I'm pretty pleased overall, but I think I might re-work the controller installation one more time to try to make it look a little more integrated... we'll see. I like retaining use of the ashtray compartment, but if I give that up, I could mount the controller much more flush than it currently is.

The ashtray cover is held in place by two pins and a spring. One of my pins had worked its way out a little, so I just pulled it out with pliers to remove the lid. There is a metal heat shield, which should be removed (pried off with a flathead screwdriver) (pic 2) (pic 3) before marking and cutting an opening.

I don't have any pics of this step, but I got some adhesive-backed rubber weathe rstripping from the local hardware store, and ran a line of that around the edge of the controller to hold it snugly in place. (cuz I accidentally cut the opening a little too large ) You can see it in the final pics.

Now to the car...
There are other pics and descriptions on this forum for how to get the stereo out, so I'll just pick up here with the stereo already out. After putzing around a bit to find a good location for the RF unit, I finally decided that neither the space under the ashtray, nor anywhere along the central spine of the car was going to work for me, so I decided to check out the space above the stereo. There were a couple of screws (left & right) to remove, then the vent grills just pop out. Following that, there were a couple more screws (left & right) and the central top cover pops off. (upward) Since I don't have the Nav unit, there was plenty of space there for the RF Mod. It was pretty easy to run the wires down beside the vents to the stereo space.

I tracked down the proper wires to tap into, by looking at other connectors in the area... the dash lights, the cigarette lighter, etc. to deduce which colors I needed to look for for ground and battery wire. With those in place, I just poked the third wire from the RF into the various holes in the stereo wiring harness (with the ignition turned to ACC) to determine which other wire to use. I did a couple tests with the key in various positions to be sure I had the right one, then I either
spliced into them or tucked in (pic 2) the RF wires, and secured them all in place with electrical tape.

I connected the antenna adapter and ran the wires to the controller and to the Keg beside the vents, behind the stereo, and along the spine of the car, to the trunk. (Sorry, no pics of the wiring under the spine cover... it wasn't very exciting anyway)

I popped and screwed everything back together, and this (pic2) is what I got. And hey, the ashtray cover still opens.

And it's so purty at night.

One more thing I plan to do (maybe tonight) is get some translucent red tape to cover the display screen, so it will look more like the upper display. (and won't be so bright at night)

 

jdaled,
It is nice to see that other people are also taking the time to try to incorporate their mods cleanly into the car. Nice job!!! :D



Edited to show off jdaled's install.

 

congrats
that is awesome
very sharp

 

Wow, really awesome install! I'd love to do the same but am leery in ripping the console apart - especially with NAV. Any advice on that?

 

very well done. thanks for the walk through. congrats

 

just curious, when you hooked up the radio antenna... can you still get local stations? is this a silly question of me. from your picture it looks like you swapped which antenna was connected

 

Thanks for the great feedback guys!


And yes pmacwill, the antenna still pulls in radio stations. However, since the antenna connection now goes through the RF modulator, when the power to the Music Keg is switched on, it automatically intercepts, and blocks any outside signals from the antenna, only letting through the keg's signal. Switch the keg off, and the radio works normally.



P.S. I forgot to stop at the auto parts store on my way home today to look for the clear red tape I want to use to tone down the controll display... <sigh> maybe tomorrow. :o

 

I don't really think the console will be more difficult to remove with the nav unit... just a couple additional connectors deal with, and less room above the stereo area.

 

Good Job!! It looks very clean ..like a pro!!

 

Yes I would. Umm ahh, oops sorry

 

looks awesome man

 

Hmmm, I didn't think so at first, but I went back and looked a my pics, and now I think it just might work. If you haven't already, check out the link to "my pics" in my signature... there are a couple there that show the top open; judging by the size of the LED display for comparison, I think it might fit.

 

Wouldit be difficult to add a storage compartment up in that wasted space area? I want to add a pop open storage compartment there b/c I am not happy w/the lack of storage space in our car. That space up there looks like a waste to me when youdont have the NAV. Doyou think it would be possible to add something like a storage pocket in there and getting it to blend in well up in that wasted space above the radio? From your picsit doesnt look like you can fit anything too big in there. Maybe I could put in a compartment that just slides open horizontally thoughId want something like the pocket from the Mazda 6. Heres an idea of what Im talking about:

 

Actually, I'm surprised Mazda didn't do that in the first place. The 350Zs I was looking at had such a storage compartment if you didn't get the Nav. Maybe they'll put that in the 2005 model, then it would just be a matter of ordering the part from Mazda... or maybe an aftermarket supplier? On another thread, there is talk of a "tray" you can get for that space.

 

great install.. now i might actually go and get a sat radio. im waitin for the mp3 player first though.

 

Awesome install dude! If you showed that to another person who haven't seen the dash before, they would think the car came with it! Is it me or did anyone else notice how the weather stripping around the Kenwood matches the look of the leather seats?

 

Just curious on a few qquestions:

How is the sound from the FM Mod?
Do you have the sirius hooked up as well?
Is the keg pretty fast in terms of switching songs?

Cool setup, and nice job on the install!

 

Sound from the FM mod is great... not quite as crisp as from a CD, but some of that could be my mp3 recordings too.

I don't have the Sirius, but it would be an easy add at this point.

And, yes, the Keg is fast at switching songs; faster than a CD.

 

I was thinking of adding my faceplate to the sunglass compartment on the overhead consul, but I like what you ahve done with the ashtray. IS the face remote or wired? IS it made to run like that or did you ahve to modify/wire it?

 

I also thought of locating the controller in the sunglasses storage area, but when that compartment is open, it blocks my view from the rear-view mirror, so that eliminated that possibility for me.

The controller IS wired, it is essentially a replacement option for folks who don't have a Kenwood head unit. Since I wanted (still do) to keep my stock unit, the RF unit with wired controller was necessary. If there was a convenient 1-din dash opening, then it would have been possible to replace the stock unit with a Kenwood head unit, and attach the MusicKeg directly.

Also, apparently PhatNoise is doing some testing on Mazdas with the newer modular system (RX-8s, 6s, and 3s), but I haven't heard anything on that in a while.

 

I would have to hard wire the faceplate to the headunit. The idea is a bit scary. The sunglass location does have to problem as you mentioned, but it is hidden from all when I am parked. With a wired remote, I can controll it anywhere and for the most part. I don't need to see it to use it. Your location does make the head infinitly easier to use and wires easier to run. I suppose I could life the door to the ash tray to better hide the faceplate from on-lookers. Anyway, great install on your car... I greatly appreciate the photo of the dash apart. Give me a good idea of the sapce in there without doing exploritory surgury...

 

Personally, I mounted in the ashtray lid, so I could still use the ash tray (for storage... change-pennies specifically, fortune cookie fortunes, stuff like that, I don't smoke). I do flip the lid up when I get out of the car, and the display is pretty much hidden at that point.

Even though you can see a small part of it still, it's obvious at that point that it's just a controller, and NOT a complete unit, so it's useless to steal.

Well, that has been my reasoning so far, although I AM strongly considering ordering a new ashtray unit, and moving the controller inside for the additional stealth you mentioned. I'm starting to think that would be more important to me than the small amount of use I actually put the ashtray to.

Ta,
Dale

 

Me too. We bought my wife's Mazda 6S before my '8, and I fully expected to see the same cool feature in the non-Nav equiped RX-8s. Ah well.