jonathanmbz

Hey everyone,

05 c230K w203

I received this garmin Nuvi 660 widescreen navigation as a gift and want to somehow install it without having the ugly mounting arm on the window or dash. It is only about 1/2 inch thick so I was thinking about putting it in the ashtray area.

Ive removed the ashtray and lid and was thinking about cutting a piece out of the lid. Then somehow placing the Garmin inside the cutout (not sure how id adhere it) making it flush with the ashtray lid. I know that i will not be able to use the ashtray at all and am ok with that. In the pics ive included it looks like the Garmin is too big to fit in a cutout in the lid however it is not. It also looks like alot of the Garmin is hanging off the bottom, but thats not the case as well, maybe 1/4" or less. I will need to cut a sqaured shape "U" out of the lid leaveing about 1/4 " of the lid left along the top and two inches on each side. The center console panel that surround the shift *** will mask the botton of the Garmin so you will not see that there is no lid material going along the bottom of the Garmin.


Ill use the power from the cigarette lighter and hopefully still be able to hear the sound coming out of the Garmin; Or wire the units external sound source to the aux port in the glovebox if necessary.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Any suggestions on how to create a clean cutout on the lid? Any suggestions on adhering the Garmin to the lid etc?

Obviously im going for the cleanest install possible. Dont want any visable cut lines in the lid and am hopeing to cut it in a way that the Garmin fits in seamlessly.

Thanks

Clay

MHPHOCKEY

It will be awesome. If you want to do it then use a Dremmel, or just take it to a aftermarket shop. I would go to the dealer and see how much a replacement ashtray lid is just in case you screw up.

Mike

rpayer

I have thought about this myself... Now if I could only get my car back from the dealership...

rlee02135

try to fit it inside the ashtray...id look better if you could cover it up when not in use

jonathanmbz

Ive thought of that, however the garmin might sit to far back in the empty space to have the touch screen user friendly and the screen visable. Still an option though.

sirenebekim

I'd like to retrofit a 15 inch widescreen touchscreen lcd, vertically, in line with the wood on the dash where our radios are. Filling that whole area, from the ash tray to the vent with image.. Imagine the new google earth on that display... whoa

robbyt18

What happens when you need to extend the GPS antenna on the back of the unit? If you do figure a way to get the 660 in the ashtray, I would love to see how you did it. I have the Nuvi 350 and have dreamt of the same setup.

kardician

I have the 660 as well. awesome receiver! I stuck the suction cup on the right side of the audio display and it works great. the location is perfect IMHO. I can still read the display and the bluetooth / speaker distance works well too. I ran the power cable next to the passenger seat and plugged in to the rear AC port.

C24owner

If you want a clean install then I wouldn’t touch the ash tray. No matter how careful you are at cutting, the navi will not fit properly since the ash tray is curved and the navi is not.

I would remove the ash tray and put it aside. Take a piece of 3/4 MDF and make it fit in the location of the ash tray. Then use a dremmel and cut out a hole for the navi, and sand the edges so it contours the dash. Use some bondo to fill in the holes if you get a little dremmel happy. Once that fits perfectly, paint it to match your trim.

jonathanmbz

The antenna extends up into the ashtray "hole" just fine and I still get full signal strength.

jonathanmbz

Yes that is where it currently is on mine right now. Also have the power cable running under the console to the back cig lighter. It works well and doesnt get in the way, however its does not look "clean". I would much rather have an installed look and since i dont use the ashtray i thought id give it a shot. Also I think im much more prone to a broken window in a parking lot having the Garmin up high, protruding from the dash and obviously very easy to take. Just my thoughts.

jonathanmbz

Sounds like a good solution. What is MDF and where can i get it?

C24owner

MDF stands for multi density fiber board. It’s like wood. You can get it at home depot or lowes. You can use regular wood, but I prefer MDF because it’s easier to work with.

jonathanmbz

Here is what did. It took some serious and extensive Dremmel cutting to make it fit. The ashtray lid still functions/closes, it is very accessable and user friendly. Also, i still get full signal strength from its built-in antenna. It is permanently wired to my cigarette lighter so when i turn on and off my car, the Navi does the same. It is pretty much permanently installed, the only way it will come out or even move is if i take out the center console and then remove the ashtray etc. It looks really clean and the Garmin's handsfree Bluetooth phone option is great for talking and driving. This is the Garmin 660 widescreen. I'm really happy with the results.

jonathanmbz

I asked how I could install my Garmin widescreen in my ashtray and got a few ideas. Then I busted out the Dremmel and after some extensive cutting of the inside of the astray and removal of the console and then putting it all back together, I was able to fit the Garmin inside. This is the Garmin Nuvi 660 with the 4.3 inch screen, so its a pretty decent size and since it is 100% touchscreen, it's pretty user friendly. Its wired to the cigarette wireing and as such it turns on and off automatically with the car. The only way it can be removed or even moved at all is if I take out the center console and then remove the ashtray. So it doesnt shift or move which is great. I get full signal strength with the built in antenna. The handsfree/bluetooth phone function works great! The ashtray lid operates as normal. Much better than having it mounted on an arm or in the window.

phattbam

pretty clean install. only gripe i would have is you have to look down.. not that you wouldn't for the factory command or any other Navi system.. good work though.

jonathanmbz

True but its at an upwards angle so its very easy to see even the smallest details; That with the voice prompts makes it really user friendly.

robbyt18

I really like it. The bluetooth is a huge upgrade. Well done.

MHPHOCKEY

That is great. I wanted to do that, but after I got it I never used it so I didn't keep it. Very clean.

M230K

that is a clean install, looks good
Any controls from the steering wheel capable of working with it?

C24owner

looks good. Nice work.

MHPHOCKEY

How is the glare on the screen (Sunroof and Windows)?

flush

Can I get specific instructions on how you wired the Garmin into the cig lighter? Consider me a total and complete noob at this but I am getting tired of using my cig lighter all the time for my nuvi.

Garmin makes great products, the glare on the screen is only noticeable upon direct sunlight on the screen, otherwise, very readable in day/night modes (auto-switching)

www.nuvipassion.com for the garmin nuvi forums, more info there (much like how mbworld is for w203)

white_w203

nice clean install. can u still close the ashtray???

SlvrC230SS

nice install.