Labor cost for swapping CD/MP3 player?
 

I'm thinking of having my regular 1 disc CD player replaced with the MP3 1 disc player. How much will the labor run for dealer to install it? Is there a "book" time that it should take the swap that they'll use to quote the job?

You need to read a few threads on this forum, if you had you probably wouldn't have asked the question.

But, because i'm nice (and have nothing better to do right now) i'll explain.

It seems that the RX8 has quite a complicated setup as far as the stereo is concerened. I beleive it house the controls for the red LCD display, so simply removing it would mean that the display would no longer function as it should.
Theres also the issue of how to get the new units signal into the OE speakers, i believe this could be quite a tough job, and even if it was managed the result might not be better than what it was before you started.

Regarding the book time, i doubt it. Not enough people have done this yet for there to be a set proceedure, it will be labour intensive, so unless your going to be upgrading the whole system with significantly better parts, i don't think it's worth paying 10 times more for the labour than your likely too for the new headunit.

I don't mean to sound discouraging, but Mazda and BOSE didn't design this system to be taken out easily. i think the BOSE system sounds good enough for the genral public, it's only audiophiles that would spend the time and money improving it.... alot of time.

Like i said at the start, read up on this - it's been covered quite alot on the forum so a quick search should turn up all the info you'll need.

Come on, it's not that bad...
Read this to see what's involved in taking out the radio. Honestly, it is not too hard unless you have absolutely no inclination to do any interior work.
This will explain how to disassemble the stereo and take out the CD player. Swapping that for the MP3 player is a piece of cake.

A dealer will likely charge way too much for such work, that's for sure.

And regarding the necessity of improving the sound of the Bose system - well, your statement is highly debatable, but that's really a matter of preference about car stereo :p

Click on my sig below and then look for the "mp3 player" link. After reading that thread you may want to consider installing the MP3 player yourself, it is not that difficult of a job.

What would a dealer charge an hour, $65-$75? Just guessing. It was fun installing the unit myself, the directions and advice in that thread made all the difference.

good luck

I did the mp3 install myself.

the hardest part was finding the screw under the dash.

once you get that done, you have to unplug a few wires and remove a few screws. Using the DIY instructions, it should take less than an hour.

Just be very careful as it's easy to scratch things.

My dealership wanted $230 to do the install. No thanks.

same here...it cost $0 dollars to install because you are going to do it yourself and make us all proud