Mazda released their CarPlay & Android Auto retrofit kit sooner* than I expected

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/28/2018 at 10:09 • Filed to: None

When we !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! back in August, Android Auto was one of our select few gottahaveit features. But the CX-5 was the car we liked the most, and it didn’t have Android Auto. We knew there would be a retrofit available at some point, but specific information was scarce. That was good enough for us to keep the CX-5 on our list and ultimately choose it. And now, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

* Sooner as in, this is only a few months of waiting since we got my wife’s CX-5. But I’m sure the folks who have 2014-up Mazdas with the MZD Connect infotainment system that this retrofit is for, have been waiting much longer and are probably like, FINALLY MAZDA, WTF TOOK YOU SO LONG?

The retrofit kit is Mazda part number 0000-8F-Z34. It includes a software update and some new wiring including higher-powered USB ports to keep phones charged better while running CarPlay or Android Auto. Sadly there’s no quick charging tricks but at least the 2.1A ports should provide plenty of juice for most phones. MSRP is $199 and dealers are typically quoting another $200-300 for labor on top of that, which is a bit of a ripoff if you ask me.

But, many dealers are already selling the kit on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , for $160ish, and apparently it’s easy enough to install on your own. Before the retrofit can be installed, the MZD Connect system needs to be updated to a new enough firmware that supports the kit. The firmware is the underlying software code that controls the MZD Connect hardware.

If you want install the retrofit on your own, you’d need to check your firmware version (it’s probably in the settings somewhere—I need to poke around in there to see the exact screen), then either try to get your dealer to update it for you, or attempt it on your own. I haven’t done a ton of research on this but this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! appears to have the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Proceed at your own risk.

I’m tempted to do it on my own, but there’s a nagging thought in the back of my head that maaaaaaaaybe that could cause warranty headaches down the road if not done at a dealership. I’m not sure. It’s still a genuine Mazda part so I guess if I put it in myself and something goes screwy with the infotainment down the road, it’s not like a dealer would say it’s aftermarket and not honor the warranty. I dunno.

Once I get past my paralysis by analysis, I’ll get around to deciding which route to the upgrade I want to take.

DISCUSSION (13)

404 - User No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 10:28

It’s amazing that there’s a retrofit kit available at all I’d say.

Now if only GM can do something about the early Cadillac CUE units.

Aremmes > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 10:51

That direct sale link has the hardware kit, but where does one get the firmware? Would I have to take the car to the dealership to get it upgraded, or can I buy an SD card or USB drive with the updated code in it?

Party-vi > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 10:56

Hmm. This might be nice to have instead of my M ZD Connect right now. I’ll see if the dealer can update my firmware for freesies and download this myself.

surprisesalmon > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 11:08

I have a Toyota iA (basically a Mazda 2 sedan) that runs on the Mazda Connect system and am trying to gather info to try and retrofit Carplay. It seems that the eBay kits have everything you need minus the software update (Ver. 70.00.21.NA) . As of yet I haven’t been able to find a copy of this update. I also do not know if updating my car to this ver will cause any issues... ( If anyone has tried this on an iA I would love to hear your results.)

The kits themselves look easy enough to install, however I would be shocked if they didn’t void the warranty if you were to install it yourself. If you wanted to try and protect your warranty, you might be able to have an audio shop do the install for less that the dealership (probably 1-2hrs of labor). Then, if you have any issues, you might be able to argue with Mazda on your warranty.

If it were me, I would probably just do the install myself. The most difficult part seems to be the software update, and the actual install seems simple enough if you’ve ever installed an aftermarket stereo in a car.

Good Luck!

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 11:11

Meanwhile at GM: “No, we changed nothing about the hardware. Fuck you. Buy a new car if you want features your hardware supports.”

jimz > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/28/2018 at 11:16

it was retrofit into SYNC 3 for 2017. Similarly, a new USB hub had to be supplied with the kit to comply with CarPlay’s encryption requirements.

Textured Soy Protein > surprisesalmon
11/28/2018 at 11:40

I don’t know if that 70.00.21.NA software version is part of the upgrade kit.

The way I read the instructions was your MZD Connect need to be at least updated to that version to apply whatever additional software comes in the kit.

On my BMW there’s a way to view the current software version in the settings, I’d have to poke around with my wife’s car to see if there’s something similar with Mazda.

I haven’t done a ton of research on this in general but this forum thread appears to have the firmware files .

Textured Soy Protein > jimz
11/28/2018 at 11:40

T he Mazda retrofit also includes a new USB hub, maybe for the same reason.

Textured Soy Protein > Party-vi
11/28/2018 at 11:42

The firmware update isn’t the CarPlay/AA retrofit. The firmware needs to be updated to a new enough version that supports the retrofit, and then you need to install the retrofit after updating the firmware. There are firmware files online where you can try updating it yourself and then do the retrofit, but if you can get a free firmware update at the dealer, that’s one less possible point of failure.

Party-vi > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 11:46

No I understand that - I’d have the dealer update my firmware and then I’d get the CarPlay retrofit and do that portion myself.

Textured Soy Protein > Party-vi
11/28/2018 at 11:54

Right, the “download this myself” comment was what I was talking about. I assumed you were talking about downloading the CarPlay/AA files.

There are bootleg CarPlay/AA files that have been around since before the official retrofit but they’re kinda iffy.

There are also bootlegs of the official firmware updates (I updated the post with links if you want to attempt on your own) but you’d still need to buy the retrofit kit to install yourself after updating the firmware.

Textured Soy Protein > Aremmes
11/28/2018 at 11:55

Dealers can update the firmware, and there are also bootlegs of the official firmware updates available online. I updated the post with links to those. YMMV of course.

surprisesalmon > Textured Soy Protein
11/28/2018 at 14:03

Yeah I’m currently running 59.00.450 NA N but my big concern is , if Toyota locked the system down, that using a Mazda update might brick it.