Temp Display with new Head Unit

[ddubuque300@comcast.net]

Hello,

I'm considering my options for replacing the stereo in my 3. I've noticed one of the installation comments from crutchfield says you lose the lcd display info. Can anyone tell me if that means you lose all the info or just the stereo info? I would like to keep the temp and time and am not sure why those would go away. The rest of the info would be display on the new HU. The cructhfield tech I asked wasn't sure if anything would be displayed after the swap out.

The other option I'm considering is new speakers and possibly an amp. Has anyone just done a speaker swap out? Happy with the result? Not sure the stock HU can push a good set of speakers...

Thanks,

David

[ken.boyer@gmail.com]

You will lose the stereo and the climate control info. The only thing you can still have is either time or temp. I chose temp since my new head unit has a clock, and because without the factory system you won't be able to change the time.

I did the whole thing - JVC head unit, Focal speakers, Focal amp for the speakers, Kicker subwoofer, Kicker amp for the sub, and steering wheel controls.

You can start with speakers and work your way up. Make sure some you get some that are decently efficient though.

Ken

Hello,

I'm considering my options for replacing the stereo in my 3. I've noticed one of the installation comments from crutchfield says you lose the lcd display info. Can anyone tell me if that means you lose all the info or just the stereo info? I would like to keep the temp and time and am not sure why those would go away. The rest of the info would be display on the new HU. The cructhfield tech I asked wasn't sure if anything would be displayed after the swap out.

The other option I'm considering is new speakers and possibly an amp. Has anyone just done a speaker swap out? Happy with the result? Not sure the stock HU can push a good set of speakers...

Thanks,

David[/b]

[ddubuque300@comcast.net]

Thanks Ken. So, when you take out the stock head unit, how did you choose which to keep? Are there instructions somewhere I could give a look or is it fairly obvious once you pull everything out. Did you get a double stack HU or just standard? I'm a bit worried about the dash appearance after I put in the after marker filler with a normal size HU. Any pics to share?

You will lose the stereo and the climate control info. The only thing you can still have is either time or temp. I chose temp since my new head unit has a clock, and because without the factory system you won't be able to change the time.

I did the whole thing - JVC head unit, Focal speakers, Focal amp for the speakers, Kicker subwoofer, Kicker amp for the sub, and steering wheel controls.

You can start with speakers and work your way up. Make sure some you get some that are decently efficient though.

Ken[/b]

[ken.boyer@gmail.com]

I had it installed. But I chose to have the temperature displayed since my deck has a clock, and you can't change the time on the car's display once you have removed the factory stereo system. I went with the standard single DIN unit. A couple places make dash kits for the Mazda 3 that cost about $30. They both have a little cubby above or below the head unit, which is a perfect place to hold cell phone and sunglasses.

Here's a picture:


Also, I found a guy in Florida (from another message board) that makes a stealth enclosure for the 5-door. It's a perfect fit and my hatch space is still usable and not filled with a subwoofer:

Thanks Ken. So, when you take out the stock head unit, how did you choose which to keep? Are there instructions somewhere I could give a look or is it fairly obvious once you pull everything out. Did you get a double stack HU or just standard? I'm a bit worried about the dash appearance after I put in the after marker filler with a normal size HU. Any pics to share?[/b]

[icspots]

Hello,

I'm considering my options for replacing the stereo in my 3. I've noticed one of the installation comments from crutchfield says you lose the lcd display info. Can anyone tell me if that means you lose all the info or just the stereo info? I would like to keep the temp and time and am not sure why those would go away. The rest of the info would be display on the new HU. The cructhfield tech I asked wasn't sure if anything would be displayed after the swap out.

The other option I'm considering is new speakers and possibly an amp. Has anyone just done a speaker swap out? Happy with the result? Not sure the stock HU can push a good set of speakers...

Thanks,

David[/b]

Losing the LCD depends on what year your car is. For instance in the US '04-'05 model HU's had the LCD wired directly to the HU harness.... if you removed the HU the LCD didn't have a way to get power/info. In '06 the LCD harness was separated from the HU's, and the display could be kept if the HU was replaced.

