I just got a Clarion N.I.C.E. system for christmas (retail $1200.00) Ebay $800 new.
It has nav, mp3, rear video, video input, sirius, picture viewer etc.. this N.I.C.E (navigation in car entertainment system) Check it out at crutchfield.com. It has a 7" touch screen and is really nice. Fm wireless too so no hookups unless you want to. Anyway, my local sound shop molds and pours custom dash and sub boxes and they are in the process of casting a mold of my center channel dash piece and makin a custom enclosure for this dude so I can get rid of the suction cup windshield bracket thing. A friend already did this in his RX8 for a 7 inch lcd monitor and it looked factory! Imagine, everything the factory nav system offers but you have touch screen sirius controls, 10 gb for mp3's where you can upload from your laptop in the car and then touch the song title on the screen to play, rear video camera, picture viewer ( i did a custom mazda logo thats up on mine when I'm not using the other systems) and standard dvd inputs! It will even play your mp3's while you navigate! I will take some photos when its done should be in a week. They are only chargin me $300 for the install too. Sure it doesnt go up and down but wait till you see this, it smokes the factory unit and you don't have to tear your car apart to install it. Who wants something that does all this folded down anyway, let it shine brothers and sisters!!

 

how are you going to deal with the loss of your climate control controls????

beers

 

You gotta find out what they are doin' for the harness!!!

 

this sounds very cool. I'd like to get this setup in my 8 as well..

 

My audio guys cast a mold of the top center plastic dash piece including the climate control diplay window (which will be in the new piece they cast) the screen is molded in just above and behind that display on top of the dash, it really only obstructs your view about as much as the factory nav system. Another thing I did was put the XM radio roady receiver on my ashtray lid behind and to the left of the shifter, fits perfect with the double stick tape it comes with but to keep you knuckles from hittin it in second gear you need to upgrade your shifter to a MOMO Corsa or something similar. No more knuckle problems and the XM controls are at your fingertips.

 

you do know that the control for the heat and the ac are inside the head unit???? that if you take out the radio you have no heat or ac.

beers

 

They are only removing the top plastic dash cover piece and casting that, in essence the screen is still sitting on top of my dash but the dash will "raise up" like a hill to go over the screen and round around the front of the screen, the screen will not be inset into the dash or interfere with anything in the dash in any way. it will look like the factory system sort of but will be in the up position all the time. I will have pictures soon.

 

So then you're leaving the stock head unit?

 

This should be moved to the 'Interior, Audio, and Electronics' section... not a DIY.

 

Can't wait to see this. Post some pics when you are done.

 

I want to do the same thing, please remember to show us some pics when you get them. Good luck, sounds like its gonna be sweet.

 

update?

 

hmmm diy section but no instruction nor is he doing it himself.... weird

 

i was just wondering how the kit looks installed?.....anybody knows?

 

Whoa, this thread was, like... dead. Who brought it back?