I wanted a place to keep my phone when it wasn't in my pocket and I also wanted to be able to charge it. I did not want to faff about trying to plug a cable into the world's smallest hole (Nokia at it's best). The solution was to install a phone holder/charger but I don't like having things stuck to the dash, so it had to be concealed.
Since I don't use the cup holder in the centre console (cos it's rubbish!), I decdided to mount it there. This is also the location of the standard holder in my last BMW.
So he's how I did it:
1) Fabricate a mounting point for the official Nokia holder for my phone:
I made this out of numerous layers of hardboard after making card templates. This way, it fits the profile of the cubby hole with the rubber inserts removed. The mount is angled upwards so that the holder sits on a nice slope so that sliding the phone in and out is easy.
Note the small brass nut I have embedded into the mount. This will come in handy later...
2) Get a charger cable to the cubby hole.
Now this was difficult. I had to remove the entire centre console from the ashtray back. Not a job I wish to repeat! I drilled a small hole in the rear of the cubby hole and threaded the cable through. This cannot be seen when the rubber is back in, so it will be easy to hide everything if I ever take it out. I took a feed from a switched live behind the ashtray and retained all the relevant cigaret lighter charger gubbins (I even have the charging led in the ashtray)
3) Stick the mount in the cubby hole using super strong double sided tape ("no more nail's on a roll", it's awesome stuff). Fits perfectly
4) Trim in all up with a little carpet.
This was the heel pad I removed from my floor mats because I hate extra heel pads!
5) Screw in the holder using the correct method, screw supplied
And I can close her up when not in use...
I'm pleased with this as it all fits and works perfectly, yet can all be removed easily with no trace if I ever need to replace it.
Job done!
What do you reckon?
