Well as of 3:30am this morning I now have the ability to listen to my iPod on my stereo but also the ability to change tracks using the steering wheel controls. This evening I started this project around 12:30am (I'm not sure why I waited so long). I was planning on going to bed but just couldn't let good toys not get used so I went to work. I used the DIYs to remove the stereo without too much head ache. Though the locking bolt was a bit of a pain to get out along with the temp control connectors. Once I got the stereo out I installed the P.I.E. adapter to turn the cd changer controls to an Alpine M-Bus connector. I installed the P.I.E. box up in the tape deck tray and it fit there quite snugly on it's own so I didn't have to use any tape/glue or other sticky stuff. From that box I then converted the connector to the Dension IceLink format. Took that connector and used a long extension cable (too long really at 5 meters but that's all they had to work with) to connect up to the interface device that then connects to the iPod. I'm quite happy about it so far. Audio quality sounds pretty good but I'll have to be a bit more awake to give a quality review of that part. I haven't even really checked to see how the stock Bose system really sounds.

Be warned as the other PIE thread states you need a stereo with at least version number 9.55 in order to get this to work. I've got ver 9.67 since I just got my 8 last week.

Here are some photos for proof of what I did. The last one shows the display with it properly connected. The nice feature about this is that it doesn't flash the EX "1" part. Instead it shows EX1: 1 0'00'' and starts to count time as the song begins. Though (and I'm not sure why but it doesn't bother me) the timer just counts to 10 seconds and then flips back to zero. It doesn't reset the song or change what's coming through the speakers, it just cycles through that. When you change tracks the display acts as if you've got a CD and then will display EX1: 2 0'00''.

The only drag to this system is that it's a bit pricey at $240+ but for me I think it's worth it. My iPod install in my old Nissan Altima cost me $70 so this was a bit of a step up. Even after all this I'll still probably get OverLoads iPod interface once he gets title information up on the display. I just wanted something for the present.

 

sweet tell us more!

 

Awsome glad someone did it. I posted that that could be done in the aux in thread but no one even payed attention to me Oh well good luck with that im sure it sounds good being its hardwired :D

 

Congrats on a job well done! The dilemma I have is if it is worth the money adding on the Icelink just to be able to change tracks from the steering wheel. I think I'm going to wait unitl someone releases an adapter that allows text display as well. I also want to hook up satellite radio through the PIE adaptor - would the Icelink give me any features I don't have with just the PIE?

 

I want the txt display too but I was thinking that I'll install this whole thing and then when the txt display version comes out I'll install it in my girlfriends car (Mazda 3s) and buy her an Ipod for some holiday or birthday...then I'll get the new one

also if anyone is going to do this setup can they please to a complex DIY with step by step pics? (well atleast for the icelink steering wheel controlls...the pie adapter I've got down...but it would be great to have an integrated DIY)

 

Do you think the NEW Apline connector coming out this month will fix the display?

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...51&postcount=3

 

That new Alpine connector looks promising but I'm not sure if there's a connector that converts from the back of the stereo to the new AI-Net interface for Alpine.

I'm not sure if a DIY is nessicary for this. I followed the other DIY for removing the stereo and that was quite helpful. After that point it's all just routing cables through the center consol. The part that was a pain was how I had a bunch of extra cable to try and hide in the consol. I ran it all the way to the back seats and coiled it up there before bringing it forward to make the connection to the IceLink unit.

Hmmm, I seemed to have over slept this morning and now I'm really late for work. Gotta bolt..

 

I think there may be a connector to go from Ai-net to M-bus or vice versa but I may be wrong. The thing that sucks about using all of these conectors is ultimatly you are going to lose sound quality as each connector changes the signal to a new one.

 

Over on the Mazda3 board, someone had already tried to connect an CD/MP3 changer w/text information via the PIE interface. IIRC, they had controls over track, etc. (some pretty funky), but the text display was inaccurate, as with Zelig2's results.

From that, I would assume that the issue isn't with the Dension unit, but with the fact that the PIE adapter isn't passing the complete timing or text information (but does pass track info). So, it would also seem that the Alpine Ipod interface won't be able to pass text/timing info through the PIE adapter either. But that's just an assumption, with limited input at this time.

Now, with the Dension unit passing track information, I wonder if it might also pass a correct code that would satisfy the 9.53 and below versions, and thus work on them.

