Headrest monitor installation

[mogsyman]

I purchased a couple of monitors and a single DVD player from ebay recently. It should be said these are not expensive monitors but having powered the system up the picture is very acceptable.

At this stage I won't discuss the install of the DVD player as that happens over the weekend.

Tools required:

Very sharp craft knife
Straight edge
Screwdriver and suitable self tapping screws
Nerves of steel

Difficulty - 6 out of 10

Your monitor should come with a backing plate that needs to be placed within the headrest. The idea is that you are cutting a square holes, removing sufficient foam to allow the plate to be seated, securing it and finally fitting the monitor.

Step one

Measure and mark the headrest so that your cut lines are inside the outer casing of the monitor holder by at least 1/2". REMEMBER MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE!



Once you have drawn allover your nice new headrest it's time to get your knife (I used a Stanley blade) and cut diagonally across the headrest. You need to stop short of the corners as you will fine tune the cut later.



Next peel back the cut leather and start to remove the inner foam to the depth of the screen holder. I cut around the edge and then across and down several times which really helped remove large portions easily.



I offered the screen holder up to the headrest several times to make sure that it was fitting ok. You need at this stage to fine tune the cuts in the corners so that the screen holder fits in place and you can't see any damage to the leather. I removed excess leather as shown otherwise it makes it difficult to place the monitor holder in position properly.



I then installed the monitor holder and secured it with long self tappping screws. Again you can fine tune the fit at this stage to ensure the frame is flush and square.

Once you are happy with that fit the monitor into its housing feeding the cable through the headrest so it pops out by one of the headrest poles.







And in the car...





The whole process took about 2 hours and anybody reasonably confident can do this mod!

As I mentioned these are not the most expensive screens on the market, but mated with tv on the move, PS2 and dvd films the kids have no reason to argue!

Good luck and if you have any questions please ask! :thumbs:

[WMG/BMW]

where did you get the LCD's and how much, would be great in mine for the kids as well going on a 8 hour tour in a month.

[X5Jay]

Wow - very nice work - & big cajonies? (sp? )

[BMERGRL]

Yes, Yes, how much for the screens!! What Player are your going w/....I'm thinking it came w/ the screens as a system? Where are you going to mount the player?

Thank you taking the time to do the writeup and pics!!

[powers1]

Great article!Very well done and you make seem so easy!It looks very professional and nicely explained.

I think I am going to have a go at this.Do you have the Ebay seller contact?Thanks

[mogsyman]

Thanks for your comments.

These cost me £77 ($120) all in including the dvd player from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Eonon.

I paid for these sunday evening and they arrived from Hong Kong to the UK 2 days later!

The quality of the screen is ok. Of course you can pay more and get better but they seem fine. Everything came well packed and worked without a hitch. Also having had a test run prior to hard wiring in the X everything seems fine.

They ship to the US and prices should be similar (buy it now may be around $350) + delivery

Good luck

Mogs

[drex]

Great job mate!

That's exactly how I did my screens.

[at4689]

maybe you can now write how you connected the screens to teh dvd player by hiding wires and stuff and post pics where you put the dvd player

[JV]

Where/what do those self-tapping screws go into? If you lean back hard against the headrest, do you get "screwed" in the back of the head? Never investigated how the headrest is put together but very curious to know the answer to the question.

JV

[mogsyman]

Originally Posted by JV

Where/what do those self-tapping screws go into? If you lean back hard against the headrest, do you get "screwed" in the back of the head? Never investigated how the headrest is put together but very curious to know the answer to the question.

JV

The self tapping screws are about 1 1/2" long. When I decided what size to use, once I'd used these screws I pushed the front of the headrest inwards as far as I could to make sure I couldn't feel the end of them so I shouldn't get speared should I get hit from the rear!

Inside the head rest there is a plastic structure that makes up the back bone. This is pretty much half way between the front and rear of the headrest and is difficult to feel unless you've removed half of the foam, that's what the screws screw into.

Hopefully the dvd player is going in this weekend so I'll take pictures whilst I do that.

I have also installed the tv in motion lead, and a lead that allows the front screen to view whatever the back screens are viewing. The second lead also allows the kids to watch tv in the back and I can listen to music in the front.

It also has a handy function that allows me to turn off the tv in motion should I get pulled over by the police