new in dash for the 3's

[guy_incognito]

+1 on the steering wheel controls. Also, is the trip computer retained?

 

[DaleNixon]

Bill, any word on the bluetooth/steering wheel controls? Thanks for taking the time to write this up for us!

 

[BillTheCat]

OK...

It does indeed have bluetooth for your phone, and is capable of voice dialing when paired.

The steernig wheel controls just work. No add-on parts, no software to configure. Easy, peasy.

It does have iPod integration thru its USB port, but Tony forgot his iPod cable, and I own a Zune (Yeah, I'm that guy) so I couldn't test it out. I'll ask Tony to remember his iPod cable for demo this weekend.

Didn't ask about the trip computer. Will add that to the list. (Not certain Tony had that feature on his MZ3 Sedan)

 

[becks]

Thanks for all the leg work Bill....it's much appreciated

 

[BillTheCat]

Thanks for all the leg work Bill....it's much appreciated

Happy to help out. The funny thing is, as intrigued as I was/am with this unit, I just can't see myself dropping a grand on a head unit. Not that it wouldn't be worth it for all the functionality this thig has, but I'm just too old cheap. My days of big-dollar stereo mods are behind me. lol

Nonetheless, I know how curious a number of people here are about the unit, so I figured it was only neighborly of me to see what I could learn with the guy living in my back yard. Hopefully, at least 1 or 2 people here are interested enough that anything I learn will help them make a decision, and for Tony & Denise, well, hopefully they'l make a sale or two based on the time they're spending with me, too.

Oh, I have never actually posted a YouTube video, although I have done some minor editing of my digital videos. So hopefully, I won't screw this up royally. And yes, my camcorder is now fully charged, and I have 3 blank tapes ready to go.

 

[08blackspeed]

GROUP BUY GOING ON NOW on m****************

Everyone dive in!

 

[biker10]

Any more info on GB??

 

[Keith H.]

Very interested in a GB. I have been on the other forum for years....never even knew of this board. Anyway seems like a solid unit, I know the GB on the other board is for a similar unit, just not sure if it will take off in time. Looking to get a unit quick for a trip Im going to take in June.

subbing here now!

 

[guy_incognito]

I don't know if anyone is familiar with Alibaba, but I know of a seller who is offering the same unit as in the GB for only $520 plus about $70 for shipping.

There is also another seller offering the other caradvanced unit which BillTheCat is looking in to. I haven't heard back from that seller, and he lists a minimum purchase of ten units. However, I am sure it would be much cheaper than $1000.

Also, that other seller also offers a unit that looks very similar to the Eonon for $255 without GPS and $305 with GPS.

 

[CHICO2003]

I'd be shocked if that GB gets off the ground. Caradvanced has 2 units... One's $1200 (marked down to $1000) and the other is $1000 Naturally, the $1200 is (and looks) better in virtually every way. Why CA prices them the same is beyond me. That said, $800 for the lesser of the two doesn't necessarily seem all that bad. Until you realize you need to front $400 just to secure your spot... then hope another 29 or so people do the same. Once THAT's done... you then wait a month or more for the unit to arrive. I know money's tight these days and we should all look for ways to save a buck... but F that s***!!! If I wanted that unit that bad I'd either pay the grand for it and get it right away or (much more likely) negotiate the price down at least $100 based on the logic above. All this, of course, assumes I cannot find it anywhere else. The posts above seem to suggest they are indeed available elsewhere for far less. very intriguing...

 

[CHICO2003]

I don't know if anyone is familiar with Alibaba, but I know of a seller who is offering the same unit as in the GB for only $520 plus about $70 for shipping.

There is also another seller offering the other caradvanced unit which BillTheCat is looking in to. I haven't heard back from that seller, and he lists a minimum purchase of ten units. However, I am sure it would be much cheaper than $1000.

Also, that other seller also offers a unit that looks very similar to the Eonon for $255 without GPS and $305 with GPS.

Please provide more info.

 

[biker10]

I met with Tony this past Saturday afternoon. Seems like a very nice fellow. He isn't actually in the car electronics business- he just assists his sister-in-law on occasion, because her English is a bit weak. One of the questions I remember people asking was about the possibility of a group buy. She said that if we get 10 people, she will drop the price to $900 each.

