In case ya'll didn't see in the new members section, I just bought a new '06 Mazda 3. It didn't come with the 6 cd changer, which I'm fine with. In my old car, I had a Kenwood deck with an iPod adapter that plugged into it. Now, with my new car, I have no intention of changing the stereo, but I'd like to see if I can plug an iPod adapter into it.

Are any of the rest of you using an iPod adapter/player in your Mazda? If you got an adapter, what did you use, and how did you plug it in?

My last resort is to use the player that plugs into the lighter. I honestly don't want something white and bulky sticking out like a sore thumb!!

TIA!

Angie

 

I have an '05 3s and there is no way to plug in my iPOD so ive been forced to use the crappy FM transmitter. I have to get an amplifier in order to plug it into the audio in port with an RCA cable.

 

There are a billion ways to hook up an ipod to your factory deck. The easiest seems to be the audiolink from therpmstore.com . The newest batch had problems, so maybe wait a little bit, or just order now and hope for the best. Steering wheels controls still work, and you can select playlists from the headunit. Go for it Angie, a lotta people like em.

 

After browsing around the town, I finally ended up with a cool little gadget. It still plugs into the lighter, and uses the radio transmission, but it's not on a bulky platform. THe part that plugs into the lighter is actually cool - it color coordinates with the rest of the car! Woo hoo!! The radio transmitter is on a cord from the plug, and you can hide it anywhere you want as long as you don't mind the cable. So I have it running down the side of the seat and the center up into my cubby hole where I plug in my iPod. Yay! I can listen to my tunes!!!!

What I did find out, tho, is that someone is making an aux cable for the '06 model. Check it out at Best Buy sometime around the end of April. I might check into it, we'll see!

Thanks for your tips!

 

go to www.mpsyourcar.com they have an adaptor for a lot of completely stock stereo systems. The one for the mazda 3 plugs into the back of the stereo where the satalite radio would go. Mine didnt come with the satalite radio so all is well. If you have the radio then you have to decide. I thikn the kit is like 219 or somewhere around there, but it is a direct wire to the car, it charges the iPod and you can even control it from the steering wheel...

pm me if you have any questions

 

Woah that's way to expensive. The audiolink from therpmstore.com has the same exact features and is only 140.

 

agreed, therpmstore.com is a great place to buy this product for cheap. i'm going to buy mine there eventually once i get ahold of an ipod (maybe this summer if the prices drop a bit). i'm a little tight on money right now.

 

well, you can use this adapter. this adapter
makes iPod or MP3 as a CD changer, and play iPod or MP3 through car
audio system, it does not use FM transmitter, but wire connection.
(Plug into the CD changer port of the Head Unit). Once it is equipped,
you can choose music of iPod or USB disk from the car stereo's buttons
or steering wheel controls, and most of all, it made in China and it is very competitive.
For example,
1 choose playlist from iPod
2 Select songs by Next or Previous
3 Multi Play mode: Repeat, Random, Scan
4 Charge function

the website is www.xcarlink.com

(IMG:http://www.chelebao.com/images/lsq/ipod%20unpacked.jpg)

 

Hmmm, I can't believe I haven't posted this in this thread already.... oh well, I'm behind the 8 ball.

Here's a list of audio input/ipod integration methods that I've put together. There are multiple choices in different price ranges with varying degrees of integration. Take a look and see if something's right for you.

szxcarlisa,

That looks exactly like the audiolink that therpmstore is selling. Also you don't list any prices that I was able to find.

xcarlink

audiolink

 

i know that XCarLink is the same product as Audio Link with different brand of a company.
just like that: