change the time and temp. After you set it, just unplug the stock headunit and plug your new one in. (dont unplug battery) otherwise you will lose the settings.

So for taping the LCD in, you tape it to the stock pocket. I used some left over dynamat strips and it is holding it in place very securely. Putting the dash back together is a bit of a task, well more like a puzzle really, I did this at night so I was having difficulty putting the screws to hold that aftermarket dash kit in, so I just have it held in by the clips. Its tight and doesnt rattle.

 

[Euphorism]

eclipse 8053 went right in. looks great. lost the use of the lcd screen, but if i wanted it, it could easily be detached from the stock head unit and attached to the aftermarket dash kit.

 

[clos561]

 

[nairdasti]

Now wait, for you guys with MS3's... how do you know what temp you have the auto-climate set to ?