still waiting to hear from corksport

 

im scheduled for install tomorrow.....will post pics when i can

 

OK, I sat here and read this WHOLE thread... but I am too lazy to go back through and quote specific posts. I started my project at the beginning of the summer. I did a lot of research on the wiring harness and such. The end result is you have to keep/relocate the original radio/HVAC module. Look forward to soldering 40+ wires, more if you don't want to mount the OEM radio in the glovebox. It's wierd after Pendragon said he ordered the Corksport kit, Corksport Ryan never posted again in this thread...

On the OEM radio the circuit board is attatched to the faceplate, not the chassis/radio. So I had to drill a couple holes in the chassis and I used the existing holes on the circuit board with some plastic spacers to make sure everything lined up well (i.e. these little "fins" on the board that slide into the radio). I had to unsolder the 3 controls (Vol/power, tune and audio cont.) so it would fit in the glovebox. I keep one of the controls in the car incase I need to turn off the unit if it gets turned on by accident.

On to the HVAC controls... The little "pod" that holds the HVAC control ***** connects to the circuit board via 2 harnesses, and that, in turn, is connected to the display over the vents via a similar harness. I was able to find the manufacturer of these harnesses and got 3 of each male & female as free samples with tails. I ended up only using 2 sets because I mounted the OEM radio in the glovebox and the wires that connect to the display were long enough to go from the box to the display.

As far as the faceplate goes, I took the OEM one hacked out a giant square, basically a hole the size of a double DIN because I was not sure where the new radio was going to sit (see pic at bottom). Now this was my first fiberglassing experience so it has been slow. The only reason the project is not "done" is I did a poor sanding job before my first attempt at painting it. I was able to mount the new radio on the old chassis with only minor modifaction to the chassis.

OK, now for the info. you have been reading all this for... YES all the HVAC works just as it does with the stock unit. YES the display works as it would when the stock radio is off (no radio-related displays), the display even shows "mazda RX-8" when I start the car. YES I can set the clock (I have to look at the "Quick Reference" manual and press unmarked buttons). The display dims when the lights are turned on and the controls light up. So in the end I will tell you this... IT CAN BE DONE!!! but... If someone sold a kit - that works - for 5,6 or 900 bucks it is worth it. A custom install for 5,6 or 900 bucks is worth it. I would do it for someone here in Chicago, but I would charge them upwards of $500 for the work alone, but the materials couldn't have cost me more than $50, some fiberglass/hardener, bondo, paint, wires & wiring harnesses.

I talked to a bodyshop owner and you aren't able to buy just the faceplate, you have to buy the whole radio unit ($600-ish), but I have never asked a Mazda dealer's parts dept. if you can buy it alone. If I could do that I could probably make some sort of a kit, albiet homemade. As far as the cost of these other kits, I would venture to say that the real cost is R&D, just knowing what I went though. The materials themselves are not the real costs.

Here is a pic that I took awhile ago, before I started work on the faceplate itself, but you can see that the display works. I will get some pics up here for you all soon.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=73739

So, why did I do it? Three main reasons; When I started I couldn't find a satisfactory way to hook up my iPod (and control it through the radio), I wanted to hook up a sub (but I didn't really like the idea of the JL Clean Sweep), and the biggest reason: I was told by too many people it couldn't be done.

 

today is the day!!!!!

ouila!!....my dash is complete...using the kit provided by speedline (pics are a couple of posts above)

I stopped by the shop today just to check on the car before i pick it up today at 430PM....the guy did a great job on the install ....

he even put in speaker holes where the center speaker is for the 9sp bose....
i tried to take pics with my cell but there was too much sun coming in the bay...but it operates like a charm and he put in a switch near my right knee to override the safety feature....it also has an SD slot in the front with an ipod interface...oops!
i forgot to tell you what im using...its a jensen vm9511TS...

i will post pics later today, tonight or tomorrow morning...

 

So the new dash kit version from corksports work then.
will check back for the pic's.


U1cracka

 

didnt use the dash kit from corksport....

used the one from speedline....look at pics a couple of posts previous..

 

Please post pics. i'll be waiting, and if you don't mind from diffrent angels would be great.

 

elpaco...wow. I'm sure there will be more pics of the finished product. Thanks for sharing.

 

only had a chance to take a couple before it got dark

 

here is a pic of the (mostly) finished radio...

 

that looks sweet.....cant wait to see the finished product!

 

My god I just read this whole thread at 3 a.m.

 

So does anybody have any pictures of this thing installed in there car at all. Becasue i wouldnt mind buying it but i would like to see some type of pictures or something.

 

you cant buy what hasnt never even been released yet!

 

I've been calling the corksport guys every month or so to check on their progress. Last time I called, I was told to call back mid January.

 

so the one they have on the website is nt for north american cars so i could buy it.

 

i dont believe they even have these in stock right now. your better off to stay away for awhile, till they have the bugs worked out.

 

Hello Everyone. I just want to first say and apologize if my forum response is incorrect.

I just got off the phone with the guys at Cork sport because I am looking for the same thing all of you are. He said that he has the 3rd version of the controller with the updated firmware for the States. Since we do not have automatic climate controls here that seemed to be the problem. They now have an 8 that they are installing it in TODAY and I will be calling to confirm or deny the working attributes of the unit.

I just got my 8 a month ago and so I can not imagine the struggle that all of you have been having with this problem. But like many of you my stereo has always been the 1st thing done with the car so I hope this adventure will turn out positive. I have had great success finding some top of the line stereo shops that have done and can with full functionality seperate the unit but with labor cost close to 1000 usd.. not exactly what we are all looking at spending. So we will see what Cork Sport has to offer.

 

Well Everyone. I talked with Cork Sport today. He said the install went well and everything works except the heat. He has spent some time with them and the problem seems to be that the 2 componets differ from analog hvac and the digital that they offer over there. So, he has sent them a head unit to try to get the problem ironed out and I will be talking to him in a few weeks to see what the progress is ...

 

Thanks for the update. Hope they iron it out.

 

so its the same problem theyve been having since day one. move on people im calling the corksport kit a lost cause.

 

Not really I thought None of the A/C controls worked with the first one they did.
I am going to wait the 2 weeks and if they dont have it worked out by them i am going to get a Rockford 3sixty.2 installed
I am hopeing to install my Alpine IVA-D310 but will have to see if the corksport kits works if not going to have to sell the Alpine IVA-310.


U1cracka

 

I agree. This thing came out last March. When I called them in July, they told me the North American version would be working in 2 weeks. I gave up in October and got the Speedline (thread) which doesn't mess with AC at all. I mean they still don't have the heat working? I just wouldn't take the risk.

Phredd

 

i agree with Phredd.....loosing HVAC is not an option for me....or even just thinking about loosing it...

I went the way of the speedline also...
check pics on this post...

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=185

its clean, matches and fitment is awesome...
ive gotten a lot of props with it..

 

Well, since Corksport sent a HU to the manufacturer to iron this out, I have regained hope. I for one appreciate their efforts and GuarDawgTaz's update. I think I'll shoot 'em an email myself letting them know that I want one as long as they make it work. I don't consider the Speedline unit an option. Having a decent stereo would be nice, but to me it just doesn't integrate well enough with the interior of the car. Plus, I'd forever be disappointed that I'd still have that big *** HU under it being utterly useless.