How to permanently install a Garmin in the dash panel storage compartment

[Rizmod]

Hi all,

I'm too thrifty to spend megabucks on the Skoda OEM sat nav but I do miss having it (it was in my Superb before getting the vRS). Although lots of folks have mounted TomToms and Garmins in or on the compartment on the FL dash panel, I wanted to go a step further and hinge mine so it is hidden when parked, but be instantly available for use. In case anybody’s interested, I thought I’d show you how I did it.

It's the first time I've added photos so I don't know what they'll look like. The 1 MB total limit on attachments means they have to be small, but PM me if you want bigger ones. Fingers crossed!

Buying something that fits

I agonised over the largest sat nav that would fit in and still allow the lid to close. In the end I chose a 5” screen Garmin nüvi 2545LMT. It has European maps and lifetime updates, but not bluetooth (the 2595 has BT if you need it). The dimensions are 137 mm x 83 mm x 15 mm. The 83 mm and 15 mm are really important – anything larger and it won’t allow the lid to close properly. For the same reason, I had to discard the rubber mat that normally lines the bottom (not a problem once it was hinged).

Power supply

The standard cigarette lighter socket by the handbrake is in the wrong location for this job. Instead, I bought a 12V socket from Maplins and installed it in the glove box. It just needed a hole saw and some Evostik for a snug fit. It is better to remove the glove box for this part but you have to be careful to disconnect the internal light switch before removal as it can pop apart and be a pain to reassemble (I broke mine and there are several posts about this). For a power supply, I then routed some red automotive cable round the back of the dash into the fuse box via an independent 10A fuse and connected the earth to one of the dash board attachment bolts.

The Garmin comes with its own 12V power lead to mini USB plug and also incorporates an FM traffic receiver. With the glove box still out, I drilled a hole in the rear left corner of the dash compartment, making it just large enough to squeeze the USB plug through (if you drill it anywhere else, it prevents the lid closing). I drilled another small hole at the top of the glove box for the lead to exit it neatly.

The hardest part was getting the USB plug up through the dash. I had to thread some wire down from the top of the compartment until I could grip it; I then sello-taped the plug to the wire and slowly pulled/guided it up into the compartment. I glued a grommet into the hole so that the plug couldn't fall through and refitted the glove box. The final touch was to use a mini USB right angle adaptor; this is necessary so that the lead enters the back of the Garmin from the side, not at a right angle to the back (which would stop the unit hinging properly for the lid to close).

Hinging the unit

The job needs a really thin hinge. I bought a piano hinge from B&Q and hack-sawed a piece off for the back of the Garmin.

Using some double sided foam sticky tape, I attached this to the Garmin, which I then laid down centrally in the compartment. I put a second piece of the tape on the other part of the hinge then closed the lid firmly until it stuck to the tape.

Hey presto, the Garmin can now be flipped up with the compartment lid and lowered out of sight when not needed. In order to get the viewing angle right and avoid reflections, I attached a small Velcro pad to the floor of the compartment and the matching hooked part onto the bottom of the Garmin (don’t do this the other way round as the screen might get scratched when it lays down).

Setting up the Garmin

The Garmin automatically powers up when the ignition is turned on ... and it remembers the screen setting when you turn the ignition off. Within its settings the Garmin has an option to turn off 60 seconds after it senses no power supply – so there is no possibility of flattening the car battery when you take out your ignition key. It's powered on all the time it's retracted but I've never had it overheat or freeze.

Because I wanted to make it look like a factory fit option, I've set it permanently to the night colours.

Experience

Finally, I did this job about nine months ago and it’s been great ever since. The unit is easily visible with no reflections, audibility is good and the traffic updates work well. The only small problem is that the double sided tape eventually lost its stickiness; to cure this, I've put some strategic drops of superglue on the tape.

For map and firmware updates, I have to take my laptop to the car rather than have to remove the Garmin.

Anyway, I hope this post proves useful to someone! Any suggestions how to motorise it now?

Cheers,

Rizmod

Edited 8 May, 2013 by Rizmod

[@Lee]

Top write up

Re the tape issue; what about Velcro?

Re the motor; Maplins would be my first port of call, a small motor connected to the ignition's 2nd position

[Rizmod]

I didn't use Velcro because it looked a bit thicker than the tape I used but who knows, maybe it'd be better.

Attaching the motor could be interesting!

[JaminWales]

Top work fella

[mikey vrs]

Great post!.....ive hard wired mine in but mine has the traffic aerial lead on 2 suckers onto the windscreen so ive had to use the standard suction mount on the windscreen. I notice yours is facing straight & not angled to the driver,can you see it ok when driving?

[stokey]

I did a similar thing on my last vRS, fitting a 12v socket into the top box wired to a switchable live. A TomTom mounting disk was fitted in the top box as well allowing the figment of a 5in TomTom .

[jmattley]

Looks brilliant! I'd quite fancy doing something like this. I would like to make it removable though. Motorising would be cool! Perhaps look at small linear actuators and for control, maybe cutting an old electric window switch and stop gear as I believe they just use a switch to stop them at the limit of their travel. Food for thought maybe?

Also, if you're handy with CAD (isn't everyone?! (I'm a product designer!)), you could design a bespoke mounting or similar and get it rapid prototyped. Yes I am a complete geek.

[Rizmod]

mikey, the hinge allows the angle to be set so visibility is perfect with no reflections. )

jmattley, I'm a linux-loving mechanical engineer ... but I don't think I'm as geeky as you though <g>

[@Lee]

Yes I am a complete geek.

Search member Korban, his android tab dash mount is awesome.

