[s4iscool]

Here it is, pics for now, if any questions Ill try to answer.

I wanted the Roady in there over the Sportscaster for various reasons, and I think its nice to save the cig power, and I relocated the LED light in there. Using the sunglass DIY piece would make for much more room, but you lose the cig and led light. Oh, and it does close...barely. Its a trade off between having a better viewing angle vs. not allowing the lid to close.

Scale of 1-10 beer difficulty rating (10 being internal engine work), Id give it a 6.5, it can be done easier, but I installed a line amp to boost the Roady's weak line out signal.

[bimmerFUD]

Nice installation! I'd like to do a similar install with a Garmin Nuvi 370. I don't have my car yet, so I'm not sure this will work:

My idea is to attach (screw or glue) the Garmin winshield mount somehow to the ashtray insert. Then when I want to remove the mount, I just remove the whole ashtray insert (as though I'm emptying the ashtray). The base of the mount is 2-1/4" inches, but I could trim it down at least another 1/2". Do you think this would work?

Thanks.

[s4iscool]

not too sure...can you post a pic of the mount and the nuvi ?

[bimmerFUD]

Below is the gps on the mount. The circular base on the mount is 2-1/4", but this could be trimmed. I'm hoping to attach the base to the bottom of the ashtray insert, with either small screws or glue. The display itself is pretty small, about 4" x 3". I obviously won't able to close the ashtray without removing the entire mount, via the ashtray insert.

[ChadE]

id like to see how you mounted the antenna?

[s4iscool]

ah ok, i see what you are wanting to do now. I think just mounting the base plate to the ashtray will be easy. You could also consider mounting it to the center tunnel (where the outside fo your right leg rests). it would be a more permanent install, but it woudl look clean and not stick out from the ashtray area. I considered that for my PDA mount that looks similar to your nuvi mount.

[s4iscool]

Originally Posted by chade7320

id like to see how you mounted the antenna?

me?, the antennae is fed from the roof shark fin sat radio antennae. There is a connection in the trunk that can be tapped and connected directly to the Roady unit.

[ChadE]

Originally Posted by s4iscool

me?, the antennae is fed from the roof shark fin sat radio antennae. There is a connection in the trunk that can be tapped and connected directly to the Roady unit.

Could you be more specific...tapped how and where is it found, how did you route the wires all the way up to the ashtray? Thanks sorry to be such a hassle

[s4iscool]

np, there should be a FAQ or specific write up on this in the audio forum. If you have trouble, let me know and i can dig it up. Its oly on sat prep cars in 06 and all 07 cars have the lead located in the trunk

[s4iscool]

to save you a min, here it is:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...radio+antennae

has both links there

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by s4iscool

ah ok, i see what you are wanting to do now. I think just mounting the base plate to the ashtray will be easy. You could also consider mounting it to the center tunnel (where the outside fo your right leg rests). it would be a more permanent install, but it woudl look clean and not stick out from the ashtray area. I considered that for my PDA mount that looks similar to your nuvi mount.

I'll just have to see how it looks once I get the car. Might be ugly, or interfere too much with the stick shift.

I don't use Nav that much, so I really don't want a mount that's difficult to remove or hide. I don't like vent, windshield, or cupholder mounts. If the ashtray doesn't work, I'll just go with a proclip on the console.

Thanks.

[ChadE]

Originally Posted by s4iscool

to save you a min, here it is:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...radio+antennae

has both links there

Thanks!

[vkk]

Originally Posted by s4iscool

Here it is, pics for now, if any questions Ill try to answer.

I wanted the Roady in there over the Sportscaster for various reasons, and I think its nice to save the cig power, and I relocated the LED light in there. Using the sunglass DIY piece would make for much more room, but you lose the cig and led light. Oh, and it does close...barely. Its a trade off between having a better viewing angle vs. not allowing the lid to close.

Scale of 1-10 beer difficulty rating (10 being internal engine work), Id give it a 6.5, it can be done easier, but I installed a line amp to boost the Roady's weak line out signal.

Hi,

Can you please provide more details of this install? What did you do to make the roady fit? Also, what part did you use for the line amplifier?

Thanks

[s4iscool]

I had to cut a hole in the ashtray. You will need a dremel type tool to cut though the abs plastic. pretty easy, just keep measuring and test fitting as you go. you want the hole to be as small as possible yet allowing the base of the Roady to fit in. You want to only hide the black mounting part of the Roady base, so the silver Roady will show, this way you still have access to all the preset buttons at the bottom of the Roady. You will then need to afix the base in the ashtray hole. I used lots of silicone and other adhesives to hold it in.

Also, use something to wedge behind the silver ROady back, so it has something to rest on while its in the ashtray piece...otherwise, the angle of the lcd display will be too aggressive to view.

[s4iscool]

and ive tested it without the line amp, and youll be ok without using it, just make sure your AUX volume is up on the headunit (bmw radio) and the Roady itself

[vkk]

Thanks for the info. Actually I had to use a ground loop isolator because I was having noise. After putting one between the Roady and the aux connection the noise went away.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

I'll just have to see how it looks once I get the car. Might be ugly, or interfere too much with the stick shift.

I don't use Nav that much, so I really don't want a mount that's difficult to remove or hide. I don't like vent, windshield, or cupholder mounts. If the ashtray doesn't work, I'll just go with a proclip on the console.

Thanks.

Any update on your nav installation?
I imagine the unit might interfere with the shifter.
Plus you will be looking down all the time to see the screen.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by s4iscool

Here it is, pics for now, if any questions Ill try to answer.

I wanted the Roady in there over the Sportscaster for various reasons, and I think its nice to save the cig power, and I relocated the LED light in there. Using the sunglass DIY piece would make for much more room, but you lose the cig and led light. Oh, and it does close...barely. Its a trade off between having a better viewing angle vs. not allowing the lid to close.

Scale of 1-10 beer difficulty rating (10 being internal engine work), Id give it a 6.5, it can be done easier, but I installed a line amp to boost the Roady's weak line out signal.

Nice.
My only comment is that you need the M-shifter and M-brake to match the steering wheel.

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Any update on your nav installation?
I imagine the unit might interfere with the shifter.
Plus you will be looking down all the time to see the screen.

I pick up my 335xi in Munich next Tuesday I won't be able to do an installation until it's back stateside. In Europe, I'll probably just use the windshield mount.

I used my Garmin 370 in a rental on a recent trip to Monterey. I kept it low and it didn't bother me. I mostly just listen to it while driving. But I see your point.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

I pick up my 335xi in Munich next Tuesday I won't be able to do an installation until it's back stateside. In Europe, I'll probably just use the windshield mount.

I used my Garmin 370 in a rental on a recent trip to Monterey. I kept it low and it didn't bother me. I mostly just listen to it while driving. But I see your point.

Congratulations on your ED.
I shall do ED for my next bimmer.
anyway, I think you will be hitting the unit when shifting into 1,3, or 5.
I have the M shifter. But I might be wrong.

[Fartpimpson]

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

I shall do ED for my next bimmer.
anyway, I think you will be hitting the unit when shifting into 1,3, or 5.
I have the M shifter. But I might be wrong.

Thanks for the heads up. One option might be not to use the full length of the windshield mount. I would think one could rest the nuvi in the open ashtray, with the screen tilted at a 45. So to secure it, maybe cut off the suction cup end at the desired length and attach the arm somehow to the ashtray insert.

I still like the idea of using the ashtray insert, if only because RealOEM has replacements for less than $10.