"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
10/15/2015 at 15:02 • Filed to: notacamry, mazda3, bluetooth
6
29|
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
10/15/2015 at 15:02 • Filed to: notacamry, mazda3, bluetooth | 6
| 29 |
Provided someone makes an adapter for your vehicle, that is. In my case, a 2004 Mazda3 with 6-disc 6-speaker non-BOSE non-MP3 radio.... they do!
I took a chance on a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! because A. I sold the exhaust I was saving for the Camry and B. Amazon doesn’t take PayPal. And it was a few bucks more with the shipping. Because I don’t have Prime yet. Waiting for that one show to come out....
So what was in the box? This.
A little box. A USB extension. A microphone. An AUX cable. And connected to the box was the proprietary Mazda cable to connect to the back of my radio, where a CD changer, Satellite radio, or other factory accessories were meant to go.
Meant to work over Bluetooth signals, you can listen to music on your Bluetooth device, and make and answer calls.... More on that later.... and the radio still works like it should, as do the steering wheel controls. Can’t say that about most aftermarket radios, that will need adapters, and in my case a VERY UGLY install kit for the single DIN Bluetooth radio that I had in my Camry.
So pulling the radio commenced. Very easy in the 3. Pop off a panel, remove two screws, pull out radio.
Plugging the unit into the back went as expected, as to say, it felt like shit going in. Its clearly not a FACTORY plug, but it works. I tested the unit by turning on the radio, pressing “CD” twice (once for the built in changer, once more for external), and VOILA!
The display is kinda goofy, and the digits do not change, but that’s okay. I paired the device to my phone per the instructions, and right away I was able to stream iHeartRadio to my Mazda within SECONDS! It pairs automatically on start-up, as fast as my Camry’s Pioneer, and WAY faster than my wife’s CX-5.
Now that I was sure my money was well spent and it was working, I wrapped it up in foam, tied back the excess wire for the adapter and mic (I am not using the USB extension since I do not have a USB drive full of music to plug into it, and I’m using Bluetooth not AUX so that cable is also not in play) and tucked the whole thing into the cassette deck slot in the radio.
I’ll admit it wasn’t an original idea (I read about using the space on a forum when I was researching Bluetooth adapters), but I was surprised how nicely it fit in there, and leaves the interior nice and uncluttered, and NO ONE will know there’s anything different about the radio.
Unless, that is, you spot the mic on my dash.
I’ve had it in for a few days now, and it works... well. It connects quickly, sounds GREAT, and for being cheap the mic seems to be clear enough according to the few people I have talked to.
Edit 9/11/18: And it looks a lot better than what Doug DeMuro’s Ford GT’s previous owner installed:
The problem I have with it is it does not work as described. I should be able to answer/decline calls with the steering wheel or radio buttons for UP/DOWN. Also I should be able to change music tracks. Now while i do not have ACTUAL music tracks on my phone, it may just be an iHeartRadio issue that it doesn’t work well, as it DOES skip the track SOMETIMES, other times it does nothing, then 30 seconds later the radio itself switched off of the “EX” function. Does the same when pressing the buttons to answer calls. THE BUTTONS DO NOTHING. (it does have a pleasant female voice that reads off the phone number of incoming calls, so there’s that)
Oh well. Still works.
Now I just need to find a place to mount my phone so I can easily press buttons on it....
TheJMan92
> Takuro Spirit
10/15/2015 at 15:22 |
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This is awesome! I added an amplifier to our 2004 Mazda3 but I’ve been wanting aux/bluetooth so it’s nice to know this one works, even if it is a bit janky. There is hope!
Patrick Nichols
> Takuro Spirit
10/15/2015 at 15:22 |
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I have a base model golf and looked into this but then realized I didn’t have steering wheel buttons so I just went the practically OEM look of a double-DIN appradio
Textured Soy Protein
> Takuro Spirit
10/15/2015 at 16:18 |
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Get one of those air vent clip mounts. I have one that works pretty well.
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Takuro Spirit
> Textured Soy Protein
10/15/2015 at 16:28 |
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I don’t wanna disrupt my airflow.... and my phone’s heavy... It fits REAL nice in the spot ahead of the shifter, and doesn’t even move around much if I just lay it there. Blocks the little cubby my sunglasses are in though.
#firstworldproblems
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Textured Soy Protein
> Takuro Spirit
10/15/2015 at 16:57 |
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Ok well the space above the center vents on the dash looks like a good spot for one of those sticky-pad dash mounts so you don’t have to stick on some disc with double-sided tape for a suction cup to mount to.
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Takuro Spirit
> Textured Soy Protein
10/15/2015 at 17:01 |
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Such a long reach though. I’m lazy.
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Textured Soy Protein
> Takuro Spirit
10/15/2015 at 17:16 |
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Get one that has a sticky mount to the dash and an arm that holds the phone close enough that you don’t have to reach too far. For example the iOttie Easy One Touch 2 . You can get it for $19.99 from B&H Photo Video and they even take PayPal.
