Linked from Custom Dash Madness Part I, Here

Cup holders

How on earth did VW get away with not putting cup holders in the damn van?!?!?

I wanted to stay OEM as much as possible and loved the look of the cup holders (and the pop out action!) of my friends R32. So I got one cheap on eBay and started grafting it into the fascia.
You can pick these up for around £20 on eBay
Click image for larger version

Name:	Screen Shot 2016-10-21 at 13.59.58.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	14.5 KB
ID:	281296


Luckily I had off-set the buttons, so there was room. I had to alter the large of the dash cubbys slightly to get it to fit.
... and I used some clear plastic tube at the front to support it and keep it still.









VERY pleased with how this turned out.

----------------------

Double DIN head unit (mounted well & easy to control)

After the right mess the guy who owned the van before me made of the double din install, I was determined to go more OEM.
He had hacked out the middle vents and not really fitted it very well.


Couldn't have the HU up top... not ONLY because I had just put a load of work into the fascia switches but also because without cutting and welding in a frame into the dash support bar, you can't fit it in, as the support bar is in the way. They DO do them in the RHD models but they come with the cage from the factory and only do them in RHD only.

Mario from MV Engineering being the font of knowledge on these things suggested a lower dash mount, which looked like it would do the job perfectly! They are designed for a CD changer to go behind and have the missing cup holders VW "forgot" to put in the normal vans!
Took nearly 3 MONTHS waiting on back order from VW but it arrived.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Screen Shot 2016-10-21 at 14.31.41.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	9.4 KB
ID:	281297

Problem was, again it was RHD only, so we had to alter the side of it to fit the steering column.



The other issue was that where I wanted the HU to go, the plenum for the heater vent was in the way.
As a temp solution, I used some flexible pipe, fabric (SOCKS!) and resin to make some ducting which give more room to the HU but also allows the air to flow.















So, that took care of it being mounted well.

Good point, it is not easily seen so good for security...
BAD point, hard to control for the driver as the buttons are a LONG stretch and not really safe to do while driving.

Did a bit of research and decided to make my own Pioneer head unit controller.

There is a headphone jack on the back of the HU and you basically use a selection of resisters to feed back to the HU what you want it to do.
Never done ANYTHING like this before but the soldering of the switches stood me in good stead, so I thought I’d have a go.



Bought a few bits from Maplins and eBay and had a go. Worked out the layout with the help of some articles online.


Used some blank PCB board and got soldering!









Once I tested it, I covered it all in hot glue, to keep it form moving.







I am VERY bad at soldering!!! As you can see.













No, it’s not pretty but it does the job.

Spot of bench testing, to be sure it works properly.



NEXT… what switches do I want for controlling it? I need 6 really.
Volume up, Volume Down, Next Track(Fast Forward), Previous Track(Reverse), Pause, Off

Really, I wanted a new steering wheel with switches on but watching some other people do it that is a HUGE project.
So I thought I would see if I could hack some micro-switches into my stalks. Why not eh?

This turned out to be great!


























Annoyed that I screwed up drilling the holes for the micro switches (not too bad, as I never see this on the back of the stalk)… measure twice and drill once guys!!!



Just a matter then of connecting up the switches from the stalks to the controller.

----------------------

USB charger socket (also Head Unit Connector)

With the Carling Switches, there was also a “Tallen” USB socket that you could buy.
Not only does it charge the appliance you link up to it but it also daisy chains to the Pioneer, so your iPhone/iPod links to the HU for feeds.

Very easy to fit and wire up. Can’t really recommend the Carling buttons/setup enough. Top bit of kit.



----------------------

To carry on reading, see Custom Dash Madness Part III here