Well guys I have just set up my Xcarlink. It took about 2 hours because I am picky and had some little road bumps. everything is back together now and nothing broke on the install!
Here is my review for the product.
This product works great as a way for me to plug my ipod into my mazda 6 through a 1/8th inch jack. This is exactly what I wanted since I rockboxed my ipod.
First the goods:
The quality of the sound is just as I would have expected: as good as a line in on an aftermarket stereo. You can't get much better than this.
The bads:
* i think I was sent the wrong xcarlink. The one in the picture has a line in hole for a 1/8th inch jack. This was perfect for me, since if the cable ever went bad I could easily replace it. Unfortunately I was sent the one with the tiny usb line in instead of a 1/8th inch jack. This still works, but now I have to buy a 1/8th inch female to 1/8th inch male cable to use my ipod since the cable supplied isn't long enough.
* The length of the cable that connects to the back of the radio could be longer. If it was longer it would reach from my radio to my center console. This is what I wanted, but instead I had to bury the xcarlink under my cup holders. This works fine and still allows me to do what I want, just not as perfect as I would have wanted.
Before you do this to your car read some how-tos for pulling apart your car. Even with my how tos I still found that my car had some slight differences. Just be careful and don't break anything. Your goal is to make your car better. I feel like my install was made a little easier since I think one of the previous owners of my car had already done this. Kudos to them!
Anyway, I found my car was a little different than the 2006/2005 description in the original post. I have a 2005 Mazda 6i 4cyl 5-speed manual.
I believe my car has been taken apart from a similar mod or even the same mod.
I was missing the brass bolt behind the glove box. I am not too sad about this and realize that it is probably under the dash somewhere.
I have screws under my ac knobs.
I did not have to take any bolts out under the cigarette lighter. I think these are just missing....
I found something under my cup holder too...