gutterboy

got my mazda 3 and love the thing but after reading the model lineup, specs and features pamphlet i have two questions for all the gurus.

my gt had the normal am/fm/cd player with 6 speaker package. I asked them about some sort of bose speaker package and they knew nothing of the sort. is that just an option that comes in tandem with the luxury package and 6 disc changer? or is it just a U.S. car thing? Curious cause i am upgrading my deck to the 6 disc cd/mp3 player and even though i have reasonable bass there is nothing to suggest (or not suggest) i have the bose package already.

Also even though when i built my mazda on the website and it said for the extra adder price you could get the 6 disc cd/mp3 changer this pamphlet shows nothing about mp3 capability. it only mentions the upgrade to a 6 disc changer with the luxury package.

So does this upgraded deck have mp3 capability or not? anyone know? kind of annoying because the dealer said "it is what it is" basically and i don't want to have spent an adder price and have them install the new deck only to find it is still confused when i put an mp3 disc in the deck.

Also the pamphlet says roof rack mounting hardware is a standard option with both the GS and GT packages of the mazda 3 sport. did anyone get this hardware? nothing on my roof or in my car that suggests rack mounting hardware. should i be kicking and screaming to get this? i do want the roof rack for my skis eventually and the cost they told me was like 650 for the rack mount and 200 for the ski/snowboard carrier which would most likely cross over from the 07 to the 06's rack

insight from anyone is appreciated.

icspots

I don't know anything specific about the Canadian models and options, but I'll answer what I can.

The bose package isn't something you can just choose. It's an integrated system with speakers, HU, sub, amp, etc. If the car comes with it then it has it, if not, then for the price of adding it you'd be better served putting the money into a better aftermarket system. To find out if you have it when you turn the car on look at the LCD on the radio. If it says "HELLO" then you don't have it, but if it says "BOSE AUDIO" then you do. Only the Grand Touring trim in the US gets the Bose system.

As for the 6CD/Mp3. In the states the 6CD comes with the moonroof. Bear in mind that's a non-Mp3 HU. The 6CD/Mp3 is a dealer only accessory, so even if you order your car with the Mp3, it's not going to be installed until it gets to the dealer. The Mp3 deck says "Mp3" on it just above and to the right of the "LOAD" button (right above the little 6CD icon). Find out how much the dealer plans to charge you for the install on that as you can pretty easily do it in about 5 minutes of work. Also make sure you get to keep the stock deck that comes with the car since you'll then have a spare, or can sell it on the side.

No idea on the roof rack.

Cardinal Fang

I can only speak to a few of your issues so hear goes.

As far as I've been able to see the Bose system is only available on the U.S. models just like the Auto Climate Control option.


The luxury package, which I purchased for my car, gives you the 6 disc cd player. The deck does have mp3 capabilities if you buy an adapter. I've seen many guys buy the adapter on ebay and make the modifications to their decks. This however requires you pull out the deck from the dashboard. It may also result in you steering wheel audio controls not working completely properly. This is not in all cases.

You can however, at an extra cost, buy the 6 disc cd/mp3 changer which is mp3 ready. A friend of mine has this and it is different than mine.

gutterboy

ok final question about the 6 cd changer/mp3 deck i had ordered in. Is it mp3 compatible as in it just has an external jack for an mp3 player or does it actually have the capability for playback of cd's with mp3's on them like a normal mp3 deck.

The external jack for an mp3 player is useless to me, i want 6 mp3 cd's to be able to be played in this 6 disc changer deck.

Did i purchase the correct option then?

Thanks for all your help guys.

Do you really think the single cd head unit would actually sell on ebay and what's an estimated fair price. Don't even the base line sedan's come with cd at least? i thought tape decks were completely defunct by now.

Sucky deal about the trim differences between U.S. and canadian cars. We only have gs or gt with gt being the higher line and then the luxury package only adds the 6 disc changer deck with heated leather seats.

So unfortunately my stupid deck only says hello and so will the new one. Too bad, i have always been impressed with the bass response and clarity of BOSE.

SO anyone know the manufacturer of the standard 6 speaker non bose system? cause it has ok bass and the six inch speakers pound ok.

thanks for all the help

icspots

There are multiple different HUs that exist. I'll run through those for you.
-single disc CD
-6 disc CD
-single disc Mp3 (plays Mp3 discs)
-6 disc Mp3 (plays 6 Mp3 discs)

If you're in the US then there's a version of each of those to go with the bose system, or the Navigation system. You can also add the tape deck, or the mini disc deck to any of them.

In 2007 mazda made (in the US) a 3.5mm audio input jack standard on all models, previously there was no OEM input method. Later this year they're coming out with a ipod integration adaptor. Some dealers will refer to the 3.5mm jack as the "Mp3 capable HU". Some dealers don't realize it doesn't play Mp3 CD's. Some dealers will lie to your face to get the sale, so they'll tell you whatever you want. It sounds like the deck you ordered is the Mp3/6CD, so it will play Mp3 CDs.

No problem, that's why we're here.

Somebody always wants to buy something. You might not be able to sell it, but at least then you'll have a spare if you need it. Besides, it belongs to you... they shouldn't be able to sell it to someone else and make money off of it. I've seen the 6CD decks go for free, for $50, for $200. The MSRP is $400+.

I believe the '04-'05 models were made by panasonic, and then they switched to Clarion in '06. Not positive on that though.

djserumsrq

Also to tell if you have Bose (for US models at least) It will say Bose on the speaker face on your front driver/passenger door, also the Bose system is said to come with the subwoofer tube which is located beneath the passenger seat. the bose system is rated at 222 watts...hope it helps...