Custom 7" GPS Enclosure

[relentlessone]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

That enclosure looks fantastic! Great job!

It is better that you still have your center vents. Forgoing those for a GPS unit would be really silly and regrettable. You use your AC/heat possibly daily but the GPS.... How is the view angle? Does it work for optimal viewing from the driver's position or will you have to tweak v.2? How did you run power?

Thanks!

I agree, this was a much better direction than my original one. There are just so few options for mounting a 7" GPS on the dash, that I was willing to sacrifice the vents at first. After staring at the never-used CD player, I came up with this. And because of the process, this took days instead of months. I can't count the hours that went into building, sanding and sculpting a mold for vacuum forming that never worked out. It all worked out though, and it is 100% reversible.

The viewing angle is very good, it is in line with the radio, and tilted slightly backward. Ideally, it could be angled toward the driver a little more, but in my opinion that would have affected the overall look in a negative way, it wouldn't be symmetrical, and I might have had clearance issues with the vents. I'll take more photos from different angles to better illustrate what I mean.

Power is pulled from a fused connection to the positive terminal in the engine bay, and goes through a relay that is tripped by the accessory wire in the back of the CD player. That connects to a hidden cigarette lighter socket behind the dash that the GPS power supply plugs into. The unit comes on and goes off with the key in the ignition.

[relentlessone]

Originally Posted by dkl

Looks really good. I'm guessing that you'll lose the use of the CD player? If it's priced reasonably, would you mind making an extra one and sell it to me?

Thanks!

Yes, you lose the use of the CD player up front, but I have an iPod hookup in the front ashtray, so it was never used anyway. If I didn't have the iPod hookup, the CD changer in the trunk could still be used.

I don't plan on making another one of these, just because of how many hours it takes, it wouldn't be worth it for either of us. If I change my mind, I'll let you know.

[mgbmwx5]

Originally Posted by relentlessone

Nice work with the ABS! Very impressive!
Would you be willing to sell me one?

[CTSportX5]

Wow, very cool work. Well done!

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by relentlessone

Thanks!

I agree, this was a much better direction than my original one. There are just so few options for mounting a 7" GPS on the dash, that I was willing to sacrifice the vents at first. After staring at the never-used CD player, I came up with this. And because of the process, this took days instead of months. I can't count the hours that went into building, sanding and sculpting a mold for vacuum forming that never worked out. It all worked out though, and it is 100% reversible.

The viewing angle is very good, it is in line with the radio, and tilted slightly backward. Ideally, it could be angled toward the driver a little more, but in my opinion that would have affected the overall look in a negative way, it wouldn't be symmetrical, and I might have had clearance issues with the vents. I'll take more photos from different angles to better illustrate what I mean.

Power is pulled from a fused connection to the positive terminal in the engine bay, and goes through a relay that is tripped by the accessory wire in the back of the CD player. That connects to a hidden cigarette lighter socket behind the dash that the GPS power supply plugs into. The unit comes on and goes off with the key in the ignition.

Slick, very slick indeed.

[ECS Tuning]

Very creative, looks great!