Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Here you can post things about ICE (In Car Entertainment). Like how to install GPS navigation, a DVD-player and other yuppie-stuff. This category might be moved to "those other things" in the end...

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
NillerGT
Started learning about 480
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:31 am

Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by NillerGT » Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:32 am

Morning everyone,

When I got my 480 in August, it came with one of those suction cup smartphone holders as well as a cigarette lighter adapter. It worked fine for holding my smartphone but was decidedly off-period. Of course an iPhone in a 480 will always be off-period, but I figured I could do better.
So, I bought a dirt-cheap car radio on Wish with bluetooth and a USB port which nonetheless looked more period compatible, and installed one of those vent-clamping holders on one of the central vents. Much better. In case you are interested in the radio: https://www.wish.com/product/5e9185fa2e ... ?share=web (a bit tacky that it changes colours by itself, and noise suppression is not perfect, but it does an ok job re. bluetooth streaming and phone calles, and for the price...)
The next step would be to get the phone holder near or on the vertical vent to the right of the dashboard, and to get a very short, black USB cord to go from the radio to the phone.
Does anyone have ideas for that?

Many thanks from chilly Geneva

NillerGT.
Just got my first 480 (August 2020)!
1990 ES 1.7, Superwhite
I have ticked off around 45 items, cosmetic and mechanical
Remaining:
- Vibration at 1500 RPM (hard to locate)
- Rough idle (harder one)
- Touch-ups
- Change rims (Pollux to slightly fresher Atlas)
- install my “new” flawless door pocket
I also just bought a 2004 XC90.

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by jifflemon » Fri Dec 04, 2020 8:23 am

Mine lives in the centre console, out of sight and reach, and I ran a USB cable from the Head unit, down and into the console, meaning it's always charged and can do handsfree calling etc.

User avatar
dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dragonflyjewels » Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:36 am

Dont use vent clamps! The plastic wasnt designed to take the weight when it was new. Now it's old it's even more fragile.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:27 am

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:36 am
Dont use vent clamps! The plastic wasnt designed to take the weight when it was new. Now it's old it's even more fragile.
My immediate thought as well!! Not only are they very brittle these days, but they come apart from the guide rods behind them very easily... :shock:

I use bluetooth with my phone for hands free in the GT, with no physical connection, so the phone just lives in the door pocket. I will probably set up the same in Pud when I get the chance.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by MisterH » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am

I personally just keep my phone in my pocket and adopt the notion that if anything comes through then it will just have to wait, rare for me. For navigation however I would go for the suction cup option. However if you are quite practical or want something more permanent, you could drill some holes where you want to make a bracket for a custom fitting, but make sure you get it right! :shock:


I still have the holes from when my car was fitted with a car phone, I'd love to get one fitted again but I doubt it would work now, even if I could trust the hardware!
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:36 am

MisterH wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am
I personally just keep my phone in my pocket and adopt the notion that if anything comes through then it will just have to wait, rare for me. For navigation however I would go for the suction cup option. However if you are quite practical or want something more permanent, you could drill some holes where you want to make a bracket for a custom fitting, but make sure you get it right! :shock:


I still have the holes from when my car was fitted with a car phone, I'd love to get one fitted again but I doubt it would work now, even if I could trust the hardware!
If you could find an appropriate phone from the time it would be an interesting artefact and, of course, be original, but it wouldn't work. For a start we were all analogue in those days, young man!! Digital? What's that?? :lol:

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by MisterH » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:38 am

dcwalker wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:36 am
MisterH wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am
I personally just keep my phone in my pocket and adopt the notion that if anything comes through then it will just have to wait, rare for me. For navigation however I would go for the suction cup option. However if you are quite practical or want something more permanent, you could drill some holes where you want to make a bracket for a custom fitting, but make sure you get it right! :shock:


I still have the holes from when my car was fitted with a car phone, I'd love to get one fitted again but I doubt it would work now, even if I could trust the hardware!
If you could find an appropriate phone from the time it would be an interesting artefact and, of course, be original, but it wouldn't work. For a start we were all analogue in those days, young man!! Digital? What's that?? :lol:

David
Well I'd imagine that there are still some eccentric people out there still using it, which is ok as that is definitely how I would describe myself...
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:41 am

MisterH wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:38 am
dcwalker wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:36 am
MisterH wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am
I personally just keep my phone in my pocket and adopt the notion that if anything comes through then it will just have to wait, rare for me. For navigation however I would go for the suction cup option. However if you are quite practical or want something more permanent, you could drill some holes where you want to make a bracket for a custom fitting, but make sure you get it right! :shock:


