I promise I'm not doing the lazy newbie thing and not bothering to search before asking a question that's been asked/answered before.

Here's the scenario:

Friends of mine have turned me towards getting an RX-8 and an enthusiast who owns an 8 and races his twin turbo RX-7 commented that I should think about a 2005 Shinka in the Black Cherry.... he's an ******* because now that is exactly what I want.

First problem is that I can't find one for sale anywhere with the factory Nav installed. This may be remedied by the second supposition:

I know some people have shelled out huge amounts of money to get factory Nav installed post-purchase (I learned that on these boards) and it really just isn't worth it. I agree.

The reason I want the in-dash nav is to build a carputer I just started speccing out yesterday. So while I got part of my quandry answered on these boards, I can't find information to answer the remaining parts of my project:

1) The in-dash nav is a dash trim piece that can be ordered individually - is it a matching piece and replacement for the stock dash piece?

2) Providing a customer didn't get the nav option, does the stock car still have the ports and on-board chips the factory nav plugs in to to read car data like speed, revs, engine codes, etc, or are these also included as part of the factory nav installation (I'm not talking about ports like the DVD reader or antena/locator)?

3) The console dash piece is also available with the control **** and splits the heated seats switches farther apart. Are the plugs that these switches trigger in fixed points for both models (meaning hard mounted differently for 8's with nav and 8's without)?

I will continue to try to find the answers on my own but I know many have already gone through this particular beast of discovery and I'm hoping you may help me save some time.


Cheers!

3)

 

Sharpen his search skills this one must.

 

JDM Nav Tray reference - https://www.rx8club.com/interior-aud...2/#post1515254

You can find it online at japanparts.com

My own thread on it: https://www.rx8club.com/mazdaparts-c...rrived-157507/

And here's a thread (missing a few pictures but still doable) for how to modify the OEM nav tray to operate: https://www.rx8club.com/interior-aud...om-pcb-172054/ I have one of these myself but have not gotten around to installing it.

 

Thanks Shell - it's a partial answer but the pin layout will be very useful.

My intent is to utilize a stock Nav dash panel, motorized, to retain OEM functionality for Open/Tilt as well as the frame, though modified for a Windows 8 touch screen slate. May even mod the original dash panel to accomodate a removable Surface if the dimensions work, and port the schematic you've provided with a PCB.

End result would be what looks like the stock nav with a removable MSFT Surface slate which, when seated, would adopt a custom launch GUI and have mostly the same functionalities as many other carputers I've seen here for the 8. If the dimensions for the default surface won't work, I'll wait until a 7" capacitive touch screen hits the market and use that instead.

 

hrm... you may want to check out my honeycomb thread...

https://www.rx8club.com/interior-aud...i-come-225539/

 

Thanks Shell...

As an aftermarket substitute, I think the JDM is the best option out there (currently)... and I did initially think of doing it via an Android tablet. Problem is I work in a development group at MSFT and there's a bit of a loyalty thing going on (although I'm not a sycophant).

Where I would like to believe Modern Apps can shine will be in hardware features utilizing the MPU - i.e. for a more accurate GPS or PiP and infrared rear camera API's, etc. That being said, I like quite a number of the parts you've got listed and have started a BOM based on your inputs. This is an entirely new field of exploration for me, though, so I'm sure I will have a number of false starts.

On the plus side, I've found both the factory in-dash piece as well as a well cared-for Shinka I've just put a deposit down on today... seems I'll be coming in face first.

I'd be especially stoked if I can find that a default MSFT Surface 'could' be slotted in despite being larger than 7"

 

Doubtful any larger than 7" would fit. My Streak has a very small footprint and it just squeaks I'm.

I've done quite a bit of m$ work over the years too going all the way back to msdos 1.0 and PDS thru .net.

 

Well, my task just got an even bit more daunting, I think.

So - have learned that Shinkas made Nav non-optional to begin with due to satellite radio (no idea how/why that crosses over, but apparently says it does). Now I will have to research if there is a different harness or port in play, a different PCB...