N rider89

ok ive searched through these forum and i still need some help. ive been wanting to put a car computer in for a while now but i have a lot of questions.

i have a guy who can install a screen in where the factory sterio unit is but im afraid of losing the use of the steering wheel controls, is there any way to keep them?

plus the guy is gonna charge me $3000 for everything and i just wanted to know if thats a good price?

i originally wanted to to intall a touch screen in a nav dispaly so it could hide away and look clean and i could just use the original factory unit to control volume and still use it as a cd player/radio. the only problem is that i couldnt find a empty nav plasic casing that i could use for the touch screen(i was thinking of asking a dealership to see if they would sell me one, has anyone tried this?) and i also dont know what things i need for this to work. ive seen the P.I.E adapter but i really still need help with this.

Please help me out im just look for some support from some other rx-8 owners and i thank you for anything you can tell me.

Japan8

If you want to keep the steering wheel controls, I'd suggest keeping the factory head unit. besides, it's touchy work replacing it... not just making a new faceplate, but also the PCB behind it must be kept so that the display for the A/C controls will work.

What you could try to do is see if any of the dealers nearby can sell you the nav hood from a customer's car when they have to replace one. Mazda doesn't sell empty nav hoods... only the whole assembly for something like $1,500. Another option is to use a nav tray like Rotary Rasp, have some kind of manual flip out screen (similar to OEM nav) made for you or to have the screen molded into the dash panel.

Connect everything up using a P.I.E. unit in the aux CD changer port on the back of the stock HU and get a Car to PC adpater from indashpc (MBus type). This will give you both audio into the factory HU and allow you to control it all from your steering wheel controls.

Let me know if you have any more questions. Others will be along soon too to help you out.

N rider89

thanks man for helping me out. it gets a little confusing sometimes in here for me. im gonna contact the dealership for the nav. also does any one know of any good touchscreens that fit in to the nav tray good?

Japan8

No problem.

Yeah... I think that's your first bet... try the dealership for a leftover from replacement nav hood. The nav tray option can be bought from mazdaparts.com or canzoomer. Just about any 7" LCD should fit without issue... it's what the JDm dealers use for aftermarket nav units they install. ANother option I forgot to mention... because I hate it... getting a motorized 1DIN LCD (flip out like the Alpine, etc. units) and have it mounted in a custom dash panel.

A good place for info... http://www.mp3car.com