Powered USB Port and Semi-Permanent Phone/GPS Mount

[elamofo]

I commute on my C600 nearly every day from late March into December. Basically every day it's above freezing, rain or shine. I really like the Waze navigation app for it's nearly immediate warnings of traffic, which actually saved me from being stuck in a tunnel just today. I have a ram mount x-grip (gps city link) to mount my iPhone and a brake reservoir ball mount, but I don't feel safe leaving it when I park it in the city - too easy to twist off and walk away with it (the x-grip, not the phone, that comes with me.) My other problem is that running the screen for an hour kills the battery. I tried running the cord into the glove box but it pinched the cord and doesn't look that great either.

So my solution was to semi permanently mount the x-grip and install a powered USB port in the handlebar plastic. Here's the full picture of all the parts:



For the outlet I ordered a 3BR Panel Tapp. (gps city link) There is already switched power run to the handlebars for the BMW Navigator, and they sell a part that is basically a bundle of wires and a plug. It's BMW part number 83300413585 (Max BMW link, they were great). You could probably just cut the wire, but I didn't want to do that.

Factory run power:



For anyone reading, the brown wire is the ground, the other is hot. If you use the BMW wire bundle thing, you don't use wire 2, just 1 and 3. You can easily see which one is which by looking at the inside of the connector. I quickly wired it up for a test.



Test successful, it was time to drill a hole in the plastic, easily the most nerve racking part of the install. 3BR suggests a step drill bit to drill a hole to the required 7/8 inch. I ordered one from Amazon for about $12 as I didn't have one and Home Depot only had one that was $40. I put it on the part of the plastic that faces your crotch, just above the ignition and below the BMW logo.



Drilling was actually no big deal. Then slide the outlet through the hole and twist on the back to lock it in place.



To be continued...

 

[elamofo]

And a couple pics from the outside:





Tuck all the wires in and zip tie and done. There's a ton of room under the handlebar plastic so no problem.


Next up, mounting the x-grip. I decided to use the screw in the middle of the handle bars. This would put my phone just below the instrument cluster in my view, and right where the BMW Navigator goes, I believe.



For this I used RAM-B-367U, which is a ram ball with a screw hole that runs through it. (gps city link) The screws that come with it aren't the right size, so I went to Home Depot and got a M5-50 (I believe, check the size of the screw in the plastic) and M6 washer. There's nothing below the screw hole so too big is fine. I also found a small pack of neoprene washers for $.81 that were the perfect size to go between the plastic and ram mount, to keep it from scuffing the plastic in case I take all this off.

Once this was done it was just a matter of centering the arm and x-grip, and getting it in the right position. Once I got it where I liked it, I tightened the handle on the arm and then wrapped the arm temporarily with electrical tape to keep it closed. Then I unscrewed the handle completely and replaced it with a 1/4 inch nut. I figure this way, someone would A) Have to want to steal my x-grip, a small group of people, and B) They have to have a pair of pliers with them. Ram sells a locking handle, but it costs more than the x-grip. So I'm hoping my $.06 investment pays off. I also replaced the bolt with one that was 1/8 inch shorter, so there was less sticking out on the side. This pic is before I replaced the bolt:



And here's the view from the driver's seat, with all lights still visible just above the iPhone - I had a old 3G kicking around, figured I'd test on that one




One last note on the USB port. It's a 2.1 amp port, not a 1 amp. For reference, the iPad comes with a 2.1 amp charger, vs the 1 amp iPhone charger. So I think it charges faster, but I certainly don't pretend to know what I'm talking about when it comes to electricity. It is definitely switched power though, goes off immediately when the ignition is turned off. 3BR does warn that the USB port needs to be connected to switched power else it will drain the battery in 5 days or so.

 

[elamofo]

Works with Android too, obviously:




I bought a 18inch lightning cable which is a good length for this. 12 inches would be perfect, but I just put a single loop in and it's fine. 3BR has a Tapp Capp that goes over the end of the USB cable that plugs into the port to keep it waterproof. When the iPhone 6 comes out I'll get that and a Lifeproof case for it, which are waterproof. Not going to get one for my iPhone 5 at this point as they're about $100, although you can find them slightly cheaper online. Either way, much cheaper than the BMW Navigator, and more functional in my opinion.



