If any of you like myself, would like to control your iPod from the steering wheel controls then there's a possible solution. Denison is the maker of the ICE LINK, it pretty much tells the stock HU that the iPod is a CD changer and is setup so that the commands are set for the remote buttons. Here's the bone, they don't make one for Mazda models from 2002 and up. They do however have a waiting list, in other words if enough people are on the list the market will be big enough for them to deem it a worthwhile venture. So I say head on over to: http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.php and let them know you want an ICE LINK for your RX-8

 

been there done that already, never got a response- wonder how many requests so far

 

I just called, they said they had a rx-8 they were working with and it would available end of summer.

 

Awesome, no more reaching to my center console to hit the buttons I can use my steering wheel controls, that's all I wanted, to utterly wear out the controls on my steering wheel

 

It looks like Apple might be offering their own solution in the not too distant future.

One of our forum members (well, one that I know) works for Apple and has a hard-wired iPod in his RX-8. Maybe he can put pressure on Apple for the RX-8 whenever this becomes available.

 

How did he hard wire the Ipod into his 8?

 

Soldered it in. Others have soldered it to the tape deck. He soldered it onto the head unit.

DIY AUX

 

I sent them a couple of e-mails last Fall and at that point they were not interested in even looking at Mazdas. I think that OverLOAD's project has caught their attention and they are now affraid that they're going to miss out on this market and are scrambling to catch up.

 

Here is my email and the company's response...

I was curious as to whether you had a link for the Mazda RX-8. If it's not available at the present time do you have one in development? Thanks.


Reply-To: "info@densionusa.com" <info@densionusa.com>

Hi,

nothing is available yet, but I believe R&D is working on it.

Best Regards

Support.

 

Guys,

Not sure if this is old news here, but I just checked the Denison web site and the ICELINK for 2002+ Mazdas is now listed there as a 'future item'.

See here for more details:

iceLink for 2002+ Mazda - Denisonusa.com

Sounds very promising, and the best solution i've seen so far (save perhaps OverLOAD's).

Anyone have an official response from them on a release date?

Ed

 

Interestingly one of the things listed in the what we would like Mazda to include on the 8 thread on the forum was direct connectivity for an ipod or an aux in jack. I was sitting in front of the TV today and there was a commercial from BMW that swung into an ipod advertisement, "we are the first automaker to offer direct connection to an ipod. " I couldn't believe it. Excellent!

 

I checked the link and found that you could add your email address to a waiting list. Below is copied directly from their website.

http://densionusa.com/merchant/merch..._Code=IA_Mazda



Quantity in Basket:none
Code: f_Mazda_2002
Price:$219.00

Shipping Weight: 3.00 pounds
Product is not yet available.
Development is currently under consideration.



The ultimate iPod car connector kit for most 2002+ Mazda vehicles.

This kit is not yet available, and release date will depend upon interest.
You may express your interest by clicking on the Add to Wait List link and supplying your email address.
We will notify you on development plans as they become available.
Add to Wait List

 

I wonder if you could use the steering wheel volume controls if you use this with your ipod?



http://www.macally.com/new/new_podtape.html

 

Wow.. 15$ for a tape adapter? I guess you can charge anything once you call it an 'iPod' thing..

No, that won't use your steering wheel, there is no communications path from an audio output back to its source..

 

I have been working on a link into my 8 using an that would involve a slot like interface.
First I was going to buy a tape deck thing from this site
http://www.trussvillemazda.com/PartsStore/index.cfm

Go a Select the 8 and go to the audio section.

The key thing that they offer is the face plate, i was going then to cut out the tape part and add a slot for the pod. as for the acual wireing i need the deck to find what i need, but since i am kinda techi I'll eventually get it.

as for steering weel controls i was going to have sperate controls from
http://www.tentechnology.com/product...vipod_gen2.php

I would take that little remot and paint it black to match the stering wheel and mount it directly under the cruse control.

I know that it is kinda of a shady way of doing it but untill I have another option I really don't have any other choice

 

Apple's web site sells a little device called the iTrip for 34 bucks. They have one for every iPod model so be careful when ordering one.
It's an FM transmitter that allows you to play your iPod through the radio using any FM radio station. I have one for my 8 and it works great. It isn't using the steering wheel controls but at least I didn't have to pay a couple hundred for the tape deck either.

 

I emailed Denison again and actually got a reply so here's what I got:



"The product kit for the RX-8 will possibly be coming into production in approximately 2-3
months. if you would like to be put on a waiting list until it does come out, then please send
us your full name, address, email, phone number, vehicle make, model, and year. We will get back
to you on any questions or comments you may have. We will inform you when we get the product kit
in. Thank You."

 

It's probably only going to be for the new (2.0) iPod huh? I love my 1st gen iPod, but every time something new comes out it's for the newer model. Damn you Steve Jobs!!!!

I think I might have to upgrade to the new iPod if this mod ever comes out. It'd be about the same as buying the faceplate and MP3 CD player, and I could still take it with me... Count me in on the wish list.

EDIT, ok, I'm a dumbass, I can keep my 1st gen iPod and stick it in the glove box..., that will be perfect.

 

In the Wall Street Journal, they review the BMW/Ipod interface and mention an Alpine solution due out at the end of September. Spoke with a guy from Al & Ed's audio and he told there was an adapter so the steering controls could be used. It won't work if you have the navigation system installed...

 

The problem is adding an Alpine head is as much or more work than adding an iPod interface to the stock head.

jds

 

If you're impatient and can't wait the 2-3 months for iceLink to come up with a Mazda-specific solution, there is a more general iceLink solution that will work...

You can get the Alpine M-Bus iceLink for $160 here. You can then get a MAZ/PC-ALP for about $75 which turns the factory headunit's cd-changer input into an Alpine M-Bus input. Hook those two together and you have youself an elegant solution that allows you to use your steering wheel controls, and has much better sound than through an fm transmitter.

I plan on waiting to iceLink's Mazda-specific solution because I'm lazy and a procrastinator, but I figured someone out there wants it now.

Gabe

 

PIE... PIE..PIE...

and alos PIE is Releaseing a IPOD KIT soon..
and WE will have one as well..

its comming..