Phone Mounts
 

Please share how you've mounted your phone (pics) and what hardware you used. I'm exploring options and prefer not to do anything that will damage dash or hang off window.

The area between seats where seat warmer controls would go looks like a good spot for a mount. I also like the idea of mounting to the right of stereo.

ProClip Mount!

http://www.proclipusa.com/images/ima...812-4.jpg-800x

Here's mine.

• Proclip FR-S mount
  Bracketron holder
  StarTech coiled cable

http://imageshack.com/a/img910/1783/yDoQVG.jpg

There's an old thread on this somewhere worth searching. I think in the electronics section.

I use a pro clip as well

Arkon arm mount. It's a foot of bendable metal pipe covered in flexitube, with an adjustable spring clip phone holder on a ball pivot.

I bolted it to the right side of the center console in the passenger footwell. Pop off the removable panel covering the mount point. You could dremel the panel to fit it back but I just left it off. because :burnrubber:

The missing panel also leaves a good spot to strap down the arm with some velcro to minimize road vibration. The phone sits right next to the shifter.

Bonus points: Replace the OEM USB port and its single low amperage port with a pair of USB/Lightning cables snaked behind the dash to the globebox dashhole and a dual output USB adapter. Cables tuck into that pocket in front of the shifter.

I'll take some pics later.

P.S. If anyone says you can bolt the Arkon to the passenger seat rail instead of center console, they're a damn dirty liar. I saw that recommendation and proceeded to spend the better part of an afternoon trying to make it work. The seat mount has a massive dimple and there's no way to get the Arkon's mount plate in there securely.

I made my own mounting bracket out of 18 ga aluminum bent up with a Harbor Freight seamer.

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/l...g/Bracket3.jpg

It mounts to the bolt that holds the head unit in and slips out between the head unit and the trim.

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/l...ntingBolt2.jpg

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/l...lednoMount.jpg

I used the quick release cradle from an iOttie mount to hold the phone.

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/l...dwithMount.jpg

I have a short cable to plug it into the USB outlet in the center console. (I actually have black one now that replaced that stupid white cable.)

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/l...hPhoneWide.jpg

I have yet to see a commercial bracket that's as good as what I have. Sometimes if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.

I was working on a guys car who had one of these

http://www.gpscity.com/g/gps/s/1/ramb316-1un10.jpg

I was impressed with the functionality. Its called Ram mount x grip, you are on your own finding the best price and proper size as I don't own one.

Anyways, it puts your phone just to the right of the radio, is fully adjustable, grips your phone quite well and feels sturdy/stays where you put it. It doesn't mount to the dash, it bolts to the passenger seat rail.

Attachment 104787
Attachment 104788

These are awesome. What about tablet mounts?

CD Slot mount. Covers up the LCD display a little bit but I think its the best location.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Koomus-CD-Universal-Smartphone-Motorola/dp/B00HRKI5V2/ref=sr_1_9?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1426656187&sr=1-9&keywords=smartphone+cd+mount"]Amazon.com: Koomus CD-Air CD Slot Mount Universal CD Slot Smartphone Car Mount Holder Cradle for iPhone 6 6+ 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, 4, iPod touch, Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, S3, Note 2, Note 3, Nexus S, Motorola Droid Razr HD, Maxx, Nokia Lumia 920, LG Optimus G, HTC One X, S, M7: Cell Phones & Accessories[/ame]

Mine fits a Nexus7 if you swap in smaller clips on one side.

This is what I'm using. You sacrifice the CD slot but I have not played a CD in years. http://lewisleong.com/cd-slot-car-mo...koomus-cd-eco/

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/WizGear-Universal-Magnetic-Swift-SnapTM-Technology/dp/B00PGJWYJ0/ref=zg_bs_2407778011_4"]Amazon.com: Car Mount, WizGear™ Universal Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount Holder, for Cell Phones and Mini Tablets with Fast Swift-SnapTM Technology, Magnetic Cell Phone Mount: Cell Phones & Accessories[/ame]

I use this, super easy

Check this thread out. I use a Kenu Airframe. It's $25 and I liked it so much I got one for my dad and my wife.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1233459

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/iOttie-Windshield-Dashboard-One-Retail-Packaging-Black/dp/B007FHX9OK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426662577&sr=8-3&keywords=iphone+iottie+mount"]Amazon.com: Car Mount, iOttie Easy One Touch Windshield Dashboard Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6 (4.7)/ 5s/ 5c/4s, Galaxy S4/S3//S2. HTC One-Retail Packaging-Black: Cell Phones & Accessories[/ame]

i use this with the iphone 5 and 6

I'll send you pics tonight but I use a Logitech Trip. It's a magnetic mount and no issues with it falling off or loosing its grip.

