Which Sat Nav solution

Which Sat Nav solution

Author
Discussion

Northloop

Original Poster:

20 posts

32 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
Afternoon all.

I'm shortly getting our of my M2 competition into a 21 plate Cooper S. As we all know quality used cars are few and far between at the moment, so i'm having to buy one and have the spec changed to what I really want. The one area i'm a little stuck on is the Sat Nav element. The car dissapointingly doesn't come spec'd with nav. I use it most weeks to take my lad to football and often at grounds we aren't familiar with. So I need a solution. I would like something reasonably neat, not too intrusive and that doesn't mess with visibility too much.

The car is spec'd with the digital dash.

I have looked at the drivesmart Garmin products and think they look quite nice (the 66), but am also considering just using my S21 Ultra phone. I'm not sure how or where to mount anything though.

Do any of you have a good solution you can show me, particularly in cars with digital dashes if at all possible?

Ta muchly


DodgyGeezer

42,391 posts

197 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
surely the car has Android auto - then just match phone to car and satnav is on the screen (or am I being thick)

Northloop

Original Poster:

20 posts

32 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
No Android Auto on BMW / Mini products

DodgyGeezer

42,391 posts

197 months

Friday 25th March 2022
quotequote all
Northloop said:
No Android Auto on BMW / Mini products
yikes

Brainpox

4,137 posts

158 months

Saturday 26th March 2022
quotequote all
Get a magnetic phone mount. You can get ones that clip into the air vents or stick on the windscreen.

If on an air vent it won't get in the way.

If on the windscreen put it in the far right corner and with no phone attached you won't even know it's there. With it on the satnav is right in your peripheral vision so don't need to take your eye off the road to see it.

Challo

10,838 posts

162 months

Sunday 27th March 2022
quotequote all
Northloop said:
Afternoon all.

I'm shortly getting our of my M2 competition into a 21 plate Cooper S. As we all know quality used cars are few and far between at the moment, so i'm having to buy one and have the spec changed to what I really want. The one area i'm a little stuck on is the Sat Nav element. The car dissapointingly doesn't come spec'd with nav. I use it most weeks to take my lad to football and often at grounds we aren't familiar with. So I need a solution. I would like something reasonably neat, not too intrusive and that doesn't mess with visibility too much.

The car is spec'd with the digital dash.

I have looked at the drivesmart Garmin products and think they look quite nice (the 66), but am also considering just using my S21 Ultra phone. I'm not sure how or where to mount anything though.

Do any of you have a good solution you can show me, particularly in cars with digital dashes if at all possible?

Ta muchly
That’s strange. I’m sure all new Minis came with Sat Nav as standard especially as a factory fit. Do you know what packs got spec’d with the car?

Petrol Only

1,594 posts

182 months

Sunday 27th March 2022
quotequote all
BMW/Mini still not putting android auto/car play in their cars? What a joke. Go buy from a decent manufacturer.

I'm really surprised the charge for everything as an extra BMW haven't at least made it an expensive paid option.

Northloop

Original Poster:

20 posts

32 months

Monday 28th March 2022
quotequote all
Challo said:
That’s strange. I’m sure all new Minis came with Sat Nav as standard especially as a factory fit. Do you know what packs got spec’d with the car?
Unfortunately not the case. You have to pick it as part of a pack. A good few out there don't have it fitted. Mine has the comfort pack, plus digital dash, but that's about it in terms of pack items.

Challo

10,838 posts

162 months

Monday 28th March 2022
quotequote all
Northloop said:
Challo said:
That’s strange. I’m sure all new Minis came with Sat Nav as standard especially as a factory fit. Do you know what packs got spec’d with the car?
Unfortunately not the case. You have to pick it as part of a pack. A good few out there don't have it fitted. Mine has the comfort pack, plus digital dash, but that's about it in terms of pack items.
I didn't realise that. I know a few years ago they changed the packs so that every new BMW had a Sat Nav as a standard option but looks like they didn't complete that with the Mini's?

Have you spoke to the dealer and seen if they can retro fit one?

Northloop

Original Poster:

20 posts

32 months

Monday 28th March 2022
quotequote all
Challo said:
I didn't realise that. I know a few years ago they changed the packs so that every new BMW had a Sat Nav as a standard option but looks like they didn't complete that with the Mini's?

