Stock 6-CD changer?

[wtom]

Is the stock 6-CD changer one single unit? I\'m a bit surprised 6 CD\'s can change around inside the single head unit of the stock/oem 6-CD deck.

[billyfo]

it\'s only about the same size than the stock CD player when it uses 2DIN size (1 DIN is the normal head unit size you see in audio shop, FS, etc)

[wtom]

Hmm... well there\'s this;

http://www.mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11948

and then there\'s this;

http://www.mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11763

Which? Which? :)

[billyfo]

topic 11948 shows the actual cd changer, and different face plate than 1 cd player one.

topic 11763 only show the whole dash face plate, don\'t know why he called it cd changer, may be he selling the whole unit w/ face plate

[wtom]

> topic 11948

So that unit is all I need (presently have just the single-CD OEM unit in my car) to be able to have the 6CD changer? Face plate looks exactly the same to me.

[bluntman]

Originally posted by wtom


> topic 11948

So that unit is all I need (presently have just the single-CD OEM unit in my car) to be able to have the 6CD changer? Face plate looks exactly the same to me.

That\'s all you need. The faceplate on the changer has a different \"button\" next to the LOAD \"button\". The same thing goes for the MP3 unit. Mazda can charge an extra $50 or so for a new faceplate (eventhough the stock faceplate will suffice) to have it say \"MP3\" instead of just being blank.

[FLIPDADY]

Bluntman is right the first pic is the faceplate and the actual player. The faceplate is the same size as the standard cd one. The ebay one is the entire audio panel which you obviously don\'t need.

[wtom]

Thanks guys, I closed the deal with the seller and they shipped it out Thur. Sep 30th. :)
http://www.mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11948

[wtom]

Okay I pulled out the CF dash strip and lost one of the two screws that hold the entire audio system panel to the dash... I can\'t get either cable out from the back of the main unit!

I was never a techie kinda guy, physically.

How the heck do I get the two cables to come off?

BTW the screw flippin rolled to the back of the unit and is now somewhere inside the bottom of the console between passenger and driver dash... and there\'s a damn rattle (very obvious) when bass is high, on the passenger door panel. :(

I think I just jinxed my car...

EDIT: Spelling

[chaser]

Hope this write-up (http://www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/495957/10) help. I\'m jealous that you got a good deal of changer :p

[teambedlam]

Originally posted by wtom I can\'t get either cable out from the back of the main unit! I was never a techie kinda guy, physically. How the heck do I get the two cables to come off?

The Small round cable is the antenna. Just pull harder and it will come out. The white connector has a small release button on it\'s underside. Press it up and the connector will pull out.

As for the screw. Looks like you need to go in via the ashtray to find it. Thats rather easy as well. Just open the console storage area and pull up on it\'s front lip. Once you\'ve cleared the shifter it comes right out exposeing two screws for the ashtray and cig lighter sections.

It\'s amazing how stripped the car looks when all of that and the glove box is removed. :) Even more amazing how easy it is to do.

[wtom]

Thx chaser and teambedlam... guess I wasn\'t pulling hard enough! :)
I\'ll try again tonight when I\'m home from work.
Changer... total I paid came out to a bit over C$200 due to exchange rate and customs got me (tax)... :(

[wtom]

*** INSTALLED!!! ***

Removing the in-dash CF strip
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit01.jpg

http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit02.jpg

Unit pulled out
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit03.jpg

Unplugged
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit04.jpg

Disassembled and confused :)
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit05.jpg

Which unit is which??? LOL j/k
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit06.jpg

6-CD on Right, Single CD on Left
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit07.jpg

Testing
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit08.jpg

Works Perfectly!
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit09.jpg

All good to go!
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit10.jpg

Yeah baby, yeah!
http://members.rogers.com/wtom88/AudioUnit11.jpg

[chaser]

good job and nice pics! :)
this makes me even envy :p

[Dr Butcher]

Very nice, I\'m totally jealous as well. Good job man!

[wtom]

Thanks guys, hehe it took me a lot longer than it should have but meah, first time doing anything to this extent (taking apart) with a car. :)

Next battle is the HID\'s... oh boy...

[bluntman]

Originally posted by wtom


Next battle is the HID\'s... oh boy...

