Does anybody know if it's possible to disable bluetooth in the RX-8 R3?

 

why do you need to do this? couldn't you just not pair whatever device you have in the car and leave it be?

 

why would you want to do that, imo its a great option.

 

For anybody that picks up this thread one day while looking how to do this (I just got an R3 after many months of looking) ...

The bluetooth unit is located in the centre console between the two rear seats. To disable the unit, remove the centre console from the rear, working forward and you'll be able to either lift out the trim completely (depending on how far forward you unscrew it) or just enough to see the bluetooth module mounted on a black-painted plate secured using two bolts. The module clearly shows the Bluetooth logo, make sure you get the right one! Simply disconnect the cable from the unit (you might want to unbolt it to get some leverage on the connector).

The head unit is not concerned about the absence of the bluetooth unit. There are no external antennas (though the manual suggested these were present).

A couple of posters have asked why would you do this, when it seems like such a useful option? I'm a communications engineer by profession (formerly a Cisco Systems CCIE) and I have read too many negative health reports concerning wireless apparatus. I was able to locate the unit using a device that measures microwave emissions (these begin about 15 seconds after the ignition is switching on and pulse on/off every five or so seconds, polling for a phone continuously). I'm not really interested to debate the health issues with anybody, either it concerns you or it doesn't but I would certainly prefer that my children are not seated atop a microwave transmitter on car journeys.

Hope somebody finds this helpful as I could not get the information from Mazda UK or the dealer and yet it was easy to disable.