Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia

No Waiting · 16-12-2003, 12:19

I've fitted loads of car kits over the years and always used the no drill mounts from www.dashmount.co.uk and never had any problems - until now that is.

If just fitted one of their mounts (http://shop.dashmount.co.uk/additions%20feb/70381.htm) into a Fabia Elegance.

With the Elegance level of trim you get a little drawer under the stereo unit, and it this drawer that is the problem - without bending the bracket the drawer won't open - even with the bracket bend it needs packing out so the glove box can open. Even the bit of trim removed won't go back and allow the drawer to open. Dashmount don't seem interested in helping in anyway!

The end result is a real mess. I've tried to convince the customer that the best solution would be to swap the drawer for the more normal tray, but they don't want to do this.

Has anyone else got a better "no drill" method for mounting the handset?

**robmawer** · 16-12-2003, 12:23

Would it be possible to mount it on the other side of the dash, and bend the bracket so it's angled more towards the driver, at the same time allowing the draw to clear the "claw"...

Rob.

No Waiting · 16-12-2003, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by robmawer

Would it be possible to mount it on the other side of the dash

Nop - for that you'd need a LHD bracket... If I could find a supplier for the LHD version I'd try it!

**robmawer** · 16-12-2003, 12:41

Oh...thought that you could just unbolt the bit at the back of the "claw" and put it the other way round...
Howabout some velcro?

Rob.

Td-eye · 26-12-2005, 13:37

Yep, I had exactly the same problem today while trying to set up a handsfree kit in my wife's Fabia Elegance !

The bracket I bought either fouled the glove box lid or the drawer in a word totally useless !

I eventually decided just to fabricate my own bracket which I mounted between the gear lever and the ashtray on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel. This required some cutting of the plastic underneath the ashtray on the inside of the tunnel (which isn't seen) to allow me to mount the bracket with two self tappers on the inside surface of the tunnel. The result now looks really good and it is positioned in such a way so as to not foul the ashtray lid when it opens.

Also I was going to position the microphone using the adhesive pad supplied onto the courtesy light surround but on closer inspection of the light unit there is already a small grill built in behind which you can actually mount the microphone keeping it hidden from view .. nice !

Just awaiting some connector blocks I ordered now to allow me to fully integrate the hands free phone into the Skoda Symphony Radio / CD unit and the installation will be complete !

Johnnyc · 26-12-2005, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Waiting

I've fitted loads of car kits over the years and always used the no drill mounts from www.dashmount.co.uk and never had any problems - until now that is.

If just fitted one of their mounts (http://shop.dashmount.co.uk/additions%20feb/70381.htm) into a Fabia Elegance.

With the Elegance level of trim you get a little drawer under the stereo unit, and it this drawer that is the problem - without bending the bracket the drawer won't open - even with the bracket bend it needs packing out so the glove box can open. Even the bit of trim removed won't go back and allow the drawer to open. Dashmount don't seem interested in helping in anyway!

The end result is a real mess. I've tried to convince the customer that the best solution would be to swap the drawer for the more normal tray, but they don't want to do this.

Has anyone else got a better "no drill" method for mounting the handset?

Alternative is to get a Parrot CK-3100 handsfree kit and go Bluetooth. The Parrot controller can do everything including browsing the phone book and dialling. A lot smaller too. You can get one for less than £80 nowLook Here

Td-eye · 26-12-2005, 14:28

Yeah, that looks neat & would probably do the job although I see that you don't have "the drawer" that causes all the problems in your vehicle and I'd still have to find somewhere else to mount it although granted there would probably be loads more options available given it's size.

Having a Nokia phone with bluetooth I went the bluetooth route in my own car and it's definitely the way to go !

Johnnyc · 26-12-2005, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Td-eye

Yeah, that looks neat & would probably do the job although I see that you don't have "the drawer" that causes all the problems in your vehicle and I'd still have to find somewhere else to mount it although granted there would probably be loads more options available given it's size.

Having a Nokia phone with bluetooth I went the bluetooth route in my own car and it's definitely the way to go !

I have an Octy Myself. that photo was from a furby thread. You can get the Parrot kit Here
This is how I fitted mine and what it looked like

Fabia 12v · 26-12-2005, 19:27

Could a phone bracket not be attached in the same place i have my ipod mounted below:

Its a brodit backing plate that you can then attach anything too.

