I actually really like that, as it looks like a more slick version of the taxi dashes with the top pod.

 

Looks pretty good!! I know its a quick rendering but its still pretty good..

 

the more i look at it, the more i want to try to build it. i really like the idea of having the gps up high at eye level for convenience and safety reasons. i'm hoping someone gets inspired to build it so i can copy. lol.

 

Pretty cool. Add a third with the passenger airbag in it and we can all get our glove boxes back

 

While this is definitely further afield of your direct line of sight, the taxi glovebox door would be a decent place to mount up a small screen GPS. I'm going to either mount my stereo in there, or a row of gauges.

 

I think it would look better have one big combined cover for both speedo and nav, and not 2 separately ?

 

yes, i wanted to photshop it closer together to so it looked more like the current E-class. but again, it was a really "quick" rendering. if i do the project i'll play around with the configurations, post pix and take a poll to see which looks best.

 

that's cool. i've never seen that. reminds me of night rider. lol. was it hard to remove the whole dash? if i do this project, i would properly want to re-wrap the whole thing in mb-tex or some kind of vinyl to make it look seamless.

 

maybe i'll put a nice iphone mount or put an android tablet in there. Dang... this 87 diesel is going to be high tech...built in internet/apps/navigation. hahaha.

 

Bad idea... touch screen would never work too far from driver and would be dangerous to use. New MB's have voice activation and the screen is placed where it is for safety.

If you want those toys buy a new car.

Sorry to rain on your parade.

 

Bad idea... touch screen would never work too far from driver and would be dangerous to use. New MB's have voice activation and the screen is placed where it is for safety. If you want those toys buy a new car. Sorry to rain on your parade.

Lovin the feedback guys. keep it coming. i knew this thread would piss off at least one person. dang chabanais! such negative words "bad idea", "would never work" "i hate seeing..."
someone's got Debbie Downer syndrome. but your points are valid so i'll take it into consideration:

"touch screen would never work too far from driver and would be dangerous to use" - i actually have really long arms. and i enter the destination before i start driving like most people. it's No different from a gps being suction cupped to the windshield..which is actually illegal around here. and i'm pretty sure that's a bit safer than a cell phone nav being next to my shift knob.

"New MB's have voice activation and the screen is placed where it is for safety"- i can't afford a new MB. but you gave me an idea. i can use my mini tablet, which has voice/nav etc. and i can connect it to the stereo for turn by turn directions. both hands on the steering wheel. and like you said, i'd place it up high at eye level,... for safety, not near the shift knob, that's dangerous. i gotta make sure that it's at eye level when i'm playing angry birds while driving.

Reasons for wanting it - i'm young, i like and embrace technology, i can't afford a new MB. and its my daily driver so as long as i enjoy the ride along the way, i'm happy. my 87 veggie oil burning diesel ain't exactly going to win the concourse de elegance. my car looks completely stock. shoot me for wanting a couple creature comforts. the point of this thread is to see if someone could make a factory looking mount since windshield mounting and holding a cellphone or looking down at it near the shift knob is not an option for me. they give tickets for everything here.

@urtruelove78- cool mount. that screen is big! pm me. i actually have ideas of making this thing work and looking factory, without it being permanent or ruining the oem dash. let's use your money to make this thing. haha
@lowesguy,.... can you photoshop an xbox kinnect in there for me. thanks!
@tuttebenne- good point. i wouldn't make it permanent. i'd want to be able to eject it easily.
@chabanais- VW Bus with CD player w/iPod and heated front seats?!!! that's too much technology! oh the insanity! haha. jk. was doing the heated seats mod hard? i actually wanna do that too. i saw kits for cheap online. also lemme know if you need help dash mounting that Nintendo. ;D

keep the comments going though... good or bad. helps me think of other ideas.

 

Well, I have same setup minus binnacle. Secured unit with industrial strength Velcro so it does not fly on face in nasty situation.

And touchscreen is where i can touch it easily.

Pondering idea of binnacle but don't know if i want to use card board or plastic, also not have enough time to spend on it currently.


One lexus owner made nice mount for same pioneer unit that i'm using.

 

I am embarrassed to say...
in all my cars except the Cab...
I self-tap screws into the A pillar and mount a Nuvi right there, wires hidden and a power switch to turn off the annoyance of on-off all the time.

It is simple and functional, and gps is not really an option anymore, now that early altheimers is kicking in.

 

I hate seeing older cars with hacked stereos, glue on the dash to hold some pod, velcro tape residue from where someone's Garmin was, screws sticking out of the transmission tunnel... terrible. We get trade-ins all the time with these things on them.

I use my cell phone's navigation and it sits right in front of the transmission lever when I need it. I can enter the address easily, it doesn't move around, and when I'm done it goes in my pocket and leaves no marks.

I think a big reason why people don't remember how to get places anymore is because they're so dependent upon navigation.

