Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
Finished! Only thing left is some drying out
I removed the console completely from the car and worked on it under cover.
Photo of my instalation; rear of console is to the left.
Took me 4 hours non-stop, but I was being slow and careful, so I only broke one plug If you're a novice I'd not recommend you doing this yourself but take up TFC on his excellent offer; I rated this at 4 out of 5 spanners.
Note I have not included a how-to guide; this excellent offer was a result of TFC and Nick getting their heads together (thanks guys!), so it seemed very wrong to exclude TFC by showing the forum (and TFCs competitors) how to do this.
Click image to enlarge
Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
Last edited by stapldm on 1st Aug 2009 6:11 pm. Edited 1 time in total
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
I couldn't find my duct tape, or my silicone sealant...I'm such a DIY failure Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
1st Aug 2009 6:18 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
WTF
That's a serious collection of bits and bobs and boxes Stapldm
Would you mind running through them for me, the lower one looks like it has a USB connector on it and is a switched mode Power supply
Did all that come in the kit or do you have a few other bits you threw in for your particular set up.
Also the location is a bit confusing, and there was me thinking i knew the physicals of the D3 like the back of my hand, is that the underside of the centre console with the cup holder removed?
On removing the cup holder and space issue, sorry to be a while inputting on that, i had a 2 hour techno e-mail to write to wiggs who is currently and kindly trialing our Flash loading stuff.
Its a real pig, especially access wise with rear seats in, but perhaps a more slender chap than i may not feel the same, but i found and used a technique which worked so well, i would feel terrible if i did not share and describe as best i can to help out.
As you see by the kindly provided photo there is a raised centre dog and two sprung loaded barbs at each side. The centre one can be overcome with a little BFI (Brute force and Ignorance) perhaps with a little downward flexing.
The two side ones however require more finesse.
I removed both side torx screws to allow me to lift he rear of the entire console a little, then put my one hand under to feel for the underside of one barb. keeping my one hand there I then used a reasonably sharp flat bladed screw driver in the other hand to find the front face of the upper side of the barb and persuade it to flex downwards. feeling the motion on the bottom i was then able to find sufficient purchase on the now slightly pushed down barb to hold it as i pulled outwards on the tray until the barb was slightly past or under its holding / retaining ledge on the console.
Then without allowing the tray to move back and allow the first barb to re latch i used the same technique on the second barb, however upon release the tray becomes free and able to be slid out.
As for getting enough space for that particular VEBA DVD unit to go there i would have to try it myself, however to the back, bolted to the floor pan there there are two modules, the one is the Airbag ECU and the other the Yaw rate sensor. Not so sure about the Airbag ECU these days, but the earlier ones used to contain a non resettable shock sensor and although a bit lower than the AB ECU, i sure as hell would not want something banging against my Yaw rate sensor while moving as its an amazingly sensitive sensor, actually its an amazing piece of technology with an amazing story behind its introduction, but that's another post.
If i were fitting it there, and i yet might, as i think its an ideal place myself if possible, i would simply make sure its solidly mounted and padded at the rear underside.
1st Aug 2009 9:09 pm
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
Yeah, it was a bit daunting laying it all out in there to find the best fit.
That is indeed the console with the cup tray removed, and the tray was an absolute doddle to remove from underneath when you can tease the barbs up with a screwdriver. No swearing required!
I wanted an invisible install so I put everything there, and as you spotted included the modified content of a 12v cigarette lighter USB power supply to charge the iPod.
Everything else there is part of the kit, and ironically the largest part was the choke.
The top box is the video/audio input block; I've used the provided splitters to feed both screens with the same signal.
The black box that's bolted down is the choke.
The small box to the right of the choke is the central connector/control box.
The white wires are from the iPod.
From looking at the space in there, and the height of the Airbag ECU and the fact that its connector is facing rearwards and taking up even more space, I'd say it was pretty unlikely to get a DVD player in there. Half of it maybe
Edit : Airbag, not ABS.Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
1st Aug 2009 10:08 pm
cheddarwards
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 169
I ended up fitting the DVD player in the top glove box (as Lex suggested it was just too tight in the cup holder space), fits like a dream & the added bonus is that the Veba remote control works the headrests as well (individually). I'm in the process of putting a couple of films onto SD cards & then i'll try them in the car.
