MY NEW I.C.E!!!! with Pics! [Archive]

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JPAV8S4U

01-09-2007, 01:36 AM

Hey guys and gals! Here is the first of the winter mods I have chosen to do to my 3. Since the advent of in car navigation, I have always wanted one. I was never one to like the portable units.. although portable and light, the wires and windshield mounts never really appealed to me. I wanted a dash mount and I wanted to retain the factory unit for the trip/fuel computer section (I like gadgets and my unit doesnt have vehicle dynamics). After many months of questions and feedback from many of you, I settled on the top mount dash configuration for the screen. Now came the time for deciding on what kind of screen and navi to use...... Once again, the questions went out to many of you guys and gals for some imput and advice. Being a pilot, I am very familiar with Garmin Navigation and find them to be the best out there in aviation and if they can get me 1500 miles away from home without looking out the window to the place I actually wanted to go, then they were good enough for my car ;) ha ha ha ha. Kenwood was the only option for a dash mount Garmin set up and the top mount dash kit was the cleanest kit I could find that retained the stock HU. Parts were ordered and the wait began!

The Install:

This took place at Lockdown in Scarborough. The install started at around 10am and finished about 2pm with most of the work being on wiring of the speakers and navigation and figuring out where to put all of the parts that come with this kind of an install. The unit has a built in TV tuner (you will read about in the "Driving with it" section) and I opted to have it installed for fun to see how good they are... being skeptical, it turned out to be a great idea. I had the navigation brains mounted in the glove box for easy access as it is updatable via SD Card through Garmin's website. The install did take longer than I was expecting but was a lot of fun to watch and I learned a few things along the way. Nothing much else to write about the install other than it was done well.... as is the case with all my previous installs at Lockdown.

Driving with it:

I must say that Navigation is a really powerful tool to have in any car... The ability to go anywhere without getting lost (im from a small town btw), being able to find any esso, tim hortons, and even sushi joints within 500 Km's is amazing! Storing favorites and chosing which sexy voice to listen to!! I think over time having my audio interupted by "Right Turn Approaching" wont be as welcome and I will only opt to use Navigational help when I truly need it..... But for now, I use it for fun :D. The DVD function is straight forward and after getting used to the remote that comes with the kit, is very easy to navigate through menus and etc. The Ipod as well is quite straight forward and is much like the Neo and any other ipod adapters out there on the market. The only difference is that song title, band name, playlist name and song are all seen on the screen. Now to the TV tuner function! One of the guys jokingly said I shoudl get one of those Limo Antenna's for my trunk as it would look awsome... ha ha ha! I was also told by someone that I would only get a few channels in my car... Well that isnt the case.. I get 16 Channels in my car when im close to the downtown Toronto and most come in very clear! Instead of listening to the traffic report on AM/FM.., I watch it on city Tv! ha ha ha! Just lastnight in rush hour on the way home from the airport, I watched a whole episode of the simpsons! I love it! In conclusion, im very happy with the choices in components and the configuration of the install! Id like to thank all of you who gave your 2 Cents, advice and info on where to get the parts for the best prices!

Now for the pics! Enjoy!

The Toys!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/KenwoodXXV-05VFlipOutandBrains.jpg
The Kenwood XXV-O5V Flip Out 7" Screen and hideaway brains

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/KNA-G510GarminNavigation.jpg
The Kenwood KNA-G510 Garmin Navigation Unit

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/KCA-Ip500IpodAdapter.jpg
The Kenwood KCA-IP500 Ipod Adapter

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/Allthetoys.jpg
All the toys!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/DashKit.jpg
The Top Mount Dash Kit

The Install
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/Imhere.jpg
BEEP BEEP BEEP!!! Im here!!!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/Guts1.jpg
Gutts.....

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/Guts2.jpg
More Gutts.....

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/JeffWorkin.jpg
Jeff working hard!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/JPAV8S4U/AllDone-1.jpg
ALL DONE!! The finished product!

Thanx for looking guys and gals! If any of you should have any questions or comments, please feel free to post reply's or pm me for the answer.

Jeff

royroy

01-09-2007, 01:57 AM

nice mod!!
where did u buy the dash kit?

EvilEric

01-09-2007, 02:14 AM

Oh man I want something like that kit as well. Isn't it a waste to have 2 systems?

bubba1983

01-09-2007, 05:36 AM

hows jeff and the boys doin?

loving the work by lockdown simply amazing
hope u like the tv tuner, lol, that makes me envious

01-09-2007, 07:48 AM

nice mod!!
where did u buy the dash kit?

Yea looks really good. I would like to know where you got the dash kit too!

Broli

01-09-2007, 08:19 AM

nice install jeff!

is it easy to reach the navi screen from the drivers seat?

Wild Weasel

01-09-2007, 08:35 AM

The only reason I haven't done this to my Sunfire is my constant fear of having it ripped out. :(

I went looking at them and when I asked what sort of features there were to prevent it from being stolen, I was told there were none. If someone wants it, they just take it and there's nothing you can do about it. :(

I use a handheld GPS and have found it indispensible at times. I would LOVE to have a nice in-dash unit like that. Considering that a top-of-the-line unit still costs less than half what the typical OEM option costs, it's really the way to go if not for thieves.

What a wonderful world it would be is *******s out there weren't looking to jack your kit.

