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. It's the perfect location for easy viewing and reach, it does not block any controls, and the power cord easily routes into the center arm rest. And, when in use, the phone appears to be floating in mid air from the passenger seat. The stand is mounted using double-sided clear tape and the power cord is mounted using a very thin strip of double-sided clear tape. On the rare occasion I need access to the cup holder(s), I can lift the arm up and tilt the phone towards me.
Last edited by althethird; May 7, 2022 at 02:31 AM.
I had this one and it worked great...until it didn't. The suction cup just stopped working one day. I cleaned it several times, would reinstall, work for a few days then fall off. Not saying that will happen with yours but eventually I gave up.
I thought the same thing; ZCARGUY, that stays put even on that wood trim that's not even flat? My sticky suction cup wouldn't stay stuck to the flat vinyl on the side of the console. Did you ever try to stick yours to the vinyl, like the side of the console? Also, does it have the standard size ball mount holding on the magnet part? If so, maybe I could remove the magnet part and install my Qi charging holder.....
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by TxBoss23
i love my SL but I'm struggling with what to do with my phone when driving. I have a CD-Mount that works decently but after a bump or two it falls out. I've been thinking of a "steelie" brand mount but that requires me to "stick" their ball mount onto the wood trim to the right of the stereo and I cringe at the thought of what kind of residue it might leave behind should I need to remove it or sell the car. I often just plop my phone into a cup holder but it rattles around a lot. I could just leave it in the center arm rest but unless I'm just driving around town I like to use Waze and, of course, my 2015 doesn't have Android Auto.
So, what do you do with your phone when driving your SL?
I throw it in the seat next to me or put it in the cup holder or center console storage area. Since everything is hands-free, I don't need to see or touch it. In my 2004 SL500, I used a windshield mount with a huge suction cup.
This is my favorite mount which is technically a stand. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. It's the perfect location for easy viewing and reach, it does not block any controls, and the power cord easily routes into the center arm rest. And, when in use, the phone appears to be floating in mid air from the passenger seat. The stand is mounted using double-sided clear tape and the power cord is mounted using a very thin strip of double-sided clear tape. On the rare occasion I need access to the cup holder(s), I can lift the arm up and tilt the phone towards me.
so Al, the Magsafe both charges and holds the phone? The Apple website says "...it can be used to wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later.....[but] the magnetic alignment experience only applies to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models." I use an 8, so it'll charge but not stick??
PS: love your CF trim and shift knob; did you add that knob?
so Al, the Magsafe both charges and holds the phone? The Apple website says "...it can be used to wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later.....[but] the magnetic alignment experience only applies to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models." I use an 8, so it'll charge but not stick??
PS: love your CF trim and shift knob; did you add that knob?
Thanks, Eddieo45.
The shift knob comes standard in the SL63 and SL65s. You're correct, MagSafe both charges the phone wirelessly and holds the phone. Although there are magnets in the iPhone 8-11, they're too weak to hold the phone over bumps in the road so you'll need a case that has a circle of magnets for firm MagSafe attachment. For me, getting a MagSafe compatible case was the preferred compromise because magnetic phone holders similar to the Scosche that was mentioned here required you to attach a magnetic square/circle to your phone or phone's case; but, you'll lose wireless charging capability.
At $9.95. It swivels and tilts. I love it because it didn't cost much and I like the look. The case cannot bounce out of the holder, because as the case is twisted it expands to hold itself in firm. The phone is also held very well and this case fits numerous phone widths. A simple tab push and the case opens to release the phone.
You will only have one usable front cup holder while using this set up, but I don’t care plus you still have the rear cu holder if needed.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Nov 29, 2023 at 06:46 AM.
I want to express my thanks: that is a fabulous choice and works perfectly in my SL. I was a little uncertain to begin for a couple of reasons: the plate seemed large in all the diagrams I'd seen and I worried it'd impair the wireless charging. It doesn't. The other thing I had some trepidation over was whether it would stay affixed to the mount, given the low mounting position of said plate. It does.
I have an iPhone 10XS with an Otterbox case. I placed the mounting plate between the phone and the case (without glueing it) about one third the way up from the bottom of the phone and tested the Qi charger. All good there. I then tested the mount and jiggled it in the portrait alignment. It was pretty good. Given physics and the placement of the back plate, I wasn't disappointed to see it not stay in position when aligned in landscape mode. Not a major issue for me. I cleaned the dashboard trim in the exact same place you've installed yours) and Robert's your father's brother! Works like a charm.
I bought it from Amazon with free (Prime) next-day delivery for $12.83. Scoshe wanted $20 and 3 to 7 days to ship it.
...I have an iPhone 10XS with an Otterbox case. I placed the mounting plate between the phone and the case (without glueing it) about one third the way up from the bottom of the phone and tested the Qi charger. All good there. I then tested the mount and jiggled it in the portrait alignment. It was pretty good. Given physics and the placement of the back plate, I wasn't disappointed to see it not stay in position when aligned in landscape mode. Not a major issue for me. I cleaned the dashboard trim in the exact same place you've installed yours) and Robert's your father's brother! Works like a charm....
