[BlueNik25]

So i have spent the past week looking at different mounting options for my cell phone and Garmin GPS. after much deliberation I found that the best option for me would be a Kuda mount. After going to the Kuda website and getting sticker shock, my cheap ass started thinking of how I could fab one up myself. So here it is, in a proto type form. Total cost so far is $4.50 for a piece of aluminium. I still havent decided how I am going to finish the mount. My first thought is to spray it with Plasti Dip and stick some soft sided velcro to the bottom. I could wrap it in leather to better match the interior but I'm not sure if I want the attachments interchangeable or not. I'm open to suggestions!

Sorry about the picture quality my phone sucks.

The Aluminum was bent into shape using a Vise and my hands with a Hammer thrown in every now and again.


It attaches the same way the Kuda mount does. It is wedged in between the wood trim and rubber dash then the back is attached by pressure under the vent pannel.


I bought a Tetrax Xmount thinking I could just clip my phone to the air vent. After I got it I realized I really dont like the look of my phone in front of the air vent and with summer coming I didn't want to block the vent. I bent another pice of aluminum at a right angle to use with the Xmount.

Picture of the right angle aluminium piece taped in place. I decided to test it in different positions before I tap and screw it to the mount.


Picture of the Xmount attached.



I attached one of the Xmounts mounting disc to my Garmin dock but due to the shape of the dock it is not sturdy enough to stay straight while inputing a destination. The Xmount does work great and is very sturdy with my phone.


I cannibalized part of my OG Droids windshield mount to do some testing. It has the same 17mm ball mount that the Garmin cradle uses. I may fab another bracket and use this ball mount I found on Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOTOR...#ht_520wt_1167 I would like to come up with a solution so that I can use my phone or the Garmin on the same mount. I use my phone for GPS more than I do my Garmin.


What do you think? I am open to any and all suggestions.

[BlueNik25]

Fixed the pictures!

[Hoppyjr]

Well done & very creative! Please keep us posted on the progress. Thanks!

[BlueNik25]

Thanks and will do!

[canucklion]

very creative indeed.

It would look even better if you paint the aluminum strip matte black to bland in with your dashboard.

[BlueNik25]

I am considering painting it matte black with Plasti Dip spray or covering it in leather or vinyl.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by BlueNik25

I am considering painting it matte black with Plasti Dip spray or covering it in leather or vinyl.

One thing to watch out for with plasti-dip is if you are sticking anything to the mount, like the x-way system you have above, you'll want to plasti-dip around that.

Otherwise the plasti-dip will come off with the mount.

Looks great though!

[BlueNik25]

do you mean leave the plasti-dip off of the angle piece the Xway mounts to?

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by BlueNik25

I am considering painting it matte black with Plasti Dip spray or covering it in leather or vinyl.

pretty please
not carbon fiber wrap

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by BlueNik25

do you mean leave the plasti-dip off of the angle piece the Xway mounts to?

Yes? I think. haha

How does the x-way system mount to the metal mounting system?

Screws or adhesive? If it's adhesive, you'll want to adhere the mount directly to the metal. Otherwise, if you mount it over the plasti-dip, it may just rip off.

[BlueNik25]

No Carbon Fiber for me though the is something appealing about piano black trim. I am leaning more toward spraying it with plasti-dip. If I decide I dont like the plasti-dip I am going to see what kinds of leather I can buy at a fabric store.

The X-way is designed as a vent mount. You turn the round part around the gold magnets and it closes or opens a rubber clamp on the back. Thats why I attached the right angle to the bracket. I can see how it may remove some of the plasti-dip. Maybe I'll just paint that part black before I plasti-dip.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by BlueNik25

No Carbon Fiber for me though the is something appealing about piano black trim. I am leaning more toward spraying it with plasti-dip. If I decide I dont like the plasti-dip I am going to see what kinds of leather I can buy at a fabric store.

The X-way is designed as a vent mount. You turn the round part around the gold magnets and it closes or opens a rubber clamp on the back. Thats why I attached the right angle to the bracket. I can see how it may remove some of the plasti-dip. Maybe I'll just paint that part black before I plasti-dip.

Ohh ok. Im familiar with the vent design.....I actually posted about this mount a few months ago on here.

But I was thinking about the one that just sticks on. It doesn't have the x-brace but it's just a magnet with a adhesive back or the vent one without the x-brace.

If you are "clipping" the x-way onto the mount, then plasti-dip would be better actually. It will provide more grip.

I was just concerned if it was stuck on, if there was a layer of plasti-dip between the mount and the x-way, it would have the potential to rip off.

Sorry it's hard to explain in writing.

[BlueNik25]

Lol I understand. It must have been your post that made me want to go buy one.

[gbreadman04]

Pulling this up from the dead, but I'm building a similar setup to mount my Nexus 7 on my 2007 E93, since I don't have iDrive.









Plan on plastidipping everything but the brushed aluminum top, for starters. Might paint that later too. Industrial adhesive-backed velcro wrapped around the front, mating pieces stuck to the back of my Nexus. Epoxied the bars to the sheetmetal , currently waiting for it to dry. Installed photos tomorrow!

[gbreadman04]

Initial impression from a quick drive with this in and running today: holds surprisingly well! A little bit of vibration movement/pothole jostling, but stays in place solidly on hard turns, and I'm not concerned at all about the tablet falling off, considering the big velcro contact patch.

[mejori]

pics of finished product?