Custom iPhone dock - ashtray replacement

[joshs540i]

When I first got my iPhone it came with a sweet dock that i quicky tore apart and mounted in to my ashtray.

I upgraded to the 3g and it doesnt come with a dock, so i decided to make my own. with a CNC machine at my disposal it seemed like a fun project.

I made it out of clear plexiglass, I then painted the bottom black and engraved BMW center and the apple logo just to the right of the connector so they will catch the light from the ashtray.

the result is beautiful.

PHOTOS:

Day



Night

[jetblackE39]

Lol that's awesome man. Props on your custom mod, looks great. I'm truly impressed.

[e39dream]

is the camera home made too? Just kidding but c'mon- get some better pics of your work for us. These are rough on the eyes.

[Az636]

^^ what he said

Get some farther away shots, or smaller pics haha

awesome design tho!

[chiefwej]

Well done!! Your fabricating skills are amazing, photographic skills.....not so much.

[joshs540i]

Thanks
I'll try to snap some better photos tomorrow

[quacktoduck]

mm good call... i never use the ash tray but for change but i have a euro arm rest cubby... would you make one for my car

[jbro1988]

wanna make me one for the iphone4?? haha

[jnyjetta]

I want...

[E39Stig]

Very nice!

[AnotherGeezer]

Very clever. Now I hope your version IPhone lasts as long as your installation does.

[Dell]

I see a small business idea. I know I'd be interested

[joshs540i]

OP update with better photos
sorry for the weird angles.

[DennisCooper]

Hi Joshs540i,

The updated pictures do indeed look much better and show off your modification very well indeed!

I'm sure I speak for a number of us here, but would you consider making these up in batches for us fellas to purchase from you ?! I know I'd want one, as I've just been talking with my Audio installer into modifying my ashtray for an iPod dock.

Your's with the perspex and the subtle backlighting just looks very classy indeed!

Cheers, Dennis! West London UK!

[Dell]

+1 to what Dennis added.

If you could produce these with the ability to offer a couple versions (regular iphone, 3G, iphone4, ipod) you could really have a nice small business.

[AnotherGeezer]

What happens when you hit it with your elbow and it snaps out of the holder?

Not trying to be a naysayer, it just seems pretty vulnerable sitting upright on the console like that.

[joshs540i]

Thanks for all the kind remarks.

I would definitely consider producing more.
the only issue would be wiring, the way I have it wired I am using the factory phone harness to get the audio signal back to the trunk where I am using a DIY aux input to the factory amp. although the phone harness is not shielded I don’t have any sound quality issues.

If you have a DICE or other ipod interface it could be interfaced with that as well, but I don’t have one to test with.

I designed the dock so that it would fit all recent ipod and iphone models, and so it would fit my phone with the silicone case on.

There is also a lot of options for customization (color, logos, lettering, dock size)

AnotherGeezer, I had a similar setup with my iPhone 2g and the dock that came with it for 2 yrs and haven’t had an issue, its not that exposed because it is lower than the armrest and the shift knob.

[touring5]

Don't worry about the wiring. Most of us could figure that part out. Just sell us the plexi insert, and we can insert the proper plug/wire for what we are going to plug in. In my case it is for a 160 gig iPod. Please do sell!!

[Zeros and Ones]

Hate to tell you this but something like this was already developed for our cars sand out is called the spec dock

[DennisCooper]

Hiya

The BSW iPod dock is also available - but $150 I think is extremely expensive, looks like the Spec Dock is that kind of price as well.

If Joshs540i is cool with making the perspex bit only, then I'd be well up for it. I have an Alpine head unit and the iPod cable comes with it. So all I'd have to do is securely attach my cable to the perspex peice.

Joshs540i, I think that's probably the best way for you to go - perhaps make up a batch of 20 or so pieces and sell them at a reasonable rate and then all owners can then choose their own method of connection - just like Touring5 mentions. I'll drop you a PM about this as well.

Cheers, Dennis! West London UK!

[Dell]

But isn't the spec dock like $150 and nowhere near as cool as this one?

[touring5]

Hate to tell you this but something like this was already developed for our cars sand out is called the spec dock

Yes of course these already exist.

But the ones that are out there are not this cool, and are way over priced for what they are. If we have a member who wants to make a little money and show some love to his fellow members by offering a cool product we should support that!

Like I said before, Josh please make some more of these!

[Nofearspear]

I'd get one... Nice job

[LuisGT]

Me like... me want!

[NYZ93]

cool