mp3 cd player

[rasA4]

hi all from the UK my sister in law has a Mazda 3 2.0 mid 2006 which has a 2005 i think cd radio. She wants to be able to play mp3s. is it just a matter of replacing it with one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/06-09-Mazda-3...303981?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item588e95ccad

by the way her cd radio looks very much like the one above

i know this is mp3 is from the u.s what is the model number for this model?
also what is involved in replacing this tools etc?
from what i can see some of the dash has to be taken out as the lcd display is part of the radio?


thanks very much in advance

 

[skallen]

The CD player you linked from ebay is, indeed, what you need. Removing the head unit is quite easy. Open your glove box, remove the trim around the top LCD display, then there is 2 screws to take out of the head unit (HU) itself. Once those screws are removed, it will slide out (with a bit of dicking around). Just reverse everything to put in the new one. All the plugs will mate up like they should. Bob's your uncle!!!

 

[rasA4]

The CD player you linked from ebay is, indeed, what you need. Removing the head unit is quite easy. Open your glove box, remove the trim around the top LCD display, then there is 2 screws to take out of the head unit (HU) itself. Once those screws are removed, it will slide out (with a bit of dicking around). Just reverse everything to put in the new one. All the plugs will mate up like they should. Bob's your uncle!!!

Thanks for your reply all I got to do is find one. Just realised the radios from u.s. Are not compatible with uk. Another thought does the old radio she has the one without mp3 have a cd changer plug at the back so she can get a mp3 adapter to play from a USB stick?

 

[icspots]

Yup, UK and US HU's aren't interchangeable..... It's probably really a firmware issue as US radio stations us odd numbers vs. even in the UK.

Assuming the hardware itself is the same then there should be a port on the rear of the HU that's used for the OEM sirius radio. There are multiple aftermarket input modules available which connect to that port. The only one I know of which has a USB port is the grom audio module (www.gromaudio.com). IIRC the USB one also has ports where you connect their 3.5mm adapter, an ipod dock connector, and their bluetooth module for both making calls and for AVDP streaming. You don't have to buy all those cables, and if you just wanted the USB then you'd just need the main module. I'd just confirm with the manufacturer that they're compatible with UK radios before ordering.

 

[rasA4]

Hi what I'll have to do is take it out and have a look I guess. Would I need any special tools to take radio out?

 

[icspots]

^^ Just a phillips screwdriver. The dash strip is held in by 3-4 tension clips and a hook. You just have to pull back on it (glove compt. open) to pop the clips loose. The trick is to either pop all the clips loose first, or just the ones to the right of the LCD and slide the hook out of it's spot. If you pull straight back you might break the hook itself off. After that there are just two screws holding the HU in. Then you grab the top of the HU (not the face plate as that can pull off) and pull to pop it loose. Be careful not to let the metal frame scratch the dash while you're unhooking the harnesses and such. Viola!

 

[rasA4]

Thanks

 

[TA2DMAC]

Try Sylfex, he maked an adapter to run your mp3 or anything that uses a headphone jack through your tape button. Easy install, ordered myne 2 days ago and it arrived today. Here's the website: http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/