Semi-permanent, E39-specific dashboard phone mount options? Panavise, ProFit, etc.

[computiNATEor]

I've been spending some time upgrading various bits and bobs of my interior lately, and I'm close to having Bluetooth streaming and calling integrated into the factory navigation system. As such, I may use my phone more frequently for phone calls and music.

Right now, I simply use my phone for Google Maps directions by placing my iPhone 7 horizontally in the cupholder tray area. However, in California it is illegal to hold a cell phone and to make more than a simple, single tap/swipe on a "GPS" device. These laws are (unfortunately) rarely enforced (or even enforceable), but I'd still like to abide by them. I do enough speeding; one crime at a time 'n' all that.

I've settled on the "iOttie Easy One Touch 4" mount for my phone. It's secure, easy to use, and well-reviewed. I hope it doesn't rattle, because it looks like exactly the product I want. It uses a 17mm mounting ball on a suction cup mount, but it comes apart easily (which is good for me).

I don't want a suction cup stuck to the window or the dashboard; I want something more nicely integrated and slick than that. I am looking at various E39 hard-mounting locations, and I've seen a few that tie into a bolt underneath the dashboard trim to the right side of the navigation screen. I have a small crack in the dashboard trim (because it's just painted Vavona wood) right where this mount would be, so it would hide the blemish, look slick (I think), and hopefully provide a secure, easily visible and reachable location to mount my phone when it's giving me directions or playing music.

Currently, my plan is to have my iPhone 7 held by the iOttie, secured to a 17mm ball AMPs mounting plate, secured to a bracket secured to the car. Basically:

636139

Plus:

636138

Plus:
636137

Equals:
636136

I'd like to hear some opinions on these options, and what you would do.

Here are some links for more details:
https://www.iottie.com/Product/Detail/5043/Easy-One-Touch-4-Dash-_-Windshield-Mount
https://www.pro-fit-intl.com/product-page/17mm-ball-adapter-plate
https://www.pro-fit-intl.com/product-page/bmw-530i-2001-2002
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/panavise-indash-mount-for-1996-2003-bmw-5-series-vehicles-matte-black/4271104.p?skuId=4271104
https://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/575162-where-mount-phone-hpde.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphLb_06sGs&feature=youtu.be

[JimLev]

I've had a few of the ones you linked to in the past. Didn't like the bulk or looks of them plus it's on the pass side and 'someone' kept saying it was in their way.

Then when I was in Philly's car I saw this little mount that I then bought. It clamps to the vent, you stick a very small magnet on the back side of your phone and your done.
https://www.amazon.com/Tetrax-72009-Smartphone-Cellphone-Magnetic/dp/B0030IMXF4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536154529&sr=8-3&keywords=tetrax+smart

[computiNATEor]

I've had a few of the ones you linked to in the past. Didn't like the bulk or looks of them plus it's on the pass side and 'someone' kept saying it was in their way.

Then when I was in Philly's car I saw this little mount that I then bought. It clamps to the vent, you stick a very small magnet on the back side of your phone and your done.
https://www.amazon.com/Tetrax-72009-Smartphone-Cellphone-Magnetic/dp/B0030IMXF4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536154529&sr=8-3&keywords=tetrax+smart

I'm not a fan of the air vent mounts because they block an air vent, which means the phone can overheat in the winter or get so cold it can have condensation trouble in the summer. I also don't like glueing things to my devices; I have a general fear of adhesives.

IMO, this is a form-follows-function thing, like my Ultimate Cup Holders. Not beautiful, but very practical.

[cnsorial]

I just leave my phone in the tray in front of the “cupholders.”

Then again I don’t daily drive mine and I have a Dynavin N6 that I control my music through. And the Dynavin isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

What about some type of bracket attached to the passenger side of the center console?


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[BarryM]

I'm not a fan of the air vent mounts because they block an air vent, which means the phone can overheat in the winter or get so cold it can have condensation trouble in the summer.

I use a similar vent mount when I really need to use a modern nav unit from the iPhone but most of the time I use the MK IV nav and have music through an iPod dock that works off the steering wheel.

And you can close the air vent.....


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[philly98540]

As Jim said, I'm a fan of the Tetrax, but phone mounts are very personal. No mount is perfect so pick what works for you. Yours looks solid and easy to use, but it's a bit big and bulky. Mine is minimal but blocks part of the vent.

