Recently caved and bought a beautiful MX-5 MK3 Launch Edition (2005) and absolutely love it!
Already replaced the stock wind deflector for the larger OEM black mesh one and next up is the more daunting task of replacing the bose stereo - a friendās helping with this part, but weāre both a bit stumped after researching online for so long.
The plan is to replace the existing head unit for a more modern one - ideally a full android unit with play store etc - Pumpkin DDINs have had great reviews and youtube vids of them in action and look perfect. This is what would ideally be fitted:Ā https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074H6SWKT but will probably pay a little extra and go for the 2018 model.
Weāve both been researching online on and off for the past week and have a lot of information to help, but sadly thereās no single guide that helps through the whole process, so was hoping someone here may be able to help clear some things up
Iāve also seen someone post about finding an adaptor that worked fully with the Bose system with no splicing of any wires, but in typical āinternet helpā fashion didnāt say which adaptor they used.
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Does anyone know if the above is correct, or if thereās something missing we havenāt thought about, or even if thereās a nice guide someoneās made?Ā If there really isnāt a guide and we manage to get this all fitted - hopefully with some expert help here, Iāll try to write up a guide with pics to save any unfortunate soul in the same confused position in future
I can help, recently did just what youāre planningā¦I struggled too to decide if this was going to work and it does. i also went for Pumpkin, universal without CD. Sound quality over stock is much improved. Display is very good, hands free is at least as good as the std factory. Apps such as Spotify and Poweramp make this really user friendly. You can just ask Google and itāll play Any trackā¦
Anyway, my car is a 2009 so the facia adapter is slightly different. I used connects2 and the quality of the adapter is good,matches the finish of the car perfectly. Note, you will find you will need to adapt the inner frame of the fascia by filing out the two short (vertical) sides by around 2mm on each side. I bought a small file set in Wilco to do this (wouldnāt recommend using a dremel) just go slow steady un radio fits the gap. Easier than it sounds.
harness: I used connects2 ctsmz012.2 cost is Ā£55 but you should also get a free patch lead for that. You need both. Donāt be tempted to go cheapā¦ yes, you need to connect an amp signal cable but the new radio will have one wire for that, the other is on the harness. Just join the twoā¦
i hooked up a reverse camera which means I can now back up to within an inch of another car when parking, much easier. Cameraās are around Ā£15 on eBay. Ā any questions, let me know. Good luck.
@DonT : Thanks for the welcome! Iāll definitely be keeping the original for this reason. Iāve kept old ones before, but never got around to refitting them when selling since I wasnāt comfortable. Hopefully after this, itāll seem much simpler to do
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@SpotTech : Wow! Couldnāt have asked for a better response. Really nice to hear from someone that did the exact same thing. Happy to hear the sound quality is improved - I asked a local stereo fitter about fitting a Pumpkin a week or two before posting here and he was saying how bad the sound quality is and he wasnāt happy fitting anything non top-brand in a car - seemed like an odd response when all the reviews contradict what he said.
Thanks for the tip on filing the fascia (seems much more noobie friendly, especially when not owning a dremel to begin with).
The harness arrived today and thankfully is the same number that you used - yay for ordering the correct one!
You have no idea how much of a relief it is to know the amp wires just need joining instead of the complex ritual that some guides/posts made it out to be
Going to try out fitting the stereo one night this week or the weekend. Will post back with how it went - kind of looking forward to it since itāll seem so much simpler after doing it once.
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If you wouldnāt mind, Iād appreciate hearing about how you went about fitting the rear view camera, where you routed the cables, how to power etc. Sounds like a nice extra mod to add in once the stereo is fit.
Thanks again for the reply. Itās really appreciated!
No problem! I think these units have improved quite a bit over that last few years. I donāt get any buzzing noise as described by the user in your links.Ā Iām using Poweramp for music which is stored on a micro sd.Ā Installing a rear camera is pretty straightforward, I located it under the boot lip so you donāt see it.Ā Display switches to rear view mode as soon as you put the car in reverse. If you pm me an email address I can send some photos and explain the cable route..
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On your harness, you will need the universal patch lead which plugs into the Ā small blackĀ unit ā this enables the steering wheel controls (which you can program)
Update time!Ā This weekend, I finally fitted the Pumpkin Stereo to the NC.
The quality of the unit is really impressive. From the crystal clear display to the amazing sound (even with the roof down) - had my whole body shaking
Really happy with how the install went after so much prep beforehand, and especially the help from this forum! It seems far less scary now, but so is anything once you know how.
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The pic quality doesnāt do the screen justice - but the display is crystal clear and plays 1080p video with no issue. Itās probably capable of 4k to be honest, though it wouldnāt make much difference with the unitās resolution.
As for performance, the unit itself runs everything very well! No lag at all. Switched the launcher to one from the Play Store called āCar Launcher Freeā - it made such a difference to the look.
Installed Pumpkin unit. Still need to fit the fascia designed for the MX5 as it needs to be filed down first to fit around the Pumpkin. Going to do this tonight!
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Took this before fitting the fascia!
Install guide to help anyone else that attempts this feat as a total noob, like I did - but hopefully saving you all the research!Ā https://imgur.com/a/swhiHM8
I have also bought my first mk3 55plate launch edition,the problem I have is the cd is a 6disc changer,but unfortunately I cannot feed a cd into the bose unit.Any help would be appreciate.Thanks,Gareth and Deborah
Hi, just wondering whether there is something jamming in the CD slot? What happens when you press the LOAD button, is there anything on the display? Pressing CD button, is there anything on the display then?
Hi, would you know if the Sanyo NVA-SD8110 head unit has the external amp? Iām thinking of replacing it with the same head unit as Natalie but donāt want to start before I have all the relevant kit Cheers, Geoff.
I have a NC 2007 SPORT looking to add a double din similar to your fit. My radio is not a Bose, would the fittings you bought do the job for a none- Bose radio?
I just changed the standard head unit for a Double-Din unit and found these instructions very useful, so thanks to Natalie and other contributors!
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My situation: 2011 Sport Tech (Bose).Ā I fitted a Sony head unit which had preamp outputs, so did not require the level dropper.Ā Iāll make a new post with more details, but hereās my finished wiring diagram.