Bill any word on the group buy? I am very interested. I've also been emailing back and forth with Denise at caradvanced. She informed me about the possible group buy. I asked her about the trip computer and she said it does not work on the MZ3D (the one made by flyaudio). The trip computer does work on the MZ3A (the DSS unit). Either way I can handle losing the trip computer to gain all the other functions. Also found out that the D stands for digital screen and the A for Analog so the MZ3D should have a nicer display.

 

[BillTheCat]

No status on any group buy. I'm not going to go so far as to arrange that, since I likely won't be able to afford to buy. (I have an overseas trip coming, & am also looking to buy a house... ouch)

So I will leave it to someone else to organize any possible group buy. Probably ought to start a separate thread for that, maybe once I get together with Tony again & get that video done. He didn't respond to an e-mail sent 2 days ago yet, so I am thinking this may not happen until next weekend.

And yes, Tony also mentioned the "A" unit is not only analog, but lower resolution overall. The digital screen on the "D" unit really does look quite nice. (That's the one I saw & used, of course)

 

[biker10]

Thanks for the info Bill. Good luck with the trip and the house!!

 

[Keith H.]

So anyone willing to start the GB?
Can Denise from Caradvanced just sign up and start one?
The more I look at the units the more I like the one with the red stripe across it.

 

[guy_incognito]

Please provide more info.

Here is a link for the unit with the current GB at M3F: http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/223374936/ST_3035_Car_mp4_Special_for.html

Here is a link for the unit with the red stripe, I haven't heard back from this one yet, so I don't have any pricing info yet: http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/105030103/Car_HD_Entertainment_System_with_GPS.html

About that first unit, I won't go too much into functions since I think all that info has already been posted. What I do know is that she said they have both a black and silver bezel option (silver at no extra cost). For those of us with '07 and '08, I think this could be a big selling point.

Attached is the .xls spreadsheet they e-mailed to me. It has next to no info on that second unit, but to me it looks like an Eonon with a slightly different color scheme.

 

[biker10]

Guy thanks for the info. I was just chatting with the seller of the first unit which appears to be the same as the DSS unit and she informed me that the unit cost is $515 + $110 for TPMS. Shipping would be 85$ Add that together and it's $710 and it comes in the silver color. That's not bad at all. Thanks for the info.

 

[guy_incognito]

What is involved with the TPMS? I've heard speculation that if our car is already equipped with the TPMS sensors then it may work as is. What do you get with the kit for $110?

Nice, the price seems to be dropping. The excel spreadsheet said $525, then they quoted me $520 about 3 days ago, now $515. My quote of $70 shipping was to California, so perhaps it may vary depending where you live, or perhaps it was higher because of additional weight for the TPMS system.

So yeah, ~$590 for the silver option this way certainly sounds a lot better than depositing $400, and possibly having a GB go through a month later, and end up paying $825. We should find out if they will include the mapping software, as that could make a difference for some. I already have tomtom for my ppc, and I would like to put it on one of these units.

 

[BillTheCat]

What is involved with the TPMS? I've heard speculation that if our car is already equipped with the TPMS sensors then it may work as is. What do you get with the kit for $110?

I know you're not talking about the CarAdvanced unit I've been researching, but I'd go ahead & assume that it's either just software, or that they have to add a receiver module for the TPMS radio signal from the wheels, plus software. My best guess is radio module plus software, because even though the fascia of the unit is MS3/MZ3 specific, I am certian the guts are universal & every manufacturer probably uses a different radio receiver for TPMS, so they have to install the Mazda receiver in ours, the Toyota receiver in another, etc.

 

[Keith H.]

After reading about every post on both boards regarding these units I have to ask, what is the draw of the dss unit? Is it simply the price?

They both seem to have the exact options right?

I know the whole LCD thing is up in the air....for me it doesn't matter if I keep it or not.

Looks.....personally I think the CarAdvanced one looks much better, and I like the fact that the Ipod cable attaches in the back and not the front like on the dss. I think I am leading toward the CarAdvanced one.

I emailed Denise and she said that they may have a special price very soon.
Like maybe in a week or so. I can wait if it means its going to get her faster.
Also it seems I know what Im getting from all the info on their site and the leg work that BillTheCat has done...Thanks Bill