Ask MotoringFile: iPod Nano Mounting

Sections: Ask MotoringFile Oct 21st, 2005 35 Comments

Ask MotoringFile is back after a brief hiatus, this time with an ever popular iPod related question:

I was wondering if there were any new/improved iPod mounting ideas for the MINI to take advantage of the much smaller size of the iPod Nano?

I have seen many good and bad ideas for the “standard size” iPod, but it seems even the good ideas would seem a little silly considering they are geared toward a device 2 or 3 times larger.

Andy S.
Plymouth, Michigan

Good question Andy, I’m struggling with the same issue. Currently I run the wire from my Dension Ice-Link Plus (non-cradle version) below the toggles and simply let iPods rest down there. That actually has served me quite well since it works with all iPods and can be both out of the way within reach when needed.

However I’m still thinking the ideal situation would be to somehow mount the Nano on the dash. I’ve even thought about buying a rubber sleeve, putting velcro on the back, and affixing it to the dash between the speedo and the right vent. The Nano weighs so little that it would easily be held there firmly and you wouldn’t need one of those bulky and aesthetically questionable iPod mounts. The downside is that a little circular piece of velcro isn’t the nicest thing to look at when you’re without said Nano.

But enough about my ideas… lets hear yours…

Written By: Gabe

kaelaria

Hey! I’m from Plymouth!! WOOT!
modboi

Sorry Gabe, this is off topic but does the new Dension Ice-Link Plus have ID3 tag recognition that shows the songs info on the MINI headunit? I’m still running my IPOD via Aux input and I’m not too thrilled with the sound quality.

Thanks.
http://www.squirty.com/mini kcollins

There’s always that MINI skull thing – seriously – I honestly can’t believe it’s in the motoring catalog.
Allan

The Nano is so small you can just stick it between the toggle switches! Haha, I crack myself up.
Edge

modboi,

Are you connecting your Aux input to the headphone jack on your iPod? If so, no wonder you don’t like the sound quality… the headphone jack is an amplified signal, which degrades it considerably when you put it through ANOTHER amplifier too (your MINI’s stereo). What you need is a non-amplified, line-out connection to the stereo. Fortunately, there’s a much cheaper way to do that without having to buy the official MINI iPod adapter or a 3rd party system like the Dension IceLink Plus.

Check out http://www.sendstation.com, and look into their PocketDock products with Line Out. I use one with my Aux adapter and it sounds great!
http://www.williamwdoyle.com william doyle

belkin has just put out a new, sexy version of their iTrip acccessory for the ipod nano. Read more about it here. This is a great solution unless you have to have a wired version.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Just to clarify here… the question at hand is specifically dealing with mounting the Nano in the MINI. Not just connecting it.

That said I appreciate all of the connecting advise. Perhaps that’ll be the next Ask MotoringFile.
O(=^=)O Capn

Poster putty, AKA ticky tac works great. leaves no residue, removable, reusable. I’m too lazy to make a link you can usually get it for under two dollars.

http://www.officeworld.com/search_results/static/S102905/
Edge

iTrip = radio broadcast method = sucky quality. Yuck! A complete step backward from using the Aux input.

Sorry I don’t have any good advice on mounting. I just use the parcel shelf. :)
http://www.v1beta.com Chris

Hey Gabe -

I have no actual nano mounts but here are a couple of post that I keep going back to. They cover the gamut of mounts available for the ipod. The two that I am considering is the vent modifaction or just sticking the tunedock in a cup holder. I’ve heard that it fits the nano’s side mounted dock connector. I can’t imagine it looking good. I too was thinking about suction cups direct to nano but it scratches reaally easy. I would not recommend Decal Girl Clear protectors either Ã¢â‚¬â€œ kinda ugly. My 2Ã‚Â¢.

NAM iPod Mounts NAM iPod Vent Mount Some Guys iPod Mount MINI2 Various Mounting Solutions
ChrisW

IceLink Plus non-cradle mount + glovebox organizer = the ultimate stealth install. My iPod stays locked up out of sight and I control it through the head unit. The ideal mounting solution IMO.
Allan

How much is the ICE link and the MINI installed iPod integration?
speck 37

A word about the sendstation pocket dock – I had one and it made a humming noise after a half hour of use. I wrote to sendstation and they were less than helpful. I replaced the Pocket Dock with the Din from SIK and the sound has no background noise, perfect and clear. http://www.sik.com (SIK is the company, Din is the product)
http://www.ururk.com/gallery.asp John

Cool – I’m from (and am in) Plymouth as well!

As far as mounting the Nano… Hmmm. Could you run the wire to the armrest (assuming you have an armrest)? The Nano would surely fit in there. Cut some foam up, and you could have it sit in there cradled safely.

If you want it to be visible, you might be better off making some sort of pouch for the Nano, and hanging it off the toggle switch tubes. It’ll swing, but not much – the audio jack/dock connector is on the bottom.
Andy

Its all about the parcel shelf. I think this is the best place to route the iPods
Rob

Gabe,

Just want to point out that the “rubber sleeve” you linked to is actually hard plastic.

The silicone tubes at the Apple store are still back-ordered and I haven’t been able to find any other skin-tight rubber/silicone cases. Guess we’ll have to wait for the tubes.

Also, I agree with the above poster: Parcel shelf all the way.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Just want to point out that the “rubber sleeve” you linked to is actually hard plastic.

