Wow! Installing the XM Commander into my 3 could not have been easier if it had come factory! For those of you who do not have the DVD nav, and want XM in your car, you are in extreme luck! There is a perfect amount of space underneith the dash where the LCD normally goes for every piece of the XM install. It took me about 2 hours to do everything from start to finish, and I would personally say it looks professional. I did not even have to mount the antenna externally! You see no wires, and have the controller in the blank space between the audio control knobs. I know, I know, you all want pictures. I just finished it today before work, so I did not have time to snap anything, but I will try to get some posted ASAP! Email or PM me with any questions!
XM Radio Installed in 3s 5-Door!!!
- Thread starter Tha3Man
- Start date
SilvrProtege5NJ
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Protege5
Good job, looks good..
I dont like what Mazda did with the radio in the 3. it must be impossible to change the it.. not cool..
I dont like what Mazda did with the radio in the 3. it must be impossible to change the it.. not cool..
SilvrProtege5NJ said:
Actually, the stock radio is a snap to get out of there, and what is even nicer is that there is TONS of space left over if you get rid of it. It will be only a matter of time before someone comes out with a nice replacement bezel, and you could get a whole entertainment center in that dash once that comes out! Other people could only be so lucky to have that much space to work with!
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- 96 Miata M-Edition, 2015 Mazda 3 Hatch
did you have to buy/make a custom panel to fit the XM unit in? The stock dashboard doesn't have a little cutout for the XM unit. If you purcahsed the panel, let me know where I can find one. I plan on putting SIRIUS in my 3s when I get it June 1st. (too far away if you ask me)
SilvrProtege5NJ
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Protege5
Tha3Man said:
I guess I dont have that problem. I have a flip out screen. The hot note..
seanmcsean said:
You are correct in that the dashboard does not ahave a cutout for the xm display. But, if you do not have the MP3 or Minidisc player in your car, there is just a bunch of empty space behind there. I did not cut out a huge hole, only one big enough to pass the wire through. That particular kit came with the display and two pieces of double sided tape to stick it on the dash. So I cut the hole, passed the wire through, then just stuck the display directly on the panel, which covers the hole nicely. I dont plan on ever removing the XM from the car, but if I do, it would be to replace the entire head unit, so all of that stock radio would be coming out anyways. I hope this helps!
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- 96 Miata M-Edition, 2015 Mazda 3 Hatch
ah, I didn't know that it was stuck onto the front of the panel. I thought you put the XM unit through the front of the panel and had the rest of it laying in the empty space behind the panel. I didn't know the XM unit was that shallow and only stuck onto the front of the dash. I thought the unit actually sat INSIDE the dash.. My mistake!!
