i30 Owners Club

MODIFYING OR DETAILING YOUR I30 => INTERIOR => Topic started by: AlanHo on August 14, 2010, 16:14:33

Title: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: AlanHo on August 14, 2010, 16:14:33
I have a Garmin Sat-Nav which can be attached to either the windscreen by its sucker mount – or to a flat polished disc stuck to the dashboard with a special adhesive pad.

On both my Audi A3 and A4 the dashboards are curved and it is not possible to mount the sat-nav on them – hence I had to use the windscreen mount. I didn’t like doing this because the sat-nav was then too far away for easy use so I decided the make an adaptor to mount it on the dashboard.

Ingredients

A plastic tube about 6 cm inside diameter (cut from plastic bottle)
A tin of Plastic Padding (Epoxy body filler)
Some polythene (heavy gauge poly bag)
Adhesive tape
Blue tack
The Garmin polished metal disc
Paint to match the dashboard
Epoxy glue
Patience and dexterity

After deciding the exact position you require to mount the sat-nav – carefully cut one end of the plastic tube to the exact profile of the dashboard. This is to make a mould in which you will pour plastic padding.

Now cut the tube as close as possible to the curved end – this will set the thickness of the adaptor

Attach the polythene to the dashboard (using sticky tape) to cover the area where the adaptor is to be mounted. Stretch the polythene really tight so that it will not move. Fold up and double back the ends of the sticky tape so that it can be removed very quickly. You will see why in a minute as you read on.

Place the  plastic tubular mould in its required location and hold it firmly in place with blue tack round its full external circumference.

Mix the required amount of plastic padding and fill the mould to the top – make sure there no air pockets and that you get the top surface as level as possible. The material will start to cure and will gradually get warm. Keep testing the top surface and before it gets too hot, yet firm, quickly release the polythene and remove the adaptor from the dashboard before it gets too hot and damages the dashboard surface.

Leave to fully cure for an hour or so and remove the plastic tubular mould.

Now fettle any loose bits from the bottom edges where the plastic padding has found its way under the mould – before placing a sheet of emery on a flat surface and “sanding” the top surface of the adaptor to get it dead flat.

Paint the outside diameter with your paint – stipple it on - to try and replicate the surface of the dashboard. Leave to dry overnight.

Using epoxy glue – attach the Garmin polished metal disc, Attach the Garmin adhesive pad to the bottom surface and mount on your dashboard.

Simples……………….

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/SatNav2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/SatNav1.jpg)

Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on August 14, 2010, 16:18:29
LOL so thats what that polished disk is for... i just attatched it to my old cars windscreen... because the rubber kept getting stuck to it and eventually started tearing, so i used that disk and it fixed the problem!

very good idea!
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Shambles on August 14, 2010, 16:32:06
Who's a pretty clever boy then :)

Neat work. Off to "tips & tricks" we go ....
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: AlanHo on August 14, 2010, 17:07:11
I am planning to repeat this exercise on my new i30 but I note that the dashboard on the 2011 cars is different to the 2009 ones. The cubby hole on the top of the dashboard has vanished and has been replaced by a plain panel.

I want to mount the sat-nav on the plai panel in the centre of the dash - but is this safe? 

I don't think there is an airbag there - but need to be sure. Anyone have any info?
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Shambles on August 14, 2010, 17:21:45
It's just a blanking plate. Someone posted a picture/schematic of it. Do a search of cubby hole* and you'll see how heavily it's battened down :eek:

I have the spring-loaded cubby hole.




*Or you can click here (https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5156.0.html).
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: AlanHo on August 14, 2010, 17:50:03
Thanks Shambles - I can go ahaed with my adaptor when the car arrives.
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: 2i30s on August 15, 2010, 01:09:52
in australia its againtst the law to stick a satnav in the middle of the windscreen,it needs to be mounted in the corner so your vision isnt blocked.
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on August 15, 2010, 01:41:04
it is? wow i never knew that aye... good thing my suction cup is broken so i just leave it in the center console!
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: AlanHo on August 15, 2010, 04:30:18
I am not sticking the sat-nav in the middle of the windscreen - but on the middle of the dash - below my line of vision through the screen. When you look at the sat-nav, the bottom of the screen is well above it.  Hence it does not intrude in your view of the road ahead.