For £250 its as good if not better then the factory instal
2nd Aug 2009 10:04 am
RR38HANS
Member Since: 22 Jul 2008
Location: BRUGES
Posts: 179
Headrests have been fitted, wife very happy since she has half inch more room behind her head.
Kids not happy, I still have to do the electrics.
Looks like the hard part will be hidding all the hardware.
Half din size dvd player should be arriving in a few days05 TDV6 HSE AUTO 7seats, tonga green/alpaca, alpine roof, privacy glass, tow kit, wood kit, 20" stormers n summer, 18" in winter, fancy exhausts, rear seat ent., club fooked turbo!
RANGE ROVER 1995 SOFTDASH (sold)
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TRIUMPH TR6 OD
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AUDI A2 TDI
2nd Aug 2009 9:36 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
Stapldm
Yea i did mine (remove rear cup tray) a few times before with the console out, it sure is easier
Surprising number of addition boxes etc.
Am i right in thinking that you therefore cannot now re insert the cup tray
And you sure could not put the VEBA DVD there now even if it would have otherwise fitted.
3rd Aug 2009 4:53 pm
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
BBS, I'm sure the DVD player never had any chance of fitting in there at all,, and now the cupholder has no chance either.
Thankfully the front/handle comes off the tray so I have velcro'd that back in place to keep it all neat. It's not like anyone knew the tray was there to use it anyway
One of the un-anticipated advantages of removing the whole console, was that I was able to wash off 2 1/2 years of kiddie dribble/chocolate/sweets/ketchup/milk etc by upending it in the sink and scrubbing
The only thing I have left to try and mend is the cam-gear lever on the connector to the auto gearbox assembly; mine snapped as I was gently undoing it
I suspect it'll have to live with just the one side working as it looks about as rare as rocking horse poo Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
4th Aug 2009 10:54 am
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
I might just have one piece of that rocking horse poo somewhere, have to have a look see.
If i have, its yours, if not i should at least be able to find you the manufacturer and the part number.
That connector is a pig when in situ, i ended up using 2 screw drivers to free it. Felt like a beginner with chop sticks at a sushi bar
Know / agree with what you mean about the rear cup holders being a bit hidden though. Actually it always amazed me just how many cup / bottle holders there are in the D3.
So otherwise the only other suggestion here for a DVD mount is the top glove box, anyone got any more suggestions?
I am thinking rear quarters as there is a lot of room behind those panels.
I would like to come up with somewhere that did not detract any from the existing storage capability, especially something as usable and accessible as the upper glove box.
4th Aug 2009 5:28 pm
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
Thanks BBS, appreciate it.
Just a thought, but wouldn't a 3/4 din player just fit vertically where the sunglasses/pen tray is, that rubber strip to the left of the Auto gearbox the other side of the EPB switch? I seem to recall there was a lot of space in there, and maybe the width could be increased to make it fit?
The same vertical trick might just work directly forward of the gear stick; better hidden but you might have to be in Drive to change disks
I suspect it'd be hard to make it look good though. It's a shame that there aren't any the size of a ultra-thin PC type external ones, that'd work a treat.Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
Not sure why you all want a DVD player - bit like CDs, you don't really want jewel cases and disks littering the car. If your children aren't plugging their iPods in, how about a £25 solid state player that's about the size of half a pack of cards and a USB thumb drive with the pre-school faves on?Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 169
I do agree with Lex that the future is electronic media, but until i can be bothered to rip all my DVD's onto other formats a mixture of DVD's & MP4's will have to do.
Can anybody suggest where i can find a permanant 12V feed in the front passenger side (i need it for the DVD player so that it remembers where it was when i turn the ignition on/off)?
6th Aug 2009 8:47 pm
JND72
Member Since: 15 Jan 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 17
Will these headrests fit in the second row outer seats without mods? ie. for those sitting in the 3rd row?
10th Aug 2009 1:49 am
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
If they fit mechanically, then you could do it.
Try pull out one of the front headrests and insert in the middle row and if it works, then these headrests should fit too..
The only potential challenge would be that the wiring would have to be extra long on account of the middle row seats folding up and away etc., but that can be managed if you route the wiring along the seat frames and down to the front where it hinges
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If you're a novice I'd not recommend you doing this yourself but take up TFC on his excellent offer; I rated this at 4 out of 5 spanners.
Yeah, it was a bit daunting laying it all out in there to find the best fit.
