Fitting the ipod connector in the centre cubby / fridge lid
After a spate of thefts from cars and broken windows near where I work, I decided that I didn’t want my ipod on display, or even an ipod connector on display to attract attention. I saw a picture posted by graemesmith showing the connector could fit in the lid of the centre cubby, in place of the phone connector:
Using that information, and instructions posted by wiggs and bkehoe for getting the centre console and fridge out, I moved my ipod connector today.
I won't reproduce the ipod kit fitting instructions as LR did a pretty good job on them, and anyway I had already fitted the ipod kit, and was just moving the ipod connector.
Step 1: remove the centre H radio surround
- remove the rubber tray in front of the nav screen
- give the radio surround a sharp tug at it straight outwards
Step 2: remove the centre console
- remove the rubber tray under the 12v outlets
- undo the torx screw under the park brake switch
- remove the gear lever (automatic must be in P) by pulling it straight upwards
- grab front end of silver plastic (near front cup holders) pull upwards
- release the back end by the cubby box / fridge - just little clips
- undo cable connectors for TR etc
- remove the top silvery part out the way
Step 3: Remove the fridge (if fitted - I don't know what the procedure would be for removing the centre cubby box)
- remove the two t40 torx screws from the hinge of the cubby lid and unclip the two silver plastic trims - pull them upwards
- Remove 2 torx screws at the front of the fridge
- unplug the power supply
- pull the fridge unit upwards
Step 4: remove the phone cradle (if fitted)
- remove four torx screws
- pull the square rubber grommit out where the wire goes behind the fridge
- unplug the antenna and data connectors
Now you've uncovered everything, it becomes a bit trial and error. Here's what I did.
- remove the two small philips screws from the back of the connector to remove the 'bump'
- drill and countersink three holes in the ipod connector
- screw the connector into the cubby lid with some short (10mm) self-tapping screws
- I tried feeding the cable round out of the way, but it made it all too short. So basically, don't do this:
- remove the torx screws holding in the hazard light button panel, audio head unit, heating / AC controls and 12v outlets
- remove the ipod module from where I'd fitted it to the right of the nav screen
- feed the ipod module wiring looms down behind the head unit
- I tried fitting the ipod module down at the bottom, below the 12v outlets, but I couldn't get it all back together in this position
- so instead (as directed by wiggs) I stuffed the ipod module in the space behind the heating / AC controls:
- the wire to the ipod connector was probably about 3" shorter than I needed so I had to be very careful how I routed it
Anyway, all that done, I tested it (these ipod connectors seem to be notorious for not working until you've unplugged and replugged them 20 times) and I left it all turned on while I refitted all the fascia.
End result:
Click image to enlarge
Last edited by bobbycrispbox on 6th Apr 2008 11:11 pm. Edited 1 time in total
6th Apr 2008 10:53 pm
blue meanie D3 Decade
Member Since: 04 Aug 2005
Location: Newbury
Posts: 6861
nicely done BCB got a feeling I might be doing something similar in the near future. and theeeeennn......???
i put the ipod module in the space around the gearstick
Yup, there's bags of room there. I can't remember why I didn't put it there now
wiggs wrote:
Dont recall that
Must have misunderstood your post then
6th Apr 2008 11:10 pm
Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
So how do you watch your videos on the move now
7th Apr 2008 7:04 am
malky
Member Since: 27 Dec 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
plz don't think I'm rude
but
With the fridge on and lid down,
will not the screen fog over anyway ?
but a great mod - has other application potential+======
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7th Apr 2008 7:48 am
ferrett
Member Since: 15 Jan 2006
Location: West
Posts: 298
What sort of control do you have over the iPod using the cradle? I have steering wheel audio controls so can I just change tracks or do you see track info in the radio display and have the ability to navigate through playlists?
I am currently using the Belkin dock connector with the Aux port and I have located the iPod in the tray over the fridge, this works fine apart from the hassle in changing tracks. Installing the iPod cradle seems alot of work if you only have the ability to change tracks.
BCB nice photos2012 D4 - SDV6 XS - Firenze Red
15th Apr 2008 11:25 am
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
ferrett wrote:
What sort of control do you have over the iPod using the cradle? I have steering wheel audio controls so can I just change tracks
Yes...you can change tracks/albums/playlists and ffwd/rewind tracks.
ferrett wrote:
or do you see track info in the radio display and have the ability to navigate through playlists?
Nope....no such luck.....I have the LR ACM kit and I think it's great , however I have to be honest and say that a simple Belkin dock connector provides just as much value for money (less features, but also less cost).
I would say that if you like everything to look 'just right' and you would appreciate the steering wheel controls (very important in my opinion), then I would go for the ACM kit....
By the way, the ACM kit also gives you extra RCA audio inputs and a USB socket to play mp3 files directly from a USB pendrive/HDD....whether this is useful or not is a purely personal decision, but I like having it available 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
15th Apr 2008 1:16 pm
chillisauce
Member Since: 04 Sep 2007
Location: St Cergue
Posts: 32
Nice job Bob but three things;
a) i bet the dash rattles lika a duck!
b) can you still get 500ml coke in the fridge?
c) does keeping you iPod in the fridge make your music cooler?D3 Zermatt Silver TDV6 HSE (have)
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18th May 2009 2:48 pm
Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
Well he did this over a year ago so I guess he's cool with the conversion
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got a feeling I might be doing something similar in the near future. 
, however I have to be honest and say that a simple Belkin dock connector provides just as much value for money (less features, but also less cost).