My wife is much shorter than me - but even she has a clear view of the road unimpeded by the sat-nav.

You lot down under must all be short aussies.... :lol:
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: 2i30s on August 15, 2010, 06:06:42
it is? wow i never knew that aye... good thing my suction cup is broken so i just leave it in the center console!
its also illegal to have anything hanging off the rear view mirror.  :wink:
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on August 15, 2010, 06:59:19
so i have to take my trusty fluffy dice off the mirror?
(http://www.houseospeed.com/catalog/dice2.JPG)
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: 2i30s on August 15, 2010, 09:04:02
the fun police strike again.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Dazzler on August 15, 2010, 10:25:07
in australia its againtst the law to stick a satnav in the middle of the windscreen,it needs to be mounted in the corner so your vision isnt blocked.

First i've heard of that Steve.. :eek: That is where it lived in the i30. I had to relocate it to the corner in the "Hybrid" because there is a clock in the middle of my dash..
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: 2i30s on August 15, 2010, 10:48:45
my best mates sons and my eldest son have been warned and then had an unroadworthy sticker put on thiere cars for items blocking tyour feild of vision.mmy sons car got done for having a girls garter hanging on the rearview mirror.my best mates boys got done for a pair of miniature boxing gloves on the mirror and the other for a satnav stuck on the windscreen.all 3 got a verball warning the night prior in chapel street in melbourne. if you cruise laps you get haseled by the law i supose.if your told to leave and you dont you also get the  so called canary. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: eye30 on August 15, 2010, 11:53:10
my sons car got done for having a girls garter hanging on the rearview mirror.


Was the girl still attached  :lol: :lol: :lol:  No wonder his view was blocked  :lol: :lol:

or should I say - did you ever ask him how it got from the girl to the mirror 
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: 2i30s on August 15, 2010, 13:04:48
she probably hasnt missed it mate,i wish i was care free and young again.   :lol: :lol: :wink:
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on August 16, 2010, 09:51:52
LOL its not important how it got to the mirror...
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: AlanHo on September 08, 2010, 21:11:48
I have enjoyed a bit of luck.

I removed the adaptor I made for my Audi and was delighted to find that the curvature of the i30 dashboard is identical to the Audi. I just had to renew the double backed adhesive pad and fitting the sat Nav was a breeze. Even the colour of the adaptor is a good match.

And here was I expecting to have to make a new one.
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on September 09, 2010, 13:42:24
YAY!!! nothing can beat the feeling of when something just falls into place aye!
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Dazzler on September 09, 2010, 21:50:03
YAY!!! nothing can beat the feeling of when something just falls into place aye!

Too Right.. doesn't happen often  :eek: :D
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: agentr31 on September 10, 2010, 15:25:22
ken oath dazzler, bloody ken oath...
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Myowni30 on September 10, 2010, 17:07:04
Quite like this idea:

CLICK HERE (http://europeanmotornews.com/2010/09/02/ford-sat-nav-integrates-with-rear-view-mirror/) (opens in a new window).
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: Dazzler on September 10, 2010, 22:30:53
Looks like screen is a bit small but apart from that a great idea... :D :D
Title: Re: Mounting a Sat-Nav to a curved dashboard
Post by: rustynutz on September 16, 2010, 14:34:49
in australia its againtst the law to stick a satnav in the middle of the windscreen,it needs to be mounted in the corner so your vision isnt blocked.

There is no specific law regarding where you can mount your Sat Nav.
As long as you have a clear view of the road, and traffic ahead, you can mount it anywhere you like......
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal