Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

So searching around on the web, I've noticed that some people have installed an iPad mini into the front console of the Carrera (996) and the later year boxster (2003+). Both of these model years come with what is known as the horseshoe front bezel. This bezel has a slim, single cup holder right below the air vents that people have used to help install the iPad. The design on the console is different from those with Boxsters from 1997-2003 and so i didn't know if an iPad would fit in my Boxster.

This weekend I tried experimenting with the possibility of putting an ipad mini in our version of the bezel. I'm not quite done with it but below is a picture of it so far. As it stands now, I'm pretty optimistic about it working. If there's enough interest in how to do this, I'll post some "along the way" photos and some instruction on how to accomplish this.

P.S. Don't mind the crappy iPad mini. I decided to use a fake one for testing rather than investing in a new one.

Here's the picture of how it looks so far
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1381639563.jpg

It looks like there are some big gaps in the bottom. If you're going to post some "along the way" photos, let's do it right the first time?


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I like it! Nice work. How will you get it to turn off when you remove the key?

Definitely interested. I have looked at those other threads too. I am planning on getting the new mini when it comes out since it should have the retina display. Looking forward to see what you come up with.

For those who haven't seen the 6speed post, here is the link:

iPad Mini in-dash install [996 MkII] - 6speedonline.com Forums

You must be looking at a different picture since I spent my day making sure the gaps are no different than those in the car already. If you have the same bezel arrangement in your car then you can see that the clover parts of the bezel are slightly raised from the the center portion, a couple mm or so.

Here is the original one in the car
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1381678486.jpg

Here is mine
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1381678514.jpg

How much material have you had to remove? What head unit are you planning on using? Looks great so far!

Urban, I've been considering multiple options for this question. I plan on having the iPad Mini connected to a USB-to-cigarette-lighter that is wired behind the dash. That way, whenever the car is on, it will be powered.

Now, one thing I noticed is that the cigarette lighter is always hot in our boxsters. To get around this I've come up with two possible solutions. The first is that I'll wire a relay switch in series with the charger and connect it to a wire that only goes live when the car is on, effectively only letting the iPad charge when the car is on. The second option is to use the footwell lighting switch from the targa (available at ****************************************************) as a controllable switch so that the iPad charges only when I want it too and will automatically turn off when the car is off (because the switch will no longer be powered)

Thanks for all the support. I just ordered a radio removal tool so that I can get into my dash and do a quick swap for visual comparison.

I've removed the raised edges on the bezel. When I am able to get out the bezel in my car I'll do a picture comparison of the two. Basically I flattened the bezel. As far as the head unit goes, no idea. It just needs to have an aux in on the back lol. One other cool thing is that the iPad can connect to the OBD II system and provide real time engine diagnostics while driving :)

I hear that epapp is working on a "true solution" for the IMSB problem that can actually give you realtime info about the IMSB condition and if it pans out well, there may be an app that you can put on the mini and monitor the IMSB while driving. *this is all speculation btw*

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1381679655.jpg

The result makes the iPad really flush with the clover portions if the bezel.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1381679750.jpg

Did you pick up a used trim piece? I've thought of doing that to practice on and or use, keeping the original if I wanted to go back to stock. Thanks for the pics.

There's a huge Porsche salvage yard by my work so I picked up a bezel to test on. There are some imperfections in it but I hope when I sand it and spray it, they will disappear. If you can find a cheap bezel, i'd recommend testing with it unless you're confident in your Dremel skills and know for a fact you want the iPad in there.

That's what I was thinking also, thanks.

In my car there is a "Cell Phone Prep" behind the console that is tied only on with the ignition... I hard wired my radar detector into that, but it should word for your iPad, too. Not sure if all model years have that wiring, though.

I really like what Soundwaves of Tampa is doing with the magnetic mounts. Here is a link to some install pictures.

Soundwaves of Tampa, Florida (813) 849-1104 - Photo Gallery

With that mount, the head unit is behind the mini, so you could keep the cubby down below. Also, easy to pop the mini out and use it outside the car.

The magnetic mount sounds like a really cool alternative. I wonder if it works on the 986 models? The reason I'm a bit skeptical is because the mini is slightly larger than the double din space, hence why some cutting of the trim piece is needed. To make the mini magnet mountable, I would imagine you would have to raise it I front of the bezel. This kind of ruins the OEM feel, IMO, and makes it look like an attachment. In the pictures I saw with the magnetic mount, the mini fit snug in the trim and looked "fully installed" rather than an add-on. Just my two cents.

Yea, I just said I really like it. I don't have the fabrication skills required and Soundwaves would charge a pretty penny to make it look OEM. They do nice work. I am sure if one was to send them a bezel they could fabricate something, but again, at what cost? Might have to contact them at some point and find out.

Yeah, I agree with you, it looks killer! I don't doubt it will be expensive, especially when you mention it's for a Porsche lol.

I saw mention of a price in an article that stated it was around $800:eek:

Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

Does that include the iPad mini? I can't imagine they're going to charge $800 just to make the trim.

No, ipad extra!

Here is the link. Looks like $800 includes installation. I would like to know how much for just the custom trim piece.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/check-out-the-first-in-car-install-of-apple-ipad-mini/

so, since I can definitely tell you live in Vallejo, once you're done, what will you do to stop people from stealing it? Having a glass display sitting in your dashboard doesn't just scream 'slash my soft top/break my windows and take me', it screams, 'slash my soft top/break my windows AND rip apart my dash board to steal me all before anyone cares about the alarm going off'.

