Stock Head Unit Compatibility

[tc222@hotmail.com]

Does anyone know if the stock head unit for a 2005 mazda 3 will work in the 2007 mazda 3? If anyone knows the answer and could help me out that would be greatly appreciated.

And just to clarify... I want to put a used head unit (6 disc changer) into my 2007 mazda (currently 1 disc) and I don't want to pay the $400+ that Mazda is asking for it. Thanks.

[icspots]

As a direct swap no it won't work. In 2006 the wiring harness for the HU was changed to separate the LCD wiring from the main HU. This was so people with ACC could still replace their stereos without losing the ability to use the ACC system (as it's all displayed on the LCD). So if you drop a '05 HU into your '07 car there won't be anything plugged into the LCD.

Alternately I believe you can remove just the CD changer portion of the stereo and swap those out while keeping the actual HU the same in your car. It might not work, but if you have one sitting there to play with start disassembling it and find out for the rest of us.