I just recently purchased an '05 3 for my wife. It's pretty basic with no power accesories. Thats just fine with me because I would just assume not have seat & window motors burning up. The only thing it doesnt have that we want is cruise control. Does anyone know what steps are involved in adding factory cruise to a non-equipped car? Or possibly a ballparkor breakdownof the parts neccesary? any advice would be appreciated.

 

That could be a tough, or an easy one.I don't think I know anybody that's attempted that.And I personally wouldn't recommend an AM set up either (ETB= trouble, imo.)
Perhaps our resident electro-electronics expert (icspots) will chime in w/some better information for you?
The "i" model (GTin Canada) is the only one that doesn't alreadycome w/cruise std.

 

I put the Ford cruise in 1 of our trucks at work, don't know if the Mazda set up is the same but the wires were there, and it worked after it got plugged in without a reflash of the PCM.

 

Was there a separate plug-in in the PCMspecifically for the cruise, Ken? I wondered about that w/Ohio's question and also if the "i" model would have it.

 

I havent delved very deep into it but some articles I've been reading have suggested that the BCM is capable of controlling the cruise. its supposedly pre-programmed, it just need ths switches to tel it what to do. As far as the wiring I'm not sure. I know the car isnt equipped for fog lights, but it is factory pre-wired (HID here we go. haha.) Maybe I'll be lucky and the cruise is the same.

 

Onewould hope and think, but ya' just never know till you dig around.
I had a Honda like that once. It didn't come w/a factory radio or a rear wiper/washer, but was wired for both and I was able to fairly easilyinstall anAM radio and speakers, and the rear wiper/washer/switch I found in a junk yard.
I hope yoursturns outas easy for you.

 

....someone finally brought this up. Every time i want to ask about this i forget but it'd be nice to have cruise, specially on the highway and it helps save gas.

 

I mainly want it to save money... on tickets. I drove the thing home from the dealership and even trying to be attentive, I hit 80 with ease on the highway. If I'm doing that I am relatively certain my wife is going to speed and wrap this thing around a pole and then I would just cry... and be worried about my wife as well. haha.

 

It was pre wired for it Richard, I got the switches and the wires that went in the steering column and wallah

 

....you mean "voila?" [:-]