[qapla97]

I'd like to see pictures of aftermarket (Garmin/TomTom/etc.) installations in the E90. I've seen them plopped on the dashtop and they look horrible, with wires all over.

Has anyone done integration (say mounting where the ashtray was, tilted up) or stuff like that?

My 330 has no iDrive (thank god) but I'd like a clean nav solution.

[ltdorn]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77765


looks better in person than the in the pics....

[who's ur daddy?]

I have the kuda mount plus the optional kuda bracket for the Garmin. It rocks. Very clean look. The only thing is that I have to figure out how to hardwire it. The dangling power cord is unsightly.

Will try to post pics later.

There is another thread with pics of the actual kuda mount. But that poster had a "fixed position" adapter. Seems to me like the GPS was facing down too much. With the adapter I bought from Kuda, it's tiltable and you can make it face directly to your seating position.

[who's ur daddy?]

Kuda mounts. See "GooseInOz" posts.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=kuda

[bufasion]

Here you go.

It's a little low in the ashtray, but with voice guidance you won't need to look at it much. The screen is less of a distraction at night. And you can pull the whole thing out, close the ashtray lid, and nobody would know you have a GPS inside the car.

And it cost very little.

[wutasi]

Originally Posted by bufasion

Here you go.

It's a little low in the ashtray, but with voice guidance you won't need to look at it much. The screen is less of a distraction at night. And you can pull the whole thing out, close the ashtray lid, and nobody would know you have a GPS inside the car.

And it cost very little.

bufasion, where can you buy that ashtray mount?!
It looks like a great solution for aftermarket gps!

[bufasion]

Here's an exploded view of my homemade Nuvi mount (clockwise from bottom left):

1) Original ashtray insert that came with my E90. Lined with the fuzz ("loop") side of self-sticking velcro.

2) A few pieces of velcro stuck back-to-back, so one side of this is the "hook", the other side is the "loop".

3) A base plate made from a scrap piece of plastic (e.g., expired credit card) with velcro sticking to both sides, similar to 2).

4) Original suction mount that came with my Nuvi. Since the suction cup in my mount is too worn to stick to anything, I removed the cup (gently punch out the metal pin that hinges the lock down lever) and lined the exposed bottom with velcro. If your suction cup is in good shape, replace 3) with a smooth piece of scrap plastic (e.g., CD jewel case cut to size) and apply velcro to one side only. Leave the other side for the suction cup to hold on to.

Here are the steps to make the mount:

1. Line the inside of 1) with self-sticking velcro. I recommend using the loop side, so in case you want to use the ashtray to hold coins it will have a velvet-like lining.

2. Layer up 2) to "fill" the curvature of the ashtray insert. The idea is to make the curve flatter so 3) will stick better.

3. Mount 4) onto 3). The base plate provides a flat surface for the suction mount, and spread the load to a larger area of layered velcro. You may need to trial-and-error for the best fit.

4. Install the assembly to the car. Adjust to fit Nuvi between the console, the shift lever, and your knee.

Here's some observation, pros and cons, after a few months with this mount:

Pros:

1. It cost very little ($0 for me).

2. It makes no permanent modification to the car. Easily and completely reversible (a hair dryer will help remove the velcro lining from the ashtray insert, if you must).

3. The base plate and layered velcro provide good support and stability for Nuvi.

4. The mounting location is right next to the lighter socket. No dangling wires. Nuvi is very easy to power since it uses standard USB charger. I use a generic one (shown in a previous picture) because it has a short and coiled cord.

5. The location is close at hand if you need to use the touchscreen.

6. The location is low enough so the summer sun in a parked car is less likely to harm Nuvi. Lithium batteries in GPS don't bake well under the sun. I've killed a few windshield-mounted GPS this way. It is one primary reason I wanted a lower mounting location.

7. The screen is less of a distraction at night.

8. The location doesn't block anything of the car (it may slightly block the driver's seat heater button if you have ZCW).

9. The location allows a short and tidy cable to the AUX input if you want Nuvi to play MP3.

10. The silver color of Nuvi's face kind of matches the shifter. My unsuspecting friends thought the Nuvi came with the car (the BMW logo in the splash screen helped, too ).

11. And best of all, you can pull the whole shebang out with the ashtray insert still attached, throw it in the glove compartment, close the ashtray lid, and no trace of a GPS ever been there.

Cons:

1. The location is a little low if you need to look at it a lot.

2. The space between the console, the shifter, and the knee is limited. Nuvi (both the receiver and the mount) is compact and fits just fine, but other GPS may not fit as well.

3. I like to fold Nuvi's antenna out of sight, so the low location does affect reception slightly. It may take a little longer to lock onto satellites. It worked well in downtown San Francisco but I have not tried it in other urban canyons. You may need to tilt the antenna horizontally or upward to get better reception, if your terrain is difficult.

[wutasi]

Great job bufasion very innovative I must say!
Now I got myself a little project to work on.

[ATL_Architect]

Originally Posted by qapla97

I'd like to see pictures of aftermarket (Garmin/TomTom/etc.) installations in the E90. I've seen them plopped on the dashtop and they look horrible, with wires all over.

Has anyone done integration (say mounting where the ashtray was, tilted up) or stuff like that?

My 330 has no iDrive (thank god) but I'd like a clean nav solution.

I like how this guy has his Garmin installed: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=17

Mount is bottom one on this page: http://www.kudausa.com/kuda_mount_an...2006-3-38.html#

A similar factory install for the Nuvi 350 / 360 is at: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=13
.

[akhter]

I got a 3 series accessories catalog, and they have a fake double cowl for aftermarket Nav setups. You guys should look into it. I can post partnumbers or scans if you guys want...

[e90dsanks]

Akhter: go ahead and post some pics and part #s. Would like to see this.

[f30er]

Originally Posted by akhter

I got a 3 series accessories catalog, and they have a fake double cowl for aftermarket Nav setups. You guys should look into it. I can post partnumbers or scans if you guys want...

Definitely wanna see this! Any way you can scan the page???

[drbimmer97]

here are the pics on how i hardwired my garmin GPS using the factory mount. i lost my disc mount sticker so i used 3M double-sided tape until i get a new one (just ordered).

[trick50]

Originally Posted by ltdorn

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77765


looks better in person than the in the pics....

that looks like crap. ther is nothing clean about it.

[TahoeOG]

wow that a lot of cables... I think i would of kept it simple with the nav.

I'm talking about this set up http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77765

YOu guys up there have pretty nice set ups.

[TahoeOG]

Originally Posted by drbimmer97

Nice Carbon Fiber!!!!!

[MrFrizzle]

Originally Posted by drbimmer97

here are the pics on how i hardwired my garmin GPS using the factory mount. i lost my disc mount sticker so i used 3M double-sided tape until i get a new one (just ordered).

how on earth did you wire the power cable behind the center console???

[gIzzE]

This is in my 1er M-Sport, but do you guys not have something along these lines???

[bigpapapablo]

gizze is that aftermarket or did it come from the factory? i would love to have something like that on my dashboard

[gIzzE]

That is aftermarket, a company called gpstar.

www.gpstar.de


This thread on www.babybmw.net shows a pictorial of the install I did......

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7285

[gIzzE]

Just to say I am not sure if you can buy North American maps for the unit??

[Rusty Shackelford]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

That is aftermarket, a company called gpstar.

www.gpstar.de


This thread on www.babybmw.net shows a pictorial of the install I did......

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7285

Nice setup - I like how that turned out. I have to say that you are a braver man than I. Taking a saw to my dash goes a step beyond what I'm prepared to do to have a nice looking GPS mount. However - no guts, no glory right? Enjoy your setup.