2012 Mazda3 GT OEM backup camera interface, dash cam and tints

[shiblifa]

Hello everyone,

I had this posted in the I.C.E section however I was getting no response as a result I thought of posting it here.

We just bought a 2012 Mazda3 GT which has a gt-e package (navigation, bsm, push button start). My wife will be mainly driving it. While she is liking the car for the most part. Our condo has a tight parking spot and notice she has issues backing in and out. I inquired with Cobra/Audioheaven regarding an OEM interface where the navi screen (crappy small one) can be used as a camera. Audioheaven said, they don't have one such solution however cobra said that one of their staff got it done so they have a way around. They quoted me 450 for backup camera install (utilizes mazda camera and some canbus wiring but wouldn't provide any more details), 250 for tints and 400 for forward and reverse dash cam. They maybe able to give me a deal for under 1000 for everything installed.

My main question is has anyone done the backup camera integration on the OEM display (tiny screen). I came across a company from austrailia but it appears they are no longer is business. Thanks again for all your help

[Sebi]

I think it would be easier to get a double DIN unit, as a bonus you can get something with CarPlay/AA.

Also, you can get a mirror with camera from Auto Links, they says from $450 installed (less TM3 discount!): https://auto-links.ca/custom-audio/

[LiviuTincu]

I had an aftermarket 8" deck and I couldn't adjust my parking based on that view. I sold the whole thing after 3 years. On Mazda 3 screen,

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[shiblifa]

I had an aftermarket 8" deck and I couldn't adjust my parking based on that view. I sold the whole thing after 3 years. On Mazda 3 screen,

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Interesting! I never thought it would be that difficult. Thank you for your perspective. Perhaps I will look at Sebi's solution. Scarborough is quite a way from me but how much discount do we get?

[Reddie1337]

I didn't know the top screen could be used for backup camera. I would like to see this in action some day.

Right now I do have a camera wired up to the 2013 nav unit installed in my 2010 speed.

But I am not the mastermind behind that, I just know it has a regular camera you can get from amazon, wired to the 5.5" touchscreen from the 2013 tech package car.

[shiblifa]

I didn't know the top screen could be used for backup camera. I would like to see this in action some day.

Right now I do have a camera wired up to the 2013 nav unit installed in my 2010 speed.

But I am not the mastermind behind that, I just know it has a regular camera you can get from amazon, wired to the 5.5" touchscreen from the 2013 tech package car.

Apparently, cobra specialist indicated that it can be done. I will be getting the work done next week and if all goes well then I will post the pics here. I do however like your setup. Thanks again for sharing.

[shiblifa]

I didn't know the top screen could be used for backup camera. I would like to see this in action some day.

Right now I do have a camera wired up to the 2013 nav unit installed in my 2010 speed.

But I am not the mastermind behind that, I just know it has a regular camera you can get from amazon, wired to the 5.5" touchscreen from the 2013 tech package car.

So Cobra1 was wrong and they thought that 2012/2013 had the same setup. Anyway, I really like your setup. How easy was it to integrate the 2013 nav screen into your 2010 speed. I am hoping the install shouldn't be much different on a 2012 gt.

Thanks,
Faisal

[Reddie1337]

So Cobra1 was wrong and they thought that 2012/2013 had the same setup. Anyway, I really like your setup. How easy was it to integrate the 2013 nav screen into your 2010 speed. I am hoping the install shouldn't be much different on a 2012 gt.

Thanks,
Faisal

@McGuyver_3

It required a donor harness and many man hours. It's nice, but not cheap. This was a labour of love.

[shiblifa]

@McGuyver_3

It required a donor harness and many man hours. It's nice, but not cheap. This was a labour of love.

Ahh! that's a bummer.. Thank you again for your input.

[McGuyver_3]

Ahh! that's a bummer.. Thank you again for your input.

It required
13 6.5” touch screen unit
13 nav dash harness (must be 13 with Nav. Many additional connectors)
13 USB/BT Control Unit
13 Centre console Nav card reader
Centre console modification and cover for card reader
Harness for the centre console connecting to the dash harness
Re wire the steering steering controls. Buttons can be reused but you will have Nav and Mode (i think) no longer doing anything
Connector off amazon for rear camera integration. (Or silicon at the time as the connector was not yet available)
The car pictured came with Bose so the main connector was reused for the amp/speaker ins/outs.
The car pictured also came with factory Nav so I reused the nav antenna in stock location.

I’m probably forgetting a few odds and ends but that was the brunt force of it. I attempted installing the 13 harness in the 10 as a whole but came across a few issues. A lot of pins were in different locations and had different colours. So I unravelled the entire harness, picked what I needed and made a unique add in harness. The only thing I tapped in to on the body was for the Sirius can lines. There was a reason I had to do it that way which I cannot remember.

[shiblifa]

WOW! Kudos to you for figuring all this out and not giving up. Mazda is weird in some ways, they had memory seat/side mirror signals which they removed in the later years. Then they just introduced backup camera in the 2013 year while I'm sure they could've introduced it earlier. My wife is getting a hang of the car but the back end of the car is high and sometimes when she is backing into tight areas (condo parking), it gets a tad bit difficult.

Thank you again for providing me with all this information.

It required
13 6.5” touch screen unit
13 nav dash harness (must be 13 with Nav. Many additional connectors)
13 USB/BT Control Unit
13 Centre console Nav card reader
Centre console modification and cover for card reader
Harness for the centre console connecting to the dash harness
Re wire the steering steering controls. Buttons can be reused but you will have Nav and Mode (i think) no longer doing anything
Connector off amazon for rear camera integration. (Or silicon at the time as the connector was not yet available)
The car pictured came with Bose so the main connector was reused for the amp/speaker ins/outs.
The car pictured also came with factory Nav so I reused the nav antenna in stock location.

I’m probably forgetting a few odds and ends but that was the brunt force of it. I attempted installing the 13 harness in the 10 as a whole but came across a few issues. A lot of pins were in different locations and had different colours. So I unravelled the entire harness, picked what I needed and made a unique add in harness. The only thing I tapped in to on the body was for the Sirius can lines. There was a reason I had to do it that way which I cannot remember.