iPad Mini In Dash?

[jangoforhire]

Tested out the GPS in the glove box while driving (don't ask he how, but the wife isn't happy...) - it works just fine. To be honest, I can't tell any difference at all. Cell connection was great as well, no problem streaming music.

I hadn't heard anything for a week and a half about my dash mods, so I called Car Toys last Wednesday, and they said it'll be ready for me to look at on Friday. I had some vacation planned, so I made it in there yesterday morning. To say I was not pleased is an understatement...

It looks like this guy had spent maybe 40 minutes on the project, just drilling a bunch of holes in the spare dash panel I gave him (to cut weight I guess, cause they didn't serve any other purpose...), then sitting the side slider base on top of the dash and, poorly, slathering Bondo around the edges. Of course he wasn't there when I went in to look at is, so I explained my displeasure to the guy at the counter and another fabricator, told them (again), what should be happening with that kit, and ordered them to stop work immediately until I can come in and talk to the fabricator myself. From the last two weeks, I'm sure I know how that convo is going to go...:argue:

I am heading in tomorrow morning, so we'll see what happens I guess.:flypig: I will fill you all in when I get a chance. I'm also going to try and snap some photos tomorrow.

I'm sure your evaluation is correct. But fiberglass work often tends to look pretty awful until the final few stages. So I wouldn't judge it completely until the end or when you have a chance to talk to the fabricator to see how far along he is.

 

[Coastiepilot200]

Well, the visit with the fiberglass guy went pretty well, considering the circumstances. He apologized for not getting a good enough look at the dash and how it interacts with the AC control panel/LCD panel when I first came in and his method for mounting the iPad wouldn't work (it was too low and blocked the LCD panel). So, we chatted, and he is going to move the iPad up higher and further into the dash like I had originally wanted. The negative of this is that I will lose the bottom section of my center AC vents (the bottom horizontal fin to be precise). I'll also be moving the emergency flasher button to the PARTY MODE button seeing as how that doesn't work once you go aftermarket. I'll have the wife print out a nice vinyl flasher symbol and throw it on there so it looks factory. Also, I didn't get any pictures...:happens:

I am meeting with him again on Wednesday for a test fitting and I PROMISE I will snap some photos then with it up on the dash.

Standby to standby.

 

[Coastiepilot200]

Test fit number two is complete, things are moving along nicely. He thinks he should be able to keep the flasher button where it is, but this next week will be the big test as he starts to bondo in the curves of the final product.

Right now I'm trying to decide between having someone try to match the factory paint color, doing a matte black 3m wrap, having it painted matte black, or plasti-dipping the whole thing. Any assistance there?

Pictures are attached, and you can see the vent issue that we had. Additionally, I put an anti-glare/anti-fingerprint screen from Zagg on the iPad mini and it works great in the sunlight. No issues seeing the screen at all.

 

[Gs4RUNR]

Go with Matte Black... Will look awesome!!!

 

[Stifler]

looks like it was stuck on with bubblegum.... interested in seeing som more (better) progress.... good luck

 

[Coastiepilot200]

Latest update...

I stopped by again today and checked on the progress. He is about 80% done with the fiberglass, and will be starting the BONDO portion tomorrow and installing the fiberglass frame. It should be headed to paint Saturday-ish, and possibly in my car next week, but looking at my schedule I'm not optimistic.

I should have one more set of pics before it's FINISHED! Hopefully by July I'll be the proud owner of a data hog of an aftermarket stereo :llama:. More updates as they happen...

 

[K O]

It looks like someone smeared poo on it. Seriously though, I hope it turns out well. I love the idea of an iPad in dash.

 

[Coastiepilot200]

checked in again today as I hadn't heard anything since the last time i posted. he has done nothing - made a bunch of excuses about how busy he is, at which point i reminded him of the fact that i'm $300 in on this with him with another $300 at product completion, so in fact I am one of the people he should be busy with. he promised progress TODAY, and was hopeful he would have it ready for paint by next Weds. We will see I guess....

sorry for the punctuation/spelling, had finger surgery so a one handed typer, among other things....

 

[Rubberdown]

Dude.... Go find another installer. I didn't want to say anything but that is the shittest glassine something in job I have ever seen, and you are paying good money for that. It may turn out looking ok, but I used to do that for a living and I'm telling you that's trash work as a foundation. Where in tx are you, maybe I can point you towards a shop that's worth a crap.