[computiNATEor]

I just leave my phone in the tray in front of the “cupholders.”

Then again I don’t daily drive mine and I have a Dynavin N6 that I control my music through. And the Dynavin isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

What about some type of bracket attached to the passenger side of the center console?

I thought about that. Mounting it down there makes it too far from line-of-sight, which is challenging for GPS use.


I use a similar vent mount when I really need to use a modern nav unit from the iPhone but most of the time I use the MK IV nav and have music through an iPod dock that works off the steering wheel.

And you can close the air vent.....

Mk4 nav, which I do have, is just too slow. It's slow to enter destinations, doesn't have accurate routing, and has no traffic capability.

If I could double the air vents in my car, I would, so I don't like closing it off.



As Jim said, I'm a fan of the Tetrax, but phone mounts are very personal. No mount is perfect so pick what works for you. Yours looks solid and easy to use, but it's a bit big and bulky. Mine is minimal but blocks part of the vent.

Right. I think it'll be actually fairly neat, at least as long as there's a phone in the mount. I'll post pics when I get it installed.

[crazy4trains]

I just purchased this and really like it. It's sitting in the Armada right now so I haven't tried it in the E39. I'm on the tall side so i mount this low on the windshield toward the centerline then orient it toward the driver. Perfect location for GPS use but still out of the line of sight when driving. I'll try to remember to take a picture later of it in use.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GNF41G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[geargrinder]

Yeah, as said above: None are perfect really. "Perfect" is probably stuff like "CarPlay" in a new car that has a big touch screen entertainment system that majikly turns into basically a remote screen for your phone.

But for our old hoopties, and the way I trade off the compromises, I go for the widely used window suction cup with mag-mount for the phone.

My arms are long enough to reach it OK (tougher for my wife when she's in the wagon cuz the windshields further away than in her little car), doesnt require fiddling with the 'grabber' arms every time like most of the mechanical grippers, which I find really tedious/annoying/unacceptable. I don't like sticking the plates to my phone so I just slip them into a rubbery case, although recently I bought a lightweight case w/ a metal plate embedded in it already. Being in the window doesn't bother me although I know some people hate that (blocking the vents bugs me more...) We have them in 3 cars so can jump in any car and toss any phone into one...

http://amz.imagnetmount.com/

[computiNATEor]

I'm on the short side, so my arm reach is poor at best. :)

[crazy4trains]

Photos of the above referenced arm that I recently started to use. It's flexible enough that I can mount it low on the windshield to stay out of my field of vision. It also has a fairly long reach. The support doesn't attach, just sits there. I have a hard time putting a suction cup on the windshield much less any other part of the vehicle. No way that I'm gonna permanently mount anything that mars any finish or leaves holes when removed. Can be purchased with magnetic end where phone attaches instead of the claw. For some reason I wanted the claw and not the magnet. The magnet would definitely be more streamlined. I was concerned with the phone falling off the magnet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GNF41G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=viglink20399-20

636212

[geargrinder]

Photos of the above referenced arm that I recently started to use. It's flexible enough that I can mount it low on the windshield to stay out of my field of vision. It also has a fairly long reach. The support doesn't attach, just sits there. I have a hard time putting a suction cup on the windshield much less any other part of the vehicle. No way that I'm gonna permanently mount anything that mars any finish or leaves holes when removed. Can be purchased with magnetic end where phone attaches instead of the claw. For some reason I wanted the claw and not the magnet. The magnet would definitely be more streamlined. I was concerned with the phone falling off the magnet.



I like the suction-cup-plus-prop design. Its more 'visually bulky', but of course that fulcrum point means the weight of the device pushes the suction cup ON all the time, not pulling off. I see they have a magnet version... wonder if the wife would like that to get the phone closer to her... hmmmm... might have to try one...

Re: Magnet... if you use the supplied metal plates falling off is not a problem unless you slam into a huge rim-bending pothole or something like that. It helps to have a sticky case surface - either glossy-sticky, or rubbery-sticky. Generally not a problem, and as I said, we have 3 of them...

[crazy4trains]

Visually bulky, yes. Nonetheless it stays out of the way for me. The intermediate support is not a suction cup. It is just a flat bottom. The only suction cup is at the windshield. It holds OK.

[geargrinder]

The intermediate support is not a suction cup.

I didn't say or think that it was. I said the prop was a fulcrum that helps put pressure on the suction cup (at the windshield) instead of pulling on it like a simple suspended type holder.