Have you spoke to the dealer and seen if they can retro fit one?
Not something which is easy, or financially viable to do - according to the dealer.

JagYouAre

466 posts

177 months

Monday 28th March 2022
quotequote all
Granted, my Mini is a 67 plate, but if the newer ones are similar you're not missing much with built in NAV. I can't remember the last time I used it and my preference is to use Waze on the phone which I just prop in the cup holder.

daydotz

1,752 posts

168 months

Tuesday 29th March 2022
quotequote all
Join the fb mini group's theirs options for retro fit it's disgraceful theirs no android auto although I believe carplay is now standard

numtumfutunch

4,871 posts

145 months

Thursday 11th August 2022
quotequote all

After almost an hour online I’m wondering if anyone has mounted a phone in one of the new ones with the OPs digital dash yet? It was so much easier in our otherwise identical pre facelift car…….

The Brodit clip looks ok but is relatively expensive after buying the specific phone mount too which is itself out of stock

Currently thinking of a vent mount however have slight reservations they’re designed for round vents which the central ones in the mini aren’t.

Cheers



s-x-i

194 posts

56 months

Thursday 11th August 2022
quotequote all
numtumfutunch said:
After almost an hour online I’m wondering if anyone has mounted a phone in one of the new ones with the OPs digital dash yet? It was so much easier in our otherwise identical pre facelift car…….

The Brodit clip looks ok but is relatively expensive after buying the specific phone mount too which is itself out of stock

Currently thinking of a vent mount however have slight reservations they’re designed for round vents which the central ones in the mini aren’t.

Cheers
I've just fitted a Cravenspeed phone mount to our F56 with the analogue cluster.

It's expensive but excellent quality.

I believe they do one for the new digital dash.

https://www.cravenspeed.com/gemini-phone-mount-for...

I got mines from Lohen, but not sure if they can supply this new version. Might be worth contacting them.

Pip1968

1,360 posts

211 months

Friday 19th August 2022
quotequote all
Northloop said:
Afternoon all.

I'm shortly getting our of my M2 competition into a 21 plate Cooper S. As we all know quality used cars are few and far between at the moment, so i'm having to buy one and have the spec changed to what I really want. The one area i'm a little stuck on is the Sat Nav element. The car dissapointingly doesn't come spec'd with nav. I use it most weeks to take my lad to football and often at grounds we aren't familiar with. So I need a solution. I would like something reasonably neat, not too intrusive and that doesn't mess with visibility too much.

The car is spec'd with the digital dash.

I have looked at the drivesmart Garmin products and think they look quite nice (the 66), but am also considering just using my S21 Ultra phone. I'm not sure how or where to mount anything though.

Do any of you have a good solution you can show me, particularly in cars with digital dashes if at all possible?

Ta muchly
Ironic as I was going to get an M2 for a year or two put some miles on it abroad and then sell it but we have instead bought a F56 Mini Cooper (more for the wife) which has Satnav and Apple car play. Why not get an approved used one with nav ??

Coincidentally I am off to the 'Northloop' next weekend for Touristfahrten - not in the Mini.

Pip
Ps did you buy the M2 or just lease it (PCP/HP?)

Northloop

Original Poster:

20 posts

32 months

Tuesday 13th September 2022
quotequote all
Pip1968 said:
Ironic as I was going to get an M2 for a year or two put some miles on it abroad and then sell it but we have instead bought a F56 Mini Cooper (more for the wife) which has Satnav and Apple car play. Why not get an approved used one with nav ??

Coincidentally I am off to the 'Northloop' next weekend for Touristfahrten - not in the Mini.

Pip
Ps did you buy the M2 or just lease it (PCP/HP?)
I bought the M2C. Well it was close to being fully paid for by the time I got out of it.

My sat nav resolution was a cheap phone holder from Amazon. It is suction mounted to the round ish plastic panel on the top of the dash. Then extended slightly towards me and landscape orientated. I only put the phone in it when I need to use Waze. With the phone in place it adds a little weight and rests on the top of the dash holding it steady. No marks on the dash, so all good so far. Initially I tried one that went in the cup holder, but it was rubbish and too close to the gear stick. Then I tried mounting my final solution on the windscreen in varying locations, but hated the obstruction in my vision.

This is the one I have.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Military-Grade-VANMASS-Un...