I have a 05 MCS with navigation(i only got it because i didnt want a huge speedometer in the middle of my car). I had my windshield replaced . . . around 5 times because the company that did it didn't seal it properly and water went threw my windshield, down my mirror(which than broke the door lock transmitter) and dripped on my navi. The navigation shut down but came back a few days later. But than a few months later it shut down never to turn back on again.
Anyway . . . now that im thinking of upgrading my sound system i was considering replacing the navigation unit with a Samsung galaxy note. its around the same size screen and I could save all my music to it. Considering a replacement navigation is around $2000 and the most useless feature i've ever seen on a car.

Any thoughts on anything else i could use instead? maybe something a company already makes that i can just put in its place? what i'd really like is the gauge cluster that goes there but I cant find any of those and i dont even know if its a plug and play thing for that.

 

no one has ever replaced the stock navigation with anything?

 

There are threads on retrofitting the Chrono-pack.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rono-pack.html
I've seen a few on ebay. Don't think demand is too high, so you could probably find one at a wreckers.

 

Retrofitting the chrono pack IS NOT PLUG AND PLAY....there is some programming involved, and you may/may not have issues showing the correct miles on the car on the odometer....most folks doing this have gone from the center speedo to the small speedo/tach, with guages...
The galaxy note idea sounds terrific!!
If you do it, take a few pics and document it...i bet many folks would be interested.
Most car nav features are out of date within a yaer of intro, if not before....so having a more modern system that can do 90% of what mini connect does with android for a couple hundred bucks...wow...and on a gen1 car!! Sounds like a great idea!!

 

i have been thinking about this too, i have seen a video of a cool retrofit
http://phandroid.com/2012/08/06/cust...-skills-video/

ill really want to do this so maybe ill jump in an do this too!

plus theres that andorid app for the mini as well!

 

Thanks guys! This really makes me feel like this would be a worth while project. I'll look into it and see what i can do, if i could id like to be able to fit my scangauge into the dash with the note or tablet.

If anyone has any other ideas of how i can keep my fuel gauge there or maybe use a different device to install please let me know. Im up for any ideas. This would be a GREAT winter project