Are you going to tackle that yourself?

[wtom]

I\'m still considering the $150 installation with SpeedStar... I\'m not sure I\'m capable of getting the HID installed withOUT busting a bulb... :D

[RedRaptor]

I just installed the OEM MP3 player I bought on M3F. Took about an hour, I was going really really slow when pulling the CF trim out since its cold outside and plastic can easily crack.

The two wires on the back (coaxial for radio and interface cable) are impossible to pull out. I spent a good 15 min trying to pull them out without damaging anything.

Taking apart the stock CD player and replacing it with the MP3 was kinda of like a puzzle but with enough time its easily doable. I decided to keep my stock trim instead of using the MP3 trim that has \"MP3\" written on it. Two reasons a)My stock trim is in a lot better condition than the included MP3 trim b)As the Mazda3 becomes the next Civic, I don\'t want to give people incentive to smash into my car and steal my MP3 player.

Tried an MP3 CD, works. Now I have to learn how to use the features of the OEM MP3 player.

I know Bluntman can give me tips.;)

[bluntman]

Tip #1
Burn an MP3 CD with directories, arranged by artist, album, etc. Don\'t do what I did have a CD with 140 songs all in one single directory...navigation is a PITA.

Tip #2
With a CD with directories, you can navigate from one directory to another by using the DISC UP and DISC DOWN buttons (3 and 6)

Tip #3
Press the left knob to cycle through the different ID3 tag display options

Tip #4
Actually a bonus with the purchase of the MP3 player, you can now view CD-TEXT information on commerically bought CDs. The regular player and the changer do not have this option. ;)

Tip #5
Although unconfirmed by me, I\'ve heard that the RANDOM feature only works with the songs within a particular directory. :(

[RedRaptor]

Thanks Arthur.

Re: Tip#4. I put in my Alicia Keys and Maroon5 CD last night but I didn\'t get the CD TEXT working. Maybe those two CDs don\'t have CD TEXT support? When press the knob, it would say \"NO TITLE\"

Re: Tip#5. This is true. Random will only randomize within the directory. It kept randomizing the CD1 Ciara - Goodies album when I tried it this morning.

[bluntman]

Originally posted by RedRaptor


Thanks Arthur.

Re: Tip#4. I put in my Alicia Keys and Maroon5 CD last night but I didn\'t get the CD TEXT working. Maybe those two CDs don\'t have CD TEXT support? When press the knob, it would say \"NO TITLE\"



Yeah, not many do. My Essential Earth, Wind & Fire CDs have CD-TEXT.

I can\'t believe the dealer has to charge the owner for the faceplate for the MP3 player when the only difference it the tiny \"MP3\" label on that false button.

[wtom]

Originally posted by RedRaptor


I just installed the OEM MP3 player I bought on M3F. Took about an hour, I was going really really slow when pulling the CF trim out since its cold outside and plastic can easily crack.


Hey mang sorry I had left before you received the deck! But cool you were able to get things done on your own! No worries, I tried for like half an hour on my first attempt to remove the stock unit. I gave up and tried again another night finally getting the cables out by using a flat head screwdrive. :)

Hope things are well with the car, the MP3 deck, and everything else! HK is freaking extreme during X\'mas holidays... I\'m exhausted... I miss my car and the snow ...

[chaser]

Is the OEM 6-CD changer (Model #: GJ6J 66 EGO) fit all 3s around the world? I\'m going to buy it from a seller in Aust. Does anyone or Flipspeed has any idea?

[cyber]

Do dealerships offer a discount for exchanging the single CD with a 6 Disk changer? I wanted an M3 with a 6 disk changer, but none were available.:(

[bluntman]

It would great if they did. I bought the MP3 player option and never bothered asking about a \"Trade In\" for the stock CD player.

[wtom]

Originally posted by chaser


Is the OEM 6-CD changer (Model #: GJ6J 66 EGO) fit all 3s around the world? I\'m going to buy it from a seller in Aust. Does anyone or Flipspeed has any idea?

I can only guess Yes since people in Russia are buying American/Canadian single CD decks for their stock CD-less cars in .ru

[AlexandriaRodriguez]

Hmm wonderful