That's how I did the last install in an e46 as well. Except I trimmed the cover a tiny bit so I could slip the "mount" part of the aftermarket map up through the cover. It made for a lower profile mounting and you don't have to tape or epoxy on the bottom of the vent where it would possibly visible from different angles.

great find.

Looking at the pics of that microphone cover, there is a tab that would appear to hold the microphone itself to the cover. Maybe they can be split? I might have a closer look over the weekend. That would be a great result.

Motorsport1207 - when you put your mic in behind the vent did you keep the foam cover on the mic with your install? and did you point it straight down or towards the back of the car?

I guess my question is if I don't have the oem mic and cover from the factory is there a location above me or on the dome light to retrofit the mic cover?

Aka please show a pic of the overhead mic location so I can check on my console, thanks!

RB, even on the most basic overhead console there should be blanking plates that you can pop out and put a mic vent cover like the one from ECS in it's place. Easiest way is to pop out the big square blank plate/homelink panel, reach in with a finger and push out the smaller ones from behind.

http://www.drivex5.com/wp-content/up...3156380210.jpg

Mine did not come with a mic from the factory but I do have that mic grill installed. I also have a blank plate. So RB you should also at least have the blank plate if not the grill already.

This has been my experience with customer installs as well. Even if no OEM handsfree there was a grille in place.

Perfect guys you were right! checked it out this morning, I have the sunroof control on the left, then the Homelink, a blank plate, and a mic cover on the far right!

So when I get the N6 I will swap the blank one and the mic cover (to bring it just a bit closer to me), and take the foam off the mic and leave routed in the OEM location? Are you guys taking the foam off the mic if you tuck it in the dome?

Also, is the GPS antenna magnetic? If so I'm guessing theres a spot of metal under the headliner it will stick to.

Don't place the GPS antenna inside the dash. You will get no signal. That's how I had it the 1st time - just like how I had it installed on the e39 for which it works...But not for the e53.
I routed the cable to the far right of the dash, then along the window, and there is where the GPS antenna sits. I will take some pics when I'm home from work

Thanks Dorin, yes I didn't mean inside the dash I was going to try to route it up into the headliner near where the mic sits. Whenever you can snap a pic that would be great no rush

Since you are removing the A pillar anyway to install the mic in the headliner, might as well run the antenna wire same route but tuck it under the headliner near the B pillar...see my posts for pics..great reception so far!

EDIT: RB, I recall the antenna wire is shorter than the mic one so you won't be able to install it next to the microphone...unless you wanna get into cutting it and adding about 3 ft of wire...