I recently purchased a 2008 Mazda3 iTouring with the Satellite radio button on the dash. I thought installing Sirius would be relatively inexpensive at the dealer, say $200-$300 at most.

My Mazda Dealer in SoCal wants $604 + tax for installing the Sirius box. What a rip-off. For that amount of money I could have an entire custom CD/AM/FM/Sirius radio and speakers installed at the local auto sound shop.
[blockquote]Box $398
Install kit $64
Aux split adapter kit $142
[/blockquote]They said the "Aux split adapter kit" is needed because I have the Aux plug for the iPhone.

The local auto sound shop says they can only install Sirius in GM vehicles, cost about $180 installed! They say they can't touch a Mazda because they are proprietary.

I'd really hate to alter my dash/center console with a custom radio.

If anyone has an alternative I'd like to know.

Thanks.

 

Install the sirius yourself. If you have a screwdriver and are willing to learn to take apart the interior panels of the car then there's no reason you can't do it all yourself and save all that money for something else. The 3 is super easy to take apart, and once you look over a good walkthrough and get the panels off the first time you'd kick yourself for thinking of spending that much money for someone else to do it. The "Mazda" way to install the sirius has it mounted behind the panelling on the passenger's side of the car in the cargo/trunk area but you don't have to do it the "Mazda" way. Obviously to install that way you have to remove basically every panel between the two places, and that's where the high install cost comes from as it just takes time. Check out THIS walkthrough from mazda3forums. There's a link in there to a pdf of the Mazda way, as well as the way that that member installed his.

As to Mazda's sirius being proprietary and the shop not being able to install it....... that's complete BS. Sure, the receiver is Mazda specific, but it's really just plugging the reciever into the back of the stereo, plugging the antenna into the receiver and placing it somewhere it can see the sky and then activating your account.

As for the rest of your prices. I'm not really sure on the cost of the install kit, however you can get the receiver for $305 shipped from Jason at www.onlinemazdaparts.com. They also come up occasionally on ebay for about $150... several forum people have purchased from the same seller and not had any problems, and check around the different forum buy/sell areas as they come up there pretty frequently there as well. Just make sure it's the one that works with the 3. For the switchbox you can get that from Jason for $113 shipped, and you can very very easily install that yourself as well in about 20 minutes. I can provide you with the pdf install instructions from Mazda for that as well, but as always you don't have to follow them. Remember, you only need to get the switchbox if you want the ACI (3.5mm console input) to keep working as both the sirius and the ACI utilize the same port on the HU. If you don't need the ACI then you don't have to spend the money. Alternately you could buy an AuxMod like I have for about $60 and use that instead of the ACI. Sure you're not using the pretty plug, but you're saving about $60 or so and it still activates with the MEDIA button.

So my suggestions condensed:
-Install the stuff yourself. You'll have fun, get to know your car much better and save a ton of money.
-Buy all the materials from an online mazda supplier. Jason works out of a dealership and gives fantastic service.
-Only buy the switchbox if you want the ACI to work. It's not neccesary.
-If you want an extra input but don't want to spend the extra cash go with an AuxMod basic.

Hope that helps you out.

 

I appreciate the time you took to respond to my inquiry. I think I'd be challenged to do this myself. If I messed it up my wife would NEVER let me forget it.

I guess I'll just have to look around SoCal and find someone who can do it for me.

Thanks. Once again I appreciate your response.

 

Did you take a look through the walkthrough I linked. I understand not wanting to pull your car apart, however it really is super simple. To remove the stereo and the glove compt. is a matter of four phillips head screws and a bunch of tension clips.

I'm happy to help out, and please let me know if you need anything else.