I'm thinking of getting a satnav to go in the freelander, and as I only have the GS model I have a gaping hole that I would like to fill (probably regret saying that.......)

Anyway, my question is, which satnav is the best to go for in terms of physical size that will fit my hole in the dashboard. I know a similar subject has been disscused on here before but I'm if I can find it.

Thanks in advance  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

I have a Garmin 610T, this works well with blue tooth etc. There is also another thread in this forum where a member has manufactured a bracket for holding the Garmin in place. I have not followed this up, but I would be vey interested in how the wiring was accomplished. Have a look in the gallery. GS TD4 All Black

it's here !!

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Alpine Sat Nav retrofit

I should have read all of your message. DOH ! GS TD4 All Black

I am using the Garmin Nuvi 660 which fits the aperture fairly well after the rubber mat is removed.

John-Boy,
how did you hook up the wires? did you just use the dash mount? or the windshield mount? and then did you use the integrated 12v outlet power cord ? I too am interested in getting a garmin 660 or 680 as they have come way down here in price in the US. Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

Dave, if you want to go the extra distance you could have a touchscreen put in the hole and then have it operate a seperate navigation system. Any decent car audio place should be able to sort you out with a system to suit.

u2fan1967 wrote:

John-Boy,
how did you hook up the wires? did you just use the dash mount? or the windshield mount? and then did you use the integrated 12v outlet power cord ? I too am interested in getting a garmin 660 or 680 as they have come way down here in price in the US. Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

Hey John-Boy,
This is excellent information and very helpful. I was thinking of doing the same technique. I'll probably try and drill a small hole on the side/back of the main opening to run the powercord through so I can hide it. I especially like being able to remove it to prevent theft. Thank you so much for the pictures, I sincerely appreciate it.

thanks

Added a pic of the Garmin into my gallery. I removed the rubber mat from the hole and then placed the dashboard disc directly onto the base of the hole. Tried first to affix to the rubber mat itself and this did not stick but doesn't look like I could remove from the dash now even if I wanted to so make sure you get the position right as you only get one chance! I then use the windscreen mount onto the disc as John-Boy if I need power and the traffic lead connected - if not I just replace the mat on top of the disc and the unit fits in the hole snugly without any fixing as shown in the gallery (ok for short trips until the battery runs down). Note the mat does not fit back fully as shown by the gap underneath in the pic and it actually sits on the two rubber studs that would normally go into the holes in the dashboard. Reception in both cases is fine and the route mapping has been spot on. Portability is a great idea (except when leaving the car and dropping on the road ) but at least shows it is tough as still working fine . For those in the UK the 660 is avaiilable from http://www.pentagongps.co.uk/garmin-c22.html as is the 670 which is identical except includes North America maps in addition to Europe - useful for anyone who take a holiday to Florida etc. I have no affiliation with the site selling this except that it is local to me (run out of the parts department of a nearby Toyota dealer) and it's where I bought mine - for those local to Sheffield you can buy by visiting the dealer rather than through the website.

Last edited by fullmonty on 12th Nov 2007 4:33 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Oh yeah and before anybody mentions it I was sad enough to download the extra vehicle icons so I could choose a red monster truck to match my rimini red freel2

fullmonty wrote:

Oh yeah and before anybody mentions it I was sad enough to download the extra vehicle icons so I could choose a red monster truck to match my rimini red freel2

No..... that's not sad at all....

u2fan1967 wrote:

Hey John-Boy,
This is excellent information and very helpful. I was thinking of doing the same technique. I'll probably try and drill a small hole on the side/back of the main opening to run the powercord through so I can hide it. I especially like being able to remove it to prevent theft. Thank you so much for the pictures, I sincerely appreciate it.

thanks

it is best to keep the Satnav out of view for those theiving little ba ds.

I would suggest you even keep the brackets out of view when not in use, I had one stuck on my old FL1 loan car windscreen and nothing in view in the car.

The theiving little s te smashed my window to see if it was in the glovebox.

it was only 8.30pm so I gave chase, but didn't get very far in my socks.

Police new who it was as he had just robbed somebodys wallet from their kitchen worktop, and the description was the same, Adidas hoodie, tracksuit bottoms tucked into white socks, heard the caught him later in the year and then next i heard his drug habbit took him off the streets for good.

Had the same here in Amsterdam as npinks, but they took the radio and found the "not so secret" draw under the seat where the satnav was....and the even took the leather case for it....very professional by all accounts.

I was not too ed, 'cos they didn't smash a window (very strange), but instead seemed to have picked the lock, they took a stereo with password access and the Satnav was only in English, and they stole a car charger for it, but it was the wrong one

I had a fixed mount for the satnav on the centre air vents and that just gave them the excuse to take a look and see if it was in the car.

Thanks for the info and advice guys. I'll be waiting until the January sales to make my purchase but the top two in the running are the nuvi 660 or the Tom Tom one Europe V2

Cheers  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650