I attached the cradle to the wooden bracket using plain old epoxy. I took the cradle apart, and found that it is possible to use small screws, but I determined at that point that the cradle was going to be a permanent fixture in the G35 and used glue. I know its lame, but it was easier to buy another cradle and power cable for the install in my trailblazer SS than to make this one removable.

 

You guys have to be careful when you take the upper finisher off. It breaks easily and may not fit back in very well. I see on swest1970 you have the same problem I had and the top finisher is not closing well on the clock.

Luckily, I had an unrelated problem with the clock and I told the dealership and they actually put a new finisher piece on my car (they probably thought they had broken it!) So yeah, just a heads up.

 

+1 on the DIY !!! I have the exact same garmin just waiting to be put in my G coupe!

 

Can you close the cubby door with either the gps unit installed or uninstalled? also when your driving does the cubby door move since it has the extra weight of the nav unit hanging off of it?

I just quick threw together a stand that goes into the cubby hole but the door cannot close unless i take the unit/stand out.

 

[QUOTE=swest1970;3156743]My previous post is is in regard to ^^^^ or anything similar.

 

I have a Nuvi 205W in my cubby and it closes perfectly. The door does not move at all when I am driving.

 

Any of the Garmin 700 or 200 series works fine, though the 700 series is preferable because of the placement of the USB charger and the fact that it has an external antenna connector (which helps a lot with signal acquisition).

The weight of the Garmin does not weigh the door down and it can completely open and close without any issues.

 

Awesome, Thanks. I currently have a bracket in the works. I'm going to try to get away with using mounting tape despite what was mentioned in earlier posts. Trying to avoid screwing into the door.

 

roots, how did you rig up the usb to cig lighter adapter? Any adapter will work or specific model? Smooth way to go, prob need a longer cable, correct?

 

I connected it behind the cig lighter. So I had to pop up the gear selector panel and wire it back there. you also have to pop out one side panel (next to the stereo) and route the cable up that way. I used the stock Garmin USB charger for the 200 series (it works fine on the 700 series) and it was plenty long enough.

 

Spliced right into the cig lighter, nice. I didn't think you could just splice the USB into a 12v supply, cool. I figured the whole console had to come out to get to it.

 

!!! Do not splice the USB into the 12V supply. I just spliced the 12V wires directly onto the cigarette lighter adapter of the Garmin power adapter. USB is 5V so your Garmin won't like it very much.

One thing you can do is get a spare 12V accessory sleeve from Napa or Pep Boys. They cost like $5 and they prevent you from having to solder the lead wires from the cig lighter directly to your Garmin adapter. Instead, they come with lead wires you splice onto the cig lighter wires and then you just plug in the Garmin adapter into it. Then hide it behind (under the stereo) and you're set.

The only really hard part is drilling/making a hole in the cubby for the power wire. you should make it as deep as possible so you can't see it. It might be easy to start with an awl or something to make a starter hole from the inside then drill out.

 

I'm thinking dremel with the flex attach. I knew that think would come in handy someday. With the USB, that's what I thought. I have to buy the Garmin usb/cig adapter first. Not a big expense. Next weekend it's on. The velcro works nicely though. Cut out a space so the garmin windshield mount works for the wife's car.

 

What I did was put the velcro stuff on vertically on the left and right side of the back of the gps. That provides a really stable grip and still works with the windshield mount.

 

Same here. I'm just looking for excuses to use it now. How long's your battery last?