Replace Central Speaker Grill with Sat Nav?

Nov 21, 2007 10 Replies
D

Ok, this is what I'm thinking of doing:



My 2001 V70 has the centre speaker grille which I think doesn't have a speaker behind it. I would like to use the space to install a sat nav. I'm not thinking about the vertical sliding arrangement of a factory fitted unit, more of a rear-hinged pop-up lid which will reveal a cubby hole in which will be a (removable) Garmin Nuvi.



My current plan is to simply cut a rectangular hole in the grille (from above) as big as possible, neatly fold the edges of the grille in (so that there's a neat edge), and then build a (wooden) lidded box that would go inside this.



The lid of the box would be covered in leather/vinyl, and when closed would be flush with the grille / dash.



Ideally the lid would open on a motor connected to the ignition.



My aim is to have a SatNav which wouldn't be visible when the car's parked, but wouldn't need removing every time I park, but could be removed if I wanted to use it in another car / bike, and wouldn't have any of that cigarette lighter nonsense. So all the advantages of a factory fitted unit, but without the ludicrous expense, and with the added advantage of beiung able to take the unit out.



Has anyone else done anything similar, or is there an aftermarket product that I could buy?



Dz


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J

Nice idea.

Take some pictures and do some drawings. Then post them here.

I have my satnav clipped to a braket on the cup holder next to the radio on a S60.

John.

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D

I've think I've just seen a picure of what I need: Police Volvo come with a cubby to install a police radio or a Tracker (Lo-jack) tracker unit. It can be seen on page 5 of the Police Volvo brochure:

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(I can't tell if it retracts or not.)

Anyone know where I can get one of these? TIA Dz

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R

Sounds interesting, but a couple of points.

If I understand the installation correctly the display would pop up from that box when needed. If so, check whether the display would obstruct the view and whether that obstruction would attract the attention of the local police. Also, since the unit will be in direct sunlight will it handle all the heat build-up in summer. And finally, will the display be bright enough to work in direct sunlight.

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D

Do you mean I might get pulled over by the law, and given a ticket, probably by a copper in a V70 with the same unit on his dashboard?

as above, if its good enough for the Old Bill...

Anyone know where I can get one? (I've emailed Volvo UK and haven't received their 'can't be bothered to find out' reply yet.)

Dz

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R

If you want to get into an argument about whether police equipment is correct or legal or violates your rights, please take that nonsense elsewhere.

If you want advice on what will work and what potential problems are seen with your installation then feel free to ask.

I have no idea what you are talking about. If you want to take some consumer grade GPS unit that may not have enough brilliance to be visible in direct sunlight and bake in in the sun, then feel free.

But take your libertarian nonsense elsewhere.

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R

a certain party, in France in the nobility, in Switzerland in the burgesses, etc.

These cords which bind the respect of men to such and such an individual are therefore the cords of imagination.

305. The Swiss are offended by being called gentlemen, and prove themselves true plebeians in order to be thought worthy of great office.

306. As duchies, kingships, and magistracies are real and necessary, because might rules all, they exist everywhere and always. But since only caprice makes such and such a one a ruler, the principle is not constant, but subject to variation, etc.

307. The chancellor is grave and clothed with ornaments, for his position is unreal. Not so the king; he has power and has nothing to do with the imagination. Judges, physicians, etc., appeal only to the imagination.

308. The habit of seeing kings accompanied by guards, drums, officers, and all the paraphernalia which mechanically inspire respect and awe, makes their countenance, when sometimes seen alone without these accompaniments, impre

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R

the significance of the word enemy is dependent on the ultimate end, the righteous understood by it their passions, and the carnal the Babylonians; and so these terms were obscure only for the unrighteous. And this is what Isaiah says: Signa legem in electis meis,101 and that Jesus Christ shall be a stone of stumbling. But, "Blessed are they who shall not be offended in him." Hosea 14:9, says excellently, "Where is the wise? and he shall understand what I say. The righteous shall know them, for the ways of God are right; but the transgressors shall fall therein."

572. Hypothesis that the apostles were impostors. The time clearly, the manner obscurely. Five typical proofs. 1600 prophets. 400 scattered.

-----

2000 573. Blindness of Scripture.--"The Scripture," said the Jews, "says that we shall not know whence Christ will come (John 7:27, and 12:34)--The Scripture says that Christ abideth for ever, and He said that He should die." Therefore, says Saint John, they believed not, though He had done so many miracles, that the word of Isaiah might be fulfilled: "He hath blinded them," etc.

574. Greatness.--Religion is so great a thing that it is right that those who will not take the trouble to seek it, if it be obscure, should be deprived of it. Why, then, do any complain, if it be such as can be found by seeking?

575. All things work together for good to the elect, even the obscurities of Scripture; for they honour them because of what is divinely clear. And all things work together for evil to the rest of the world, even what is clear; for they revile such, because of the obscurities which they do not understand.

576. The general conduct of the world towards the Church: God willing to blind and to enlighten.--The event having proved the divinity of these prophecies, the rest ought to be believed. And thereby we see the order of the world to be of this kind. The miracles of the Creation and the

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R

This is exactly where Volvo puts their factory installed sat-nav units. Some slide up vertically out of the dash and others (like the one in my C30) lie face down in a recess in the dash and then flip up when turned on.

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R

True. But their units will be designed for operation in the sun. An after-market unit may not be. My point is that he should look into these issues before performing permanent surgery on the very visible dashboard.

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R

Yeah, but come on... Just about every single one of those after market units comes with a *suction cup mount*. That pretty much dictates sticking it to the windshield and on the dashboard.

There's very rarely any other surface inside a car smooth enough to use a suction cup besides the windows and sunroof. The fact that they retract or are attached to moving doors pretty much rules out the side glass and sunroof so all you are left with is the windshield.

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