I do not want any after market CD player and I notice the S5 they have a factory one. Is it a plug and play? I cant seem to find anyone did a swap like that. Thank you!

 

Any info would be appreciated

 

I don't believe it is plug and play... But I'm not 100% on that. What I am 100% of though, is that you really should get a new aftermarket CD player. The factory one wasn't very good: skips, stuck discs, flat out breaking, etc...

 

From what I recall, S4 and S5 radios have different harnesses and are not compatible. Anyone correct me if I am wrong.

 

They are not directly replaceable unless you use a radio from an 89 (which may not be what you're looking for); the 90-91 s5 uses the Mazda 90+ style harness. Your best course of action would be to purchase the correct wiring harness for your s4 and then an s5 reverse harness. Part numbers are Metra 70-1781 and 70-7901 if you went that route.

 

S4 and S5 stereos are not plug-and-play. You will need to buy two harnesses from Metra that'll allow you to plug the stereo into the car's wiring harness. Part numbers are 70-1781 (S4 into body harness) and 71-7901 (S5 into radio) and splice the two harnesses together. Or just buy the latter harness, cut the old plugs off and splice into body harness.

Keep in mind that the S4 stereos had separate amplifiers for the speakers whereas in S5s the headunits had their own amplifiers. You'll need to jumper the speaker leads in the harness, but that's simple enough if you follow the factory wiring diagrams.

 

I've seen on here, an S5 radio put into an S4 car. Not sure what you'd search for, also not sure if it was the CD player, or just radio/cassette.

S4's did have CD players: Most verts & some T2s/GXLs. They're a lot less common than S5 CD players, & a bit worse of a unit I believe as well.

Here's one for point of proof lol

Mazda RX7 CD player radio | eBay

 

actually if you're going to go to the trouble to wire it up, you might was well use a later model radio, the S5 is the first car to get the "standardized" radio wiring which mazda kept until 2002-2005 depending on model.

80's CD players are fairly crappy, they don't buffer, so it'll skip.

 

holy faq?! $150 for a 25+ years CD player/radio..... I don't mind doing the wiring. I'm trying to keep everything stock. Thanks for the info everyone!

 

that's a good deal actually. that one actually works. actually if you look in Landon303's vert build thread he found a guy who can fix the radios

 

You will never be able to listen to a CD while driving, especially a home recorded CD.

If you are planning to just install for the retro looks, great idea. If you like music and want to use CD to deliver that music to your ear, don't plan on driving.

 

Like you said, I just what that retro look. but of course, it'll be great if i get one in great working condition

 

Way back when I ordered my new GXL I specifically ordered it with a CD player. The salesman saw the letters CD on the spec and thought it meant the player was included. No player, but $500 got knocked off the price of the car.
So...I started a swap some time ago and would like to finally git 'er done. Pulling out the radio chassis and seeing that the original stack of cassette, radio, equalizer was modular and that the cassette player and the 89(?)CD player also matched up... it was a no brainer hack to make it all look dead OEM stock.

Yes, it's a very nice retro look and the full functionality issue bugs me a bit but CD's are fairly moot as digital has done away with almost all the mechanicals in media anyway.

Good info here though and many thanks. I'm re-inspired and this project has been staring at me for waaaay too long. If I can get it up and running I'll post it up.

(Anybody in here know anything about upgrading the CD tray?)

 

what a story haha. Man, I cant wait to start this project