valpac

iTrader: (2)

All you 05 owners listen to this. Wanted to get the Sirius option installed on my car. For 05 the head unit should be Sirius enabled. All that is required is the tuner, an antenna and the subscription. If you didn't already know, if your radio has a SAT button top center then your car is so equipped.

My car is NOT equipped with the 05 head unit but has an 04 radio in it.
Called my local dealer to get help as I bought the car out of state. They said I, not Mazda, am responsible for purchasing and installing the "new" head unit. My contention is it is a standard option and should have been installed at the factory. My local dealer said "some 05's have the head unit and some don't. Not the dealers fault."

Called the dealer I bought the car from and they said they have seen this before in other cars. However they will take care of it. "Have the local service mgr contact me". they said. Ok, we'll see if they honor that.

The long and short of it, check your car for the SAT button and if it is not there you have an 04 radio and NOT Sirius capable. Will cost you money for a new head unit (aftermarket) if you decide to activate it.

j67345

That's really cool that they will put the 05 stereo with the SAT button in for free!! I have my '04 and wanted to get the factory Sirius installed.....and it was going to cost me around $1000!

RX Renesis

i think u got it wrong.... he has a 05 RX8 but has the 04 HU installed into from the beginning.... SO he was talking to Mazda to get it replaced cause if he wanted Sirus in his 05 then he'll have to pay the money to get the Sirus ready HU...

valpac

iTrader: (2)

^^^ Right. The only thing the dealer should have to install in the 05's is the tuner (in the trunk) and antenna (somewhere). But right now, I would have to buy the HU (as you call it) as well.

Thetitanium8

I believe he was just saying that to go from a 04 head unit to the 05 would cost around $1,000. So basically just saying the he is lucky they replaced for free

valpac

iTrader: (2)

OK, the latest. My car was built before Aug 04 and didnt roll off with the SAT radio. The dealer is looking into swapping out mine. Here is where it sux. Mazda sent out a memo saying they "cannot recommend" putting the SAT radio in an 04 or pre August 04 05 unit. WTH? No other reason was given. Need to overturn some more stones.

-=Rowdy=-

Whew-I thought this was a lice check thread.

j67345

I was saying that it's cool that they are changing it for free because it's pretty expensive to pay the dealership to swap the non SAT stereo with the SAT stereo. That's messed up that they advertise the 05's as having Sirius.....and are giving you problems in getting the '05 stereo.....that really sucks!

valpac

iTrader: (2)

My only guess (and it is a guess) is that older build 05's have different wire harnesses than the "newer 05's and thus the SAT radio is not compatible. We'll see the service mgr still has to answer that question for me.