So, I originally had the RAZR2 with the armrest cradle insert for my 08 Clubman with Comfort Bluetooth. It worked great. But now, I've upgraded to the Blackberry Storm which is a battery hog and I would sure like to use the connections in the armrest to charge the Storm. I really don't care about an antenna boost, and realize I could just use a car charger from the lighter, but I use that for my GPS and hate wires running all over the interior.

What got me thinking about this was that both the RAZR2 and the Storm use the same "micro USB" plug to charge them. So, theoretically, the plug in the RAZR2 insert would fit the Storm. I have removed the cradle insert, but it looks like I would have to literally destroy it to use the micro usb plug for the Storm and it would just be a mess. Plus I paid a decent piece of change for that insert.

My second idea: The plug in the bottom of the armrest that the cradles connect to. Does anyone know where to find a simple line with a micro usb plug on one end that would plug into MINI connection in the armrest, like the cradles do? That looks like it would work.

And, yes, I know as soon as I figure this out, theres' a good chance MINI will come out with the cradle for the Storm.....

Thanks, Rich

 

Don't you have the USB port? Or do you use that for an iPod?

 

Yes, I use the USB and Aux for the iPod.
I have way too many accessories!!

 

I wouldn't hold my breath

I looked into doing something similar, but chickened out. I was able to track down 13.7V with a multimeter on two of the pins inside that big wide connector in the armrest, and picked up the parts for a voltage regulation circuit to drop it down to the 5V for USB, but never went through with it.

 

I guess it is a little more complicated than I know how to do. In examining the RAZR2 cradle, I see that there is a green circuit board inside the cradle which I assume does the job you are talking about, right? So I assume the power at the armrest is not reduced down to the USB level, like it is in the dash USB plug. Is that done by the circuit board inside the cradle?

Excuse my ignorance if none of the above makes sense!!

 

richs10,

There are many types of phones out there that need different power requirements.

As far as i know both the Razor and the Storm use the same USB power to charge the phone. Unfortunately they are in different locations on the phone so it is not so easy to just plug it in. Then there is the hard wiring of the connector in the cradle to the circuit board so it is not easy to move it to make your own cradle.

As for a cradle for the Strom it will probably be at least 6 months.

Have you even checked to see if the Storm will fit in the arm rest with out the razor cradle. I know many of the Blackberry's are to wide to fit.

 

No, the Storm will not fit on the Razr2 cradle. But the armrest interior is plenty wide for the Storm. I was originally thinking about canibalizing the Razr2 cradle to use it to power the Storm by removing the upper part of the cradle and making the Micro USB plug more of a wire connection I could use to manually plug into the Storm. But, after looking at everything, I've come to the conclusion that 1) I am not electronically talented enough to do this, and 2) in the end, I would probably blow up the Storm (and probably the MINI, too).

Anybody wanna buy a nice, slightly used Razr2 v9m cradle????