If you still don't understand what I'm saying, then... well, physics.

[amancuso]

I'm not a fan of the air vent mounts because they block an air vent, which means the phone can overheat in the winter or get so cold it can have condensation trouble in the summer. I also don't like glueing things to my devices; I have a general fear of adhesives.

IMO, this is a form-follows-function thing, like my Ultimate Cup Holders. Not beautiful, but very practical.

I just shut the vent that is behind it. Works perfectly.

[computiNATEor]

I just shut the vent that is behind it. Works perfectly.

I’m sure it does. However, this is California, where we’re currently experiencing 90°+ weather. I want as much air moving as possible. Also, I used to have one of those mounts, and the sun coming in through the windshield could easily overheat the phone.

[geargrinder]

Yes, that is totes legit Nate, with ours for sure the phone gets too hot on extended max-sun-weather drives. Another reason I might try the arm tho'... might get the phone back out of the sun just a little bit more...

[M 7]

I've been spending some time upgrading various bits and bobs of my interior lately, and I'm close to having Bluetooth streaming and calling integrated into the factory navigation system. As such, I may use my phone more frequently for phone calls and music.

Right now, I simply use my phone for Google Maps directions by placing my iPhone 7 horizontally in the cupholder tray area. However, in California it is illegal to hold a cell phone and to make more than a simple, single tap/swipe on a "GPS" device. These laws are (unfortunately) rarely enforced (or even enforceable), but I'd still like to abide by them. I do enough speeding; one crime at a time 'n' all that.

I've settled on the "iOttie Easy One Touch 4" mount for my phone. It's secure, easy to use, and well-reviewed. I hope it doesn't rattle, because it looks like exactly the product I want. It uses a 17mm mounting ball on a suction cup mount, but it comes apart easily (which is good for me).

I don't want a suction cup stuck to the window or the dashboard; I want something more nicely integrated and slick than that. I am looking at various E39 hard-mounting locations, and I've seen a few that tie into a bolt underneath the dashboard trim to the right side of the navigation screen. I have a small crack in the dashboard trim (because it's just painted Vavona wood) right where this mount would be, so it would hide the blemish, look slick (I think), and hopefully provide a secure, easily visible and reachable location to mount my phone when it's giving me directions or playing music.

Currently, my plan is to have my iPhone 7 held by the iOttie, secured to a 17mm ball AMPs mounting plate, secured to a bracket secured to the car. Basically:

636139

Plus:

636138

Plus:
636137

Equals:
636136

I'd like to hear some opinions on these options, and what you would do.

Here are some links for more details:
https://www.iottie.com/Product/Detail/5043/Easy-One-Touch-4-Dash-_-Windshield-Mount
https://www.pro-fit-intl.com/product-page/17mm-ball-adapter-plate
https://www.pro-fit-intl.com/product-page/bmw-530i-2001-2002
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/panavise-indash-mount-for-1996-2003-bmw-5-series-vehicles-matte-black/4271104.p?skuId=4271104
https://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/575162-where-mount-phone-hpde.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphLb_06sGs&feature=youtu.beI like my stuff simple, yet its very nice what you have, i modified my old nokia holder, if i need i can put the mountingbbracket back and put anything on it, but what ever i have as phone or gps, just stick a foil over the cover back, and go , besides its very close to lighter socket for charging,

https://youtu.be/AfxsoLt87vs


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[geargrinder]

FWIW, wife and I both went to the long-arm mounts like RandyRhodesCrazy4Trains suggested above and I'm diggin it. Way more betterer than my previous window mount. Gets the suckercup way down lower outa yer vision, and puts the phone closer to you. And, more room to move it around and get it where you want it. Workin' good.

[crazy4trains]

FWIW, wife and I both went to the long-arm mounts like RandyRhodesCrazy4Trains suggested above and I'm diggin it. Way more betterer than my previous window mount. Gets the suckercup way down lower outa yer vision, and puts the phone closer to you. And, more room to move it around and get it where you want it. Workin' good.

Allllll Aboarrrrrrrrrrrd!!! :buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[1BlinkGone]

Ordered this from Amazon tonight for our 2003 530i and my Galaxy S7 Edge...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0739ZMTLJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[StephenVA]

Just add a little more duct tape and you can get two holders in one roll.....
https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.K1ditgJ5GqRVRln71VYidAHaEw&pid=Api&P=0&w=274&h=177