And Android/iPhones have largely killed off stand alone navis.

An older car is a snapshot in time and I don't like to change that. I've kept my 41 year old Volkswagen mostly stock and my MB is staying the same way.

The only things non-period correct on my Bus are a CD player w/iPod and heated front seats.

 

I think a big reason why people don't remember how to get places anymore is because they're so dependent upon navigation.

One of the "advantages" of technology. Just like not having a clue as to the phone numbers of all the folks you interact with regularly; thanks to speed dialing.

But on the subject of embedding a GPS in the dash; heck, if that is what the owner of the car wants to do, have at it. I like being able to take mine with me on a plane or with another driver, when on a trip. Having it stuck in the dash would not be where I would want it.


I too like my cars to be unmolested but not one of them doesn't have some evidence of a mobile phone in them - either four holes drilled into the side of the console or traces of where a folding trunk mounted antenna was (both 300e), holes in the floor (300TE), or a useless phone still in the armrest (400e & 500e).

 

This would be cool to!

 

Go big, or don't go at all

 

^Roll up windows and no cup holders??? How neanderthal

 

Debbie Downer? Good one. Adding heated seats was not tough, no. You remove the seat, take the covers off, put the heating elements on there and wire it up. I'm sure for a W124 the process is the same as a Bus.

I put my switches in a center console I added years ago works great:

I ordered mine here:
Seat Heaters for Cars and Trucks from HeatedSeatKits.com

Most of these "add a Navi" attempts end up being crap and ruin the car. I've seen many perfectly good Buses chopped up by some owner trying to "improve" things. What they do is make stuff worse.

Why do these installs turn to crap? The car is worth 1-7k and it's expensive to do a professional install and most people don't want to spend the money or they're young and don't care.

I saw pics of someone who build a custom enclosure for it in their Mustang:

This is the only way I'd do it were I to cut up a W124 dash... probably with one of the smaller tablets.

As for adding a Navi Pod the Honda/Acura NSX came with one outside the U.S. (the screen is aftermarket though):

 

Here's a beautiful job of integrating a touch screen display into a Vanagon dash. Also see the double DIN thread for other similar options for the 124

 

Good read guys.. very entertaining... I'd actually like to see you do this mod jey5ive!! I think it's a cool idea if you can do it without "breaking the bank" . lol
Keep us updated!

 

hmm. interesting. ya. if i were to do it, i would definitely not cut up the existing dash. i'd basically make a mold of the extra binnacle set it on top, and vacuum mold plastic to make a cap over the entire thing. trim, then cover in mb tex. basically it would be like that hard dash cap that clicks onto the r107 dash to cover cracks and that looks stock. i think it could be done nice with a little patience. might be a fun little project too.

 

I really don't like that my navigator is in separate mount, and that got my inspiration from that first picture, thank you for that

So basically I bought another dashboard (actually third..), and cutted it into pieces with hacksaw. I carved that inside metal cover away, will propably clue it back after i get bin's shapes somewhat right.

In first photo, bin was too wide, so i narrowed it. It cannot been seen from these pictures, but there are quite big gaps in rear. But it really doesn't matter, althought both are same color, it needs new upholsetery anyway.

 

awesome!

nice! i'm glad to see that someone pulled the trigger and attempted the binnacle. i'd love to see more pictures in the day light. a couple suggestions,... i think you said you will reupholster the dash to help cover the gaps. What if you have the dash upholstered in leather or MB-tex, and put a double french seam on the edges like the newer cars. i saw a tutorial on how to do it if you want to attempt it yourself.

another suggestion, put a flat panel for the gps to mount on so that its hides the empty binnacle. wrap the panel in black speaker mesh or use black textured plastic.(check out the picture i attached of the e350 nav.) that way you can hide the charger cable behind the panel and also hide the seams where the new binnacle sits on the dash. Just some kind of flat panel for the nav to attach to. check out Tetrax magnetic mounts. They are low profile and made for electronics.

this is great. now you have a gps that's at eye level protected from glare. and you won't get a ticket for windshield mounting your gps (they give tickets for that where i am)

i'm thinking of getting a Samsung Galaxy Note for my new cell phone. nice big screen, Google maps and all the goodies. It will be my on board infotainment system... hopefully it fits in the binnacle,.. the screen is 5.3 inches.

keep us updated. post more pictures. thumbs up! :thumbsup:

 

I still havent figured with what i'm going to use for covering dashboard, black leather is obviously option, but i'm not sure how it going to look as all other interior parts are blue..

I'm going to make covering panel, probably two layered, bottom one thicker for sturdy construction and thin piece for front. That way navigator won't sink too deep in bin. In other words, bottom panel have hole that navigator fits with it's outer measures, front panel's hole is only size of navigators screen. I'll cover it with same 3M piano black tape which i used to cover all other panels, as seen on pics.

