Phone mounts

[kung fu jesus]

I wanted to gather some phone mount ideas for our space-limited cabins. Some areas do not allow for suction mounts to obscure your view, some don't like the distraction.

I fall mostly in the later category. I use my phone for GPS and music via Bluetooth. I use fabric sun shades often when I park the car, so a windshield mount is a PITA. No bueno.

Here's how I do it:

Remove an eyeball vent from the centerstack. I use the one closest to me.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/4af4901f2830560659845f9e72593624.jpg

Take note or mark the position of where the vent socket lines up so the screw head you use doesn't block it when you reinstall. I leveled the vent and drilled a small pilot hole through the socket and vent. I installed a short screw. I wanted something with a flatter head, but it was one I found rolling around in my toolbox.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/60d3bbc67524479a7cd5dd067c1e71f8.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/5d1f19d7338ff6aca8c9646b95db6ee4.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/0f5f9a0cd7c4be8e520a73549a93024c.jpg

Reinstall vent.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/1cbc5bf3134919694672dfffefec39a8.jpg

I use a Kenu Airframe mount. It is ~$20. Amazon has them as do most cellphone stores.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/023e07604499ba6989c73cd4958dd652.jpg

The rubberized fingers are gentle on the vent, grippy, and rotate so you can position it how you want.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/cf157a3d67b44ca565c6fac1094e7bcb.jpg

Install the mount to the fixed vent.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/3248830463b0b031978edcdea93c7ba6.jpg

This mount expands wide enough to hold my IP6 in a case, my wife's Droid Maxx and Turbo2 phones in large Otterbox cases.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/0b3cc71f372e32f4cce567a80e83a19f.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/6062adc50e89e0da2742f7323dade4b7.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/05250e3ef3bcd3275f07d933c05ef987.jpg

The phone is easy to see, but out of my immediate line of sight, which is nice at night. The phone clips in and out easily, but securely. I have never had it fall out. I have never knocked it out while driving hard. I could put it on the right side of the fixed vent if I needed it shifted over.

In the summer, the A/C cools the phone while driving/charging. In the winter I use the floor and windshield vents if I use the heater.

Share what you use!

[Grumpy]

Mine was nowhere near as inexpensive as yours, Steve. A Ram mount long arm, x-grip, and a one inch ball with a bolt, doesn't matter which is chosen. A small L bracket was needed as well. Remove the cover panel on the top of the dash, and remove the 10mm bolt. Mine was almost perfect as,is, holes,included, but trim the L bracket to the size needed, and drill holes for the dash bolt and the ball. Attach bracket in hole with dash bolt. Due to limited space I had a 1/4 inch adapter on a 10mm socket, and then used the 1/4 inch wrench to tighten the bolt. Attach the bolt to bracket with a nut. Some cushioning is needed under the arm in my case since the bracket isn't as tall as I'd like.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/Inspired%20by%20History/20160701_163230.jpg

[kung fu jesus]

I like the use of that stud in the middle of the dash.

[RuckkehrMiata]

My current one is a janky and breaking suction cup mount that I hate and it is horrible and I can't believe that shit was $20

I've been enjoying the ones I saw artcentermiata make for his car, the one is a nice 3D printed mount that bolts to his dash so the phone is over his hazard switch. Not necessarily how I would want mine, but it seems track-sturdy.

My phone is just really big & heavy and I have a bulky case (which does a wonderful job of absorbing drop-impacts), so it's hard to figure out what mount will actually hold it under g-forces :(

[RustRat]

KFJ, You have a freshly rebuild engine, but your air vents need a good clean. :D

I think I will try your idea, I like the placement.


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[Airbrush1]

I like it!

[kung fu jesus]

KFJ, You have a freshly rebuild engine, but your air vents need a good clean. :D

I think I will try your idea, I like the placement.


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Right?! I didn't notice it until I looked at the pictures. It's funny because I washed out the entire HVAC system and resealed it when I took apart the dash last autumn. I forgot to wash the vents because they were tagged and bagged in another box of parts. :)

I use the same mount in my other vehicles. I used it in the e30 last year at the track so I could use an app while lapping and it never fell out. I am confident this would hold up to the same rigors in a Miata.

Here are the Kenu units on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kenu+airframe&sprefix=kenu+air%2Caps%2C175

[Hammerhead]

I have always preferred a more 'fixed' mount for the Miata, although I have had a couple of good windshield mounts for use in the Pilot and Rover. In humid-as-hell Florida, I can't block the a/c vents. Mine is an old mount from the 90's and I've used it with various phone and case combos. It doesn't wobble, I can add a longer rod to it for elevation, it rotates in multiple planes and then can be tightened down. The only thing is, you have to affix the receiver bracket (for whichever particular you are using) to the head in order to mount the phone.

