GPS in Cupholder

SCMike · 08-28-2011, 04:53 PM

You can go stick your GPS in your cup-holder....I did.

Those of us who buy our cars second-hand don't have full control over the options we get. I was delighted when I found my car, but it did not have the on-board GPS. I've been thinking about going with a portable system for months, but could not decide on how to mount the unit in the car. I did not want to stick anything on the dash, semi-permanently or not. Then I found the following, which mounts right in the cup-holder:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MCDDMO

It was designed for the Garmin unit that I wanted to get (5" screen, lifetime map updates, blah, blah...):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZX8B2S

The only problem was that the power port in my car is in the console and required the Garmin power plug-in to be inserted vertically, and then the console cover will not close because the Garmin power plug-in is too long.
The solution was to get a power splitter that had a much shorter power plug-in, allowing the Garmin power plug-in to take a horizontal position inside the console, so the console cover can be closed on everything:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RQBKLC

The photos below show how it all fits together - really slick. It only takes a couple of tens of seconds to fit the unit in and out of the cup-holder. And the GPS plus mount just fits as a unit into the glove compartment when I want to hide it in the car.

I am not necessarily recommending Amazon as a vendor (though I did buy from them) - they just provide a good illustration of the pieces.

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krhodes1 · 08-28-2011, 05:11 PM

Nifty! There is a power outlet up under the glovebox too - would make for a bit less clutter.

raleedy · 08-28-2011, 05:12 PM

Not only that: if you had the built-in Nav, you'd be spending more about now for an update to the dataset, since it's a good two years old in a '09. (And, by the way, you can program your UGDO on the rear view mirror and leave that separate garage opener at home if you want.)

SilverII · 08-28-2011, 05:49 PM

clean!

SCMike · 08-28-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Nifty! There is a power outlet up under the glovebox too - would make for a bit less clutter.

Thanks for pointing out the other power outlet - I had missed that! (duhhh). That means the Bestek power splitter was unnecessary - one less piece to buy, plus a much neater installation.

prez34 · 08-28-2011, 06:28 PM

Nice....Wonder if there is a way to fit a Iphone in there?

jwalker87 · 08-28-2011, 06:32 PM

But where do you put your drink now?

gaza01 · 08-28-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Nifty! There is a power outlet up under the glovebox too - would make for a bit less clutter.

Never knew this!!!

woodpecka · 08-28-2011, 07:21 PM

You don't get any issue to get the satellite connection? Putting the GPS in the windshield give more access to it no?

Dr. Nate · 08-28-2011, 07:40 PM

I just set mine in where the ashtray would normally go. It is low and I can just glance down and see it. Doesn't take up a cup holder and isn't sliding around the dash. I'll take a picture tomorrow.

-Nate

Majikthese42 · 08-28-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker87

But where do you put your drink now?

My car is a stick, so the cupholder is pretty much useless, anyway...

BTW, I found the idea here, and have used this setup for almost 4 years now. I do have a newer Garmin now.

SCMike · 08-28-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodpecka

You don't get any issue to get the satellite connection? Putting the GPS in the windshield give more access to it no?

No satellite reception problems at all with the GPS unit located in the cup-holder. Just had a marathon trip up and down the east coast, including an 11-hour retreat from the hurricane, guided all the way there and back. Plus lifetime FREE map updates (just plug it into a USB port on my PC whenever Garmin sends an e-mail that a new update is available - already updated once after one month's use).

SCMike · 08-28-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker87

But where do you put your drink now?

You mean....THAT'S what a cup-holder is for?

ScaredOnce · 08-28-2011, 08:15 PM

I'm not really a fan of any time that I need to extend those fugly cupholders. To be honest, I even opt for bottled drinks than can be tossed on the floor to avoid using the cupholders. I just can't stand the way they look when 'deployed'.

ymmv

Kuch335 · 08-28-2011, 08:49 PM

i went the hard wire route with my droid.. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528042
gotta have somewhere for my coffee.. and pandora is cheaper than XM

Dr. Nate · 08-28-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuch123

i went the hard wire route with my droid.. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528042
gotta have somewhere for my coffee.. and pandora is cheaper than XM

Clean setup!

-Nate

M40i4me · 08-28-2011, 09:21 PM

Very clean. Great job.

rbtamms · 08-28-2011, 10:26 PM

I also used that upholder to put my iphone with navigon apps....

JaSSon · 08-29-2011, 07:33 AM

I just plug my iphone into my aux in and follow the voice prompts. My iphone even reduces music volume when Navigon is speaking.

BenTrovato · 08-29-2011, 07:45 AM

That looks great!

ZheHbKa · 08-29-2011, 08:18 AM

interesting, looks clean

mlermin · 08-29-2011, 12:35 PM

Another option..

I've been using the Tetrax xway for a year or so now and it works great.. it uses extremely strong (rare earth?) magnets to hold your device. I use it for both my GPS as well as my blackberry... works great, you need to do is stick a small metal piece on the back of whatever device you want to hold and then it attaches magnetically into the holder which clips into the vent.

http://www.tetrax.com/us/products/xway-line

Couple of picks of how it looks in the car here:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

