Modifications

GPS Sat Nav

OEM Satellite Navigation Rip Off

If the OEM satellite navigation was not a rip off at £1440 and had better software I might have specified that option but you can buy a cheap PocketPC, TomTom Software and still have a grand in the bank.

This is the route I went down with the Hewlett Packard iPAQ 2200 PocketPC, GlobalSat BT308 Bluetooth GPS and TomTom 5 Software.

GlobalSat BT308 Bluetooth GPS

See the review below for the BT308 GPS device.

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/globalsat-bt308.php

I bought this a few years back for about £100, they no longer make it but other in the range may be the same.

The Install

My first goal was to power the device using the vehicles power, it runs on an internal battery and also comes with a 12v power lead to charge it (also has a power lead for indoor charging).

For a permanent install I didn't want it to be charging the battery all the time so I undid the BT308 (four small screws), disconnected the small internal battery to see if the BT308 would power up with the 12v power lead

It still powered up and functioned normally with the internal battery disconnected, excellent.

The next thing was to put it somewhere in the car and power it from the cars 12v line, I didn't want to cut any cables and wanted a plug & play job, but I also wanted it to power off when the cars ignition was off.

The good thing about the MINI is the 12v sockets power down when the ignition is off, the rear 12v socket would be an ideal location for this BT308

If you take out the left removable panel you can get to the back of the 12v socket and disconnect the power lead, using an extra home made lead I put in an extra hidden 12v socket just for powering the GPS.

I made a splitting lead with bits from Maplins and Halfords

The List

Four Lucar Female spade connectors - HF10L
Two Lucar Male spade connectors - HF11M
Six rubber covers - FE66W
Some wire, I used some twin speaker cable but any cable is good as long as its the same gauge as the cars wiring loom
Heat shrink, not necessary but makes the install look more professional
12v Power Socket (Halfords)

As you can see from the image above, the longer section of lead goes to the original 12v socket and the short section (Male connector) plugs into the cars loom.

I used Velcro to secure the BT308 to the side of the panel and using the external antenna that came with the BT308 I put this on the parcel shelf so it can see the satellites as the internal antenna would be out of sight.

Velcro was used to attach the antenna to the rear parcel shelf, Velcro is very good for this as the rear parcel shelf is kind of fluffy.

All the components laid out.

[T O P]

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