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Takuro Spirit
> Textured Soy Protein
10/15/2015 at 17:38 |
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:03 |
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I could spend $200 on an adapter purpose made for my specific car but I just spent $20 on this instead:
Works just as well and is just as invisible as yours.
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Takuro Spirit
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/07/2016 at 17:06 |
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Mine was $80.00 and probably sounds a lot better.
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:10 |
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Actually this thing’s pretty dope. Not quite CD quality but waaaay better than FM.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:16 |
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I have wanted to add an aux input or blue tooth to my Mazda 3 for years, but all the solutions I found were too invasive and above my level of comfort. I will look into this fix for sure, the stock stereo is actually pretty good for sound quality but not using a DIN console just makes any mods really suck.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:25 |
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I’ve for sure thought about this. I might just end up doing it.
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:27 |
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I put a Bluetooth head unit in the Mini when I got it (factory system was blown and replaced with total garbage) and I love it. Still haven’t found a good spot for my mic. It’s supposed to clip to the sun visor but my car has airbags in the a pillar. I am not going to go screwing with them just to install a mic so it just lives in the glove box.
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Takuro Spirit
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/07/2016 at 17:34 |
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I must give it points for neatness. I wonder if they make an 8-track version...
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Takuro Spirit
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/07/2016 at 17:36 |
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And the aftermarket din/double din enclosures look... questionable.
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Takuro Spirit
09/07/2016 at 17:42 |
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It only needs to be charged once per week. My car actually has a pop-up hatch over the tape deck so you can’t even tell it’s there.
Khalbali
> Takuro Spirit
09/08/2016 at 09:01 |
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Nice install, let me know how it holds up, I really want something like this for my NC, I bought a $50 aux cable that plugged into the same port in the back like 6 months ago and it's already crapping out, but it seems to be the only one I can find, I had no idea there was a Bluetooth adapter available.
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Takuro Spirit
> Khalbali
09/08/2016 at 10:34 |
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It’ll be a year next month and I use it pretty much every day without issue.
Well, it lost pairing a couple times but I think its mostly my phone’s fault.
Besides the fact that the buttons on the wheel to answer/hang up on calls doesn’t work (could just be my car vs. others) its been flawless.
Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 13:41 |
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Ha ha ha. I have to add aptX/A2DP to this:
Yeah, I’m pretty much going “well, maybe I can just aftermarket?” (Not really. Even though it shouldn’t be that hard.)
E92M3
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 13:45 |
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I bought one of these. It works in any car with a FM radio. Simply connect your phone to it via bluetooth, and tune your radio to whatever FM channel you’ve selected. Even has a built in mic to use for phone calls.
facw
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 13:45 |
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Nice. I’ve got a similar GROM Bluetooth unit in my Volvo. I mount my mic up by the rear view mirror though, felt a bit tidier than putting it in around the gauge cluster area.
Was extremely easy to install in my first-gen S40 (routing the mic cable was the hardest part, there’s not really any room to go from the center console to the glovebox. I actually broke the cable taking it out).
The S60 was a lot more work, since the head-unit doesn’t just slide out. Instead I had to pry up the shifter bezel, unclip the shifter from that, and then pull the entire center stack forward to get access to the back of the radio (and even with that, there’s no room back there, so I ended up shoving the box into a space under the instrument cluster.) And doing all that (including powering on the car to release the shift lock) in a car that is apparently very temperamental about having its electronics fiddled with. It’s done and working well though.
Edit: Apparently this is an old post. Wonder why it was shared...
pjhusa
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/11/2018 at 13:50 |
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I have the same thing. Audio quality is poor at lower volumes (as you can hear the Bluetooth static/gears turning ), but actually pretty decent at higher volumes. Seems kind of a waste of my 9-speaker Bose system and 6-CD changer, but it’s the 21st century.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 14:10 |
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I did this in my Mazda6 (2006) back in the day. Easy peasy and better looking than Doug’s solution
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 14:17 |
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I bought a similar unit from GROM and the install was even easier because it plugged into where the CD changer in the trunk was using the same harness. I just had to wire in power for the digital signal converter.
Only downside is that there was no good way to run a mic from the trunk to the front so I can’t use it for phone calls.
Interestingly, if I press my steering wheel’s talk button (car phone ftw !) while there’s no incoming call it’ll activate G oogle voice search. Can’t talk into though because the phone is using a mic input I don’t have.
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> E92M3
09/11/2018 at 14:20 |
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Only problem with those is all but the priciest ones don't transmit in stereo.
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E92M3
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/11/2018 at 14:27 |
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That’s true, I listen to p odcasts 90% of the time so it’s not a big deal. My Lightning has a crappy OEM headunit and speakers anyway.
Chariotoflove
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 14:29 |
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Good on you. When I got my 2004 RX-8, I just caved and paid the $150 for the dealer to install the bluetooth hookup. That way, my iPod was supported. It worked well enough, although it wouldn’t support an iPhone.
450X_FTW
> Takuro Spirit
09/11/2018 at 15:36 |
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Amazon makes a great one that works in my 94 Jeep Wrangler which has no USB, no AUX, no CD, No tape deck, only FM and AM.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FL231B9/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1