Hi! We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
But as we’re losing ad-revenue from this then why not make a donation towards website running costs?. Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!
Roberto Barrios documents a very professional sunvisor install in his Mini using a stripped down TomTom GPS.
Not content with the factory fit satnav options offered by BMW, Roberto opted to strip down his TomTom and fit it into the sunvisor using a custom CNC milled aluminium faceplate.
He has even gone to the trouble of utilising a PIC processor so that the unit switches on with the car ignition, something TomToms used to be capable of many moons ago but dropped in an update a year or more ago. The GPS patch antenna has been moved off the board and installed under the sunroof.
It all looks very nice ad has been finished to a standard that is, if anything, better than factory standard. Although Roberto doesn't say which TomTom he used as the basis of this project, judging by the pictures in his blog of the stripped down unit it looks like it could be a ONE XL?
You can read more details and see all the build pictures on Roberto's blog here.
Comments
Posted by MaFt on Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:13 am
Oooh, nice! Mrs-MaFt has a Mini. Shame she has a husband who is a complete retard when it comes to anything electronic...
MaFt
Posted by Darren on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:10 am
Oh I dunno about that.....
Not just 'anything electronic'?
Darren Griffin
Posted by exportman on Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:16 pm
Very neat but I'm not sure I would want one there
Posted by Kremmen on Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:59 pm
Very neat but my first impression was - wouldn't that block your view somewhat ?
Especially if you sit high up.
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
Posted by Darren on Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:23 pm
As he says, they're designed not to block your view and you could angle it if necessary. Clearly works for him.
Darren Griffin
Posted by mikealder on Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:44 pm
Very neat indeed, the hardware is from one of the XL units prior to the XL IQ/ XL IQ Live though but after the One XL, it will have used the Easy Port mount as originally supplied.
The PCB is different to the XL IQ although its got the five pin battery connector even though there are only three wires in use (only Live equipped units have the five wire batteries fitted).
Sad really when you have to resort to looking at batteries to identify the doner unit - Mike
Posted by M8TJT on Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:15 pm
mikealder Wrote:
Sad really when you have to resort to looking at batteries to identify the doner unit
Even sadder when you can
Posted by gem on Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:30 pm
Interesting location. Can you tell the chap to let us know when he has a bump whilst using it.
Posted by peterc10 on Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:42 pm
Darren Wrote:
Oh I dunno about that.....
Not just 'anything electronic'?
Maft - he still hasn't forgotten the fonts has he?
Peter
HTC Sensation
Sygic GPS for Europe (No more TT "support"!)
Copilot for USA
Bury CC9060 bluetooth car kit & Brodit mount
Posted by MaFt on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:06 pm
gem Wrote:
Interesting location. Can you tell the chap to let us know when he has a bump whilst using it.
as i mentioned above, my wife has a mini. the sub visor doesn't get in the way of your view. the seat drops very low so you still have very good visibility even with the visor in use.
honestly don't know what the issue is...?!
MaFt
Posted by Guivre46 on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:17 pm
He's done a very nice job with that. Makes my dashboard mount look like the equivalent of Stonehenge.
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom
Hi! We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
But as we’re losing ad-revenue from this then why not make a donation towards website running costs?. Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!
Posted by MaFt on Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:13 am
- Mike
