I see that there is a box that will allow me to get sirius reception in my stock radio/6 disk. My question is where does it mount. I did not want one of those little separate screen things on my dash. I was told by Best Buy that this was not available but I see it in Rosenthal's offerings.

I kinda searched but really did not see this item being discussed. Now watch there is likely 100 posts on this and I am blind.

 

The real question is... who is that in your avatar?

 

Just one of the local cops.

 

Are you talking about the OEM Sirius unit? If so - if you have a SAT button on your headunit, it is a box that mounts in the trunk, wiring runs up to the HU and plugs right in, - then you can use the existing display and steering wheel controls. I actually just bought this used from "whoneedspistons" on this board, but haven't installed it yet.

 

I saw it on the Rosenthal forum and must assume it's OEM. OK now I need to look and see if I have a SAT button. My luck says I won't. I just would hate to go to all the trouble to change a head unit to get Sirius.

Thank you very much!!! I wish you good luck with yours.

 

Yeah, just like you, I didn't want another display for an aftermarket SAT radio, but the price of the OEM is high - you may want to look around for a used one. I'm hoping to get mine installed soon - I'm just a little too busy right now...

 

I think Rosenthal has it for $350.00 and that is about what I thought it would cost. I am going to try Best Buy and see if I can get it thru them cuz I have 0 experience with electronics (and I'm lazy) and they will install what they sell.

 

I haven't heard of anyplace like Best Buy being able to get those, since it's an OEM part, but it doesn't hurt to check. Good luck!

 

Phil: I could be wrong but I think they added the sat option in '05.
BestBuy probably won't carry it since it's an OEM piece

 

Damm, I should have known. Nothing comes easy. Oh well I'll see what they have (Best Buy) and go from there.

 

350 for the add on unit???????? imo thats steep seeing how aftermarket add ons are only like 100 bux and up...my XM unit was 130 bux + the 30 bux instalation kit and it sounds great, plus the color screen looks nice....why dont you want a dash display, personal preference, security reasons.


didnt notice but my trip reader reads 666.....creeeeeeeeeeepyyyyyyyy

 

Both reasons, the screens look out of place in the 8 and the one I had in my truck was stolen. I use my cigarette lighter as place to plug in my radar detector. I'll see if they have one small enough to just take up the ash tray portion. Mazda parts had/has some for $200.00 but since I don't have the correct head unit I'm screwed for that.

 

You need to hardwire that radar - it's really easy - I followed one of the DIY's (the one that wires it into the fuse box, not the homelink one), and had it clean and installed in no time.

 

Maybe its just me, but I kinda think that the fact that your XM is playing Bel Biv Devoe is even creepier...

 

Note quite that easy as my radar detector is attached to my rear view mirror and just above that are my boost and lambia gauges. I also transfer the detector to other vehicles that I have. Thanks for the advise, I appreciate it.

 

Gotcha...Mine is up there as well, I just ran a long cord tucked into the headliner, down the A pillar to the fuse box, and then when I need to remove it to put in my wifes car, I bought a second adapter (cig lighter) and mount.

 

yeah, I may end up doing that. I did not want to use the undersized wire that exists up there.

 

What kind of radar do you have? I know escort, Bel (what I have), and Valentine all have hardwire kits, and the cord that comes with the kits is quite long. Then I just used a jumper fuse to wire it in.

 

Escort, but it only came with the phone type cord. I'll just have to acquire the hard wire kit.

 

Phil: since you already have the radar up there, you should hardwire it to the homelink like I did. (beats running that cord all the way down the A Pillar. IMO)

 

Yeah but I have my lights to the gauges hooked into it (home link) and not being an electrical genus was unsure that the current that is required by the detector would not be too much for that little wire.

 

I considered the homelink route, but once I found how easily I could tuck the wire under the headliner and A-Pillar, it seemed like the easy way to go. That being said, if you're more electronically inclined, the homelink way seems very cool. In then end, you can't see any wire on mine at all anywhere, and it works perfectly. Definately get the escort hardwire kit if you're going the fuse box route. I think it's like $20-$30 or so. Then like $2 or $3 in misc parts from an auto supply store and you're done.

 

whaaaaaaat???? BBD is the ish....that girl is pooooooooisooooon lmao.

I mounted my unit to left for the very reason the OP mentioned...the dash units don't fit well in the rx8 cabin...I really wanted it more on my right side for easy access but couldn't find a clean spot to put it...so I ended up buying a short windshield mount and put it to the left...its as clean as it will ever get lol...all wires tucked into A pillar and the unit is flush with the dash...its actually a nice location since my friends can't touch it to change the station when I'm in the mood for BBD lol

 

I put my Sirius Status in the sunglass compartment. The compartment itself is too shallow for any sunglasses that I know of, so it's no great loss. The compartment shuts flush just like it used too.

I use a direct FM modulator and it sounds pretty good to me. The black mounting piece that the unit plugs into had to be taken apart to fit, but the whole process took less than an hour.

The small buttons for the presets were a little diffficult to manipulate, so I found a remote on Ebay that works like a charm.

 

interesting.......