Anyone have the factory OEM iPod adapter?

[camrycev6]

Hello all,

Well as of this Friday it will be 30 days since my MS3 was stolen. During this time I have been doing a lot of research and when I considered price, style, performance, and practicality, I came up with the MS3 again! The 335xi was too much money, the Charger SRT8 wasn't really good for the winter, and the Caliber SRT just doesn't look as good as I hoped.

That said...I ordered my car yesterday, and it will be ready on Friday. (How is that for service?) I am getting the MS CAI right out of the gates as well as the iPod adapter "kit". My questions are:

1) Can you use the steering wheel controls to change songs?
2) Where does the iPod sit in the car?
3) Any problems with engine background noise like when using the AUX adapter in the arm rest?

Thanks much for you help...by this time next week I should be a proud Mazda owner again!

 

[camrycev6]

So no one has one?

 

[utopia]

1) Can you use the steering wheel controls to change songs?
yes
2) Where does the iPod sit in the car?
glove box
3) Any problems with engine background noise like when using the AUX adapter in the arm rest?
never had that problem

i didn't buy the adapter, i just know from reading. i find it funny to pay $100+ for using steering controls having it display "TITLE" (or whatever it displays on the screen. it doesn't display any info) and charging

 

[camrycev6]

Thanks utopia. The reason I want to buy it is so I can use the steering wheel to change songs. Nothing was more annoying than to have to reach into my cup holder to advance to the next song. Also..I only had one cup holder slot then. If I mounted it inside the arm rest, I would still need to open it to change songs / playlists. I know there are other solutions out there, but not many that let you use the built in steering wheel controls. That was the most important thing to me after doing it via the AUX input for 2 months.

 

[utopia]

hmm well i have a mazda3 and it maybe only the stickshift but next to my shifter is a little holder. not quite sure what it's SUPPOSED to be for but i just put it right there and run the wire out from the box.

it would be nice to have the ability to use the controls and have it charge but im 17 and have a tight budget (pissed)

 

[camrycev6]

I hear you! At 17 I didn't even have a car. I am 34 now, so I can afford a few extras. And to be honest, if my old car wasn't stolen along with my old mp3 player, I wouldn't bother. I figured I might as well do it while I have a fresh start.

 

[Yoarashi]

Hello all,

Well as of this Friday it will be 30 days since my MS3 was stolen. During this time I have been doing a lot of research and when I considered price, style, performance, and practicality, I came up with the MS3 again! The 335xi was too much money, the Charger SRT8 wasn't really good for the winter, and the Caliber SRT just doesn't look as good as I hoped.

That said...I ordered my car yesterday, and it will be ready on Friday. (How is that for service?) I am getting the MS CAI right out of the gates as well as the iPod adapter "kit". My questions are:

1) Can you use the steering wheel controls to change songs?
2) Where does the iPod sit in the car?
3) Any problems with engine background noise like when using the AUX adapter in the arm rest?

Thanks much for you help...by this time next week I should be a proud Mazda owner again!

I have one. Yes you can use the steering wheel controls. Mine sits in the glove box but you could route the cable anywhere, its pretty long. No problems with alternator whine.

 

[camrycev6]

Thanks Yoarashi. I guess they took care of the engine interference with the kit, but just not with the AUX input.

I want to hide all the cables, so the glove box is just fine with me....

 

[voiceKoil]

Whats up man..... Ive got the mazDA intergration kit, it works fine, it takes a little time to run through hour mix songs (like I have because I listen to live dj mixes) and also its a pain to search for stuff. Also Ive had a problem with my Ipod overheating in the glove box. So im not sure, its nice, and I get to put my other music into my stereo but it honestly could be better.....

 

[camrycev6]

Well I guess I will find out how good it is when I get it installed this weekend. I sure hope it doesn't overheat. That would really suck.

 

[icspots]

Just so you know there's a new ipod adapter that just hit the market that does everything the OEM method does but which also displays your ID3 tag information on the stereo's LCD..... the OEM method doesn't do that. See my thread HERE for details and links.

As for alternator whine like you get through the ACI, no there isn't any. That's because it's drawing power directly through the HU so there isn't any difference in grounding potential like there is if you're powering an ipod through the cigarette lighter.

utopia, the slot next to the shifter is where the navigation controls are if you're car has NAV.

 

[camrycev6]

Thanks for the info icspots. At this point, however, I have already paid for the iPod OEM install. I will just deal with the loss of the ID3 tag display. Hopefully, I don't have the heat problems that voicekoil was talking about.