I want to reroute my OEM iPod adapter (don't ask; so far it's the only thing that works well with the iPhone and still allows me to use the MFSW buttons, otherwise I would have dumped it long ago) to my front passenger side cupholder, facing me. What is the route that gets me there, and what do I have to take out?

What I'm thinking is that I will:

1) Take the HU out so I can get the adapter out of the glove box without major surgery.
2) Route it out down behind the center stack and under the little storage cubby area.
3) Drill out a large enough area that will accomodate the iPhone dock (gotta check on the size, but that's currently the plan...might have to cut/sand the dock down a little).
4) Glue/epoxy/duct tape/solder/whatever I have to do to get the dock to stay in place.

Does this sound doable or completely moronic? I know people have routed aux to the cupholder so it shouldn't be impossible...

And my main question is: How do I get under there? I forsee dismantled wire hangers in my future...

 

you're 05-06, so it's a little more invovled but it sounds very doable to me

 

So far I've got the HU out, and the adapter removed from it and the glove box. I've got the little cubby space behind the cup holders removed and a hole drilled in the right side of the cup holder big enough to take the small end of the adapter.

What I *can't* figure out is how to get the piece AROUND the cupholders to lift up a bit so I can get the wiring situated through there. I guess I could drill a hole straight through it and no one would know because it'd be covered up when I put the cubby back on...

 

Okay never mind, I figured it out.

I'm going to post a write up in a little bit though, because I don't think there is one...or if there is, I can't find it!

 

ok, sorry just check the thread, anymore questions post them up

 

Mel, you're probably already done, but if you pop the painted dash parts out like you were going to install a new gauge face, you can get at the back of the HU and glovebox. I did that and found that I could tie-up all the loose wires with some velcro adhesive tape.

 

Hmmm, interesting. If I develop a rattle I'll probably do that, but there is so much stuff jammed back behind there that there can't be much room for stuff to rattle around.

Anyway, here is what I did (no pictures, unfortunately, because it was starting to get dark when I finished and I'm honestly not *that* ambitious):

1) Empty glove box.
2) Remove little rubber plug that accommodates the iPod adapter wire. Hold on to this, it comes in handy later.
3) Lower downtubes by removing 2 screws on each one. They just slide down and out of the way after that. The glove box has to be open to do this.
4) Remove 4 screws that hold the HU in place. Remove HU, but leave it plugged in. Set it somewhere out of the way (depending on what I was doing, I either set mine on top of the Big Mother Cupholder or balance it on top of the shifter).
5) Locate the HU end of the iPod adapter. I did this by wiggling it around and gently pulling from the glove box end until I located it. Having small hands or someone around with small hands helps tremendously. Unplug the adapter from the port marked "iPod" on the interface. Leave the "radio" plug as is. Keep the interface box where you can get back to it easily (mine was wrapped in foam and jammed wayyyy down in there originally).
6) Pull the iPod adapter out through the hole in the glove box. Again, small hands will help guide it back in there if it gets tangled. Set the adapter aside.
7) If you have an 05/06, remove the little cubby behind the two cupholders, under the center stack (if you don't have this little cubby, skip to 8). To do this, remove the screw under the little flip-open air vent under the center stack. Pop the two little tabs open on the vent and fold it all the way down (it feels like you're going to break it...but it's pretty flexible. I folded it all the way and it was fine). Tilt the whole cubby piece forward, and then slide it the opposite way of whichever cup holder you are going to use.
8) Using a 5/8 inch drill bit, drill a hole into the cup holder in your desired location. I was using the passenger side holder, and I drilled it into the forward right cornerish area, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get to any other spot, but now that I've seen you can raise the console, I think you can probably put it anywhere (within reason).
9) Remove the screw from inside each of the cup holders. This will allow you to lift the console up just enough to get around in there. Again, small fingers help.
10) If you need more room to move around (I didn't), use a small flathead screwdriver to pop up the mirror/seat heater control panel. Beneath is another screw. Remove it and the whole console comes up.
11) Fish the HU end of the adapter through the hole you drilled and out the back side of the console and up into the space behind the HU. Plug it back into the little box. Plug in iPod/iPhone and make sure it's working properly. If so, replace the screws in the cup holders and beneath the mirror/heated seat control panel if you removed it and replace the panel. If not, check your connections. If everything is working, use the rubber plug from the original hole in the glove box to seal up the drilled hole - makes the whole thing look neater.
12) Reinstall the cubby space. This is probably the part I had the hardest time with. The trick is to fold the air vent thing down again, move the piece back and center it up before trying to push it back down. It took me a few tries but eventually it snapped back in. Make sure the iPod adapter wire is behind/under the cubby the whole way. Replace the center screw and close the little tabs on the air vent.
13) Cram all the crap (this is the worst part for me, I have SO much stuff back there - the original harness, the daisy-chain harness that goes to the Parrot EVO bluetooth box, the EVO box itself, the splitter that allows me to have both the iPod adapter and Sirius, and the adapter itself with the box) back down and in under the HU space. DOWN is the key word, there's not a lot of room behind it.
14) Replace the HU and replace the 4 screws.
15) Raise the downtubes and replace the screws.
16) Put all your stuff back in the glovebox and close it up.
17) Have a martini.

I don't *think* I forgot any steps. With instructions it really should take under an hour. Because I was kinda working it out as I went, it took me a little longer. It wasn't hard at all though, just fiddly.

 

18) Have second martini.
Good job Melissa!

 

All I ask is that you redo the whole process and this time take photos!
Just kidding, nice write-up ML. One thing to note is that if you pop up the part that has your seat heaters and mirror adjust, be careful not to bend the metal tabs that hold it in place. I had a really hard time getting it out and ended up having to do some metal working to get the tabs back in to the proper shape.
Again, if you pop out the painted dash piece that has the speedo you will find a lot of room back there to situate all of the wires and loose stuff. Gives you a clear view of the back of the HU to the firewall and from the glovebox to the steering column.