Yeah good clarification. BTW I can’t recommend enough the Invisible Shield for any black iPod. It’s the best $20 I’ve ever spent on my iPod.
O(=^=)O Capn

Hey, I’m not in Plymouth Too!!
John Youens

I have my “big” 40GB iPod mounted to the tachometer on the right side with a custom aluminum bracket. In my opinion this is the perfect spot and the Nano would work even better in that position. However, the backlighting on my vintage 2004 iPod matches the orange dash lights of my MINI perfectly. :-)
Steve

check out http://www.proclipusa.com lots of good mounts.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richandkris/homepage/index.htm Rich (rakh1)

Hi all,

I have the Nano and also got the Dension IceLink+. Originally I mounted it under the toggle switches – as Gabe did. However, yesterday I took it all apart again and ran the wires to the arm rest. I now have the Nano in the armrest. There is room in there for an iPod Mini or Nano but not the larger models.

Rich
Marty

I dont know why people keep buying things to mount their phones/Ipods etc for the Mini, when you can use the useless cupholders in the front. You can breathe new life into these flawed cup holders by putting your cell phone or Ipod in them

Marty :)
http://www.cooperspeed.com CooperSpeed.com

i’ve emailed ProClipUsa.com and they’ve replied stating that they are working on a nano holder. so…we’ll see what they come up with and how soon they can get it out to market.

-j
Steve

My Nano mount is a combination of the aux input and my redundant 2005 cup holder that’s been sat in the garage for over a year. I took the cup holder off the downtube mount, spliced a 1/8″ patch cable from RadioShack, threaded it through the holes in the cup holder bracket, reconnected the cable and plugged in the Nano. Excuse the poor picture I just took, but hopefully it will give you an idea of what I was talking about! http://www.ffotogallery.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=54

The mount also works well for my iPod Shuffle.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Steve – how exactly did you mount the Nano onto the cup-holder base? Or is it just being held up solely with the help of the sound output? With the Dension Ice-Link I’d be staying with the standard iPod bottom plug so I’d actually need a way to mount the Nano itself.
Steve

Yes, it’s just being held in place with the help of the sound output. The spring-like strain relief of the patch cable fits really well into the top hole of the cup holder mount and allows the 1/8″ plug to stick up vertically. The Nano just drops right onto the plug. I’ll try and take a few better pictures in daylight tomorrow….
BRG Marine

I think what people don’t realize is the reason we want to mount our iPods is so that you don’t run off the road while changing songs. Some of us use the aux input so we can’t change songs any other way than by manually changing them on the iPod. I used to have the belkin cup holder mount for my 1st gen iPod, which worked fine but was still really low. I now have a nano and I use the arm band for it wrapped around the downtube. It works fire but it’s still really low. Ideally I’d like something that fits in my field of vision, like the one guy with the aluminum mount right next to the tach.
http://www.plasmafx.com.au Scotty

I’ve just bought the nano here in Oz and am loving it. At the moment it resides in my cup holder (the one with the lid) in a baby sock (to stop scratches) under my toggles and I’m wearing the earphones as I don’t yet have a wire connection. My mobile phone rests in the cup holder next to it, along with toll change.

I must go down to see my dealer to find out what options I have as a December 2001 Mini owner. I’m pretty sure the Mini iPod adapter is out of the equation. Mmm.

http://www.xtrememac.com have just brought out new holders specifically for the nano. I wonder how they’ll go in the Mini? They also have a new nano FM transmitter that might be the go for me…
nervous

Hmmmm… this clipped to the cup holder looks workable… maybe even run cable up the pillar & clip to the sunvisor…

http://www.xtrememac.com/cases/nano/microshield_nano.shtml
Steve

As promised, 2 [slightly] better pictures, one of the Nano mount and one of the Shuffle mount: http://www.ffotogallery.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=55 http://www.ffotogallery.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=59
Dan

Does anyone else find it very annoying that all you ever hear about is Ipod? Try buying an accessory for another brand and it is impossible. They are doing a great job of marketing it. You have to give them that. I just wish they would make it the same as the others where music can be shared from one PC to another and plug and play. It is the users responsibility if they share music.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

I just wish they would make it the same as the others where music can be shared from one PC to another and plug and play. It is the users responsibility if they share music.

This is more the fault of the music companies than Apple. In order for Apple get a music label friendly reputatoin (which in turn helped them get the agreements in place for the iTunes music store) they had to make certain consessions. That is one of them.

That being said there are literally dozens of apps that allow you to move music off of your iPod onto your computer and to other players.
BwanaYak

I connected my Dension ICE-Link Plus via the CD Changer connection in the boot, ran the wires under the back seat and up into the factory-installed armrest. The armrest is obviously intended for just such an installation, as there is channeling built into the armrest support for the wire to run through unseen, and the armrest is plenty big enough for my 30Gb iPod Photo. It’s a total stealth install, too, since the armrest doesn’t even look like it opens for storage. The only problem is that I keep forgetting it’s there and leave it in my car when I go to work. :-)
Yegor

I connected my Dension ICE-Link Plus via the CD Changer connection in the boot, ran the wires under the back seat and up into the factory-installed armrest.

Can you please post pics. I would like o see how 30GB iPod fits there. I assume 60GB will fit as well, since it’s slightly thicker than 30GB.

I built a holder for my 60GB Photo. You can see images HERE.
http://stashesinc.com Andrea

Andy S – I am the designer of the exact item you just decribed and yes it is much more detailed it will be hitting shelfs in feb- however we are looking for more funding know anyone? ps it is patented and If you would like to let me know what you think i would love to send you a sample please contact me at ahorblitt @gmail.com Andrea

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