So, to save my car from rolling down the driveway out into the road, i dove into the driver's seat to pull the E-brake. My knee hit the bottom of the surround near the ash tray and the whole thing shattered like glass. Even the part with the vents.

Since these are all made out of the same brittle crap, I'd rather replace it with something else. Has anybody made their own out of wood/metal/fiberglass/whatever?

Got pics? I'd like to see some!

 

just get an s5 surround.they are rubber.

 

Interesting idea.

Do the holes for the logicon, A/C vents, etc all line up?

 

yes. pretty much exactly the same, aside from one breaks if you look at it wrong and the other is durable.

 

It will all line up, I have a surround you could get but you'd need to find the vents. Major bummer!

 

The S5 stereo surround only fits with the S5 vents, so you need to use both at the same time. Also, the light bulb for the cigarette lighter is different and will not mate up correctly, although you can adjust it so that nobody can tell the difference from the outside.

 

vents are only like $60 new...

 

Just to clarify a bit...
The bulb/wiring is fine, it's the bulb housing that's different and not interchangeable (easily) between the two bezels.
Another incomprehensible minor difference that Mazda perpetrated for no apparent good reason.

 

on the "other hand" a used s5 surround and a vent may cost you some what less.
I find it is a pain to get a surround and then have to look for the vent,so not to **** Landon off(you know I wouldn't do that to ya Buddy!),but it is easier to get both when you buy it(used).
The Shifter surround is also rubber based and fit each other perfectly..you may not like the fit with an s4 shifter surround and an s5 center surround.

 

problem is finding a used one with intact vents, they always seem to be missing or totally jacked up and unusable if you're even semi **** like i am. i just hate broken vent slats.

it's probably worthwhile to just replace the vents with new anyways, because the old brittle vents break quite easily.

 

Thanks for all the input. I'll see if i can find a S5 surround w/nonshitty vents!

I got my S4 vents glued back together (all the slats intact!) and held in w/pipe straps and zipties right now. Form follows function!