Td-eye · 26-12-2005, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabia 12v

Could a phone bracket not be attached in the same place i have my ipod mounted below:

Its a brodit backing plate that you can then attach anything too.

I suppose so Richard but I wanted to try and mount it so as not to obstruct anything ie the centre drawer in the Elegance model, glove box, switches, ashtray, vents etc.

Fabia 12v · 26-12-2005, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Td-eye

I suppose so Richard but I wanted to try and mount it so as not to obstruct anything ie the centre drawer in the Elegance model, glove box, switches, ashtray, vents etc.

was just a thought

Td-eye · 26-12-2005, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabia 12v

was just a thought

Yep, and a good one too.

I reckon I might have gone for that at the point when I discovered the "no drills" dashmount didn't work

but I decided to persevere and found another location.

The problem with the Fabia is that the visible areas of the dash are all used (as you might expect) for other things.

Moving the mount down to the centre tunnel seemed the next best way to go the problem being how to do it without making holes which would be visible if the mount was ever removed ?

By mounting the bracket between the ashtray and the tunnel with all holes on the inside and under the ashtray seemed the best solution to me.

It is interesting however to see how others have got round this problem.

Fabia 12v · 26-12-2005, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Td-eye

Yep, and a good one too.

I reckon I might have gone for that at the point when I discovered the "no drills" dashmount didn't work

but I decided to persevere and found another location.

The problem with the Fabia is that the visible areas of the dash are all used (as you might expect) for other things.

Moving the mount down to the centre tunnel seemed the next best way to go the problem being how to do it without making holes which would be visible if the mount was ever removed ?

By mounting the bracket between the ashtray and the tunnel with all holes on the inside and under the ashtray seemed the best solution to me.

It is interesting however to see how others have got round this problem.

Well good luck with it... keep us posted with what you end up doing, could help others out in future

MagicBoy · 27-12-2005, 00:29

Can't you use the alternate bracket - http://www.dashmount.co.uk/sept04/71086.htm ?

Wardy · 27-12-2005, 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

Can't you use the alternate bracket - http://www.dashmount.co.uk/sept04/71086.htm ?

I have that exact one, with a Nokia cradle fitted. I don't have a drawer (yet) but no problems with the fit, or opening the glovebox etc.

Steve

Td-eye · 27-12-2005, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicBoy

Can't you use the alternate bracket - http://www.dashmount.co.uk/sept04/71086.htm ?

I wondered about that but after the one that should have fitted not doing so I had little confidence of any of these brackets ever fitting correctly & a few things put me off that particular one.

My Fabia is a 2002 model & not a 2004 > model, the photo shows it mounted to a cup holder & I don't have a cup holder, the photo is also reversed and the real problem ie "the drawer" is not shown as being fitted in that photo.

It's fine showing a picture of a bracket installed and not appearing to foul anything but the real test is when you add the phone cradle which in my case and that of the originator of this thread is what fouled the glovebox lid and drawer.

Anyway, the problem no longer exists for me as my wifes phone is now neatly mounted in it's cradle on the tunnel but as I said earlier it's still interesting to hear how others get around this.

Td-eye · 27-12-2005, 13:16

The newly mounted phone can be seen HERE the bracket is mounted down between the side of the ashtray (and still allows it to open without fouling) and the tunnel and secured on the inside out of sight with a couple of self tappers. The wiring running from the bottom of the mount will be fed down the side of the gear lever gaiter & inside out of sight once I have the connectors I require to finish the job.

Hope this is of use to anyone else trying to mount a phone in a Fabia Elegance with a drawer in the dash.

16-12-2003, 12:19	#1
No Waiting Keep on going Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Midlands Posts: 537 Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia I've fitted loads of car kits over the years and always used the no drill mounts from www.dashmount.co.uk and never had any problems - until now that is. If just fitted one of their mounts (http://shop.dashmount.co.uk/additions%20feb/70381.htm) into a Fabia Elegance. With the Elegance level of trim you get a little drawer under the stereo unit, and it this drawer that is the problem - without bending the bracket the drawer won't open - even with the bracket bend it needs packing out so the glove box can open. Even the bit of trim removed won't go back and allow the drawer to open. Dashmount don't seem interested in helping in anyway! The end result is a real mess. I've tried to convince the customer that the best solution would be to swap the drawer for the more normal tray, but they don't want to do this. Has anyone else got a better "no drill" method for mounting the handset?

