Factory stereo

[Derrol]

What is the space between the volume and the tuning nobs for. Seems like some kind of accessory. Does anyone know what it is?

 

[JiggaBro]

Its for a cassette player.
Pretty rare and kinda useless now

 

[blkaznmartin]

Good space for an input jack... or would it be easier to install the cassette player and use one of those cheap cassette to headphone jack converters?

 

[JDM323J48]

good space for something like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/230781191930?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

 

[jxdigital]

good space for something like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/230781191930?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

Yeah, some people also put the AuxMod in the space behind it there.

I was thinking about doing the same, but in the end I realized I was better off with a (parrot) carkit. It's got more functionality (including AUX, but bluetooth audio works fine) and has it's own build-in amplifier, which (although small) is better than the stock radio. Tought about putting the display between those tuning nobs, but installed it like this instead;

 

[digitalslacker]

What knob is that off of your steering wheel for volume?

 

[CiviCity]

This ^

 

[JDM323J48]

looks like factory audio controls.
finished altering my stock head unit.

 

[jxdigital]

What knob is that off of your steering wheel for volume?

Hi, yes it's the steering wheel controls for the factory radio. It came standard, at least in the european 'Exclusive' (2003) edition. I put the remote for the carkit itself here.

I heard that in some countries the same handle is used for cruise control, is that true? Although in the US P5 there are different buttons for the cruise control? In Europe the Nardi steering wheel only came with the Sportive edition. I've got the updated (black) 4-spoke steering wheel, which came after the Fastbreak facelift.

 

[tweety2300]

Why do Europeans get all the good stuff? Like cabin air filters

 

[jxdigital]

Haha, but you guys got cruise control (which I don't have) and the factory side skirts and all stuff on the Protege 5, which is the Sportive kit in Europe. We do have the JDM rear bumper here, but I like the US version too.

The cabin air filters seem like a bit random... I know some people here with the same car that don't have the interior filters, while I (luckily) have them.

 

[digitalslacker]

I want the steering wheel audio controls without swapping a mazda 3 wheel since i never got a straight answer on that

 

[tweety2300]

I've never owned a car with cruise control

 

[CiviCity]

I want the steering wheel audio controls without swapping a mazda 3 wheel since i never got a straight answer on that

Yea same. I never got an answer too about the airbag and if its plug n play. Could have been an awesome workaround for a lot of us

And for the cruise control, it's completely useless... Well for us in Canada.

 

[digitalslacker]

Yea same. I never got an answer too about the airbag and if its plug n play. Could have been an awesome workaround for a lot of us

And for the cruise control, it's completely useless... Well for us in Canada.

I haven't given up totally. If i can find a MAzda3 wheel cheap i'll try swapping it in and see how it goes.

 

[Installshield 2]

Hi, yes it's the steering wheel controls for the factory radio. It came standard, at least in the european 'Exclusive' (2003) edition. I put the remote for the carkit itself here.

I heard that in some countries the same handle is used for cruise control, is that true? Although in the US P5 there are different buttons for the cruise control? In Europe the Nardi steering wheel only came with the Sportive edition. I've got the updated (black) 4-spoke steering wheel, which came after the Fastbreak facelift.

Sadly...the US didn't actually get a true Nardi wheel...its just a Nardi-look thing with complete shat leather that was destroyed in just a couple of years in my case. To my understanding, no real Nardi 3 spoke ever had the built in ability to accept the US protege cruise control buttons. TheMan retrofitted a bracket for his on a true Nardi (which has real napa leather of much higher quality) wheel...but personally, i always hated the factory cruise buttons anyway. big and ugly.

You can find real nardi's though regularly on ebay. Some FD rx-7's had them, a TON of MX-5's (the limited edition one having a burlwood rim)...but they are almost never cheap. The JDM mazdaspeed familia also had a true Nardi wheel as well, with options for red or blue leather 'handles', and colored stitching iirc.

so not sure if any of the European 323's ever got a true Nardi wheel, but if they have a separate cruise stick...they definitely could've...

I've been wondering if that cruise stick would fit the electrical attachment for a US protege5....just need to source it, and the shroud to go around the steering column. Much better way to get a much better factory wheel imo...

oh and the factory radio also had a Mini-disc option haha...not just cassette...the MD player was like $550! I still have my brochure. You could also have a disc changer installed, but not sure if the controls went into that center area or not. Never saw one.

 

[JDM323J48]

i found out that the cd stacker option can detect a maximum of 12 cd's (or cd labeled folders) with at least 58 tracks on each.