08-28-2011, 04:53 PM	#1
SCMike [ex-Stilyaga] 79 Rep 321 Posts Drives: Too slowly... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Aiken, SC iTrader: (0)	GPS in Cupholder You can go stick your GPS in your cup-holder....I did. Those of us who buy our cars second-hand don't have full control over the options we get. I was delighted when I found my car, but it did not have the on-board GPS. I've been thinking about going with a portable system for months, but could not decide on how to mount the unit in the car. I did not want to stick anything on the dash, semi-permanently or not. Then I found the following, which mounts right in the cup-holder: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MCDDMO It was designed for the Garmin unit that I wanted to get (5" screen, lifetime map updates, blah, blah...): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZX8B2S The only problem was that the power port in my car is in the console and required the Garmin power plug-in to be inserted vertically, and then the console cover will not close because the Garmin power plug-in is too long. The solution was to get a power splitter that had a much shorter power plug-in, allowing the Garmin power plug-in to take a horizontal position inside the console, so the console cover can be closed on everything: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RQBKLC The photos below show how it all fits together - really slick. It only takes a couple of tens of seconds to fit the unit in and out of the cup-holder. And the GPS plus mount just fits as a unit into the glove compartment when I want to hide it in the car. I am not necessarily recommending Amazon as a vendor (though I did buy from them) - they just provide a good illustration of the pieces. __________________ NOW: Der 2016 GlitzundBlitzWagen mit ZMP und ZTR und...PCD'd 28Oct15 GONE: 2009 335i Coupe with MPPK ... 2006 M3 Coupe with SMG
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08-28-2011, 05:11 PM	#2
krhodes1 Colonel 1436 Rep 2,526 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Wagon Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westbrook, Maine, Port Charlotte, Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 128i [10.00] 2011 BMW 328i Touring [10.00]	Nifty! There is a power outlet up under the glovebox too - would make for a bit less clutter.
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08-28-2011, 05:12 PM	#3
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Not only that: if you had the built-in Nav, you'd be spending more about now for an update to the dataset, since it's a good two years old in a '09. (And, by the way, you can program your UGDO on the rear view mirror and leave that separate garage opener at home if you want.)
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08-28-2011, 05:49 PM	#4
SilverII Colonel 40 Rep 2,334 Posts Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [9.66]	clean!
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08-28-2011, 06:28 PM	#6
prez34 Private First Class 8 Rep 105 Posts Drives: BM-Dub Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (2)	Nice....Wonder if there is a way to fit a Iphone in there?
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08-28-2011, 06:32 PM	#7
jwalker87 Major 319 Rep 1,023 Posts Drives: '08 335i, '11 335xi, '01 Z3M Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (2)	But where do you put your drink now?
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08-28-2011, 07:21 PM	#9
woodpecka Major 68 Rep 1,026 Posts Drives: E91 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal iTrader: (2)	You don't get any issue to get the satellite connection? Putting the GPS in the windshield give more access to it no?
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08-28-2011, 07:40 PM	#10
Dr. Nate Nate Dogg 8 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Saloon Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	I just set mine in where the ashtray would normally go. It is low and I can just glance down and see it. Doesn't take up a cup holder and isn't sliding around the dash. I'll take a picture tomorrow. -Nate __________________ 2011 BMW 328i by weekend, various airplanes by week.
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08-28-2011, 08:15 PM	#14
ScaredOnce Very Important 20 Rep 450 Posts Drives: 335xi (e92) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: PIT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi (e92) [9.00] 2008 Pontiac G8 GT [4.00] 2002 Pontiac Grand ... [0.00] 2001 Cadillac, Eldo ... [0.00]	I'm not really a fan of any time that I need to extend those fugly cupholders. To be honest, I even opt for bottled drinks than can be tossed on the floor to avoid using the cupholders. I just can't stand the way they look when 'deployed'. ymmv
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08-28-2011, 08:49 PM	#15
Kuch335 2007 335i E92 44 Rep 624 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 TiAg, 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: OH iTrader: (4)	i went the hard wire route with my droid.. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528042 gotta have somewhere for my coffee.. and pandora is cheaper than XM __________________ 2007 335i E92 AT - MHD E85 Flash, xHP Stage 3 , MR5 Intake, VRSF DPs, VRSF 7in FMIC, ER CP, Fuel-It Stage 1, RB PCV, UUC Corsa Exhaust, BL R8 Coils, Sachs SRE Coilovers, M3 Control Arms, H&R Sway, BA Diff Lock, MDF Scoops, Tint, CF Hood, Mini Battery :: 2011 X3 xDrive 35i - MHD Stage 1, Alum Charge Pipe
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08-28-2011, 09:21 PM	#17
M40i4me Lieutenant Colonel 1037 Rep 1,527 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 X3 M40i [10.00]	Very clean. Great job. __________________ 2021 M40i Phytonic Blue / Black Vernasca 2020 X5 xDrive 40i Tanzanite Blue / Coffee Vernasca 2011 328xi. Space Grey - Sold 188,925 great miles
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08-28-2011, 10:26 PM	#18
rbtamms Major 63 Rep 1,450 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 and 2013 F25 Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 328i [0.00]	I also used that upholder to put my iphone with navigon apps....
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08-29-2011, 07:33 AM	#19
JaSSon Down with the N54. 16 Rep 409 Posts Drives: I has a E92! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	I just plug my iphone into my aux in and follow the voice prompts. My iphone even reduces music volume when Navigon is speaking.
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08-29-2011, 07:45 AM	#20
BenTrovato Driver 37 Rep 1,577 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	That looks great!
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08-29-2011, 08:18 AM	#21
ZheHbKa Lieutenant Colonel 78 Rep 1,793 Posts Drives: the Wind Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335 Xi [10.00]	interesting, looks clean __________________ 2014 F30 335 X-Drive \| 6-MT \| Alpine White/Coral Red \| ZMM ZDH ZDA \|
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08-29-2011, 12:35 PM	#22
mlermin Private 3 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2016 650xi Gran Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (0)	Another option.. I've been using the Tetrax xway for a year or so now and it works great.. it uses extremely strong (rare earth?) magnets to hold your device. I use it for both my GPS as well as my blackberry... works great, you need to do is stick a small metal piece on the back of whatever device you want to hold and then it attaches magnetically into the holder which clips into the vent. http://www.tetrax.com/us/products/xway-line Couple of picks of how it looks in the car here: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en
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