Hey,

I'm new to this forum, first time Mazda owner, first time used car buyer, and this is my first time getting a car upgraded/modified. Hello!

I just got a 2013 Mazda CX-5 for a pretty great deal. Part of the deal involves them installing whatever headunit I buy, and covering it under the 3 year full coverage warranty they're giving me too.

I'm looking to get them to install:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/NEX/AVIC-8200NEX

http://maestro.idatalink.com/product/product/product_id/102

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Accessories/Rear-View-Cameras/ND-BC8

Anyone else have experience running a new HU? How about with an iDatalink? Anything I should watch out for? I'd love to see a picture of any aftermarket headunits in your CX-5's

Cheers
Xar

 

Hey,

For any readers out there looking to do something similar, I have a few updates.

The headunit is brilliant. I have very few nit picky things to say about it - which in the auto industry is a big complement. This is the first headunit I've used that doesn't feel a decade or more old.

Total shopping list for the install is at the bottom of this post.

One issue I had was the mute button on the steering wheel didn't work.

The iDatalink support got back to me with the following solution that did the trick: Install the 2009 Mazda CX-7 firmware instead of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 firmware. The only difference in the firmware was the steering wheel, and that cx-7 model had a similar enough steering wheel that it was a perfect match for my 2013 cx-5.

My impressions on day one are very positive. I've got a beautiful top of the line headunit with a fantastic screen, it's very responsive and supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which should serve me for many years to come. The GPS feels.... better than other built in GPS systems, and there are tons of options to play with but the defaults are reasonable. The dash kit also feels like an OEM part, very precisely made.

The backup camera I got was a gamble, some said in reviews that the LED's washed out the image at night. I only found that was the case when there was water on the LED's. I'll likely CNC some semi-transparent plastic to fit over top to diffuse the light - which I understand wont be an option for everybody. Other buyers may want to consider another backup camera or try something like fabric covering the LED's.

I hope this shopping list simplifies a similar install for someone out there. Best of luck on any install you do. Cheers.

==== Needed ($1766.35 CAD):

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...K6Y9EEQB&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...K6Y9EEQB&psc=1

==== Optional ($153.12 CAD):

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I put an AVIC-8000NEX in my 2013 MX5 Club and I love the thing.