So I finally got around to having my corksport installed.

I went with:
the corksport kit
corksport Bose adapter
ebay steering wheel controls for Pioneer
avic d3x from compuplus

I had it installed in Union City at http://www.autosoundspecialists.com/home.html. Great guys and cannot say enough good things about how well they do their job. It took them awhile since this was the first rx8 they've put this kit into, but the time was well spent.

First impressions are everything I expected. I ran the mute wire bypass on the avic so I can play with videos/nav/etc while the car is in motion.

The screen is more then large enough and very bright. The controls are very easy to use and I have yet to need to refer to the owners booklet to set or do anything.

The corksport kit looks just perfect. The fellows installing the unit even remarked how it looks stock and how it looks like it was made to be there. The AC controlls work with zero issue and retains the ambient temp reading. The clock is gone but I have a clock on the radio.

I'm staying with stock speakers for now since I didnt feel like putting out even more cash and they sound good enough for me at the moment.


The bluetooth mic is on the driver's a pillar and the gps antenna is located on the roof coming out the center of the front windshield.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Corksport/Corksport022.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Corksport/Corksport021.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Corksport/Corksport020.jpg

you guys and your corksport kits. i really need to get one.

wow i need one too

haha, don't we all...

looks good! how much for the install, if you don't mind me asking?

450 for the install.

Looks good ! Im going to put mine in a couple weeks as soon as my radio ges in
pannasonic cq-vw100u double din no nav (already have it)

i'm thinking of running a seperate monitor to the back center area (cup holder area) so my son can watch his movies.

i'm thinking of running a seperate monitor to the back center area (cup holder area) so my son can watch his movies.

I've seen pic on cardomain where someone put a monitor on a stand in the cup
holder area .I would rather not see the wires or the stand but it was easy to
remove so nobody would steel it ...

link to the corksport kit?

link to the corksport kit?

http://corksport.com/store/category/5l96/rx8-interior.html

looks damn good.

I'm thinking of putting it in the rear cup holder with a removable stand. And having plugs put in so i can connect and disconnect it and put it in the trunk when I dont need it.

i wish i could afford that :(

Damn that looks good I just wouldn't want anyone stealing it so I will stick with stock

mine is coming in soon, nice stuff! i wana put on the D3x too, is it XM included? how much for the D3X? and the steering wheel control?

Looks terrific Matt, really clean, Nice!

the d3x comes with ipod and bluetooth. xm is extra
steering wheel controls can be purchased on ebay for around 40.

thanks Ever.. it took me forever to get Dick out of the car at the last meet. :-)

450 for the install.
Ho-lee-crap! Did you get a BJ and dinner with that? :icon_no2:

Damn that looks good I just wouldn't want anyone stealing it so I will stick with stock

Epoxy :)

I would have bitched about the install cost except for a few things:

work is guaranteed for life
they spent 8 hours making sure everything was perfect and exactly how i wanted it
it was only 450 for something I know was done right and I never have to worry about.

You paid $450 just to get the D3 installed? D:

By comparison i spent about $200 getting my CAI installed. That required taking the whole front bumper off.

do you have to change disc if you would like to play dvd and used navi later on? a single disc right?

One of the reasons I went with an HU like the D3X is so I dont have to load any DVDs.

All the movies are coming from my ipod, the dvd nav disc stays in full time. If you wanted to watch a dvd you would have to remove the nav disc.


As far as paying 450 for install.. i had my CAI, my exhaust, my struts/springs, my tower bars all installed for a total of under 100 bucks at the dealer.

taking off the bumper is a 10 minute ordeal, took my maybe twice that the first time I did it.

haha, don't we all...

actually we don't, as some of us have opted to skip the butt raping of a 500 dollar dash kit and go a different route, I've also learned a couple of interesting things after hanging out with Metra/Tsunami reps at a car show this past weekend that really made me glad I never got this kit. ;) :D:

actually we don't, as some of us have opted to skip the butt raping of a 500 dollar dash kit and go a different route, I've also learned a couple of interesting things after hanging out with Metra/Tsunami reps at a car show this past weekend that really made me glad I never got this kit. ;) :D:

Can you say more about the Metra/Tsunami talk? I was going to order Corksport soon, but curious if there may soon be alternatives.

Thanks
KF

After my prep work with this kit last night, I must say I'm not real impressed. The bracket holes don't line up/screws supplied aren't long enough to install as instructed, the harness has a couple wires on it that were never meant to go on an RX8 which makes me think this harness fits a few different cars, the kit is really just a tiny A/C controller box and a painted piece of plastic. I'm sorry, but I just shelled out over $400 for a dash kit. I expect perfection. I don't see why an A/C controller box and a dime-a-dozen harness needs to cost my first born.

can you post some pics of your GPS antenna?

I feel with you firebird, but there are no alternatives and heck, it was 15% off.

Can you say more about the Metra/Tsunami talk? I was going to order Corksport soon, but curious if there may soon be alternatives.

Thanks
KF

I can't really divulge too much other than too say an alternative is coming, I just don't know when.

If you're as fed up as I am with the lack of choices we have then contact them and let them know you want one available, they'll definitely release it sooner if they know a ton of people want one.

http://www.metraonline.com/contact.aspx

I can't really divulge too much other than too say an alternative is coming, I just don't know when.

If you're as fed up as I am with the lack of choices we have then contact them and let them know you want one available, they'll definitely release it sooner if they know a ton of people want one.

http://www.metraonline.com/contact.aspx

Thanks! I have dropped them a line indicating my desire for alternatives. Choice is always good in the market!