---jps

 

I too purchased a Dension iceLink and PIE adaptor. The last of the pieces came in today, and I installed everything when I got home.

Car has a non-Bose single CD, no nav stereo. I put the PIE box in the spot where the cassette or MD player would go, then ran the Alpine style cable out the back, and off towards the glove box.

The iceLink device is about the size of a pack of gum. I ziptied it to a spare bit of metal I saw while i had the glovebox out.

The iPod cradle had a mini-DIN cable that goes off towards the pack of gum. I threaded it thru the mystery hole between the glove box and console, and then notched the little cap that normally covers the hole.

I still have a minor amount of cable management to do on the install, but it all works now. I test drove down to Wendy's to get some dinner. I listened to the iPod, changed tracks from the steering wheel, and voice dialed the phone to make sure I didn't hose up any part of my bluetooth kit install.

pics:

http://network.outage.net/ipod8/

 

my radio software verison is unfortunately 9.53 But i'm planing to buy the mp3 headunit. My question is does this IPod install works on any of the cd players from mazda, whether its a bose, non-bose cd player , mp3, or cd changer headunit? Its the software version of your headunit that matters right?

 

Congrats on getting it to work also. Do you notice that it always is charging the iPod even when the car is off? I doubt the iPod sucks much power after it's fully charged but it concerns me at times if I have to leave my car parked for a few days. Also from time to time it doesn't want to change tracks and usually I just have to press the change track button a number of times before it kicks back in to switching.

 

I'm looking forward to having control over my ipod, but I got a few questions.
will this also charge the battery on the ipod?
how is the audio? good, bad, ok, etc.

Thanks,
Scott

 

Not to pop anyone's bubble but.....the new iPod adapter from Alpine comes with a rather large prerequisite. You need a 2004 alpine headunit.
This is due to the control interface that is required. You will not be able to control the iPod through other head units, including the stock RX-8 radio. Just thought I'd at bring that info out before someone made a mistake purchase.

 

Wow, that is pricey. I bought a tape deck for $130 and did OverLOAD's Tape Hack. To get easy track switching, I used the remote that came with the iPod:


I don't feel the remote at all, because of the contouring of the console. It's always in the same place, inches from the shifter, and can be slid into the center console when leaving the car.

I also would like an integrated text display in the long run. When I compare the price of the ICElink solution ($240) vs this ($130), I think this setup might be right for people who want a solution now, but find $240 a bit daunting. The amount of work is just about the same, except you need to make three solder connections.

 

um yeah...lets see a crumy remote that takes your hand of the shifter or paying a little more for that OEM look/feel and safetly changing tracks from the same position your hand is already?

I'm glad you are happy with you 'remote' but on a 30k or more car it looks cheap...if I wanted to look cheap I'd add a pair of pink dice off the rearview mirror

Besides you already payed an arm and a leg for that overpriced oversized IPOD why not pay a little more for quality? (I'm probably getting the IPOD just because of the steering wheel controls otherwise the IPOD is a serious ripoff)

 

I guess you got me there. But I'm waiting for OverLOAD's module, so I'm making do with what I have. The silly remote was just laying in the drawer doing nothing, so it was 'free'. I have excellent audio from the Tape Hack, and the remote gives me push-button control without reaching in the center console.

This post was mainly offered for users such as the one whose iPod is in the back center, where it's very difficult to reach and control. People with the CD and Tape Hacks generally put the iPod in a cup holder, and there's no question the remote is much easier to control and diverts less attention from driving than reaching into a cup holder.

I agree the integrated steering wheel control is the best... but I decided to go with OverLOAD's product, even if it takes a while. This is a very good intermediate step, and it actually doesn't look all that obnoxious from the driver's seat.

 

free is always good (coming from an prior college student )

 

Ouch. You know you could have just soldered an AUX into the CD player for like $4.
http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/

 

i think the iTrip does just fine if u don't have a tape deck and dont want to take everything apart. occasionally there is alittle static but for the most part, it has a clear sound and is wireless.

 

believe me it is worth taking everything apart...if you live in a big city or near a big city the FM transmitter (ie itrip and others) absolutely blows...I've had several and the signal always gets wiped out by various stations...there is static...but worst part is the bass sounds aweful and the highs are a hiss

take your car apart, spend a little dough...and you'll be much happier