I have a new stereo deck that has the usb ipod hook up, but the cord just gets in the way and i just want to whole set up to look more clean. i had an idea to build a custom ipod docking station where the coin holder is on the center console. i have a couple ideas on how i want to go about it but wanted to hear what you all had to say...

 

Use the navigation cubby instead unless you need to access the ipod.

 

I can imagine the driver and passenger elbowing the iPod easily.

 

If you can control the Ipod through your deck then why not just hide it out of plain view?

My Alpine controls and charges my Ipod so there's no need to have it out... What I did is ran my Ipod cable from behind my stereo to under the white AC module... Now I just plug it in, tuck it there nicley and it's out of the way... When I need to take it out of the car(and I rarly do) I just pop off the panel where the shifter is, unplug it, the pop the panel right back on... and Voiala!!!

 

That's exactly what I did with my PA11-NIS+iPod.

 

I am going to do the same thing. I just need to get to it. Could you guys that have done this post up pics?

 

My thoughts exactly. I have mine stored in the cubby behind the passenger.

 

those are all real good ideas. my deck also controls the ipod itself but controling directly the ipod is way simpler. i thought too that elbowing may be an issue, but i think the coin holder is far up enough on the console that it wouldn't be an issue. and for deezz and anyone else i will post pictures when i finish

 

I cannot be the 1st person to do this!!!

Okay, Pull the coin holder out. Just pull it out, no screws or snaps. Get a peice of styrofoam and fill the large empty void (Paint the styro black if you want) Then dremel out the inside edge of the plastic to accomidate the connector and you will have the MOST oem looking IPOD dock in Z history. And it gives perfect postioning for control if you like, and will not be in the way at all. Don't beleive how amazing the fit is? The grab your ipod and walk out to your car, pull the coin tray and just rest it in there..... you'll be impressed

Also. The Ipod 5th Gen is 2.4 x 4.1, so the space is a perfect fit
The iphone is 2.4 x 4.5.... So when I upgrade to an iphone, I will likely do a little cutting as I love the position and look of it so much

Check it out

... crap... for some reason I can't post pics. I'll try again in the morning.
It looks really, really choice with my black 60g ipod video

go here; http://img571.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=ipod01.jpg

 

that does sound like a pretty good idea! i cant wait to see the pics if you get them up

 

Well I have now got another idea to take this to the next level....

I think I am going to lower the ipod deeper in the cavity to create about .5 inches of depth clearance, then look for a way to hing the cover back in place. That would be really cool. The door wouldnt open with a partial recess into the cavity like it does now, but i think it might be pretty cool anyway. I would dremel the hing part off and then use a thin standard cabinet hing (or something like that) and have it flap open and closed over the ipod. It would serve a security function as well. The way I have it I remove the ipod or cover it with something whenever I park the veh somehwhere other than my home garage or at work (work has secure parking as well).

Hmmm this will take some careful planning.

Anyway... it is almost freaky how well this spot fits the ipod. Almost like it was part of a potenital future plan.... Its even oriented towards you in a really nice way

 

The pics are here http://img571.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=ipod01.jpg

 

looks neat

 

Its awsome... really.

ergonomically its good too. with your arm resting on the centre console your fingers can rest on the click wheel prefectly. Now there are a few things I haven't mentioned about this.

1. I am using this with the PA15-NIS. It has a long ipod connection peice that will hit the inside wall of the e-brake contour preventing this fit. What I did was remove the platic cover on the connector which gave me another couple of centemeters. But for me I needed more room, so I used a heat gun and warmed up the wall e-brake contour (from the inside) and applied pressure with a wood block between heatings... This puched the plastic out uniformily giving me the space I needed. All this could prob be solved with a 90 degree elmow adampter but I didnt feel like trying to find one, then waiting for it to arrive.

2. The plastic coin holder underside is one peice with the hazard light mount... I removed the assembly and dremeled off a large chunk for the connector to fit through including one of the mounting points.

Came out very very clean as you can see from the pics. I should have taken pics along the way and made a "how To" thread... sorry bout that

I did this all in about 2 hrs. Even if there was no coin holder in that spot, and I had t pick the perfect location, orientation and postion I would make it all the same. Its that good.

Like I said, A simply way to see if this is for you is just pull the coin holder out, and place the ipod in the opening. It will rest perfectly in place. Dont like it, no harm done. Actually even if you did the mod, the coin tray will still snap back in place covering all the cuts, and restoring the console to the oem look and function

 

Tire kicker, that was a very sweet @ss idea... but that wouldn't work for me since I have an ipod touch... But if you do remove the coin holder there is a small hole in that cavity where you can run the ipod cable and sit the ipod in there... Either way, it's best to keep it out of site...

 

[IMG]<a href="http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/japeterson126/?action=view&current=z_ipod_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/japeterson126/z_ipod_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

 

this is what i have done so far but i think i might redo it so that the ipod is positioned more facing me and further. also will paint black to match

 

looks like that totally blocks the natural arm position for your shifter... doesn't seem like a good mod at all for a sports car. maybe it would be ok if it was an automatic, but with it sticking up like that, I'd be hitting it all the time shifting.

 

clean your interior.. ty that is all

 

i just cleaned it. looked a lot dirtier in the picture than it actually was. and your are right it did block my arm movement of shifting. i scrapped the project. if it were automatic it probably would work