Yessir, the cool thing about Metra releasing one will be availability, when it comes out ANY Metra dealer will be able to order it for you, so that includes Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, CrutchField, and countless others. We will no longer be bound to a single place to get a kit or a single manufacturer etc. I was told it will be cheaper as well, and we will not lose any functionality at all. They did an awesome job on the Mazda6 kit, can't wait to see what happens with this one. :)

Nice setup. Can you hook a Sirius Starmate directly into that unit to avoid using the FM modulator?? Random question I know...

Whats the story with the ebay pioneer wired remote. Can you post a link or something? I am doing my install next weekend and would like to get something similar.

Whats the story with the ebay pioneer wired remote. Can you post a link or something? I am doing my install next weekend and would like to get something similar.It's called the PAC SWI PS. Did the install last night.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PAC-SWI-PS-Steering-Wheel-Interface-PIONEER-SONY-RADIO_W0QQitemZ290209529405QQihZ019QQcategoryZ1493 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Connects to the wired remote port on the back of your new Pioneer.

For anyone else reading this, I mounted my GPS antenna INSIDE on passenger side corner of the dash. Works great. No worries of theft or water damage.

And I'm going to be pissed if Metra comes out with a kit that looks as good, performs as good, and is cheaper than the Corksport kit this year. If it's into next year, I'll survive.... but still be upset. lol

.....And I'm going to be pissed if Metra comes out with a kit that looks as good, performs as good, and is cheaper than the Corksport kit this year. If it's into next year, I'll survive.... but still be upset. lol

I should see those guys again in May, and hopefully talk to them before then, I'll be sure to post anything I find out. :)

Looks sweet. Where did you get your install instructions for the 8?

Looks sweet. Where did you get your install instructions for the 8??
Comes with the kit.....

The kit isn't rx8 specific... hence the question =) I suppose I will figure it out once it arrives.

The kit isn't rx8 specific...You know... I was wondering about that during installation. But yes, the instructions are RX8 specific and are pretty decent. Here's a link to my thread. Some notes in there I found helpful:
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=139493

Fookin aye! You rock. I called PAC and they emailed me a flippin PDF too.

the pac pdf is about as hard to understand as it gets:

http://peripheralelectronics.com/periph_products/Instructions/PESWIPS.pdf

the pac pdf is about as hard to understand as it gets:

http://peripheralelectronics.com/periph_products/Instructions/PESWIPS.pdf
Sarcasm?
You don't have to mess with any resistors. And we use the white wire in mode 3. You can get step by step instructions from www.pac-audio.com/swixprogramming . (scroll to bottom to select the mazda)

In short: (there is a single button and a single LED on the PAC module. I will call them as such)

1) Press and hold the button. Turn on ign. Release button. Tap button 3 times. Wait. The LED will flash the number of times you pressed the button. This means it's in mode 3.
2)Turn the key off
3) turn the key to ign. (dont need to hold the button)
4) LED will flash the 3 sequence again. Press and hold button until LED stays steady. This erases memory.
5)You're ready to program. Press and hold volume up until LED turns off. Release volume up. (LED will turn back on) Press and hold volume down until LED turn off. Release volume down. (LED will turn back on) Repeat IN SEQUENCE for the mute, track up, track down, and finally mode button.
6) wait. After a short period, the LED will begin to flash again. You're done. Turn off ign.
7) Power on ign and test. The steering wheel buttons are not quite as responsive with the PAC module as they were stock. Give each of them a press and quick hold. They'll work.

looks good, do you have any pictures farther back?

So... you planted the GPS antennae where I was going to plant it also. Did you put the metal backing plate under the location, or did you just not use it? The instructions say the nav might be a little off without that plate or being mounted to metal.

Didn't use it at all. No problems so far. I still haven't "stuck" it to the dash because I wasn't sure if I would keep it there. Now I know the signal is strong enough, I might keep a watch on signal strength for a few days. Then put the plate under it and keep a watch for a few days.

After my prep work with this kit last night, I must say I'm not real impressed. The bracket holes don't line up/screws supplied aren't long enough to install as instructed, the harness has a couple wires on it that were never meant to go on an RX8 which makes me think this harness fits a few different cars, the kit is really just a tiny A/C controller box and a painted piece of plastic. I'm sorry, but I just shelled out over $400 for a dash kit. I expect perfection. I don't see why an A/C controller box and a dime-a-dozen harness needs to cost my first born.

If it was $400 because of parts then i would agree, however the corksport kit is $400 because there is nothing else. They have a monopoly on it. They could charge $1500 and some people would buy it just so they could use something other than stock HU.

If it was $400 because of parts then i would agree, however the corksport kit is $400 because there is nothing else. They have a monopoly on it. They could charge $1500 and some people would buy it just so they could use something other than stock HU.I have heard that there is very little mark up from Corksport. But I find that hard to believe seeing as how they just gave us 15% off for a dozen person group buy. "Little markup" in my opinion is <$50. So I'd have to call shens on that talk.

Bastards....

Hoping to hear some good news about the situation because my radio is acting up and the led display is freaking out.
I work in the circuit city car audio department and would be more than happy to see if i can get some discounted kits for some of you guys. We have some Mazda 6 kits and I like the work they did on that one.
Im crossing my fingers because my radio will be replaced within a couple months and I would hate to have to dish over that much money for the kit alone.

KEEP US POSTED!!

hey xrogerx . u need to hook me up man, i work in hacienda height as well, i need to buy the HU for the corksport kit, get me some discount. PM'ed u