RichardB
Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 313
  
|
After having seen a few versions of iPad 2 mounts in D3 or D4 I decided to have a go myself.
I didn't follow precisely the approach taken by others. I wanted to:
- Go for a really neat and tidy install and a low profile mount for the iPad
- Have the iPad mount really easily removable when not in use with minimal remaining on show
- Have the iPad mount usable by passenger and not interfering with passengers knee
- Not obscure windscreen in any way / be legal
So I have ended up with a hybrid approach:
- Brodit D4 car mount as the foundation
- Brodit iPad 2 cradle (wall mount version) as the basis for the cradle
- Ram Mount 1" long arm (about 5" long) to connect mount to cradle
- Ram 1" ball joints with M10 screw to fit to cradle and mounts for the Ram arm.
Starting point - Brodit D4 mount:
 | | Click image to enlarge |
Starting Point - Ram 1" long arm & ball joints
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
Starting point - Brodit iPad 2 cradle
 | | Click image to enlarge |
First modification step was then to drill and tap (M10) for the screw ball to attach to the Brodit mount. The ball screws well into the double thickness of plastic on the back of the cradle. Screw protruded no more than 0.5mm on front of mount so a little filing and it was flush. Sticker used on face side to cover original/new holes and Brodit badge (which I removed):
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
Then to drill/tap the Brodit mount for the other ball. The mount is thinner than cradle so it's screwed in and then a M10 nut secures on the back. I've also modified the plate to be a bit visually neater (Dremmel, file and wet and dry paper down to 1200 grit):
 | | Click image to enlarge |
Then to install in car - the mount. As this stays in place all the time I didn't want it to look too ugly! I've used a piece of closed cell foam behind the mount and the console - this stiffened up the mount assembly nicely and can't be seen at all.
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
Add the arm and cradle on. This uses a single thumb screw on the Ram Mount mount and takes about 5 seconds to fit or remove:
 | | Click image to enlarge |
And then the iPad 2. A 20cm iPad lead provides power via a mini Belkin USB adaptor in the 12v socket. I also have a iPad connector to a USB plug and a separate 3.5mm jack. This can go into the Aux Jack in the centre console to provide sound through car's speakers - good for movies!
 | | Click image to enlarge |
 | | Click image to enlarge |
In practice, works well and iPad screen is easy to reach (perhaps easier than dash touch screen). Articulation of ball joints is best to driver's side but is a bit restricted towards the passenger. I thought this would be the case when looking at the components so this wasn't a surprise. It took me a while hunting on-line and then measuring in the car to find the 'right' components that would allow the right look/style and positioning so that it would work for driver and passenger. I hope others find this helpful.
Modification and installation took about 90mins including photos so its pretty easy.
Why did I do it, because I could!
Last edited by RichardB on Mon Jan 02 2012 12:13am. Edited 6 times in total
|
 Sat Dec 17 2011 12:57pm |
|
|
DSL
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Heading here ^^^^ :)
Posts: 24237
  
|
The wood effect on the D4 is very good!!   
|
| Sat Dec 17 2011 1:00pm |
|
|
RichardB
Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 313
|
DSL wrote:The wood effect on the D4 is very good!!
Yeup, IKEA birch. You can get a kit to do the entire interior of the D4. I have it over everything now, dash, dials, carpets and seats. Gives a 'kitchen table' effect... which is 'nice' 
|
| Sat Dec 17 2011 1:27pm |
|
|
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 2228
 
|
Great install there Club Landmark(original batch
Club GNVP Sliders
Club Full Height Cargo Barrier
Club RLD Spare Wheel Protector
Club MTRs on "Dark Chrome" HSE Wheels
Club Proper Big Mudflaps
Club Cubby Fridge
Club Tracker
Club"Satin Black" Sumpguard
Club HD Blackvue
Club Sliding Floor
|
| Sat Dec 17 2011 8:15pm |
|
|
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 1378
|
| Re: Mounting an iPad 2 in D4 |
|
RichardB wrote:
Starting point - Brodit D4 mount:
| | Click image to enlarge |
How does this piece fit in, does it glue to the console or something else? Cheers Ian
|
| Sat Dec 17 2011 10:35pm |
|
|
RichardB
Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 313
|
Yes, it clips onto the centre console. You can see it in some of the later pics with the ball head fitted and attached to the console but I did also change the shape of the plate.
|
| Sat Dec 17 2011 10:43pm |
|
|
Preacher
Member Since: 15 Aug 2009
Location: NE Victoria
Posts: 138
 
|
Richard great install
the Brodit D4 mount - will it also fit the D3 - infact will your entire assembly also fit a D3 if we follow your instructions.
thanks for your effort
dj 05 Bonati Grey TDV6 SE, triple Rhino roof racks, rooftop tent, Traxside USI-160 system, triple batteries with duel yellow tops, GME UHF. Mitchell Bros tow hitch, LED internal lights, 265/70/17 maxis bighorns, steel rims, Llams, Maxtrax, Engel and Bushman fridges, Hema navigator, Engine remap. Towing 12ft O/R Regal Desert Series.
|
| Sun Jan 01 2012 12:34pm |
|
|
RichardB
Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 313
|
Preacher
For the D3, I think the Brodit mount fits in a different place. Higher up on the centre console. See the link below.
http://www.dsldevelopments.com/Brodit/resultsproclip.asp
Because of this it's probably a bit easier than the D4 as you could use a shorter arm. It might even be possible to dispense with the arm entirely and just use the standard brodit mount with its swivel mount back (I used the wall mount version that doesn't have the swivel because it gets in the way of the RAM ball joint) Wiggs has done this i belive; see pics in his gallery. If you do want to use the RAM arms then you can follow my approach for mounting the ball heads etc. I'm pretty sure this is as neat as I could make it.
Since posting the stuff above, I milled a bit out of the RAM arm's bottom joint (using a Dremmel) to give better articulation of the screen towards the passenger. Now it works really well and the mod is invisible in use.
Hope that helps.
|
| Sun Jan 01 2012 4:10pm |
|
|
