Berto Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 So I posted this as a DIY on the civic forum and I'm bored now so i'm posting it here to. What are your opinions on it? So I recently got my Garmin Nuvi 650 from Costco ($299 FYI!). The suction cup mount sucks, a lot, and not in a good way. It seems that the damn thing falls off after an hr of driving. So the next natural thing was for me to look for alternative mounts on ebay. I decided to go with the cigarette lighter mount. The seller is Trueion (trueion.com). The best way to look for this thing on ebay is 'Powered Garmin GPS Mount'. I got it for ~$20 after shipping. Well After getting it I realized it was complete junk, I wouldn't trust my GPS on it! I decided not to return it since the shipping was half the price of the item, by the time I shipped it back I would only get like $6 back out of $20. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own mount.:cheerleader: First I went ahead and removed the center console that surrounds the shifter, this includes the plastic pocket/cubby hole infront of the shifter. Then I looked through my brackets and happened to have one in my bin of parts. You can get this at any hardware store, I actually think I got this one at Walmart. Below is a picture of the cigarette lighter mount that sucks. I took it apart at the elbow, this was pretty easy because its held up with wing nuts. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00010600x450.jpg The next step for me was to bolt everything together as I envisioned it and make sure it wasn't going to interfere with the cigarette lighter or the lip on the console bin. The two next pictures show me putting it into place http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00014.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00015.jpg Next you are going to want to get your drill out and mark up the holes using the bracket you bought and choose the right bit depending on the size of the screws you decided to buy. I bought some low profile head screws because I was unsure how the interface we are drilling into interacts with the rest of the dash. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00016.jpg Then mount up your contraption! I used washers and wing nuts. The reason I chose to use wing nuts was because they are easy to adjust and remove if needed. I can take out this mount in less than 5 minutes with no tools. Also the wing nuts are hidden under the bin lip. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00017.jpg The cigarette lighter section has little teeth at the elbow (tried to show them in the picture). Since I like to over engineer things I cut a peice of Dynamat and put it on the metal L-bracket to give the teeth something to sink into and keep the elbow in the bracket from wiggling lose with use. It was holding fine without the Dynamat though. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00018.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00019.jpg The following are progressive pictures of how everything was completed and is put together! http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00020.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00023.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/BertoBizkit/GPS%20Mount/DSC00026.jpg Give me some Rep points I don't have any yet! 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slomo Eric Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Nice dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Automotive Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Suck you have to look down to see whats going on. Taking your eyes away from the road. I mounted mine down low and didnt like it. Now its on the pillar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 i made a similar setup for my sirius. but not down below. its under my radio. the mounts that come with it blow. but nice setup berto. i need to make some kind of mount for my cell phone (sprint mogul) i have turn by turn navi on it and would like to have a quick in/out mount for when i need to use it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRN96WS6 Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 I have never had an issue with my GPS mount weird. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokin5s Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 doesn't it suck looking down though to get your directions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Theres some rep for ya and nice setup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHaze Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 If his software is good enough with the voice directions, he won't need to look down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 If his software is good enough with the voice directions, he won't need to look down. exact;y mines pretty damn dead on.. and gives notice well before a turn comes up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHaze Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 I have Destinator 6 on my pda and the directions are spot on. The warnings for a turn are perfectly timed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 I don't mind them down low, and being on the pillar or windshield is just plain tacky. One thing I would do different is wire up a socket behind the dash and wire in the power plug to that, so it hides those wires. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted March 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 I don't mind them down low, and being on the pillar or windshield is just plain tacky. One thing I would do different is wire up a socket behind the dash and wire in the power plug to that, so it hides those wires. I might do that today, I have that spare socket, thanks for the input! I don't mind the GPS down low like that. its not like I am constantly looking down at it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hehe I drive starring at my GPS screen. Nice work BTW. I hate the mounts they sell you as accessories or that come with the units. They are always kinda shitty for the money they cost. Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar1647545494 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Looks really good man. That was a good deal on the unit as well. I've never personally had a problem with the mount falling off. As long as the windshield/suction cup is clean. I'm planning on doing something similar to the legacy. Apparently in Texas people are jacking GPS units left and right. My boss told me they're breaking into cars that have the little rings left behind from the suction cup to find the things. http://www.subaruoutback.org/gallery//500/13494gps3-med.jpg http://www.subaruoutback.org/gallery//500/13494gps2-med.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Pff should have gone OEM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODoyle Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 i think im going to steal this idea and use it on my 07 civic, great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
large_x7 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Pff should have gone OEM. Yeah, OEM Honda navigation rules! I had one in my TL and I miss it constantly. Although, I guess $299>$1500. BTW, how is the Garmin? I have been thinking about getting one for the 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Congrats! Looks nice, and I can't stand the people with the sirius suction mount, AND the GPS suction mounted. It's like jeebus, enjoy driving your spaceship. Way to put forth the effort to do it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venture Guy Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 get a life bert... love randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 neg rep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate1647545505 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 if i ever needed a lover, berto would be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted March 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Yeah, OEM Honda navigation rules! I had one in my TL and I miss it constantly. Although, I guess $299>$1500. BTW, how is the Garmin? I have been thinking about getting one for the 3. The OEM is nice but here is my main reason for getting it. - I got tired of AAA's bank hours about 45 mins from my house. So instead of having to leave work at 3 everytime I have to get a map for every trip I go on, I got this instead of renewing my membership. - The OEM one I can take with me when I go for work, or when I want to use it in my truck when we go out 4 wheeling. The Garmin is sweet, its not perfect (like any new technology) but its pretty darn close. It is worth every penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87GT Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Nice work. I couldn't handle that though. I have my GPS on the left most side of my window. I like to drive around a lot with just the map showing where I am driving. It is on the window in a perfect spot. It hangs just left of my hand on the steering wheel if it is positioned at 10 oclock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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