Nice work! Did you have to alter the trim around the head unit to fit the bracket? Oh, and thanks for referencing the Harbor Freight tool you used. I can use that
tool for an upcoming project. Heading to HF today. :)

.
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I generally dislike vent-mounted cell phone holders, but that Logitech mount would be cool for use in rental vehicles during travel.

For that purpose I usually use a Bondi, but sometimes I can't find a good spot to hang the phone, depending on what model car I rent. That clip-on magnetic mount might be a good alternative.

http://71.img.avito.st/640x480/961204371.jpg

For regular use in the BRZ, I would rather have something permanent that isn't blocking the vents or any controls and doesn't have a three foot snake attached to it.

I am old school!

http://daddyhood.net/wp-content/uplo...perm-count.jpg

Scosche Magic Mount. "Permanent" mount to the right of the radio, plate on the back of my phone (well, actually in between my phone and its TPU case). Also have a suction cup version that I use for when I travel and to mount my OFT when I datalog. I have a charging cable routed from the glovebox where I have a dual-port 4.2A Scosche car charger...One port cabled up for my LG G3 and the other cabled up for my girlfriend's iPhone.

http://www.scosche.com/magic-mount-c...r-tablet-mount

http://www.scosche.com/chargers/usb-...rger-dual-port

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps575c7482.jpg

No, but that's why there's a tiny turn in it to get around the edge of the head unit. You have to make absolutely sure that the metal sits flush against the side of the head unit before the bezel goes back on, or it won't fit. It's tight.

If you're planning to try this yourself, here are a few more notes:

As long as you're at Harbor Freight, pick up a set of plastic trim tools. They will keep you from marring your dash, and you can slip the corner of one of them under the bezel on the driver's side to get the trim to come up.

The aluminum sheet came from Home Depot. I think it was 18 ga, but it may have been 22 ga. To be honest I can't remember and don't know the gauges by sight. HD also had a three-pack of right, left and center tin snips for $11 that worked fine to cut it.

I cut a long strip first in the width (height) I wanted, bent the end 90 degrees and drilled a hole so that I could mount it in place to mark the tiny bend with a Sharpie. Getting that tiny bend right was the most critical and most difficult part of the project.

Once I had the bend, I test fit it again and used a level to mark a vertical line on the metal as a reference point for the front bend (because the slope of the dash makes it difficult to estimate). Once I had the vertical line for reference, I made another line at a backward angle, because you want your last bend to make the mount tilt back a little bit so that the phone is facing your head and not your chest. Once I had that last bend, I cut it to the right size for the cradle and dressed the edges with a grinding stone on a Dremel.

You will notice that the bracket has a big hole in it. That's because, once it's bent in the way, you can't reach the bolt! Imagine my irritation when I realized I couldn't actually mount it. I cut that hole so I could fit a socket on an extension through there.

As you can see from the pic of the bracket, paint does not want to stick to aluminum. I used self-etching primer and flat black Rustoleum. At some point I might pull it off there and try again.

I used "industrial-strength" velcro to attach the iOttie cradle. I would prefer to mount it a little more securely, but I had to be able to remove the cradle to get to my socket hole if I ever want to remove it. If you come up with a good alternative, please post!

Here are links to the less-common tools I used:

Harbor Freight seamer

HF trim tools

Tin snips (were $11 when I bought them)

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/iOttie-Windshield-Dashboard-One-Retail-Packaging-Black/dp/B007FHX9OK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426687749&sr=8-2"]iOttie One Touch[/ame] - the cradle I used. The unused suction mount is sitting on my desk, waiting for me to repurpose it for something else.

By the time it was all over, I had more money in the project than I would have spent on a commercial mount. But no commercial mounts put the phone where I wanted it, so it was 100% worth it. Plus I now have a few more tools in my tool box that I needed anyway.

Thanks for all the useful data points. Actually, I have this mount http://wwv.crutchfield.com/p_142MAGD...6730505&awdv=c and I'm creating a bracket to mount it on so that I can get the angle I want. I like this mount because it small, inconspicuous, and holds my phone very securely. I can't get the angle I want using it, so I'm fabricating a very small bracket that extends from the bottom of the passenger side dash panel very near the radio bezel. I think it will work.

I'm using the HF tool you referenced for another project.

Yes, I do have the trim removal tools.

I use the Beatsonic mount and really like it. Can get different attachments for different size devices if you want to swap between phone and tablet.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44806

I got a really neat phone mount that clips in the CD slot. Then the phone attaches via a magnet. I use the power port in the glove box to charge the phone. I use my phone for GPS navigation so this mount really works nice for that.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0066BWMNU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]Amazon.com: Ram Mount Twist Lock Suction Cup Mount with Universal X-Grip Cell/iPhone Holder - Non-Retail Packaging - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories[/ame]

Pricey, but the best mount I ever owned.

