New Mazda5 in the family

[Spo]

Hi All,
Been lurking here for a while before we purchased our Mazda5. Figured now that we are owners, I should sign in. We bought a 2009 Mazda5 Touring model w/o fog lights, in Stormy Blue Met. with Black interior. This thing is awesome, my kids love it and the dog is happy too! Added some window tint and will install some DVD headrests and all will be good. Hope to get back on here soon

 

[J.P.]

These are amazing little haulers, and this forum is a great resource for owners. Welcome, and enjoy you new ride! Post up some details and pics of the DVD headrests when you get them installed. I get sick of installing the strap-on type for the kids when we go on trips.

- JP.

 

[Spo]

I get sick of installing the strap-on type for the kids when we go on trips.

I know the feeling J.P., I had a set of those and ended up making a flat plate that attached under the headrest with the post holes going thru it. My 7" screens had a threaded port on the bottom so I could attach to the plate with a thumb screw. It worked very well, just don't like all the cables hanging out, so I ordered the Headrest screens with all the wires hidden. Should be here on Weds, so I hope to have installed by the weekend. Got some good info off this site for easy install.

 

[chief_wiggum]

Welcome; where did you order your headrests from?

 

[Spo]

Welcome; where did you order your headrests from?

I got them from an ebay seller On Fair. I actually went thru their web site, onfair.com, they were about $5 cheaper ( no ebay fees, I guess?). Got the 7" models with headphones in black, hope to have them here on Weds.

 

[chief_wiggum]

Thanks; I'll be interested in your thoughts and experience with them.

 

[Spo]

Thanks; I'll be interested in your thoughts and experience with them.

Install went very easy. Less then an hour after getting everything together. Followed the forum on Headrest DVD install on this site. Was able to hide all connections in the seat back or under the cup holder in the center console.
Here are some photos of the installed headrests:

Will let you know of any problems that turn up.

 

[kyoshiro]

looks like mission control behind every seat lol
awesome install nonetheless

 

[DKaz]

Looks great! And only $220 wow!

 

[Rockin03mp5]

looks pretty good.

is it one player hooked up to 2 monitors? did the kit come with a player or was it just the monitor? hows the image look?

 

[flcruising]

Do those things have enough buttons? Looks like losing a remote wouldn't cripple them at least. Good job.

 

[Spo]

looks pretty good.

is it one player hooked up to 2 monitors? did the kit come with a player or was it just the monitor? hows the image look?

There are 2 seperate monitors with a DVD player in each monitor. I hooked them up so each kid can watch their own movie or they can watch one together. System also came with wireless headphones, wireless remotes and wireless game controllers. They have built in FM modulator if you want to run it through thr cars stereo. The screens have good clarity, just not alot of adjustment up and down, could be a problem with the front seats reclined back for driving.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

so the monitors have dvd players built in. interesting.

i noticed the lack of up and down adjustment. otherwise, sounds like a good deal for 200 bucks.

 

[flcruising]

I think the vertical adjustment is the only drawback of headrest monitors. We barrowed some strap-on ones last week for a long road trip, and with the stock headrests, they had to sag a little to tilt down for proper viewing. These don't look quite as slanted as the stock ones. Could you post a pic with the seatback normally positioned?

It sure would be nice to find a 7"-9" flipdown overhead that doesn't obstruct the rearview mirror. I even contemplated 2 small overhead ones in the 5" range. My mother's odyssey has a 10" overhead, and I can't see out the rearview with that thing down. I think that's why the latest model vans (Odyssey and Sienna) are going for the extra-wide duals as they are low profile.

 

[Spo]

The headrest will still adjust up and down, the kit gives you three size posts to match to factory, the 5 uses the 12 mm posts. The headrest does tilt like 15 degrees ( 7 1/2 each way) to adjust the screen. All in all not a bad system for the money.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

cool. keep us informed how they work after some time. my kid is going to be forward facing here soon, and we take lots of long trips, so i will probably be thinking about this option for sure!

 

[J.P.]

Thanks for posting the pics - they look great. I like the idea that you can let them watch individual movies, or one together. Great setup!