**Photos from before the build**
http://i.imgur.com/RiczfNL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Pf1VaL9.jpg

[RustRat]

Found the mount on Ebay for about $20 inc. shipping. Let's see how this goes.


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[MiataQuest]

Mine was nowhere near as inexpensive as yours, Steve. A Ram mount long arm, x-grip, and a one inch ball with a bolt, doesn't matter which is chosen. A small L bracket was needed as well. Remove the cover panel on the top of the dash, and remove the 10mm bolt. Mine was almost perfect as,is, holes,included, but trim the L bracket to the size needed, and drill holes for the dash bolt and the ball. Attach bracket in hole with dash bolt. Due to limited space I had a 1/4 inch adapter on a 10mm socket, and then used the 1/4 inch wrench to tighten the bolt. Attach the bolt to bracket with a nut. Some cushioning is needed under the arm in my case since the bracket isn't as tall as I'd like.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/Inspired%20by%20History/20160701_163230.jpg

I knew I have seen that Ram mount somewhere before...
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/7/73/Goss.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130714192954&path-prefix=en

[kung fu jesus]

I lol'd.

[Hammerhead]

Mmmm...gentle, rubberized fingers.

[kung fu jesus]

I brings the magic touch.

[fwdtamiya]

Jeremy D'ambrosiosioiso designed a nice one, just gotta drill into your tombstone

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/fwdtamiya/13592444_10209042766893899_7167537216191014704_n_z psfq3ujxmt.jpg

[RuckkehrMiata]

This is the one I was referencing earlier, although his NB one is less complex


Jeremy D'ambrosiosioiso designed a nice one, just gotta drill into your tombstone

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/fwdtamiya/13592444_10209042766893899_7167537216191014704_n_z psfq3ujxmt.jpg

[RuckkehrMiata]

I think I want this but have no idea where to start looking


I have always preferred a more 'fixed' mount for the Miata, although I have had a couple of good windshield mounts for use in the Pilot and Rover. In humid-as-hell Florida, I can't block the a/c vents. Mine is an old mount from the 90's and I've used it with various phone and case combos. It doesn't wobble, I can add a longer rod to it for elevation, it rotates in multiple planes and then can be tightened down. The only thing is, you have to affix the receiver bracket (for whichever particular you are using) to the head in order to mount the phone.

**Photos from before the build**
http://i.imgur.com/RiczfNL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Pf1VaL9.jpg

[fwdtamiya]

This is the one I was referencing earlier, although his NB one is less complex
I totally skipped your post and just looked at pictures. :whistle:

[RustRat]

I think I want this but have no idea where to start looking

Il motorsports in Germany has one similiar, that goes between the tombstone and the dash, bit it's kinda pricey.


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[kung fu jesus]

This whole thread reminds me I need to get a decent 3D printer...so many ideas and capabilities, no way to make them. :(

[Paul B]

http://www.jamesbaroneracing.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=332_335_486_487&products_id=94&zenid=3eiiihg2isb2c76s9vu296lde4


I use this is my Speed 3. Have a phone cover that velcros to this. Great for music and gps. Haveny used it on miata because i dont have a center console


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[MemphisMiata]

http://www.jamesbaroneracing.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=332_335_486_487&products_id=94&zenid=3eiiihg2isb2c76s9vu296lde4


I use this is my Speed 3. Have a phone cover that velcros to this. Great for music and gps. Haveny used it on miata because i dont have a center console


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Reminds me of those old Blaupunkt gooseneck stalk EQs from back in the 80s!

[Demon I Am]

Honestly, I love the current suction cup mount that I have. It's never fallen off, holys steady, and keeps the phone just within reach. I have a large framed Nexus 6, and it was one of the few mounts that can actually grab the phone. It eats up some windscreen real estate, but not enough to complain about. This mounts to glass or the dash.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H89MLLM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RuckkehrMiata]

Honestly, I love the current suction cup mount that I have. It's never fallen off, holys steady, and keeps the phone just within reach. I have a large framed Nexus 6, and it was one of the few mounts that can actually grab the phone. It eats up some windscreen real estate, but not enough to complain about. This mounts to glass or the dash.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H89MLLM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a nexus 6 with a bulky otterbox-style case, my phone mount just died (I thought I could fix it until springs and plastic pieces started falling out)

Soooooo *clicks*

[RustRat]

Bump! Update. So I received the air frame mount KfJ suggested, buuuuut. One of the two arms that hold the phone in place, was missing the rubber layer that provided grip for the phone. I was dissapointed, to say the least. Seller promised to refund me the full price plus shipping cost, though.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160720/b8f607e6243be892fddcd411323514f8.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160720/c1015f7a0f687fc08707c084236542ce.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160720/824e677a2b0679a3e590dd63864ce0ad.jpg


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