Can you buy Mazda 3 HUs?

[RogerSmith]

I have searched online everywhere and can't find a place on MAzda that they sell their HUs. I have a 2005 Mazda 3 and would like to have an AUX in button. Although there are many aftermarket possibilities that are probably cheaper, I'd like to still consider buying a HU that has it. Also, my LCD screen is damaged. Not sure why, but the pixes are all out of whack. I'd like to replace that too. It seems that you can't buy just that part or any part of the HU. Does anyone know if it is possible. If so, then where? I've seen one website were you can supposedly buy years 05-07, but they have the same picture for each one and I doubt they can be trusted. Included is a picture of my LCD screen. You will see the series of dots that are obstructing the view of the FM and radio station and just looks ugly.

 

[eg6motion]

ebay.

 

[RogerSmith]

Thank you for the quick response!! Can ebay really be trusted? I will search on ebay and see what they have, but sometimes I am worried that it can't be trusted and I will get some lemon in the mail. That's why I was hoping Mazda had some inventory. Again, I will check some listings on ebay and see what I can find.

 

[RogerSmith]

I checked ebay. They do have some HU's as you mentioned. Some cheap and some not so cheap. The cheap one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MAZD...wItemQQptZCar_Audio_Video?hash=item5d280575b0 is I think cheap enough to maybe just use it to swap out the display. But, I am stuck in the same position. None of the HUs I saw ad an AUX input. Do none of the MAzda HU's have AUX input factory made? The 2010 did, anything older?

 

[BillTheCat]

08.5 and 09 MS3 have aux input, but the physical location of the input is inside the center console.

There are several aftermarket HU's available that would probably cost the same or less than an OEM model (at least if buying from the dealer) which would add not only Aux inputs, but DVD, GPS Nav, satellite radio, mp3 capability, etc, etc.

I did a video series on the units from Caradvanced.com and posted them on YouTube. I don't own that unit, but a fellow near me did, and let me use his HU for the demo. If you're interested in seeing the videos, PM me for a link. I'm just too lazy to find them right now without knowing if they'd help/interest you.

Another option is to search copartfinder.com. Put in the year, make, and model of the car you want to see, and they find dozens of junkyards with that model in stock. Even have e-mail and phone info for the yards. Click or call for a quick quote on a shipped stock HU.

 

[icspots]

I have searched online everywhere and can't find a place on MAzda that they sell their HUs.

You can buy an OEM HU directly from a Mazda dealership or from a Mazda online retailer such as www.onlinemazdaparts.com. You will of course be buying a brand new unit which will run about $450.

I have a 2005 Mazda 3 and would like to have an AUX in button. Although there are many aftermarket possibilities that are probably cheaper, I'd like to still consider buying a HU that has it.

The TAPE/MD button on your stereo does the exact same thing that the MEDIA button does on the '06 stereo, it's just a different "label". The presence of a MEDIA button doesn't mean that the stereo has an input (just like the presence of SAT and TAPE/MD buttons don't mean you have those functions).

Also, my LCD screen is damaged. Not sure why, but the pixels are all out of whack. I'd like to replace that too. It seems that you can't buy just that part or any part of the HU. Does anyone know if it is possible. If so, then where? I've seen one website were you can supposedly buy years 05-07, but they have the same picture for each one and I doubt they can be trusted. Included is a picture of my LCD screen. You will see the series of dots that are obstructing the view of the FM and radio station and just looks ugly.

Like I mentioned in my audio input thread I think your best route is to replace the LCD from a cheap HU, and buy one of the numerous aftermarket inputs. For the LCD you can get one from a '04 or '05 HU ('06+ have different wiring and won't connect the same way). For the input your best bet is going with a regular grom input (not the ipod one). It connects to the SAT/CD changer port on the back of the HU (the same one incidentally as used by the OEM input on all '07+ Mz3's) and you access it by pushing CD twice. Alternately there's the Aux Mod basic that does the same thing, only it uses the TAPE port on the bottom of the HU and is accessed with the TAPE/MD button, however they're difficult to come by, do the same thing as the grom, and cost more.

08.5 and 09 MS3 have aux input, but the physical location of the input is inside the center console.

All '07+ Mz3's have the input in the center console...... not sure where it's located on the 2010 however. The ACI is connected to the HU via a cable, and thusfar no one's attempted hooking it up to a pre '07+ HU to see if the HU would actually recognize it. If you were to buy all the parts necessary to have it installed in the console as it comes on '07+ Mz3's you'd be spending more than $500 as the console itself is different.