Also, I have no affiliation with GPS City or Max BMW, but they were both great to work with, and I figure Amazon gets enough business, especially from me. GPS City was cheaper also but a couple of dollars. I got my shipment from Max the next day (I'm close) and they included a bag of m&m's, which was great.

 

[yellasei]

Great write up, good pic's. I really like what you have done, really tidy job. I have ran my charge lead out of my pocket a few times and never had problems with the wire.
Good effort, really love it.

 

[Scorpion56]

Very good write-up. Thanks for doing that for us. I've been trying to think of a solution to be able to run the wire from the cigarette-converted-to-USB-port in the left storage box up to my Galaxy 4 sitting in the X-Grip. I'm not sure I have the skills to do the level of quality work that you did/are doing and want a simpler solution.

I started using the X-Grip with my Garmin, unwired, and it ran out of juice so fast that I've started using my Galaxy 4 (also with Waze which is really excellent) instead. I've learned to trust the X-Grip to not lose my phone. Now I'll let Google maps do navigation for me, but leave the screen off except when I'm approaching some critical waypoint that I need to see to save power. Like you, I didn't like the crimped wire resulting from running it out of the left storage box. So now I have some power management in place.

Now to my less permanent or semi-permanent solution that I'm considering for being able to run power up to the phone that is minimally invasive to the bike. That is, to Dremel a "notch" in the plastic lip of the left storage box just big enough to run the charger wire from the cig/USB socket up to the X-Grip. Not as elegant or permanent as your solution, but I think my needs are less demanding because I find that I can use the phone GPS for a couple of hours if I leave the screen off most of the time (when not needed). But I do want the ability to have the phone connected if I want to see a map (e.g. Waze) all the time. If anyone has done the "notch" solution, I'm interested where you made it, for example at "12 o'clock, 3 o'clock" on the storage bin opening. And any special precautions you can offer on the notch idea.

 

[elamofo]

I wonder if 6 o'clock would let in less water. That's really the goal.

You could also use the power plug under the handlebars for another cig socket, and just run the wire out the side under the handlebar plastic. Just leave enough slack so it can reach the Galaxy in the X-grip. Won't need to notch anything.

 

[Tompierce]

I did the 'notch' thing as well - I installed an switched cigarette lighter socket/usb port combination in the right storage box connected to the battery (so that the phone can charge whenever it is connected to the bike). When the bike is in the garage, it lives on a Battery Tender so there is no danger of running the battery down.

>>>If anyone has done the "notch" solution, I'm interested where you made it, for example at "12 o'clock, 3 o'clock" on the storage bin opening. And any special precautions you can offer on the notch idea.

I put the notch (since you asked) in the upper left corner of the right side box - I used a Dremel with a round bit that was the same diameter as the power wire. With the wire in the notch there is very little room for water intrusion. I considered sealing the wire in the notch with silicone, but decided against it. If the phone is not mounted I just hide the wire inside the storage box.

 

[Scorpion56]

The notch took about 5 minutes. Like you Tom, I made it to the diameter of the wire. Put it at about the 2:00 position of the left side box (are they opposite on the 650 vs 600?). And I did't have to notch all the way thru the lip; maybe about 3/4. So that should stop water from finding its way into the glove box. Wire is snug, but now not crimped.

 

[sepmur]

Hello,

Did you had electricity on Navigator plug. I bought BMW cable but I have a issue that there are not electricity.
Did you needed to add some fuse that plug start to work.

BR
///Seppo

 

[justscootin]

The plug you are writing about is for the BMW navigation unit and it is powered on when the key is turned on. This way when you turn your key off the gps will turn off and you will not drain your battery.

Hello,

Did you had electricity on Navigator plug. I bought BMW cable but I have a issue that there are not electricity.
Did you needed to add some fuse that plug start to work.

BR
///Seppo