I thought the same thing; ZCARGUY, that stays put even on that wood trim that's not even flat? My sticky suction cup wouldn't stay stuck to the flat vinyl on the side of the console. Did you ever try to stick yours to the vinyl, like the side of the console? Also, does it have the standard size ball mount holding on the magnet part? If so, maybe I could remove the magnet part and install my Qi charging holder.....
This one stays on firm using he magnets on the back of the phone. It swivels so you have a little range of motion. If and when I remove it they suggest using fishing line along and a bit of Goo Gone.
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
Originally Posted by mjkarin
Bought one of these and mounted as in the picture.
It keeps on falling off.
I cleaned the mounting surface very well with just a microfibre cloth and also the rubber suction pad. It's been there or four weeks with some bumpy road surfaces and it's rock solid. I didn't wet (or moisten) the suction pad...
Maybe it's my granddaughter's magnetic appeal that helps keep it there!
resurrecting this old thread....I feel like I put more energy into phone mounting than just about anything else, lol. My latest thought is to mount inside the glovebox. I don't know the first thing about 3D printing, but it seems to me if I could get a piece printed in ABS plastic in a "Z-shape", like this:
....I could attach it inside the glovebox, attached either to the box or the door, and it would extend along the wood trim under the vent where I could attach a standard 17mm ball mount, to which I could attach my hands-free charging holder. Power would come from the 12v in the passenger footwell and the cord could be hidden in the glovebox "seam". How often do I open the glovebox anyway? Thoughts?
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
Mine fell off the other day! First time since I installed it and I was on a washboard dirt road. I cleaned it, again with a microfibre cloth, made sure the rubber base was clean and remounted it. Just like a bought one! No complaints whatsoever.
resurrecting this old thread....I feel like I put more energy into phone mounting than just about anything else, lol. My latest thought is to mount inside the glovebox. I don't know the first thing about 3D printing, but it seems to me if I could get a piece printed in ABS plastic in a "Z-shape", like this:
....I could attach it inside the glovebox, attached either to the box or the door, and it would extend along the wood trim under the vent where I could attach a standard 17mm ball mount, to which I could attach my hands-free charging holder. Power would come from the 12v in the passenger footwell and the cord could be hidden in the glovebox "seam". How often do I open the glovebox anyway? Thoughts?
resurrecting this old thread....AGAIN! I definitely put more energy into phone mounting than anything else in my cars. I went with a U-shaped "custom mount", two 90° angles screwed together. I did screw it into the glovebox interior but then I removed the screw as it was easier to find the proper position for it by letting it just float: there's very little play in it. I attached a standard ball mount and mounted the same motorized Qi charger I've used before with various MacGuyvered mounting setups but I'd prefer a magnetic Qi mount. Once I'm convinced that this setup will suffice for a while I will cover the metal bracket with fabric.
Last edited by eddieo45; Nov 25, 2023 at 10:42 AM.
Joining the party late, but I recently installed this mount. It's from Spigen and takes a standard Apple MagSafe charger, so the phone is securely held by the magnets and get charged wirelessly at the same time.
I will route the cable under the side trim at some point in the near future as I have to take it off to install a CarPlay kit that I have.
(My car is right hand drive, in case you are wondering where the steering wheel has gone....)
Joining the party late, but I recently installed this mount. It's from Spigen and takes a standard Apple MagSafe charger, so the phone is securely held by the magnets and get charged wirelessly at the same time.....
What Spigen model is that? Adhesive, right? I assume Goof-Off would remove it if need be.
What Spigen model is that? Adhesive, right? I assume Goof-Off would remove it if need be.
Yep, it's self adhesive. It's Spigen model ACP03792. The MagSafe charger is NOT included, so you'll need one of those as well.
As for the glue, it says it's "auto grade removable and residue free tape". It does come with an extra piece of the tape as well.
If you get one, it also comes with a disc of tape to stick the MagSafe charger into the mount. I would advise not using this if you ever want to take the charger out again! It fits plenty snugly into the mount without the tape.
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
I was interested but then read innumerable reviews that discussed how magnetically weak was the MagSafe and the phone kept sliding/falling off going over bumps, and the inability to swap out the MagSafe charger. Also, MagSafe requires a minimum of 15W to activate and I'd question the ability of a regular 12v power outlet (vis. R231 wheel well) to provide this in order for the charger to work properly. Can you address these issues from your experience?
Well, I have had no issues at all with the strength of the magnets. You do of course need either a proper MagSafe case on your phone, or a bare phone. I've driven the car pretty hard without the phone coming off. I have had the same thing on my Volvo SUV for a year or so and no issues there either. I guess there are people out the there that don't use a real MagSafe compatible case and then wonder why their phone keeps falling off....
As for the charging power itself, I use a USB-C adaptor with twin 30W outputs in the cigarette lighter port in the centre console, rather than using the MB USB sockets. I am not sure of the fuse rating on the R231 for that port, but they are normally 10A at least - so 120W should be available there. The MB USB socket is probably only 0.5A.
As for being able to swap out the MagSafe charger, it's easy enough as long as you don't use the disc of adhesive tape to glue it in place. But I would recommend buying a dedicated one for the car anyway.
All in all, I like it quite a lot as a phone mounting system. But it's not the cheapest solution because you need to buy an Apple MagSafe charger as well as the mount, so you are probably looking at $60. I do need to tuck the cable away under the side trim though.
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