Use a 10mm socket (deep socket OK, but not necessary) and a 6" extension. I prefer 1/4" drive for this. Do not remove the bolt completely with the socket lest you drop it. just get it good and loose and finish the job with your fingers (or someone else's fingers if you are an NFL lineman )

 

Ok I removed the bolt that is holding the stereo but I still cant pull it. HELP PLSS!!

 

Only one single bolt is holding the stereo but I cant pull it. Whenever I do it looks like the middle is bending. Just pull it out right?

 

So you had ur right hand pulling the stereo and ur left hand pushing where the 10mm bolt area was? Ok, I'll try this sighhhh.......

 

I do it from the other side..drop the glovebox ( along with the damper linkage)

I ease out on the bottom with my left hand while I push the rear out with my right..

 

Too late I broke it!!!!!!NO!!!!!!!!!

 

what did you break????????

 

She broke the faceplate..

I had a little AIM chat with her and she already has one on order.

Ouch.

 

snap-on I have to thank you for all the help you provide the rx8club community...

as for her faceplate
ouch is right...

but it is fixable so I'm looking on the brightside

 

You're just in a good mood about winning the Hymee....

Thanks

 

I asked this question in the Interior Audio Forum but no one answered.

Does the MP3/CD player play CD-RW discs?

Thanks in advance.

 

Mine played CD-R discs just fine. I never tried CD-RW discs.

 

It would be nice if they play CD-RW discs. You can just add/delete songs without burning a whole new CD-R.

 

Since CD-Rs are about 25 cents each, it's not worth the hassle of formatting CD-RWs to me.

 

I have used a CDRW disc and it worked just fine on my MP3 player. Ive rewritten on it too. No problems whatsoever. Just wantedto see if it would work.

I agree w/Bob though. CDRs are so cheap - why go through the hassle of rewriting all the time?

 

That's great news.

Yeh, I agree CDRs are cheap now. The reason I am thinking about getting a MP3 player is because I don't want to carry all the CDs in my car and change them. If I download a couple of new albums, I can add them to a CDRW. In other words, I can use a CDRW just like an iPod Shuffle. And better yet, I can control it with the stereo.

I think I will go ahead and order one.

They should make it standard equipment...

 

Yah but I can access 10,000 of my favorite songs at any time.

 

I have a question about the factory MP3 player. I currently have the Bose 6 disc in-dash changer. Is the sound quality/power output from the factory MP3/CD player the same as the Bose 6 disc in-dash changer?

 

Does this bug anyone?

The text for the MP3 and satellite radio (complained about that on another thread) doesn't scroll automatically.

The text turn **** works, but it seems to me that when you change tracks, or the track changs on its own, the text should initially scroll once through the display, then just show as much as the display will hold.

I guess this could be fixed in software (is it correct that HU is upgradeable?).

I don't think calling Mazda corporate does much good for this kind of thing. I had called about the satellite radio text, and they said I would have to talk to a dealer about it (dealer apparently has access to some tech support entity).

I'm going to whine about it when I get my car serviced next. Will post feedback at that point.

 

I want to thank all of you who provided tips and instructions to replace the CD player with an MP3 or 6 CD changer. It took me only an 1 /1/2 hours with these instructions and tips. I can see I would have blown a whole day just looking for that stupied gold bolt on the side as well as dealing with the electrical plugs. If the large audio plug had been more forgiving I could have done the change over in less than an hour.

To restate an earlier tip on the gold bolt, use a long extention with some sticky putty or two sided tape inside the 10mm socket to hold the gold bolt else it would be a really big PITA to deal with it. I sure don't know anyone with small enough hands to reach it, other than a small childs. Also after removing the plastic cover under the steering wheel, remove the metal plate behind it as well. It is held by 4 phillip screws. It is really easy to get to the gold bolts after the steel plate is removed.

Thanks again

 

I have large fingers...it is was easy to reach....but then again I laid on my back under the steering column with my legs up over the seat and one out the window :p

 

I am planning on replacing my mp3 trim for some reason there is a deep scratch. I was wondering if I can replace it without having to remove the whole head unit. Maybe I can pry it?

 

I have the dame question except I have single CD player with BOSE system. Does the MP3 player affect/change the sound quality/volume from BOSE? I don't know how the BOSE system is configured. Is it a separate unit/amplifier that works with any player? or is it built in the original CD player?

I am really considering installing a MP3 player but just not sure about this piece. Do any of you that had it install have BOSE in your car? If so, have you notice any differnece? Can anyone comment on that? Thanks a lot.

 

I just replaced mine and the sound is exactly the same. The CD, MP3, 6-CD portion is separate from the amp and actually plugs into the amp/tuner portion of the stereo so the sound is exactly the same.

You could try to pry it, but it would be very hard to get out and you would scratch the non-scratched piece.

*****TO GET THE LARGE PLUG OUT OF THE BACK OF THE STEREO TAKE OUT YOUR GLOVE BOX. YOU CAN REACH AROUND THE BACK AND THERE IS MUCH MORE ROOM TO GET TO THE PLUG. PM ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. *****

 

Just did the replacement/installation myself. Some notes:

I found taking out the entire front center console cover useful (as per instructions) because it gave me extra space to work with. I threw a clean towel over the area from right in front of the headunit and until just after the shifter, covering the exposed shift rod and the silver plastic sides. When I was fiddling with the radio, it would often dip into that area, so I think the towel definitely saved me some scratches.

I didn't find it necessary to take off the metal portion in the left lower dash (under the steering wheel). I found that by getting my hand around the back of the dash, I was able to get to and see (barely) the side bolt that needed to come off. A 10mm socket is required for it, and I used a 3" extension with a 10mm socket at the end. No ratchet was used, but the bolt gave in anyway.

I noticed that the MP3 player is Panasonic and made in Japan, whereas the old player is Sanyo and made in Malaysia. I'm hoping that the Panasonic CD reading unit is more shock-resistant (and can read scratched CDs better). We'll see how it goes, haven't driven over any rough terrain at speed yet.

I also used a small round mirror under the headunit (in the space that the ashtray used to occupy). This helped me see under the headunit and I was able to clearly see the HVAC plugs.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed instructions, photos, advice, insight!