mazda 6 stock head unit swap posibilities for newer stock head unit

[pk1988]

Hi,

I have a 2003 mazda 6 with the stock headunit, no stacker.

i am wondering if all the dash display, steering wheel controls etc would be compatable with a 2004 or 2005 mazda 6 stock headunit, as i believe the 2005 stock head units have an option of being mp3 cd compatable. (not sure if it would require a different face plate)

the fact that the stock head unit does not have mp3 compatability is the only thing that disapoints me, as that is the main feature i use in an aftermarket tuner.

Has any one tried this? or know of it being posible? as far as i can see the 2005 dash seems to be the same as the 2003, anything newer than the series 1 mazda 6 is diferent i think.

also, if any one has a stock mazda 6 headunit with mp3 cd compatability i would be interested in buying it, i am in kenthurst australia so im not sure of postage cost.

Thanks.

 

[chuyler1]

The mp3 capable head unit was a very rare option. It cost about $500 if i recall correctly. You most likely won't find one used. Your best bet is to buy an iPod and one of the iPod adapters available. It will be cheaper than the OEM mp3 player and you won't have to burn cds.

 

[pk1988]

i am awear of the ipod connectors, dont get me started about those atm,
i have paid for one from Revolution Performance Motorsports therpmstore.com, and although the site clearly states AVAILABLE, i have recieved this email:
Revolution Performance Motorsports
------------------------------------------------------
Order Number: XXXXX
Detailed Invoice URL: https://www.therpmstore.com/account_history_info.php?order_id=XXXXX
Order Date: Tuesday 05 January, 2010
The status of your order has been updated.
New status: Backordered
The following comment has been added:
We are currently out of XCarLinks and won't have any available until late January.
If you have questions, please reply to this email.
Thanks again for your business!
------------------------------------------------------

As far as im concerned that is unacceptable busineess practice.

As for the mp3 cd unit, i understand that they are costly.
With my previous car i had an aftermarket head unit, and the feature i used most was the mp3 cd capability, it also had an audio in, but i found it was just easier to make compilations of songs on mp3 cds, just a personal preference.

My main questions though,
-What years are the mp3 cd head units made/available for?
-If they didnt make one for 2003 model mazda 6's, then is there a 2004 or 2005 one etc that will fit the wiring harness, face plate, and mounting brackets?

Thanks

 

[pk1988]

hey ppl,

as an update i have done firther research into the xcarlinks,

and it appears the easiest store to deal with is:

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/

they respond to your emails asap and will even let u know what stock they have physically available before you place your order.

Also, from what i have read they also have an excelent returns policy for non functioning units...

 

[chuyler1]

I had to wait a while for my rotors when I ordered them from therpmstore but it turned out to be a miscommunication between their supplier. The iPod unit they sell is definitely worth waiting a few weeks for, but if you can find it elsewhere that works too.

I think the mp3 unit is just a replacement CD player module. The head unit is modular so a single-cd can be swapped out for a 6-disc changer. That means it should be plug-and-play...but since I have never tried I am only guessing that is how it works.

If you aren't interested in the iPod adapter and still insist upon paying $500 for the mp3 unit, you can do much better with an aftermarket unit and a dash kit. A head unit comparable to the factory one will only cost you $150-250 and you can spend more to get a really nice one. The dash kit will cost you a little extra so keep that in mind. I believe if you order from Crutchfield they will give you the kit for free.

 

[pk1988]

I found the australian distributor and have purchased the xcarlink for the car off him.

As for the stock mp3, I think I am going to see if I can get a cheap one from a wreckers (cant imagine paying any more than $200), although from further research it seems that 2005 was the first year they made the mp3 head unit for, and in 2005 they also slightly changed how the dash works and the harness and the face plate changed slightly to accomodate, also the interface with the dash display and steering wheel controlls is also apparently slightly different...

I will give it a go if I come accross a cheap used one, if I find it works I will be sure to post to let other owners know.

