Sat Nav thoughts

[lloyd2002]

Thinking about what to do regarding a sat nav installation. My car doesn’t have a sat nav in it at the mo and I’d like to have some better functionality through the stereo, so I’m looking at options being:-

1) retro fit a factory unit into the car and conduct a tablet replacement update. This would provide the sat nav, Spotify/prime music, Bluetooth Obdc reader and wireless reversing camera.
2) fit a double din aftermarket unit with apple car play functionality

Not sure which would be the easiest or cheapest route.

Any thoughts guys?

[Dazza44]

U can buy a satnav hood for the 8 there was one on.here being sold recently


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[ChrisHolmes]

Sat Nav tablet install is a neater solution than a double Din and loads cheaper I think IMHO.

[warpc0il]

Also avoids problems with climate control, which is normally dependant on the oem head unit.

Some double-DIN adapters try and spoof this but most don't really work.

[Mherby]

My car came with a metra kit double din adapter thing, the way it made the AC controls so rubbish really wound me up so I've now ripped it out, put a standard radio/hvac unit back in and just use my phone for sat-nav. I got myself a Grom BT3 box for music/directions etc and that's great.

[lloyd2002]

Thanks all - will take a look at going down the tablet route as I feel that would give a bit more functionality overall

[warpc0il]

There are a few well documented tablet/carputer install threads on here, though most are in the members only area.
Search for the obvious keywords

[goodeggbob]

hi there,i did mine using an oem housing,i only wanted a simple satnav,and the garmin 65 lm fits perfectly and easy to wire up.

[kopite72]

Honestly the best sat nav you can get for your car is a Garmin with free lifetime European maps,just pop it on your dashboard and you're good to go,no need for messing around with installing things

[acegeezer]

Or use just Sygic on an Android or iPhone

[exiled--viking]

I used to up date the disc once a year with the 8s old system ... but since having the MX~5 the all in one system is really quite smart and you get free up dates for the first 3 years looks if Mazda are trying to give the customer a better deal I just sold the update disc from nav/tec Panasonic cd copier down load the latest map from Garmin and this was playable with the 8 .... this chap will i think be offering some sort of deal on eBay but cannot be seen to promote it.... the one I sold with the car was the latest disc from Mazda but that was only up to 2013 i think.... and is a Mazda 6 disc that plays in the player....

MX~5 nice that you can update it to your own settings

[AdamGaltress]

Tony, on my Mazda 3 I was able to install software which allowed me to increase functionality and also add android auto. Definitely worth while once out of warranty

As for the RX-8 I had a Nexus installed in the sat Nov hood which I used for music, Google maps and had connected to ODBII. I did buy a reversing camera but never got round to installing. I have this for sale if you're interested

[Mherby]

Tony, on my Mazda 3 I was able to install software which allowed me to increase functionality and also add android auto. Definitely worth while once out of warranty

As for the RX-8 I had a Nexus installed in the sat Nov hood which I used for music, Google maps and had connected to ODBII. I did buy a reversing camera but never got round to installing. I have this for sale if you're interested

I'd like to add android auto to my CX3 but as the car is under warranty its probably best not to mess with it. Out of interest though how did you do it?

[AdamGaltress]

https://mazdatweaks.com/ full guide and software

[Mherby]

Excellent thanks!

[exiled--viking]

Tony, on my Mazda 3 I was able to install software which allowed me to increase functionality and also add android auto. Definitely worth while once out of warranty

As for the RX-8 I had a Nexus installed in the sat Nov hood which I used for music, Google maps and had connected to ODBII. I did buy a reversing camera but never got round to installing. I have this for sale if you're interested

thanks for the offer of the hood instal but I now longer have the space for it even in the new 8 build that myself and mate over the road "Pete" are doing we are in the tear down part of the project at the moment then it will be getting the body ready for paint

As for the MX~5 I have already installed the hardware and etc to the camera system and now have front and rear cameras on the communications screen done this for when ( next year I put on the new Tein suspension kit and exhaust system on

[AdamGaltress]

Sorry should have been clearer in my post Tony, the Nexus install was aimed at lloyd2002 who has since messaged me

I think the new Mazda infotainment system includes android auto and apples equivalent too