 

[jimmied]

Dude.... Go find another installer. I didn't want to say anything but that is the shittest glassine something in job I have ever seen, and you are paying good money for that. It may turn out looking ok, but I used to do that for a living and I'm telling you that's trash work as a foundation. Where in tx are you, maybe I can point you towards a shop that's worth a crap.

I agree with above. I have a friend who does great work and works on and with some major industry players for a while now and this is not a great start. The work could be much cleaner and neater even at that stage. I prefer an installer who works neater from start so that they arent doing a lot of "clean up" work to hide flaws later. Good luck though, i hope it comes out up to par.

 

[dollaz]

You could always send in your dash trim to soundman in southern cali. and they will send it back to you. Here is the 4th gen side slider I saw on YouTube. I'm sure they can do a perm mount also. But you'll still need to have a shop wire in the electronics part (for example an Audison bit one).

http://youtu.be/r4E9cUV3kgg

 

[Coastiepilot200]

Im in Houston, down near Pearland. Know of anyone?

I know I could have sent it to CA, but they charge $1200 to do it and I was trying to save what I could off that price because I know it's inflated.

 

[H2O_Doc]

I know it doesn't help for the 4Runner, but this is what I did in my 370Z:

I had a windshield mount for a day. Not stable; returned.

 

[Coastiepilot200]

he made quite a bit of progress over the last week, and the mount will be headed to paint next monday or tuesday. As you can see, in order to ensure you can still see the a/c controls, we had to raise the ipad up on the dash, which requires a small modification to the vents. I'll be losing the bottom fin of the vents, and the hazards button will move down to the party mode button. my wife will cut out some vinyl to make a hazard symbol and cover the party mode wording. all in all I'm pretty happy with it, I knew it wasn't going to be perfect due to the size issue, but when you see it in person it looks pretty good. the next set of pics should be after paint and ready to mount...

 

[Rubberdown]

Hey there, sorry I never got back. Looks like he slapped the bondo on and went to town! If you end up not being happy try rocky at rockstar designs. I am curious to see how this ends up, I have had a few thoughts about the iPad thing myself... You can get toslink out to a processor and use apple lossless for a full digital signal, which appeals to me.

Might check out this thread, these guys do beautiful work. (simplicity in sound is the company)
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum...50907-ipad-mini-dash-1999-toyota-4runner.html

 

[Coastiepilot200]

So, after my last post, I still hadn't hear from my guy at Car Toys - 6 days after he said he would call me with a paint quote. I was not happy. I went in on Friday to talk to him, only to find out he was on vacation. Let's just say got real, and fast.

Long story short, I had about an hour convo with two of the managers, and they are not happy with the performance of their guy. They went above and beyond to try and keep my business and make it right, and for their sincerity and effort I decided to give them the chance to do just that. They have already ordered another slider kit from SoundmanCA, and another dash kit from Metra out of their own funds, with expedited shipping. Seeing as how this process has already taken almost two months, they have made it priority #1 and will have it done either Saturday or Monday (20 or 22 July) depending on when the products shipped out (yesterday or today). They are putting a different guy on the project, and one of the managers that I spoke to yesterday will be shadowing him the entire time to ensure the project isn't forgotten, and that everything is done cleanly.

While I'm disappointed in how everything has gone so far, I'm almost sad to say that the two guys I talked to yesterday sort of redeemed my faith in the process and hopefully they can deliver on their promises. I was REALLY close to just getting my deposit back and having them pay me for the slider kit and dash kit that I'd ordered and that their guy had destroyed. At the end of the day, it seemed like they really wanted to do the project and do it right, so we'll see what happens I guess.

More to follow soon...

 

[dorskh]

ugh sounds like a nightmare! after all of this if I were you I would run.........fast.......

 

[Rubberdown]

Ok, here is the problem. You are paying your hard earned money for a service. You owe these people nothing. They owe you... You are giving them money. If these guys fail to deliver at all at any point moving forward... Please run away. There are many people that are not shitty installers that will take your money and do a good job. I can point you to several. This should take all of 2 or 3 days tops to complete. Once they start work. Ad that is being generous.

 

[Coastiepilot200]

I don't have pictures, but the final wet sanding looked great. Unfortunately, the matte paint that he put on wasn't matte... So he's wet sanding again and will try another brand. I have an appointment at 0900 on Thursday to get everything installed, and will have plenty of pictures for you all when that happens.

 

[MadeInMaine]

A buddy of mine, from when I was on TacomaWorld, when I owed a Tacoma, did a full iPad in his tacoma.

PS looks great Coastie, great craftsmanship