Thanks, Tom.....

Next time you cruise west, give me a head's up and I'll meet you for a cup'a....

I was at MTTS, but mostly at MITM......

 

I'm more concerned about splicing the car's wires (GPS cable is fairly cheap), so your point on using an add-a-fuse is well taken. That will still require finding a ground however, and from what I've read all the solutions involved scraping painted metal surface and drilling a small hole. It's minimal impact to the car, but I still prefer NO impact.

 

There is a bolt that can be accessed when you open the glove box door that can serve as the ground. Along the right edge and down toward the bottom. It is not entirely invisible, but you have to have the door open and probably looking for it to even notice it. Might even be able to camoflouge the wire to make it look like stock or something if it was really a concern. Has the benefit of not requiring any drilling, cutting, etc., to the MINI.

 

Very helpful thanks! I will look at it tonight and take a picture, but if you have time to do so please help too.

 

I have this set up in my brand new MCS, and I really like it. The NUVI works great, and the mount gives me choices. Still, I have two questions.

First, the unit rattles a bit when I'm going down a regular road at regular speeds. Is there an adjustment or quick fix?

Second, I've just been leaving the NUVI in my car overnight. But now you have me worried about break-ins. What do you think? Should I be taking it out every night? Maybe I should stow it in the glove compartment?

What is the proper protocol for a normal, reasonably prudent person?

 

if by "this set up" you meant the Craven Speed flexpod, I also had rattle issues. I took care of it by placing the Nuvi unit right on top of the tach, giving it something to rest on. Now it does not rattle even through bumping road.

As to leaving the unti there overnight, I live in a fairly safe neighbourhood and don't worry about it but YMMV. Except when I'm at home or the office I normally take it off. It doesn't take that much effort anyway.

 

When out of my MINI, I usually leave the Nuvi in it. I keep a ballcap in my MINI that I throw over the Nuvi. Looks like it is just sitting on the dash and provides a little bit of concealment. Has the advantage on hot days of keeping it out of the direct sun. But if it were a higher crime area, I'd probably just pop it out.

 

I always remove my NUVI--just paranoid, I guess.

I have had no issues with my NUVI rattling on a FlexPod mount, but looking at prior pix, I seem to have a different sort of docking mount than some units apparently.

Also, to clarify: I didn't bother with hard wiring my unit because my NUVI has removable batteries, so I just keep a spare battery charged and swap it as needed (or use the cig lighter power cord if I have to). I did get the equipment to do it, though, in with the FlexPod kit.

 

I also just throw a ballcap over it under most circumstances, if in a high crime area I will demount it and toss it in the door pocket - since I have tinted windows it's really hard to see there.

If someone breaks in, well that's why I have car insurance. I can't imagine these being a theft target anymore, since they're now so cheap to buy and there gazillions of them out there - back when they cost $1000 new (5 years ago?) I could see it, but now? Why bother, they can't be worth anything on the black market with new ones so cheap, can they?

 

It's not the fact that they're so cheap to replace, it just gives the undesireables a reason to mess with your car, and look for other goodies. Even if they steal it and get $40 for it, they still came up on some extra money and cause damage to your car. Most insurance companies won't cover a portable GPS unit. You'll have to get coverage from your homeowner's policy for personal belongings. In most cases, the deductable is higher on your home insurance than it is for your car. Is it really worth going through all that for a few extra seconds of your time removing it, and taking it with you or stowing it away in the storage compartment?

 

Yea, if they see the mount, they assume it is in the glove box. I thought about that and said NO, they don't win. I mounted mine on the dash where I can see it and use it. I am not living in fear.

Note, the "super strong" tape on my nuvi mount melted in the sun and fell off. 3M foam tape I replaced it with does not.

 

Well, I'm with TVRgeek, I refuse to live in fear of what "could" happen, but I temper that with the knowledge that I don't live or travel in high crime areas on a regular basis, so I consider my exposure to be minimal.

People used to be surprised that I'd drive my Jag to work or to the mall, risking getting it dinged or worse. My attitude is, what the heck is it for? Just to look at, or to drive and enjoy? I put 4 years of my life into restoring my Jag and while I wouldn't want it to get damaged, it would be a crime to just leave it sit and not use it and enjoy it.

It's a car, not a Monet....

 

Wiring kit is now included with the FlexPod GPS Mounting Kit

 

For anyone who has previously ordered the factory 2nd generation gps mounting kit, didit include a SD card with the kit? From what I've been told, it is suppose to have a few MINI related files such as different flash screens and other stuff. If anyone has one of the cards, I sure would appreciate information on what might be on it, and could I get a copy of that information. Thanks.

 

Kellen,

I have a bracket I got a couple years ago for my Garmin GPS. I think it is the "R" bracket (iirc, it is kind of triangular in the back).

