iPod (iPhone) integration module kit from Mazda

[whitbyterry]

I am planning to purchase a Mazda 3 soon. When I visited the dealer, the sales person did not know much about the iPod/iPhone integration and could only show me a short demo on a sales video.

Has anyone here purchased it? Does it work well? Can you control everything through the radio and steering wheel? Does all the info display on the display?

Does the cord come out through the glove box? Can you have the glove box closed and have the device mounted on a dash mount or will that "crush" the wire? How long is the cord?

Any "gotchas" here with how it works? I have a GPS application on my phone which I would be using at the same time, which is why I would need to mount it.

I have read that you can use plain old Bluetooth to play music through the system. Is that true? If you use that, does that prevent you from receiving/making phone calls through Bluetooth?

My research has found limited information and many of the tidbits I did find were not necessarily about the actual Mazda version and one I did find said that sales people were telling customers not to buy the unit.

Thanks

[n00bMeiSter]

What year are you looking at purchasing?

[whitbyterry]

It will be a Mazda 3 2011

[n00bMeiSter]

I don't know much about the 2011 iPod kit from Mazda. But I do know that GTA Car Kits has an iPod integration kit that comes with an iPod/iPhone connection AND a 3.5mm jack (yes you can listen to two things at the same time).

I have one in my '04 and it's amazing.

Maybe compare the cost between the two kits.


You could also PM Jeff TheBiz, or call Mazda of Toronto and ask for Jeff. And ask him any questions you have about the Mazda kit.

[whitbyterry]

Thanks for the info!

[TheMAN]

the mazda ipod kit is made for several different mazdas so the wiring is always extra long which means you can route it anywhere you want near the dashboard... the factory recommendation is to run the cable into the glove box but you don't have to do that

all steering controls function as is the buttons on the head unit, however song titles are not displayed and you cannot control the ipod directly... the mazda kit also does not officially support the latest ipod touch, latest ipod nano, or the iphones... for the iphones I think the issue is because the charging circuit is different... there are charging cable adapters you can buy that allows iphones to work with older ipod cables, so probably that might work

the aftermarket kits might not have support for the newer cars or the newer ipods, but I do know some of them allow you to control the ipod even after plugged in

[whitbyterry]

Hmm. Interesting. I have read so many conflicting articles about this. Some say it works perfectly and displays/controls everything and others say what you are saying. I might just have to ask them to "prove" that it works before I buy.

Thanks for the info.

[TheMAN]

the information you're getting is inconsistent because mazda made design changes in their radios for the past 10 years, and the ipod kits have also changed a lot in between those years... so some functions/features will have changed too

[n00bMeiSter]

I know on the 04-09's with the GTA Car Kit, you retain 100% compatibility with iPhone 3g, and iPhone 4. As well you also retain steering wheel controls and can change songs using them, haven't tried navigating menus or anything like that yet.

[ski4life101]

the GTA car kit works great for the 2010+ they just got them in and you can retain full steering wheel controls to skip through songs.
It has 2 modes one that allows yoy to control the songs on the ipod an the steering wheel and the other goes through your playlists and shows information on the cars screen but does not allow you to control the tracks on the ipod(radio/steering wheel controls only) in both modes it allows you to go out of the music playing app and control the rest of your ipod just fine. for more information you can go here (http://www.gtacarkits.com/mazda3_2010_2012_car_kit.php) or just PM me if you want more details as i have it installed in my vehicle.

[Toby]

When I bought my '11 Mazda3 Sport the price for the Mazda unit had increased to over $300 and with the wiring harness to be added to that, the total cost was well above $400 not including installation. You can get a very nice head unit for that kind of money.

GTA Car Kits lists their integration module at $120, plus installation. Other integration modules such as Grom are available from the USA for $150 to $200. I would try one of these options before turning over hard earned money to Mazda.

From what I have been able to learn about the IPod integration kits, they all have very little information about how they work and what, if any, information shows up on your audio display. All of that also depends on the year and trim level of your car, too, so it can end up being a bit of a crap shoot.

You need to do lots of research, and decide what works best for you. After all, you, like everyone else, are unique.

[black and blue]

Does any1 havve the number of the place that sells the kit I gooogles gta car kits n nothing came up??

[trieub]

Does any1 havve the number of the place that sells the kit I gooogles gta car kits n nothing came up??

(647) 405-0055

Planning to get one myself tonight :D

[n00bMeiSter]

Does any1 havve the number of the place that sells the kit I gooogles gta car kits n nothing came up??


They are a sponsor on our board. Go to the sponsors section and you will find the company. They are called GTA Car Kits. PM Vitality.

[zzz3]

gta car kits:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?269-GTA-Car-Kits


(647) 405-0055

Planning to get one myself tonight :D

post back on how it goes.

[FreshTHREE]

My iPhone is synced via Bluetooth. No cords. I can navigate through my music either through the steering wheel or through the stereo. I keep my Bluetooth on at all times and as soon as I get in and start the car, it Automatically starts playing (if your on the aux setting). I absolutely love it. Handsfree

[sweetadad]

My iPhone is synced via Bluetooth. No cords. I can navigate through my music either through the steering wheel or through the stereo. I keep my Bluetooth on at all times and as soon as I get in and start the car, it Automatically starts playing (if your on the aux setting). I absolutely love it. Handsfree

You are talking about factory Bluetooth right?

[Pillbox2010]

I sync my blackberry to my factory bluetooth as well and it works flawlessly.