Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
Mounting an iPad 2 in D4
After having seen a few versions of iPad 2 mounts in D3 or D4 I decided to have a go myself.
I didn't follow precisely the approach taken by others. I wanted to:
- Go for a really neat and tidy install and a low profile mount for the iPad
- Have the iPad mount really easily removable when not in use with minimal remaining on show
- Have the iPad mount usable by passenger and not interfering with passengers knee
- Not obscure windscreen in any way / be legal
So I have ended up with a hybrid approach:
- Brodit D4 car mount as the foundation
- Brodit iPad 2 cradle (wall mount version) as the basis for the cradle
- Ram Mount 1" long arm (about 5" long) to connect mount to cradle
- Ram 1" ball joints with M10 screw to fit to cradle and mounts for the Ram arm.
Starting point - Brodit D4 mount:
Click image to enlarge
Starting Point - Ram 1" long arm & ball joints
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Starting point - Brodit iPad 2 cradle
Click image to enlarge
First modification step was then to drill and tap (M10) for the screw ball to attach to the Brodit mount. The ball screws well into the double thickness of plastic on the back of the cradle. Screw protruded no more than 0.5mm on front of mount so a little filing and it was flush. Sticker used on face side to cover original/new holes and Brodit badge (which I removed):
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Then to drill/tap the Brodit mount for the other ball. The mount is thinner than cradle so it's screwed in and then a M10 nut secures on the back. I've also modified the plate to be a bit visually neater (Dremmel, file and wet and dry paper down to 1200 grit):
Click image to enlarge
Then to install in car - the mount. As this stays in place all the time I didn't want it to look too ugly! I've used a piece of closed cell foam behind the mount and the console - this stiffened up the mount assembly nicely and can't be seen at all.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Add the arm and cradle on. This uses a single thumb screw on the Ram Mount mount and takes about 5 seconds to fit or remove:
Click image to enlarge
And then the iPad 2. A 20cm iPad lead provides power via a mini Belkin USB adaptor in the 12v socket. I also have a iPad connector to a USB plug and a separate 3.5mm jack. This can go into the Aux Jack in the centre console to provide sound through car's speakers - good for movies!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
In practice, works well and iPad screen is easy to reach (perhaps easier than dash touch screen). Articulation of ball joints is best to driver's side but is a bit restricted towards the passenger. I thought this would be the case when looking at the components so this wasn't a surprise. It took me a while hunting on-line and then measuring in the car to find the 'right' components that would allow the right look/style and positioning so that it would work for driver and passenger. I hope others find this helpful.
Modification and installation took about 90mins including photos so its pretty easy.
Why did I do it, because I could!
Last edited by RichardB on 1st Jan 2012 11:13 pm. Edited 6 times in total
17th Dec 2011 11:57 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73132
The wood effect on the D4 is very good!!
17th Dec 2011 12:00 pm
RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
DSL wrote:
The wood effect on the D4 is very good!!
Yeup, IKEA birch. You can get a kit to do the entire interior of the D4. I have it over everything now, dash, dials, carpets and seats. Gives a 'kitchen table' effect... which is 'nice'
17th Dec 2011 12:27 pm
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 5224
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Re: Mounting an iPad 2 in D4
RichardB wrote:
Starting point - Brodit D4 mount:
Click image to enlarge
How does this piece fit in, does it glue to the console or something else?Cheers Ian
--------------------
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17th Dec 2011 9:35 pm
RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
Yes, it clips onto the centre console. You can see it in some of the later pics with the ball head fitted and attached to the console but I did also change the shape of the plate.
17th Dec 2011 9:43 pm
Preacher
Member Since: 15 Aug 2009
Location: NE Victoria
Posts: 141
Richard great install
the Brodit D4 mount - will it also fit the D3 - infact will your entire assembly also fit a D3 if we follow your instructions.
thanks for your effort
dj05 Bonati Grey TDV6 SE, triple Rhino roof racks, rooftop tent, Traxside USI-160 system, triple batteries with duel yellow tops, GME UHF. Mitchell Bros tow hitch, LED internal lights, 265/70/17 maxis bighorns, steel rims, Llams, Maxtrax, Engel and Bushman fridges, Hema navigator, Engine remap. Towing 12ft O/R Regal Desert Series.
1st Jan 2012 11:34 am
RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
Preacher
For the D3, I think the Brodit mount fits in a different place. Higher up on the centre console. See the link below.
Because of this it's probably a bit easier than the D4 as you could use a shorter arm. It might even be possible to dispense with the arm entirely and just use the standard brodit mount with its swivel mount back (I used the wall mount version that doesn't have the swivel because it gets in the way of the RAM ball joint) Wiggs has done this i belive; see pics in his gallery. If you do want to use the RAM arms then you can follow my approach for mounting the ball heads etc. I'm pretty sure this is as neat as I could make it.
Since posting the stuff above, I milled a bit out of the RAM arm's bottom joint (using a Dremmel) to give better articulation of the screen towards the passenger. Now it works really well and the mod is invisible in use.
Hope that helps.
1st Jan 2012 3:10 pm
Wildrover
Member Since: 19 Jul 2005
Location: Walkabout
Posts: 628
Richard
The mod you have done is great
Where did you get the Ram arm and ball ends?2007 D3 HSE Artic Frost Silverish
Wandering Aussie-Looking for SUN
Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional.
26th Jun 2012 2:34 pm
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1319
Wildrover wrote:
Richard
The mod you have done is great
Where did you get the Ram arm and ball ends?
Yes would also appreciate links to components used in the useful mod?A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
26th Jun 2012 8:47 pm
RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
I got the RAM mount components as below though there are are other suppliers these are the specific components.
The Brodit pieces came from elsewhere as I didn't particularly like the look of the RAM versions. Hope that helps.
Setup is still going strong and thanks for your feedback.
26th Jun 2012 11:30 pm
fmb123
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 125
Richard,
Just followed you guide above, and used exactly the same parts, except the D3 brodit holder and the ram ipad mini holder rather than brodit one.
really pleased thanks for sharing (even though 2 years ago!)
will post a pic when i get the chance if anyone interested to see what it looks like in a D3.Current -
2018 Discovery 5 Commercial
1988 3.5 Range Rover Classic
1993 4.6 Range Rover Classic LSE
2006 Audi RS4 Avant
Gone - 2007 Discovery 3
18th Aug 2014 1:07 pm
RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
That's great. Very pleased that you found it useful.
I have to admit that I've also since 'upgraded' it by changing the holder to an iPad mini (retina) Brodit holder. It actually works and looks a bit better with the iPad Mini.
Interesting that you used the RAM holder instead of the Brodit one. I found that the Brodit mini holder is not as thick as the old ipad one so I had to add a bit of plastic to the back to give sufficient depth for the ball head to be screwed into the back of it. So it turned out to be a bit more fiddly than the original version.
18th Aug 2014 4:30 pm
fmb123
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 125
then the brodit mount plus the ball, i didnt use a nut though, just a threaded hole and a little araldite. going to cut off the excess out the back when i get a chance.
any pictures of your updated setup?Current -
2018 Discovery 5 Commercial
1988 3.5 Range Rover Classic
1993 4.6 Range Rover Classic LSE
2006 Audi RS4 Avant
Gone - 2007 Discovery 3
18th Aug 2014 4:40 pm
HansTorgeir
Member Since: 09 Sep 2019
Location: Slåstad
Posts: 3
Hi
Im trying to make a fit like this, but im just wondring, how did the ProClip hold up over the years?
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