I have this and really like it. I use the mount as it is interchangeable on my motorcycle. Ram is an awesome company that makes the sturdiest products with the best quality. They stand by all their products as well.

Doesn't get better than this. These are terrific.

Not a huge fan of suction cup mounts because they all come off on their own eventually. That could be days or weeks or months but it will come off on its own.

Just got the Ram Mount with the X-Grip shown above, $50 shipped to my door in 2 days from Amazon, looks incredibly solid, will be trying it at AutoX this weekend. Don't plan on leaving it in place for too long, only occasionally so suction cup is a big thumbs up for me.

I can understand how someone interested in a long term no hassle mount that hides away wouldn't like it though.

Has anyone tried adhering the ram adhesive mount to the dash to the right of the head unit? The suction cup is good for a few weeks at a time, just looking for something more permanent short of drilling holes.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007EZPLFS/ref=pe_385040_127745480_TE_item"]Amazon.com: Ram Mount Flex Adhesive Base with 1-Inch Ball: Car Electronics[/ame]

I have mine on my windshield on the left side, it's been on there since 2013 so well.. there's that. If it falls off it won't be a disaster because it will fall all of 2cm onto my dashboard.

"lick it before you stick it"

Scosche Magic Mount

/thread

$15 at Walmart/Amazon - http://www.walmart.com/ip/magicMOUNT...Mount/37551986

It's basically a strong magnet that DOES NOT mess up your internal components because it uses the special type of rare metal that you see on the back of my phone. It's very minimal on the phone and in the car. Holds very strong. Allows for full use of all buttons. The metal piece can be stuck easily in a case. I've seen people stick it inside their Galaxy S4 and S5 after removing the back battery door cover. It's very thin.

http://i.imgur.com/TEw6awZl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/htjUQugl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5phcfYTl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SDWuAUPl.jpg

Comment from the other side...

I used a car mount for my smartphone years ago, with the advent of smartphones. But I put is aside after a while - way too distracting. Consider putting your phone away when driving.

Scary how much time people spend focusing on tiny text and tiny visual cues in a small display space never meant for use in a car or while driving.

Just my 2 cents.
Stay safe for God's sake!!

Mine has been mounted solid for the last 8 months. This was originally designed for military use, so its hella durable.

I've had those super strong suction cup mounts. After a hot summer then cold winter they tend to lose their suction and eventually come off. Its basic physics, the expansion of hot summers and the contraction of cold winters.

When a person is driving at night using Google Maps, its quite disheartening when the phone suddenly falls to the ground due to the suction mount failing. You tend to lose confidence in those kind of mounts after an experience like that. That happened to me after the mount held its place for several months.

Also, reapplication is a PITA because the first reapplication usually won't be right because cup will be dirty or the mount wasn't pressed down hard enough or at the proper angle (directly perpendicular to the windshield).

I find CD slot mounts to be more reliable and easier to put in place.

I use my phone mostly for the Torque app to monitor coolant temps and boost.

Also, for google maps sometimes.

You're assuming people are using it as a phone.

Mine has all my music in it, so it's an extension of my stereo. That's one of the reasons I mounted it where I did.

I also use it as a back up GPS on the road, because let's face it, sometimes the built-in nav sucks balls. Sometimes I like to have two navs running at the same time in case one of them tries something stupid like sending me the wrong way down a one way street or telling me to turn right off an elevated highway (both of which happen periodically with this piece of shit nav unit in the car). "Route recalculation. Route recalculation. Route recalculation." SHUT THE FUCK UP.

I also use it to run Radar Now when I hit weather. Sometimes it's better just to stay put for ten minutes and let that hail core in front of you go right on by.

And finally, some of us use our phones to run Torque. I actually have a dedicated Galaxy Note phablet for that, but if I didn't, I would be running Torque on my phone right there next to the stereo.

So you put your phone away. Mine is busy with everything BUT talking and texting.

Anyone know if the proclip mount will work on a JPM Coachworks alcantara wrapped single piece dash? Also, what would be the best way to run the Lightning/USB cable from the iPhone holder to the 12 volt power outlet behind the glove compartment? I want to hide as much of the cable as possible for a cleaner look.

Just chiming in on my Ram mount suction cup still stuck to my window for close to a year, holding my OFT or my phone.

Not assuming anything. Just encouraging that drivers avoid distraction while driving - for any reason.
If you are not attending to that little display space off to the side while driving you are doing it right. If so, I wish more drivers were like you.
Stay safe!

I use a RAM mount. One of the best things I ever purchased for my car.

I don't have a picture of it mounted in my car, but I stick the cup on the small triangle window on the drivers side. It sits out of the way of the steering wheel and turn signal, but sits close enough so you can use it while resting your arm on the door or hand on the wheel.

http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-166-UN7U

http://www.rammount.com/images/galle...B-166-UN7U.jpg