[DAN]

I'm getting annoyed with my tomtom suction windscreen mount falling off and thinking about alternative ways of mounting...

I don't have Logic7 sound system so I could perhaps come up with some sort of idea to use the area between the screen vents in the centre of the dashboard at the top.....

Anyone using this area in a useful way?

I was thinking.... if this panel comes out somehow, what would it be like to fit a strong magnet to the underside of this panel and use it as some sort of easy magnetic mounting surface for phones/gps etc... When the car is parked, there would be absolutely no evidence of any gps being mounted like you get with suction mounts.... or maybe someone has used magnetic mounts elsewhere in the cabin?

Just an idea and interested in what anybody else has done to mount kit without large brackets being clipped everywhere....?

[madman]

just get a better screen mount.

[DAN]

I bought a set of 5 round magnets off ebay. They are only about 15 x 3mm but REALLY strong. I mounted 3 of them stuck together (magnetically, one on top of the other) under the centre vent panel with a 3m sticky pad (the panel was easy to remove). The other 2 magnets fit inside the tomtom bracket after the suction mount section is detached. No sticking needed here - the magnets just drop out when I unscrew the mount to fit the suction cup if I need to use it in another car.

No marks on the windscreen for theives to see and no messing about with stupid suction cups etc!

[TheWhiteStig]

That's a great idea! Any pictures? I don't quite understand how you attach the magnet to the TomTom bracket.
Also, which ebay seller did you get your magnet from?

[halB]

Try Proclip. Works great and nobody can tell whether it is just a cel phone mount or something else once the device is detached.

[aspenj]

I was thinking about doing the same thing for my GPS. I was going to put the magnets behind the aluminum trim, but ultimitly concluded that the magnets would attract a lot of magnetic dust & filaments and that would likely scratch the trim. I still think the magnets are a good idea, but you have to work through that issue. There's also a slight chance that the magnets will interfere with the GPS or car electronics.

So for now I'm still using the dumb suction cup mount.

[mbmbm&w]

Originally Posted by SK1

Also, which ebay seller did you get your magnet from?

Do a Google search for rare earth magnets. They come in all sizes and round or square shapes. I use them for mounting things to the dash in the Rambler. Just be forewarned that they are strong enough to be dangerous.

[aem kei]

Magnets, suction, velcro, it all doesn't work...

1 word for you!

BRODIT:

http://www.brodit.com/

No drilling, no pasting, and fits like a glove!
Had them for all my BMW's untill i got iDrive... works perfect.
And it's all custom made per model, per build year, etc...

You have them for almost every car...

[mbmbm&w]

Originally Posted by aem kei

1 word for you!
BRODIT:

I checked the site. Nothing listed for 1964 Rambler American. I'll "stick" with magnets.

[bimmerlex]

Wouldn't strong magnets interfere with GPS receiver and other electronics? Why not to use the bean friction mount on the top of the dash. I tried it with my Garmin 650, which is relatively heavy, and bean mount holds it pretty well. Besides, you can always move it down to the floor when you're not in the car so it doesn't attract any attention.

[AlanQS]

Dan, if you search the U.K. forum, gIzzE had something set up for his portable sat nav which left no trace behind when removed.

[GregL]

It obviously leave a trace but I'm partial to the Kuda mounts: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=10

[DAN]

Thanks guys. I had a brodit mount for my last car - it was great, but the ones for the e90 block the vents and I don't like the idea of levering the sharp plastic edges against the brushed metal trim.

What is the web address for the UK BMW forum so I can see gIzzE's solution?

The magnets don't appear to affect the tomtom even when held right against it (yes I tried it!) flash memory (sd cards etc) aren't affected either, but I won't be putting my hard disk based ipod near it tho!

Here is a link for the magnets.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Neodymium-Disc...1%7C240%3A1318

They are 20mm diameter and 3mm thick and come in a pack of 5 - just the right size and strength when all put together. This ebay link probably won't work after a couple days, but the seller's user name is dicky5050.

Two of these go inside the part of the mount that is left when the suction section is removed (this is on a mount for a tomtom one v1). This part unscrews and parts in two halves, leaving two semi-hollow sections that a couple of these magnets just sit inside perfectly and stay tightly inside there when the mount is tightened up again.

I'm not sure how to post photos on this forum - is it a hard thing to do?

[Pedal2Floor]

Check out this link

http://www.semsons.com/tomtommount.html

Pick you TomTom and check out the vent mount -- I used the mount during my ED and still do today -- works great!

[DAN]

Oh yea....

This one might work well with the magnets if you have a different model gps. You could probably just take off the sucky bit and the bracket seems to made of metal....


http://www.semsons.com/toone2n3rded.html

[HighVoltage]

Originally Posted by bimmerlex

Wouldn't strong magnets interfere with GPS receiver and other electronics?

No. A magnet strong enough to begin causing these kind of issues could lift a train...

[cgnahc]

any pics??

[TheWhiteStig]

Originally Posted by DAN

I'm not sure how to post photos on this forum - is it a hard thing to do?

Thanks for the additional info Dan! I have the TomTom Go, which has a different mount than yours. I guess I'll have to find a different way or get the Adhesive Bendy Dash Mount from Semsons.

To post pictures, you'll have to upload the pictures to a 3rd party webpage (i.e. google picasa), and when you post your thread, use the "Insert Image" button and copy & paste the link of your picture.

[DAN]

Ok I'll give it a go - I'm away for work for a couple days from tomorrow but when I get beack I'll take some pics and post them....

[HighVoltage]

Originally Posted by SK1

Thanks for the additional info Dan! I have the TomTom Go, which has a different mount than yours. I guess I'll have to find a different way or get the Adhesive Bendy Dash Mount from Semsons.

To post pictures, you'll have to upload the pictures to a 3rd party webpage (i.e. google picasa), and when you post your thread, use the "Insert Image" button and copy & paste the link of your picture.

Why cant he use the "Manage Attachments" and just upload the file(s) to the server here? I do it all the time.

[TheWhiteStig]

Originally Posted by HighVoltage

Why cant he use the "Manage Attachments" and just upload the file(s) to the server here? I do it all the time.

That's because I didn't know about that!

HighVoltage is right, that "+" button can do attachment and you can upload pictures using this simple way.

[DAN]

Appologies for rubbish pics - I was sat in the car this eve and just thought I'd do it on the phone - you get the idea anyways....

The first one shows the part of the mount (for tomtom ONE v1) that I detatched from the suction cup section from. It's pulled apart here and you can see where the two magnets are sat.

The second one shows the part assembled - you can see the magnets through the gap in the bottom where the suction cup section attached into....

The third and forth show it in place. The other three magnets are under the panel there stuck with one of those sticky pad things.

For now, I'm resting it on a circle of leatherette I had spare to stop it from marking the dash and to give it grip. It would be better to permanantly fix a circle of rubber on the bottom of the mount, but then I wouldn't be able to use the suction cup when I'm in another car. I could buy another mount tho I suppose so I have both options, but I might be upgrading to a tomtom GO soon anyway....