option for a touchscreen?

 

It would be a touchscreen, wheather you want to use that option or not.


For sound you would need like a pie adapter or Autolinx module.

 

are you guys going going to become a vendor here or sell through vendors?

 

More than likely become a vendor.

 

Not an exact ETA....but we are hoping soon. Just trying to get feedback from you guys so we can get this rollin.

 

If you find the vendor fees too high feel free to contact me. Either way I know several local guys who would be interested...keep up the good work

-J

 

I'm in if you guys can do something like this. I think it would look very clean and allow those with factory NAV to have a kickass sound system. This configuration allows the rotary ***** to stay in the factory location and still be able to stuff a 2 DIN setup in the OEM headunit location. All we would have to do is keep the PCB board that controls the A/C and heat, tucked at the back of the cavity that holds the current headunit. I also think this way, the install looks cleaner since you will no longer see the OEM headunit there as a 'dummy' when you have another headunit controling the music. Click here.

 

Thanks for the pics and link. Here it is translated:
http://translate.google.com/translat...ial_s%26sa%3DG

By the way, that's $729 USD!

 

If you want to make this work properly, ignore anything to do with a screen first. Next realize that you must build a circuit that will allow you to REMOVE the factory head unit, otherwise the potential customer is going to get slammed with another $500.00 bill to relocate the factory radio. That + whatever you are going to charge = tons o cash. Solve the headunit issue first.

Next, build the faceplate in multiple formats. The stock size is double din + . So for dollars and cents here, your best bet is to make the panel a double din or a single din + pocket. When coupled with the radio deletion harness that you will come out with, it should be an affordable solution to 95% of the market instead of 5% of the market. If you leave the customer with no option but a 7 or 8" screen, you are now forcing them to buy a outboard cd / dvd etc. Go with the all in one type units and allow the customer the choice to install what they want. If a customer wants a 8" or 7" touchscreen only, have it available as an option. Chances are better than the average bear that you will sell 50:1 a double din or single din unit to a single 8" or 7" touchscreen.

I am one of the few people who have done this car (more than once) and knows all the little farty issues that crop up with moving the factory headunit. If you have not tried it yourself and either given up in failure or done succesfully, you had better start by doing so, this way you will truly know what you are getting into.

 

I think what forbidden is saying is great for the HU replacement crowd but there is also a huge customer base that just wants a nice screen up top like the NAV guys that they can run a pc/dvd/etc. on while using the stock HU for audio (PIE for auxiliar input for example)

 

Our main focus started as a way to get an LCD screen into the RX-8 for a Carputer application. We sell CarPuter systems and accessories. Since we are also RX-8 owners, we have taken on the task of creating a mold. Once we get a good mold, I'm sure we will offer some kind of single/double din application.

Our current goal is to get a base model Carputer system with a 7 or 8" touchscreen, and a mold to go with it for a reasonable price. We are currently selling our screens fairly well and hope to make it a better fit for the RX-8.

 

If you do the single din on above the vents it kills two birds with one stone. The stock head unit does not have to be moved and a person can put either a motorized touch screen or a single din in the slot.

To replace the top cover it is only like $90 to get back to stock and sell the modded cover to someone on the forum.

If a person wants to do a screen they can always do the Nav tray
http://www.mazdaparts.com/ProductDet...000-1112606399

 

I've already got the Nav but this looks pretty interesting....keep us posted

 

I like the way you guys think... but lemme get this straight.

So far my impression is that you guys are trying to build a mold for the RX-8 that would hold a touch screen for carputer applications, and make it look factory? Correct me if I am wrong.

Motorized would kill... I believe flip top on the dash in place of the factory nav screen would be the way to go. If you could pull this off successfully with a quality product, you would do for the RX-8 what the mp3car.com owners have done for the Infiniti G35!

My impressions are that they move a fair number of housings on that website for the G35. I say go for it! You would have full support of everyone who reads the Interior, Audio, and Electronics threads...

-P23

 

Thanks to everyone for your support, ideas, and replies.

We would not go motorized. This is not very cost effective nor would it seem very durable.

We actually currently carry a head unit for a single DIN application. We may soon offer this, but our first intention is to get the 7" LCD somewhere useful, but not obstructive.

 

it is not i have one on my dash now.

beers

 

To put a screen in where the factory radio sits is a great idea, don't get me wrong here. The problem is that the circuit board hidden behind the factory panel which controls the radio is also integrated into the climate control system. This panel then attaches to the main double din hidden unit behind that by means of a multi pin system on each side of the top unit. Both units are necessary in order to maintain the climate control system. Thus due to space limitation, pushing the units backwards to accommodate the space necessary for the new touchscreen and panel, well it's not going to happen. This is why I mentioned the need to solve the circuit issue with the climate controls. This alone would open more opportunities for you not for just selling your screen systems but also open the other market which is aftermarket head units of any type.

 

I'm not interested in changing my radio out--just the screen so I could add dvd, tuner, PS2, or navigation where the factory nav screen is housed would be my ideal solution.

 

^^ What he said.


Also, as 4 years to supercharge mentioned, creating a mold that would host a 1DIN unit on top of the dash would be a great way to offer a mount possibility for another head unit OR (which is far more interesting IMO) getting a slide-out touchscreen in the DIN slot that can be used for carputer purposes.

If you are able to create some retractable mechanism there that allows the screen to be folded into the dash (a la factory nav), that'd be awesome... but failing that, the 1DIN fixed mount would be acceptable for quite a few people.

 

same here... don't care if its flip-up or retractable...

emphasis on stealth as well. I don't want something that says "steal me" to passerby's or something that looks like a large lumpy growth molded into my dash when not being used. I just want a nice simple and clean way to install a screen for a carputer.

 

I vote for a flip-up screen up top rather than retractable. Retractable still isn't OEM enough for me.

In my opinion, for carputer screen purposes:

Motorized flip-up > manual flip-up > japanese nav tray (via canzoomer) > retractable 1 DIN

The retractable 1 DIN pieces I've seen still look too "bulging growth" for me.

-P23

 

man i cant wait for this to get goin. i been looking for some thing for a carpc and a nav type stealth would be great but a normal flip up din touchscreen would be good too. cant wait

 

DITTO! I feel exactly the same. beyond that... I truly don't like 1DIN retractable screens in general... don't like the look and in most installations it blocks AC controls or vents. All the 1DIN dash panels I've seen for the 8... they scream "aftermarket accessory here... STEAL ME!"

Go with the manual flip up screen in the stock nav location. Screen size... I'd say 7" just because it's less expensive and pretty universal in the carpc market, but more real estate is always better...

Actually... there is a thread in this section where one guy made a manual flip-up screen mount out of his stock dash panel. Fabbed his own hinges to make it work...

 

exactly...