Do I have any options to add another wing like the scissor cradle short of getting a whole new bracket with two mounting points (I guess bracket W)? Will my current arm work with the new bracket?

On the scissor cradle, would it hold an HTC EVO or iPhone?

TIA!

 

Good thread everyone. I have a somewhat related question that someone in this thread might be able to answer.

I want to install a boost gauge on the right of my tach. I would like to use the Cravenspeed system for the mount. If I do this, I think I need to remove my MINI factory Garmin 350/360 mount that I have been using on the left side of my TACH. I believe it uses the same mounting locations needed for the Cravenspeed system that I want to use for the boost gauge.

I really like the MINI system especially the way it handles the power connection. Very integrated and clean with no dangling wires. I believe the power source is coming from a connection near my steering wheel and it attaches to the GPS mount.

I think my best solution for me to re-mount the GPS would be the Cravenspeed as well. IF I do this, then I think I will also get a larger GPS unit. I am looking at the Garmin 1490T. The issue with this unit is that it uses a different mount with a different way to connect the power.

Here is my question: Is there anyway that I can leverage the power that is coming from my existing older factory MINI GPS mount to attach to the new Garmin 1490T?

I am a novice when it comes to auto electrical installs.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

You can put two Modules onto the Bracket R like that. I keep my GPS right over the top of the tach and then my phone off to the right of there. If you did switch to the Bracket W then you would have some more location options with the mounting points on each side of the tach. Either way you can contact me for some help.

The EVO is actually pretty much the only phone that is too wide for the Scissor cradle, we do have an EVO specific cradle if you don't have a case though. The iPhone will fit in the scissor with a case just fine though.

 

My new MCS HT is currently in production (started 22 Sep). I'm considering having the dealer install the Mini factory Nuvi mount once the car arrives, so have read this thread with interest. I am 5'3", so am concerned about a mount that might block my view, but also want to go with a screen big enough for me to see (the one Mini offers is way too small, IMHO). I also don't want the steering wheel to block the Nuvi screen, as the Mini mount appears to do in some of the photos on the thread.

I have noted that some of you like the Mini mount, while others seem to be comfortable with the one offered by CravenSpeed. Any recommendations as to versatility with larger Nuvi's and any blockage of forward view because of driver height would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

^ Hi there.

All I can say is this: I'm 5'2" tall so I'm shorter than you and I absolutely love love love the CravenSpeed mount. As I mentioned above, my Nuvi 885 has a removable battery, so I carry a spare charged one. Thus, I never messed with hooking up a power cable, etc. The mount is unobtrusive and looks like a factory accessory, rather than an after-market add on (I have posted photos previously). It's quite position-able so your view should not be blocked by the steering wheel. I think I mention above that Craven offers a Pixie (?) or something that is fixed---has one piece rather than a two piece arm. The two piece that I ordered can be manipulated and also mounted to the driver's right or left.

I believe you can also order other accessory mounts from Craven, so when your Nuvi isn't being used, you can use it to hold your phone, etc.

Good luck with your decision!

 

PSM55,

I looked back: see post #73, if interested.

 

bettehead - Thanks very much. I did see your earlier post, and now you've answered the question about driver height. I haven't decided on which Nuvi to get yet, since my car is still about 4 weeks from projected delivery, but now will also research those with removable batteries based on your comments.

 

I installed the CravenSpeed FlexPod yesterday. Like it fine. Didn't know about the MINI piece, had I - would have seriously considered that one.

With the CravenSpeed piece you are simply splicing in an additional cigarette lighter socket inside the tunnel in parallel with the existing lighter, plug in the garmin wire and snake it up the tunnel/kick panel and out the gap by the steering column.

Makes a nice installation. GPS is Garmin 1490LMT - 5" screen. I also got the Garmin gizmo that plugs into OBDII and bluetooths the info to the GPS unit. Nice to have an accurate spedo, the factory one is greater than 5mph optimistic at highway speed.

 

Just in case anyone is thinking about getting the new Mini OEM mount for your Garmin, Mini reversed the plug on it.

 

There are such things as right-angle USB adapters. Just search 'usb angle' on ebay and you'll see a ton of them.

I've got a craven fixie bracket and the cradle for the phone fits onto the ball quite nicely. But I'm debating whether to get this factory setup in order to get the power wiring AND the movable, factory-look mount.

Anyone know what the 4 connections are the wiring uses to connect to the car? Obviously 12v power and ground, but what're the other two?

Does 65902219401 replace 65902165639? What about 65902181627? I gather the 65902219401 part is the latest? What's differed along the way?

Although, when searching I came across this from ECS:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2008-C...Kit/ES2225876/
So it's mini-USB, not the micro-USB my cradle would use (which could be easily adapted). But more interesting is it shows only two power wires, but also a separate mini-USB socket connection? What's that for? Traffic?