What do you think of my iPod mounting solution?

[ncdave]

Having realized that I use one of those leather afternarket items when transporting my iPod on my person instead of the white plastic clip thing supplied with my iPod Mini, I fabricated a car mount from the factory belt clip. It was just a matter of removing the belt clip assembly and sanding the (now) rough edge smooth to square it off. It was then a simple step to drill and countersink four holes to match the standard Panavise Mini Mount and attach using flat head nylon scvrews so as not to mar the surface of the iPod.

Best of all, adding an extra power outlet in the glovebox near the AUX port meant that all of the wires were hidden with the exception of the single lead running to the dock connector so my hot pocket and cupholders are still useable.

Pictures attached.

It's a lot smoother than any of the phone-type holders on the market.

What do you think?

[bryfliesme]

Quote: Originally Posted by ncdave

Having realized that I use one of those leather afternarket items when transporting my iPod on my person instead of the white plastic clip thing supplied with my iPod Mini, I fabricated a car mount from the factory belt clip. It was just a matter of removing the belt clip assembly and sanding the (now) rough edge smooth to square it off. It was then a simple step to drill and countersink four holes to match the standard Panavise Mini Mount and attach using flat head nylon scvrews so as not to mar the surface of the iPod.

Best of all, adding an extra power outlet in the glovebox near the AUX port meant that all of the wires were hidden with the exception of the single lead running to the dock connector so my hot pocket and cupholders are still useable.

Pictures attached.

It's a lot smoother than any of the phone-type holders on the market.

What do you think?

Dave, can you fly out to the left coast and intstall all that cool stuff on my mini???!

Wonderful job by the way.

[Aqualung]

Quote: Originally Posted by ncdave

Having realized that I use one of those leather afternarket items when transporting my iPod on my person instead of the white plastic clip thing supplied with my iPod Mini, I fabricated a car mount from the factory belt clip. It was just a matter of removing the belt clip assembly and sanding the (now) rough edge smooth to square it off. It was then a simple step to drill and countersink four holes to match the standard Panavise Mini Mount and attach using flat head nylon scvrews so as not to mar the surface of the iPod.

Best of all, adding an extra power outlet in the glovebox near the AUX port meant that all of the wires were hidden with the exception of the single lead running to the dock connector so my hot pocket and cupholders are still useable.

Pictures attached.

It's a lot smoother than any of the phone-type holders on the market.

What do you think?

Where were you a month ago when I was putting mine in!!!

seriously, well done....

[ncdave]

Thanks! I had purchased the cell phone holder along with the mounting bracket when I decided to go an entirely different route.

[pev]

Dave, nice , very nice indeed. Where did you get that Aux port from? I have tried with the iTrip thing, and it dosen't seem to work for me, the channels are all noised up and it has poor reception, so I was thinking of adding a port like that you have ;-) and also if you could explain the extra power outlet too (I am a novice) that would be great !

Peter

[Marbles Mahoney]

Here is what I did... I just plugged it in to the aux port in the glove box and left the ipod there too. Then I ran the remote and aux line out into the cockpit, covered it with a black plastic wire loom and it hangs on my window switch. I let it play randomly like a juke box and just hit the button to choose another random selection. I love it. I still have to recharge it, but I dont mind. Here is a pic...

[pev]

Please explain this one for me once more, is there an aux plug in the glove compartment or is it something you have put in yourself?

Thanks,
Peter

[Aqualung]

Quote: Originally Posted by pev

Please explain this one for me once more, is there an aux plug in the glove compartment or is it something you have put in yourself?

Thanks,
Peter

You do have to pay extra for the AUX jack. The part lists US$40, dealer installed I paid $140. That's the standard location that dealers will put it (in the glovebox, just to the left of the a/c control). However, there are many here that have installed it in a different location themselves. For me, I paid the dealer to do it, and MINI of Peabody put it on the inside "wall" of the left pillar, which I think is a great location. It's just 3-4" away from the 12V outlet, which is where my Belkin car charger goes, w/ the powered line out (much better sound than plugging into the headphone output of the remote control unit).

If I ever get back home I'll take a picture of the pillar mount and add to my gallery.

[stryder]

There is an AUX kit that's available in the US, (for '03 and newer cars). Its debatable whether its available outside the US, there's lots of threads on it in the Interior + ICE Forum (if you browse a bit, they're hard to search for) discussing people's attempts to get one outside the US. If you do get one, they just plug in to a spot on the back of the radio and give you a 2.5mm headphone jack.

[pev]

OK thanks, I will ask my dealer !

Peter

[El Gordo]

Hi Peter,
If DK is the same as the UK, your dealer won't have the AUX cable listed for the Mini. They do list it for the 5 Series BMW. Get him to check this part number: 65 12 0 153 502.
I have family in DK quite close to Kobenhaven (Værløse), was over at Christmas for two weeks with my Mini and did not see another Mini the whole time I was there.
There are other ways of connecting your iPod to your HU. Do a search in the forums for iPod and you should find some interesting reading.
Gordo

[pev]

Thanks Gordo, I will ask them about that part number !

No, there aren't many Mini's in Denmark, I believe that there have been sold only 3 MCS in the whole country.!

They are vastly popular though, I get a lot of thumbs up and questions, when i'm pumping gas, but with the insane car taxes of 180% in Denmark, I don't think that it is going to be a big seller here. People mostly drive smaller cheap cars like Skoda Fabia and Hyundai Getz etc. very saddening.

Peter

[ncdave]

Peter - The AUX kit is available from the dealer and runs $39.00 U.S. It is actually very easy to install yourself as it just plugs into the back of your existing radio. The extra outlet was easily wired into the fusebox without any splicing with an add-a-circuit type device that is available in any auto parts store. Essentially, you just remove an existing fuse, plug the device into the same slot and replace the fuse along with a second one for the "new" circuit.

Removal of the glovebox, knee bolster and downtubes were necessary but the procedure is covered in the FAQ's which I used.

As for mounting the outlet in the glovebox, I cheated and used the supplied under-dash bracket, securing it to the roof of the glovebox as I didn't see a lot of clearance back there for a flush installation. The lost space inside seemed a small price to pay for being able to hide all the wires.

[pev]

Perfect, Thanks Dave.

Do you have a link to the FAQ? I want to make sure my dealer get it right the first time, and I think that my MCS is the only one that they have ever touched (The sell more BMW, than Minis) so they are quite the novices on Mini ;-)

Peter

[ncdave]

Peter - Although I'm reasonably competent at mechanical stuff, my computer skills are lacking so I can't do a link. However, if you click on the technical heading and go to DIY - FAQ's you will see a listing for removal of interior bits and fitting of a replacement head unit. All you need is right there.

Hope that helps.