Incidentally, the install looks awesome! Is that top-mount kit from the stock nav system or is that an aftermarket piece?

Skarbro

01-09-2007, 08:43 AM

BLKOUT

01-09-2007, 09:28 AM

That looks nice, what kind of coin did that cost you, if you don't mind me asking.

EvilEric

01-09-2007, 10:56 AM

I found the dash top mount on ebay for like 163 USD. Crazy

http://cgi.ebay.ca/MAZDA-3-DVD-1-Din-DASH-KIT-Mazda3-MPS-Mazdaspeed3_W0QQitemZ200063950311QQihZ010QQcategor yZ40017QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I couldn't find it anywhere else at all.

TheProfessor

01-09-2007, 11:03 AM

Looks nice, congrats.

I'd be nervous that the car would get broken into though.

majic

01-09-2007, 11:32 AM

looks nice..

is the screen angled toward the driver?

JPAV8S4U

01-09-2007, 12:03 PM

Well it looks like you guys found the dash kit! You can get it for a little cheaper directly from the seller on ebay (www.thespeedline.com). The unit has a removable faceplate that without it, the unit is useless. I was origianlly nervous about the system being ripped out, but my car is parked in a lot where there is my co-workers walking through it all day and all night as well. Im not too worried about theft as my windows are pretty dark and unless your looking for the bulge on the dash, you wont see it from outside the car. To answer Maj... No the deck is not turned towards the driver, however the screen is clear as day to read and is within close reach. I can adjust how far it comes out and how much tilt to give it.

Wild Weasel

01-09-2007, 03:49 PM

Having it straight and center also means the passenger can easily act as navigator and do any necessary button pushing.

bubba1983

01-09-2007, 03:55 PM

"right crest, hard break...bump into left crest 40, watch for rock.."
bwahahah

billyfo

01-09-2007, 06:10 PM

I saw it personally:), that's the day I went to Lockdown to uninstall the HID. the system looks good.

01-09-2007, 11:40 PM

Having it straight and center also means the passenger can easily act as navigator and do any necessary button pushing.

Having it straight and center also means that it will block a lot of your viewing angle. I checked today when I drove after reading this thread. It is right at the level where I would miss a lot of traffic to the blind spot.

JPAV8S4U how do you find it for giving you a new blind spot? Can you see around it okay?

P.S. Sick setup...

EvilEric

01-10-2007, 12:00 AM

Well it depends on how far he has it extend out and how tall he is. As long as your willing to move your head a little, i don't see it being much of an issue. GPS that isn't at eye level isn't very usefull at all.

Having to look down while your driving on the HWY is just as bad.

JPAV8S4U

01-10-2007, 01:31 AM

Having it straight and center also means that it will block a lot of your viewing angle. I checked today when I drove after reading this thread. It is right at the level where I would miss a lot of traffic to the blind spot.

JPAV8S4U how do you find it for giving you a new blind spot? Can you see around it okay?

P.S. Sick setup...

Well Bman... When i was considering this, I thought the samething! I checked about 10000000 times to see how it would affect my vision..... Well the preliminary checking was fine and didnt seem to be in the way of my sight. Now that it is installed, it is even less in sight as I first thought it would be....the screen can be moved closer and be tilted. All in all, it does block a little of right field of vision, but nothing substantial and nothing to be worried about.

01-10-2007, 07:48 AM

Well Bman... When i was considering this, I thought the samething! I checked about 10000000 times to see how it would affect my vision..... Well the preliminary checking was fine and didnt seem to be in the way of my sight. Now that it is installed, it is even less in sight as I first thought it would be....the screen can be moved closer and be tilted. All in all, it does block a little of right field of vision, but nothing substantial and nothing to be worried about.

Good stuff. Ya it is hard to find out until you actually do it! Thanks. Looks really good & now that it doesn't block much... it is even better :)

Wild Weasel

01-10-2007, 08:26 AM

Doesn't the OEM one pop up out of the top of the dash as well?

TheProfessor

01-10-2007, 08:55 AM

Yes it does, but not much:

http://www.nnauto.cn/auto/supercar/image/2004/Mazda%203/mz3_sedan_03.jpg

JPAV8S4U

01-10-2007, 12:46 PM

Yes it does, but not much:

http://www.nnauto.cn/auto/supercar/image/2004/Mazda%203/mz3_sedan_03.jpg

Man I wish we could have gotten OEM nav here in Canada! Would have gotten it for sure. Although my garmin nav is much better than the stock set up and mine does a lot more... all things aside, I would have still gotten it.

-RJ3-

01-10-2007, 07:31 PM

Nice Pics bro!!!! Here's my mod!!!!

http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/1/919185519.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4483816)
================================================== ==
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/1/919185585.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4483815)
================================================== ==

Just kidding... Since alot of guys are posting their nice ICE, i thought I would share mine tooo.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=16013

JPAV8S4U

01-11-2007, 11:54 AM

Hey man! You've one upped me ;) I cant play video games! threadjacker :P ha ha ha! I was actually looking at putting my flip out there as well.... Decided I didnt want to relocate the seat hearter buttons, cig lighter and air bag light so I went Top Mount instead..... Looks good!

Broli

01-11-2007, 11:58 AM

haha

yeah more to move with the newer models,

my deck is down there, cigarette lighter retrofitted, and airbag light, connected and stored behind!

:)