I'm looking to get a 2nd Nuvi mount for my MINI (the 1st mount is in our other car). Does anyone have any experience with either the cigarette lighter socket mount (with additional power dongle) or the cup holder mount? I may end up with the shortie travel suction cup mount they offer, but I would really prefer to keep my nuvi 660 down by my shifter in that blank space. Thanks

http://www.arkon.com/garmin_nuvi_streetpilot_mount.php

 

From the pictures, it looks like the cupholder mount will put the GPS right in front of the toggle switches, and I'm pretty sure the cigarette lighter mount is too long to physically fit between the cigarette lighter socket and the underside of the toggle panel (since the factory lighter socket points straight up).

 

yea, i wish the cigarette lighter mount was shorter, and had more interchangable parts. I have to measure the distance from the cup holder to the toggles. I wonder if the cup holder mount was placed in the passenger cup holder, and put at an agle if it would work...

 

Try looking up "RAM mounts". I'm thinking you could put one of the RAM mounting ***** on the inboard side of one of your downtubes, and then use one of their short arms to connect to the RAM nuvi mount. You can order the RAM parts individually, which lets you custom configure just about any length/angle/mounting location you want.

Just to give you an idea, here's my RAM mount that I made up to use my old Garmin on my motorcycle:

 

nice bike and slick way of mounting your gps I'm just not seeing a mount or mounting location that I'm in love with (from Ram or Kuda either). Some sort of flush mount near the cigarette lighter would be my ideal location. I'm going to stare at that spot for a bit and see if I can think of something.

 

I think it would help to know what year MINI (in case of posting mistake into the wrong forum) ... Then folks that have that year can post pics of their solution. I know for my '07 R56, the Kuda mount was the best and cleanest solution.

 

I understand you wanting to put it down below the toggle switches, or I would have recommended the Kuda downtube mount. (I have their dash mount in both of our 1st-gen MINIs and love them.)

See what RAM has to offer in the way of raw pieces and parts. I bet if you put the ball mount on one of the downtubes and used a 2" or 3" arm between the ball and the RAM nuvi bracket, it would center up nicely in the opening below the toggle switches.

 

Here is thought that I have been tossing around a bit for another device that I want to mount.

If you are not using the space below the switches for storage, then you can use a mount like this:



with 3M automotive mounting tape and attach it inside the compartment. Then the GPS will be recessed into the spot (as much as you want) and look like its floating in there. Nice thing about the 3M tape, if you change your mind, with some effort, it will come off without damaging anything or leaving holes behind.

 

R56 here as well... here are 2 of my "thoughts"

 

If angled correctly, it should stick out to the side of the toggles, if not just below them.

Morbius, that is a great idea as well. I have the stock nuvi mount as you pictured, I can play with that one to see if it would work.

 

I like the gooseneck idea, I will have to look into that for my application

Cheers,
Roberto

 

I've used the cup holder mount. Arkon's mounts are very high quality. It fits in the cup holder just fine.

I personally don't like the cig light mounts. Over time the weight is going to loosen the socket. My friend used his V1 detector powered by the cig light socket. In less than a year the cig lighter itself wouldn't stay pushed in. I had to "mod" it back into shape to get it to function.

 

Any pictures of the cup holder mount in action?

 

I put a couple in my gallery.