[Stormchaser]

That looks great. Thanks for the write up

[irishvrs]

Great idea well done sir

[rob_e]

nice mod. I did that in my 2010 vrs, pretty much the same other than the hinge - yours looks great in there. you need to get an actuator now that's linked to your switched live so it rises up when you switch on the ignition.

[DMilleaVRS]

I like this mod very much thinking of attempting it myself might try a few things

[duro]

Hi Rizmod, very nice job!

 

As I have the same kind of dash (FL2) and wish to buy exactly that model of Garmin, I think i'll try your mod.

 

Only a few questions:

 

I have a LHD car. Do your hints about "left" side of the compartment, etc. apply in the same way or should I expect them to be the other way round?

 

More importantly: what about an option for having the Garmin removable? Apart from the maps updating issue, glueing it seems a bit too "definitive" for me and I'd like ti use the satnav also on my motorbike and my wife's car occasionally. Also, I'm considering to use a smartphone instead of a satnav, so it must be removable.

Any ideas?

 

Cheers,

 

Carlo

Edited 26 August, 2013 by duro

[Defenderben]

"More importantly: what about an option for having the Garmin removable? Apart from the maps updating issue, glueing it seems a bit too "definitive" for me and I'd like ti use the satnav also on my motorbike and my wife's car occasionally.

Any ideas?"

Look into a full Velcro type hinge. Stick a piece of the velcro "hooks" to the underside of the dash lid and again on the navigation unit and get a double sized piece of the velcro "loops" with a fold along its length to act as a hinge...hey presto. Or a similar type concept?

Regards

Edited 26 August, 2013 by Defenderben

[duro]

Mmm...

 

I'm starting to think an alternative mount, expecially compatible with a removable smartphone.

 

As there's a "tray depth" issue and a "portability" issue, why not addressing both by using Rizmod's system to permanently attach a holding bracket, not the device itself?

Opening the tray lid would expose the bracket where the smartphone could be quickly (hopefully) placed.

Ideally, a bracket with power connection should be considered, in order to not fiddling around with the power lead on each come and go.

 

Some research must be done.

Edited 26 August, 2013 by duro

[zeffania]

I did something similar this weekend, but wanted to keep the top box clear as I store my glasses in there. This is what I did, just need a really short usb cable for the tomtom sat-nav

 

[Surrey Ocy]

Mmm...

 

I'm starting to think an alternative mount, expecially compatible with a removable smartphone.

 

As there's a "tray depth" issue and a "portability" issue, why not addressing both by using Rizmod's system to permanently attach a holding bracket, not the device itself?

Opening the tray lid would expose the bracket where the smartphone could be quickly (hopefully) placed.

Ideally, a bracket with power connection should be considered, in order to not fiddling around with the power lead on each come and go.

 

Some research must be done.

I'm thinking of just this idea for my spare smartphone running tomtom. I currently just have the old brodit holder from my last car wedged in the top box.

[KBPhoto]

I remember seeing a dash top 'computer' (probably Win CE based) a few years back when I was researching the options.

It basically replaced the dash top box in an Octavia with a small screen 'pop-up' computer. When closed it looked like a dash top box!

I can't find them at the moment, but I'll keep looking. It was probably a Chinese unit on eBay, but I seem to recall they had models for quite a lot of cars.

[DMilleaVRS]

Keep us updated

DMilleaVRS

[nitinbose]

I would also second these ideas since its not really worth spending so much money on an HU that gives you navigation feature, unless you're really concerned about the looks.  Its also a good idea to install a tablet, which in addition to navigation, gives you other features as well.  Here's a cool thing which someone did: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/sound-off-show-off/138607-samsung-tab-2-7-install-bmw-x1.html

[Bishman]

Looks brilliant! I'd quite fancy doing something like this. I would like to make it removable though. Motorising would be cool! Perhaps look at small linear actuators and for control, maybe cutting an old electric window switch and stop gear as I believe they just use a switch to stop them at the limit of their travel. Food for thought maybe?

Also, if you're handy with CAD (isn't everyone?! (I'm a product designer!)), you could design a bespoke mounting or similar and get it rapid prototyped. Yes I am a complete geek.

 

 

You could design a bespoke mounting and then get it 3D printed... even geekier....

[maverick54]

Notice the original post was over a year ago. Did anyone come up with a better way of fitting a satnav in the top box that is easily removeable off a mounting?

 

Also want to route a 12v feed to the glovebox probably using a piggy back fuse from a fusebox. Is it best to take the glove box out and route a wire from the fusebox in the engine bay?

 

Any ideas much appreciated.

[rob_e]

Notice the original post was over a year ago. Did anyone come up with a better way of fitting a satnav in the top box that is easily removeable off a mounting?

 

Also want to route a 12v feed to the glovebox probably using a piggy back fuse from a fusebox. Is it best to take the glove box out and route a wire from the fusebox in the engine bay?

 

Any ideas much appreciated.

 

on my 2010 car i had a garmin in the top box, piggy back wire off the fuse board, small hole drilled in the base of the dash-top-box.  used the std garmin self-adhesive disc on the base of the box, and standard garmin windscreen mount suckered down on to the disc.

 

i set the garmin to switch on/off automatically with the power (it was on a switched live) so it came on/off with the car ignition like oem nav, plus i found there was a setting to auto change from day/night colours which i guess was based on the clock (and a database of sunset/sunrise times maybe?) so it was as close as oem functionality as poss, but easily removable.

 

 

[maverick54]

That looks great that Rob. Havnt had a Garmin before but about to get one for christmas. What size, model did you use and did that self adhesive disc and holder come with the sat nav?

Also it looks like there are electrical connectors in the base of the holder on that photo. does the mount hard wire in and just slotting the satnav in the holder power it up?

Edited 26 November, 2014 by maverick54