 

[pk1988]

xcarlink

ok so i have installed the xcarlink...

it has interference (a static like noise) even when the engine is off when using the ipod connector cable, but none when using the audio cable.

has anyone else got this problem and found a solution?

note: we tried 2 different xcarlinks and both did same thing.

thanks

 

[pk1988]

also, another question...

i have noticed from when i purchasd the car that the rear speakers are very quiet compated to the front speakers. you can tell while the fade is in the mid, as well as if u compare fade rear full to fade front full.

is this normal?
is it a fault?
can it be fixed?
any sugestions?

NOTE: as previously stated it is the non-bose system.

Thanks.

 

[chuyler1]

The rear speakers are smaller than the front so that could account for some of the volume difference. They are also located behind you with no direct path to your ears.

I don't have any experience with that adapter. You could try using another iPod to see if it likes an older or newer one. Otherwise it could just not be compatible with your stereo and you would have to try another model or stick to just using the audio connector instead of the iPod connector.

 

[pk1988]

according to http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8940 which i believe you posted on these forums, the speakers both front and rear are 5x7", i have seen an audio installer and he believes that mazda australia has put better quality speakers in the front and crappy quality ones in the back which is causing the apparent volume difference.

it has been recomended that i move the good front ones to the rear doors and replace the rear ones with new speakers placing the new speakers in the front doors.

it is definatly not due to seating position either as when u sit in the back you can tell the difference as well...

as for the xcarlink i am going to stick to using the audio cable for the time being, i also plan to try to insulate the cable from the rear of the head unit better too i will post if this solves the interference problem. i have read on other forums that is is suspected to be caused my the ipods charging, and that a ground loop isolator be used which is what people use when they have problems using 3.5mm audio jack cables (excuse the terminology there), but there doesnt appear to be an option for one in an ipod connector or in the conector used at the other end (some type of serial connector similar to that which keyboards used to use, again sorry for bad terminology)

thankyou soo much for your help so far, its greatly appreciated.

 

[chuyler1]

Well I wouldn't know about any differences between U.S. and Australian audio equipment. I do know that the U.S. 6 has 6.5" speakers up front and either 5" or 5x7" speakers in the back. It wouldn't surprise me if the Aussi cars have better speakers up front...that is a typical configuration, in fact I installed aftermarket gear in my car and didn't even bother hooking up the rear speakers.

IPod Charging is in fact a common source of noise. My wife cannot charge her iPod and listen to it at the same time in her car. She uses the typical 1/8" headphone input to her factory radio. I have no problem charging and playing with my adapter that I got from therpmstore since it just has an iPod link connector and it appears to work fine without introducing any noise.

 

[pk1988]

well i can help ur wifes problem, i have read about it, you can fix the noise that comes from charging at the same time as listening by using a inline to a 1/8" audio jack line ground loop isolator, see link:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062214

ok, so that is not the exact one u need but i found that in 10sec on google, u need the exact same thing only with the 1/8" (i assume = 3.5mm) headphone jacks

let me know how it goes or if u find out anthing else

 

[pk1988]

another question,

do you, or does anyone else, have photos of the front speaker wire out from the rear of the headunit being connected to wires for a loc or wires to an amp that allows speaker level outputs?
i am quite capable of doing this, but i have been doing other things recently and noticed that the back of the stereo has like 3 or so conectors with cables coming out of it and would make life easier if someone had a photo indicating which one the speaker wires are located on...

also i am having an internal debate as to which way is the best to conect the wires...
i had planned on using wire connectors (Wire tap-in connectors), i had some good ones but ran out and cannot seem to find the same type, and the only type available looks as if they might slice the wire a bit if u use them...
another option i have noticed in others methods have also been to shove the wire into the hole on the connector next to the pin and tape the wire in place. i figured if im carefull i may be able to remove the pin attach the speaker wire (no i do not have acces to solder them) and shove the pin back into the conector.

oppinions please?