On to what you can keep. If you have ACC then you'll still have the info for that displayed on the right side of the LCD. Nothing will be displayed in the center of the display. The clock will be the default for the left side of the display. If you need to change the time on the clock you'll need to plug the stock HU back in. There should be no reason you'd have to choose between the clock or the ambient temperature...... they're displayed on opposite sides of the LCD so they shouldn't conflict at all.

[migr8rx8@comcast.net]

Hello,

I'm considering my options for replacing the stereo in my 3. I've noticed one of the installation comments from crutchfield says you lose the lcd display info. Can anyone tell me if that means you lose all the info or just the stereo info? I would like to keep the temp and time and am not sure why those would go away. The rest of the info would be display on the new HU. The cructhfield tech I asked wasn't sure if anything would be displayed after the swap out.

The other option I'm considering is new speakers and possibly an amp. Has anyone just done a speaker swap out? Happy with the result? Not sure the stock HU can push a good set of speakers...

Thanks,

David[/b]

[migr8rx8@comcast.net]

Hi David,

This may be too late to help you, but I just put the display screen back in my 2009 MS3 today after having an aftermarket HU installed. I wanted a unit with HD and Bluetooth, so ordered the Dual XHD7714 from Crutchfield and had it professionally installed. The installer did leave out the display unit and installed the small bin above the HU that comes with the Crutchfield install kit. I missed having the ambient temp and heater display, so I figured a way to reinstall the factory display. First, I plugged the display into the factory connector and it did display the ambient temp and all the heater/AC info. It did not display the time or the radio information, but since the HU did display this info, I was satisfied enough to go ahead with the installation. First remove the factory trim strip that holds the display. Open the glove box and you can pull the spring clips loose. Start by pulling the panel from the left side of the glove box opening first. Work carefully towards the center of the dash, pulling away from the dash, three spring clips loose first and then once the left side of the panel is free, pull/slide the entire trim panel towards the drivers side to release the last clip on the right side of the panel.

The back of the trim panel has a molded lip that aligns with the front of the display unit. I carefully applied a bead of Loctite "Control" ACC to the back of the trim panel, carefully mated the display panel to the back of the trim panel and held it firmly until the ACC had set up. I then applied a bead of Walthers Goo (which can be found at most all model railroad hobby shops) on top of the now dried ACC to insure that the display unit would hold firmly to the back of the trim panel and then carefully used a hair dryer to cure the Goo. You could probably also use epoxy, I just didn't have any handy. The objective was to add additional strength to the mated units as there is no way to use any type of fasteners to the smooth surface. I let the assembly sit for an hour or so, just to insure it was holding firmly.

I then reinstalled the trim panel (slide the right side in by pushing the molded on clip towards the passenger side, and then pushed the retaining clips into place. It didn't mate correctly the first time as there are two little molded plastic standoffs on the bottom of the display unit housing that wouldn't allow the assembly to fit into the opening in the dash, so I used a side cutter to cut the standoffs off and trimed them off with a razor knife to make them flush with the bottom of the display housing. It was still a tight fit, so I popped the center dash top panel up, after which I was able to loosely get the display panel into the opening. I then pushed the dash top panel back into place. Once this was done, I pulled the display panel out just far enough to get a screwdriver in to attach the display units two screws, and then pushed the panels three remaining clips into place to secure the panel. It only took me a little over 1 1/2 hours (I work slowly and carefully) and I'm real pleased with the results. Hope this helps you or anyone else contemplating the same "repair".

Terry (migr8rx8@comcast.net)

[icspots]

Terry. If you want the clock on the LCD to work you need to plug back in the stock HU to program it. Then you should be able to disconnect the HU (leave the LCD) and it should stay working.

[krazyk86cu@aol.com]

Terry. If you want the clock on the LCD to work you need to plug back in the stock HU to program it. Then you should be able to disconnect the HU (leave the LCD) and it should stay working.[/b]

Remmy!!! ur on like every forum lol