I suppose once a jailbreak comes out, you can install the app I once had, which, if the incorrect iPad unlock code is entered or someone tries to turn off the iPad without entering the correct lock code, it takes a picture and emails it to you plus the location of the iPad. Buuuut, if you want the new iPad mini, good luck waiting to get a jailbreak. Your IMS will probably blow before then. :p

Bloody hell, $800 for installation only??? that is ripping off LIVE!

If you need a custom trim please do let me know... got one 5 axis CNC milling machine, one 4 axis horizontal CNC mill, and 2 Okuma CNC lathe set-ups right here at the circuit. All Japanese TQ machinery. Just pass on a drawing and give me a few hours

You give the word "pessimist" a brand new meaning. Well done!

Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

Ohh effee.... I guess I'll just have to park in police parking lots whenever I go out. Whatevs, if that's the price of awesomeness, I'll take that over a salvaged car any day. As for the IMS, I've read that cars that run at higher RPMs have shown less failures so I guess I'll be shifting later and enjoying the torque curve that Porsche provided.

I have been thinking of doing a touchscreen as well, but it needs to do everything, music, gps navigation, interface with blue tooth OBDII for aux guages and track use, accelerometer for measuring g's, and wifi, plus removable so I can take it with me.

That being the case an ipad is not up to the task, so perhaps a windows os tablet or android with those features and peripheral ports is what im thinking.

Form factor will be important, and for either project we need to find someone with a plastic printer (reprap) to print a bezel for the space around the unit.

The mini does have gps, music, navigation, an accelerometer, wifi, and I think an obd II reading capability? But it definitely won't be removable. I'm sure you can find some android tablets that will work and be removable. E really just need to be a quarter of an inch smaller. I suppose with a plastic printer the range of tablets you can use does grow. Excited to see if you find a way to pull it off.

As for the ipad mini installation, I'm not really gonna get to do anything else until next weekend. I'll probably sand and spray the trim throughout the week, but until the new mini comes out, I don't see a point in buying one just to have its price reduced by nearly $100 a week later.


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The problem with the OBD reader is that:

1) you need a wireless type connector for the obd port. Thats all fine and good, except the bluetooth connector I got stays powered even with the car off, so I can't leave it in the car (hassle).

2) It definitely needs to be wireless because with an iPad, you won't have a way to connect it up (iPad connector will be used for power).

The app for apple devices is much more limited than the Torque app for android. I also didn't find a way to link my non-jailbroken iPad up to the bluetooth connector. I needed it to be jailbroken so that you can install the bluetooth hack that allows the iPad to see all bluetooth broadcasts and not just approved ones. The non jailbroken iPad did not see the bluetooth network broadcast form the obd connector.

..........

nah, i just troll threads and bash people I know personally for fun :p

Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

Epapp is just trying to make up for the lack of 0.2l in his Boxster :P

Tick-tock goes the clock...

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...3AE630F3EB.jpg

Who will be first? :eek:

IIRC, our cars are literally the same speed up that long hill in the same gear at the same speed when putting the pedal to the floor. That means I'm getting better gas mileage, and lugging a lighter load. All with my DUAL row IMS. :dance:

Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

Ohhhhh, I didn't know we were putting the pedal to the floor. I'll be sure to do that next time ;)

But back on topic. I plan on spraying the trim piece and center console tomorrow and Wednesday. I'm torn between a couple options right now. The first is spraying it that arctic silver color, the second is the seal gray, and the last two options are going with flat or glossy black. Any suggestions? I've posted a couple pictures for reference. I've also been entertaining the idea of black brushed metal vinyl wrap :O

My car
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/jesysevu.jpg

Silver trim
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/umubu8ur.jpg

Seal gray
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/ty3uzyze.jpg

Vinyl
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/15/eqename5.jpg

Personally, I would leave it stock(black) since it will blend in with the black border of the ipad. Once you change the color of the horseshoe, you will end up doing the rest of the interior, unless that I what you want to do.

Getting my PhD in interior designing, I like to think I know paint colors.

I think silver, given your grey interior, would not match very well. The only option I would consider for myself would be a seal grey center console/horseshoe/door trim pieces, all black pieces or all pieces a totally different color, like a dark metallic red.

Ipad mini in-dash installation
 

Quick update on the progress so far.

I got the system in the car and now I'm deciding how to spray the trim and console. I'm still bouncing around gloss black, flat black, the color you see, or I could be bold and go with a glossy dark, almost burgundy, red (which I would accent with some red dash lights, seatbelts, and door storage flap)
All input welcome..... Besides epapp, he has some bearings to be playing with anyways :P

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/e6a8ehyb.jpg

It seems like that front facing camera will have the perfect angle to see......absolutely nothing. you should angle the iPad and tilt it towards you within the plastic horseshoe. How will we video chat while both driving?

more like a phd in inferior design if you believe everyone else.

anyways, I say cover it in leather or alcantara and to door trim, console lid, etc., to match. covering it will allow you to hide all those chintzy button blanks that cheapen the car.

How can the center console be covered in leather, it has so many curves and corners? I wonder how a reddish leather would look if doing it is possible.....

Also, I only have two blanks on the buttons so far and I plan on using them up with the spoiler button and garage door buttons from the targa.