08250AWD

I have just purchased the SL2iC and am going to install it in my 08 IS250. I looked at some of the installation posts and am not really thrilled about the mounting options.

What I'm planning to do is to remove the ash tray, make a mold of it, and install a permanent "dock extender" into the mold (which will allow you to unplug the iPod connection from the ash tray itself for easy removal).

The mold itself will be a clear plastic. This is due to the fact that there is a light in the ashtray itself and being clear will allow the light to come through the top. The dock itself will be for the iPhone 4 with a "snap" case on it I am a perfectionist and don't like any of the current options we have available for installing the iPhone/iPod in the car. What I am going to make will allow you to literally just swap this piece into your ashtray and be done.

Due to the high temperatures that are reached in the car, this mold requires it to be cured twice at high temps and can withstand up to 167 degrees Fahrenheit so it should be sufficient for most people. As for cost, unless I can make a bunch of these, it's not going to be cheap but should be less than the alternatives... the "dock extender" alone is $35 (I cannot make that myself).

I've seen some people respond that they would not pay the $150 for the "ashtray mount" that is currently being offered (and neither would I) so I wanted to know if anyone would be interested in such a contraption? And what is the price limit that you would be willing to pay? Also, do you care if the piece is clear or would you want it to be black? (black might be cheaper though not by much)

BigRahizzl brings up a good point. I could easily make two different molds. ONE would be just an iphone holder without docking connections (for use without the VaisTech SL2iC). If you would be interested in a "dockless" iphone holder, please comment below. This would be, at minimum, $30 less than the docking version.

Please vote on color or price even if you would not order one! Just don't click the "I want one!" box. If you vote and would be interested in ordering one, please note that you can choose more than one option so be sure to mark "I want one!" if you would be willing to purchase this item!



Thank you!!!

Bigrahizzl

iTrader: (8)

I might be interested in this. I was actually think about it also. i would pay around $30-$40 tops for it

08250AWD

Unless I get to make 100's that price is not going to happen. The plastic material is over $180. That doesn't include making the mold and heat curing twice. Sorry, I was still posting the poll when you replied.

Bigrahizzl

iTrader: (8)

oh i see, understandable. Ill give my part in the poll. Honestly, its a good idea. There really isnt a place to place the iphone, i usually put it in the cub holder

MC5Wes

Ive seen this iPhone 4 set up in a friends IS350. Its a little tighter on space. So if you don't have a passenger often. It should be ok.

http://www.kudausa.com/lexus-is-250/...ere-a1343.html

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResu...5/Default.aspx

jkeifer3

I have an SL2iC in my IS and have the iPod laying in the center console. I am trying to picture what the unit would look like in the ashtray but can't seem to envision it. Any chance you have an artist's conception sort of sketch that you could post?

08250AWD

this doesn't look like a bad product but doesn't do what I need it to. The whole point of starting this project was to integrate the vaistech sl2ic into the car so I don't have wires everywhere. If I'm going to do all that work, I might as well make one without the connection. It's just a matter of making another mold.

Thank you for the suggestion.

08250AWD

I'll try to put something together for everyone.

OPTiK

Could I get one without a dock extender? I just want a place to put my iPhone lol

08250AWD

I am considering making them without the dock extender, however, your phone is going to be upside down when charging.

...and would you really pay the $50-75 to still have wires all over the place?

08250AWD

It looks like there are a number of people who are interested in having the ashtray converted to a simple iphone holder, however, this means that the phone would have to be upside down when charging. Another option for those who don't want to spend $400 on the SL2iC is to hardwire a charger to come up underneath the ash tray (again, using the dock extender as a base).

I will try to have a picture up tonight with what the thing is going to look like.

OPTiK

Well if you could just make the dock with an empty rectangular space so that an ipod connector could be used to charge it instead of hooking it up to the VaisTech that would be good. At this point we would just drill a hole somewhere through the ashtray that would let us run the power connector into some power lines.

Either way it would be nice to just have *somewhere* to put the iPhone, even if I can't charge it when its there. Pics please!

08250AWD

Here's a quick solution to your problem... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ml#post6523622

I think my solution for a place to put the phone is just too complicated. I will look into turning the ash tray into a charging dock, but not until I'm finished with this project. I am going to start prototyping this week and should have something for everyone soon. In the meantime, here is a look at what the ash tray will look like...

When in your text messages, you will be able to see four texts and the name of the 5th line as is in the image included. I'll also add the pic to the first post for everyone.