I still have the holes from when my car was fitted with a car phone, I'd love to get one fitted again but I doubt it would work now, even if I could trust the hardware!
If you could find an appropriate phone from the time it would be an interesting artefact and, of course, be original, but it wouldn't work. For a start we were all analogue in those days, young man!! Digital? What's that?? :lol:

David
Well I'd imagine that there are still some eccentric people out there still using it, which is ok as that is definitely how I would describe myself...
They can try - there is no longer an analogue network for them to use :lol:
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by jifflemon » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:06 am

Funny you mention it....

The turbo came with a "proper" nokia car phone hard wired in (not that it was owned by a yuppie or anything!)

Still powers on! will grab pictures if there's any interest!

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:12 am

jifflemon wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:06 am
Funny you mention it....

The turbo came with a "proper" nokia car phone hard wired in (not that it was owned by a yuppie or anything!)

Still powers on! will grab pictures if there's any interest!
Ooo...yes, let's see it!

Perhaps it would look good fitted above Gloria the fire extinguisher... :lol:

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

NillerGT
Started learning about 480
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:31 am

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by NillerGT » Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:36 pm

Thank you everyone... It looks like I am quite alone in wanting to see my phone's screen!
The biggest reason is dynamic navigation. With COVID, I am taking the car to work through the city (daily driver!), and traffic changing means it is useful to have Waze guiding me according to what works.
More generally, I appreciate having the screen accessible for the GPS and also to swipe through some music. A habit, perhaps a bad one...
I take good note of the vent issue... if anyone has a better idea I remain interested.
I wish everyone a nice week-end.
Just got my first 480 (August 2020)!
1990 ES 1.7, Superwhite
I have ticked off around 45 items, cosmetic and mechanical
Remaining:
- Vibration at 1500 RPM (hard to locate)
- Rough idle (harder one)
- Touch-ups
- Change rims (Pollux to slightly fresher Atlas)
- install my “new” flawless door pocket
I also just bought a 2004 XC90.

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by jamescarruthers » Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:59 pm

Isn' the Brodit Pro Clip still available for our car? I seem to remember that it goes to the side of the tall air vent. That may be a bit delicate and far away for navigation screen though.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

NillerGT
Started learning about 480
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:31 am

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by NillerGT » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:19 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:59 pm
Isn' the Brodit Pro Clip still available for our car? I seem to remember that it goes to the side of the tall air vent. That may be a bit delicate and far away for navigation screen though.
I just had a look at the Brodit Proclip for the 480, you are right, it would sit off the driver's dashboard - basically where my current mount is. But many thanks for this idea, I would not have thought these could still be ordered (found some here: https://www.brodit24.de/Brodit-ProClip/ ... 80-ES.html).
I am thinking, perhaps I could use the empty space below the radio to create a stable support for the vent mount... The starting point of my thinking would be some kind of spreader clamp, but obviously made to look much more elegant. I could see my phone near the right edge of that space...
Again, if anyone has an idea... :shock:
Just got my first 480 (August 2020)!
1990 ES 1.7, Superwhite
I have ticked off around 45 items, cosmetic and mechanical
Remaining:
- Vibration at 1500 RPM (hard to locate)
- Rough idle (harder one)
- Touch-ups
- Change rims (Pollux to slightly fresher Atlas)
- install my “new” flawless door pocket
I also just bought a 2004 XC90.

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by jifflemon » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:21 pm

NillerGT wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:36 pm
Thank you everyone... It looks like I am quite alone in wanting to see my phone's screen!
The biggest reason is dynamic navigation. With COVID, I am taking the car to work through the city (daily driver!), and traffic changing means it is useful to have Waze guiding me according to what works.
I actually moved back to an “old fashioned” sat nav; I found phone ones less reliable, incredibly data hungry and battery draining (ate battery quicker than it could charge!). Garmin stuff is great, and can pair to the phone to do traffic updates, as well as using old fashioned RDS for traffic updates in areas of poor 3/4/5g

User avatar
dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Best looking smartphone holder / integration solution?

Post by dragonflyjewels » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:51 pm

We use Garmins as well, squeezed in just to the right of the dash on suction mounts. Can you get something similar to hold a smart phone in the same place ? Easy to see and totally out of the way.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Post Reply