16-12-2003, 12:23	#2
robmawer Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rochdale Posts: 12,369 Thanks: 2 Thanked 63 Times in 56 Posts	Would it be possible to mount it on the other side of the dash, and bend the bracket so it's angled more towards the driver, at the same time allowing the draw to clear the "claw"... Rob. __________________

16-12-2003, 12:41	#4
robmawer Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rochdale Posts: 12,369 Thanks: 2 Thanked 63 Times in 56 Posts	Oh...thought that you could just unbolt the bit at the back of the "claw" and put it the other way round... Howabout some velcro? Rob. __________________

26-12-2005, 13:37	#5
Td-eye Volkskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Edinburgh - "Bonnie Scotland" Posts: 574 Thanks: 5 Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia Yep, I had exactly the same problem today while trying to set up a handsfree kit in my wife's Fabia Elegance ! The bracket I bought either fouled the glove box lid or the drawer in a word totally useless ! I eventually decided just to fabricate my own bracket which I mounted between the gear lever and the ashtray on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel. This required some cutting of the plastic underneath the ashtray on the inside of the tunnel (which isn't seen) to allow me to mount the bracket with two self tappers on the inside surface of the tunnel. The result now looks really good and it is positioned in such a way so as to not foul the ashtray lid when it opens. Also I was going to position the microphone using the adhesive pad supplied onto the courtesy light surround but on closer inspection of the light unit there is already a small grill built in behind which you can actually mount the microphone keeping it hidden from view .. nice ! Just awaiting some connector blocks I ordered now to allow me to fully integrate the hands free phone into the Skoda Symphony Radio / CD unit and the installation will be complete ! __________________ Some say their glass is half empty, others say their glass is half full. I say, ...... are you going to drink that ? Last edited by Td-eye; 26-12-2005 at 13:41.

26-12-2005, 14:28	#7
Td-eye Volkskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Edinburgh - "Bonnie Scotland" Posts: 574 Thanks: 5 Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia Yeah, that looks neat & would probably do the job although I see that you don't have "the drawer" that causes all the problems in your vehicle and I'd still have to find somewhere else to mount it although granted there would probably be loads more options available given it's size. Having a Nokia phone with bluetooth I went the bluetooth route in my own car and it's definitely the way to go ! __________________ Some say their glass is half empty, others say their glass is half full. I say, ...... are you going to drink that ? Last edited by Td-eye; 26-12-2005 at 15:47.

26-12-2005, 19:27	#9
Fabia 12v RICHARD Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Twickenham - Middlesex Posts: 4,931 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia Could a phone bracket not be attached in the same place i have my ipod mounted below: Its a brodit backing plate that you can then attach anything too. __________________ First Car: Skoda Fabia MK1 1.2 12v Comfort Replaced with: Volkswagen Golf MK4 GT 1.9TDI Replaced with: Seat Ibiza MK4 Sport 1.9TDI Replaced with: Volkswagen Polo MK5 Ltd. Edition Sport 1.4 16v

27-12-2005, 00:29	#14
MagicBoy Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 279 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia Can't you use the alternate bracket - http://www.dashmount.co.uk/sept04/71086.htm ? __________________ '05 Diamond Silver Fabia v/RS

27-12-2005, 13:16	#17
Td-eye Volkskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Edinburgh - "Bonnie Scotland" Posts: 574 Thanks: 5 Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Help required: Fitting phone in Fabia The newly mounted phone can be seen HERE the bracket is mounted down between the side of the ashtray (and still allows it to open without fouling) and the tunnel and secured on the inside out of sight with a couple of self tappers. The wiring running from the bottom of the mount will be fed down the side of the gear lever gaiter & inside out of sight once I have the connectors I require to finish the job. Hope this is of use to anyone else trying to mount a phone in a Fabia Elegance with a drawer in the dash. __________________ Some say their glass is half empty, others say their glass is half full. I say, ...... are you going to drink that ? Last edited by Td-eye; 27-12-2005 at 14:27.

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