I have an NC with an after market (mitsubishi brand) head unit. It has all kinds of features (TV, GPS, DVD etc.) and after some research discovered it is uncommon option in Japan. However, it is all in Japanese! I am looking for some advice. I figure my options are:
1. Find someway of setting the language to English. However, after much searching on the internet the only documentation I can find is in Japanese so I don't think that will work.
2. Buying (pref from a wreckers) an original Bose head unit.
3. Replacing it with another double head unit. But I really want to ensure the steering wheel controls still work (if that is possible??).
Any advice would be appreciated.
NC Original Bose head unit
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NC Original Bose head unit
If it was me I would ditch the original unit and go for a double DIN unit to
replace it. Or maybe a single DIN plus a storage cubby. This way you will
have a unit with up to date features such as MP3 playback etc. Also the
radio will cover the correct FM frequencies that the Mitsubishi won't. Even
with a band expander, you can't cover the whole FM band and the radio
performance will be poor anyway.
The Bose works ok but I'm not impressed with mine (2006 NC, NZ new) and it
doesn't do MP3 playback either. The radio's AM performance is very poor.
Sensitivity is OK but audio quality is very poor. FM performance is OK.
The steering wheel controls are very useful and I use those all the time.
Some replacement units can use remote switch type controls and depending on
what you get whether the steering wheel controls can be used.
I have just replaced the OEM stereo in my 2006 Kia Sorento with a Sony unit.
The original did not have MP3 capability and radio performance was mediocre.
It has steering wheel controls. I fitted a Sony single DIN unit that can use
the Sony RM-X2S remote control. This unit works by switching different value
resistances for the different controls and plugs in to the Sony stereo with
a standard 3.5mm plug. Most car steering wheel controls also use the
switched resistors for their operation. My Kia does and I expect the MX5
system does also. The problem is each manufacturer uses different
resistances for each function. For example, the Kia volume down is 0 ohm.
Ford Focus uses 54 ohms while the Sony requires 23.6k ohm! I have no idea
what Mazda uses although some information I have seen suggests the values
are the same as the Ford (which makes sense).
To interface the Kia steering wheel controls to the Sony, I built a small
unit that reads the steering wheel resistances and switches the appropriate
value to send to the Sony. So far it's working well and I now have 7
controls from the 5 steering wheel switches as two are programmed for
different functions depending on whether the button is pressed and held for
1/4 second or released immediately. 7 controls is the maximum my circuit can
handle although a more complex one could be built. I used parts I had in the
junk box but if you had to buy them, about $30.00 would do it.
Grant.
replace it. Or maybe a single DIN plus a storage cubby. This way you will
have a unit with up to date features such as MP3 playback etc. Also the
radio will cover the correct FM frequencies that the Mitsubishi won't. Even
with a band expander, you can't cover the whole FM band and the radio
performance will be poor anyway.
The Bose works ok but I'm not impressed with mine (2006 NC, NZ new) and it
doesn't do MP3 playback either. The radio's AM performance is very poor.
Sensitivity is OK but audio quality is very poor. FM performance is OK.
The steering wheel controls are very useful and I use those all the time.
Some replacement units can use remote switch type controls and depending on
what you get whether the steering wheel controls can be used.
I have just replaced the OEM stereo in my 2006 Kia Sorento with a Sony unit.
The original did not have MP3 capability and radio performance was mediocre.
It has steering wheel controls. I fitted a Sony single DIN unit that can use
the Sony RM-X2S remote control. This unit works by switching different value
resistances for the different controls and plugs in to the Sony stereo with
a standard 3.5mm plug. Most car steering wheel controls also use the
switched resistors for their operation. My Kia does and I expect the MX5
system does also. The problem is each manufacturer uses different
resistances for each function. For example, the Kia volume down is 0 ohm.
Ford Focus uses 54 ohms while the Sony requires 23.6k ohm! I have no idea
what Mazda uses although some information I have seen suggests the values
are the same as the Ford (which makes sense).
To interface the Kia steering wheel controls to the Sony, I built a small
unit that reads the steering wheel resistances and switches the appropriate
value to send to the Sony. So far it's working well and I now have 7
controls from the 5 steering wheel switches as two are programmed for
different functions depending on whether the button is pressed and held for
1/4 second or released immediately. 7 controls is the maximum my circuit can
handle although a more complex one could be built. I used parts I had in the
junk box but if you had to buy them, about $30.00 would do it.
Grant.
Red 2006 NC Tiptronic
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Re: NC Original Bose head unit
For future reference, you can use this: PAC SWI-CP5 Steering Wheel Controlharrenz wrote:I have an NC with an after market (mitsubishi brand) head unit. It has all kinds of features (TV, GPS, DVD etc.) and after some research discovered it is uncommon option in Japan. However, it is all in Japanese! I am looking for some advice. I figure my options are:
1. Find someway of setting the language to English. However, after much searching on the internet the only documentation I can find is in Japanese so I don't think that will work.
2. Buying (pref from a wreckers) an original Bose head unit.
3. Replacing it with another double head unit. But I really want to ensure the steering wheel controls still work (if that is possible??).
Any advice would be appreciated.
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