There have been number of threads about moving the mic on the hardtop to get better sound quality on phone calls, but I haven't seen any for the R57 Cabrio. The mic on the cabrio is on the right side of the steering column cover facing straight up. I though that if I could get the mic to face the driver, the sound quality might improve. The mic screen pops off the steering column cover, and the mic is attached to the back of the screen.

I bought a 90° PVC pipe, 1" OD on one end, 1" ID on the other end, and cut about 3/4" off each end.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1390797924

Then I dremeled out the inside of the large end so that the mic screen/holder would slip in. I had to dremel out the inside of the pipe so that the mic would slip through. I'm sure there's a way to detach the mic wire, but I didn't want to disassemble the car.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1390797924

With a little PlastiDip, the holder matches the interior. I wrapped some electrical tape around the base of the pipe to get a snug fit in the steering column hole where the mic originally fit. I put a little packing material in the pipe to minimize any echoing.

We'll see how it works this week, but it's totally reversible.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1390798632

More to come.

 

Some more pics

 

Wow how did this go? I have an R57 and would love to try this too.