I actually can use garmins original stand for installing navi, as i put that sheet metal piece back, i can make mounting pieces directly in that.

As seen on pic, there is a little black box in drivers side on centerbin. I installed switches for iPhone, navigator and laptop carchargers. Cause there's going to be a lot of empty space in extrabin, i'll probably move them in bin's panel. Only problem is that i cant get any original-look switches, but maybe it isn't the end of the world

 

Only problem is that i cant get any original-look switches, but maybe it isn't the end of the world

I have made and installed two of these. didnt bother mentioning it on the forum because I already know the feeling here about certain types of mods... some will like it and others will see this type of mod as the devil reincarnate. I just wasnt up to the redicule....hence the otherwise nice and helpful guys posting the pics with the 1000 dash gauges. (love you guys)

I used a pioneer F500BT and also had my Valentine one remote display and remote volume. It was actually very nice. And was easily reachable/usable while seated.

The NAVI "ONLY" used fm to recieve live data. The issue arose where MSN decided to abandon its FM transmitted real time data. this included traffic. MSN decided to go with cell tower (internet) as its way of transmitting data. This left the F500BT unit with only the data stored on the unit. I removed it and I am in the process of building another. it will have 7" android for navigation, a V1 remote display, and XM display.

It will have full voice control - In fact I am experimenting with different options to get usable voice control in the car cabin environment.

I am stuck because I love my W124 and I drive it more than my other 4 cars combined, but, the lifelong geek in me just cant accept the Becker 1692 and a trunk cd changer (or an ipod in my passenger seat) as my entire in-car audio-visual experience - in the car I spend the most time in.

I am building the second "dashpod" (I call it) and will have it installed in a couple of months no matter how it looks. I will do my best to make it look its best, and thats the best I can do.

I enjoyed my first attempt a great deal and expect the second version to be even better with the android OS. To set my eyes at driving level and have realtime traffic maps and re-routing info at my finger tips was heaven for me.

enterestingly, because of the style and condition of my 124, most people assumed the Navi came with the car.... LOL..that was absurd but flattering. The stares (sometimes several minutes) and comments at the dealer were always fun.....ummmm were'd you buy that ???.... is that custom??? (uhh ya think!!)

I had a few inquiries from other owners that were interested in purchasing one, but my 60-80 labor hours plus $600+ in electronics made it a "no deal" to mass produce.

good luck on your endeavor....you will love it.. I guarantee:thumbsup:......

 

Here's the MB factory dash console I alluded to earlier in the thread.

 

I had to buy new navigator today for this project.. My 4 years old garmin nuvi 250 won't find satellites unless it's resetted everytime started.. I wanted other manufacturers navi, but garmin is only navi that turns on automatically when charger is connected. I think it's obvious why. I actually wanted Tom Tom, because you can change starting picture.

I took few photos, and there is a little problem: I'd want bin to be little narrower, so that seams would line up (bins right side compared to glove compartment), it looks so much different in real life than in pictures. BUT as navi is widescreen (garmin nuvi 40), navi itself wouldn't fit if I narrow bin even few millimeters..

Next step is figuring gap between front edge and covering panel, and how to attach front panel with out any visible screws.

 

Interesting thread. Right now I am in the process of prototyping a auto dimming mirror with Homelink and integrated 4.3" GPS.

The mirror will have for options;

Homelink (world frequencies not just US)
Auto dimming
Alarm LED (no wiring necessary will blink regardless if you have a alarm or not)
SD card slot (for GPS software, vids, mp3's etc) 4 gig card included
Igo 1.2 GPS software
Integrated speaker
Integrated Bluetooth (for handsfree talking via mobile phone)
GPS screen doubles as backup camera screen
GPS screen doubles as secondary video screen
Playback of MP3's
Playback of video
Ebook reader
And some other misc. options included with WinCE 6.0

Currently I am waiting for some parts from the manufacture before I can finish this prototype and then I need to test it in my own vehicle to determine viability for production.

 

Nice! let us know how it goes. will the firmware be easy to update. nowadays, software gets obsolete so quickly. make a deal with google to make prototype that runs on android and syncs with your cell phone. i'm not really sure what i'm talking about but it sounds cool. lol. that could sell like hot cakes. you've got some competition tho..
Android integration comes to your car's mirror [w/video]

 

Nice idea, probably more effort than it's worth though. I appreciate the W124 in its stock state. Trying to compare it technologically to a W212 is like comparing a stone tablet to an iPad.

 

Actually the manufacture has done most of the work for me. As with my other auto dimming mirrors, my work is focused on the modification/integration of the mirror stalk. On this mirror, testing and GPS software configuration are one time investments. Going into production, I don't expect the time investment to be much more than any of my other mirrors.

Mercedes Auto dimming mirrors with Homelink & Compass