OEM style phone mount for e85/e86

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:32 pm

Hey all

So I’m currently developing an OEM style phone holder/mount for iPhones (and Samsung’s later). This is more of a pet project but after numerous prototypes - I think this could be a nice little feature for any e85/e86, where by it fits in seamlessly with the interior (without having your vents covered or having an ugly window mounted beasts)

I’m keeping the design of the mount private until the final prototype arrives. But the main reason I’m posting this is to see how much appetite there is for a phone holder that looks seamless and feels as though BMW designed it themselves for the interior of the z4.

So I have some questions: would love to hear what people think. And basically see if it’s worth my while to make a limited production run.

This is a Google survey link, don’t worry I’m not collecting any emails etc etc.

https://forms.gle/KXeyC4zPbUfC7ks66

PeteyZ4 · Post by **PeteyZ4** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:54 pm

Completed

Very interested see what this will look like.

Didn't see question about Samsung vs iPhone, but I'm Samsung 4 Life.

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:09 pm

Ah thanks for the pointer… I’ll add to the questionnaire

Phippy · Post by **Phippy** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:45 pm

Done - good luck, be interested to see how it comes out!

iiNNeX · Post by **iiNNeX** » Mon Jul 12, 2021 12:08 am

Done, I would be very interested as someone who is after that OEM+ fitment

Wrighty · Post by **Wrighty** » Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:01 pm

Done

I would be very interested also, I've not yet found a mount that is exactly what I want yet

Wrighty

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:06 pm

Completed and really interested as it something Im currently wresting with.

Didnt like the Brodit as I’m right handed and felt the phone was too far away/too far into the cockpit. Swap between Android and iPhone, but now Im, on iPhone wanted to use Magsafe (with Magsafe case), so only option was to hardwire a Chinese holder (nothing in UK) and convert the smallest window mount I could find. Then hardwire it behind trim to a USB port, piggybacked to an ignition fuse - a stage I’m yet to complete.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=125819&start=135

Looking at the dash, surely there’s a design that could work in a similar way to the Brodit but in the available trim that side of the dashboard. Magnetic and charge essential to me. Less faff and as wireless as you’re likely to get.

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:15 pm

Done

I have gotten close to buying a brodit but I think they are bulky and ugly

Attilio · Post by **Attilio** » Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:42 am

Great idea! Completed the survey

Looking forward to seeing how it works out!

SGRG · Post by **SGRG** » Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:20 pm

Completed the survey. Very interested as well.

This is my temporary solution viewtopic.php?f=2&t=129169&p=1851926#p1851926

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Tue Jul 13, 2021 3:34 pm

thanks for the comments everyone.

Hoping to have an update another month (probably late august.)

Unfortunately these things take a bit of time - I'm pretty chuffed with latest prototype but - think I might need one or two more prototypes to be perfectly happy with - basically needs to withstand exuberant driving of course - and it failed on me the other day during harsh braking! So a bit more tweaking needed.

Appreciate the comments on the survey - there will be zero cutting / gluing / seamless fit (hence the need for more prototypes).

And yes it will be very minimal affair - I'm one of those silly people who don't put cases or anything on my phone - so if it works perfectly for me, then I'm pretty sure I'll have a pretty decent product.

M1k3yC · Post by **M1k3yC** » Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:10 pm

I just filled this in. For context, I bought this for my Mk4 MX-5: https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/phone-holder-mk4-p-4455.html If you click on the image of the product on that website you should see an image of it in situ. As you can see, it costs just under £56 which I thought was a bit punchy but as it's a decent product and a neat solution I was happy to pay it. Hence, that's more or less what I based my responses to your survey on. I wasn't sure re. your margin question - I Googled for the margin on mobile phone accessories

In reality, I don't have a view on how much money each unit should make - if I think the price is reasonable for the product then I am happy that you make the best margin possible!

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:50 pm

Completed on behalf of the missus who uses a Galaxy S10 in her E85. Currently have a Brodit fitted (came already in the car)
Tbh it seems ok to me, but does slightly cover the lefthand heating control dial.
Biggest bugbear is the faff to feed the charging cable through the small hole in the bottom, so an integral charging connection would be ideal.

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:33 pm

M1k3yC wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:10 pm I just filled this in. For context, I bought this for my Mk4 MX-5: https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/phone-holder-mk4-p-4455.html If you click on the image of the product on that website you should see an image of it in situ. As you can see, it costs just under £56 which I thought was a bit punchy but as it's a decent product and a neat solution I was happy to pay it. Hence, that's more or less what I based my responses to your survey on. I wasn't sure re. your margin question - I Googled for the margin on mobile phone accessories In reality, I don't have a view on how much money each unit should make - if I think the price is reasonable for the product then I am happy that you make the best margin possible!

Appreciate your thoughts. Yeh price unfortunately now just comes down to how many people might order the product… the more people intend to order, the lower I can potentially get the cost of each unit down. (Mass manufacturing and all that)

At the mo, each prototype costs me about just under £90 in just manufacturing cost. But relatively cheap considering 10 years ago a prototype might have cost 500 plus.

Anyway uploading pics soon, still not perfect… but latest prototype works for my own use. but if I was going to sell this it needs a few more prototypes to get it perfect.

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:38 pm

Yeh unfortunatley the charging cable issue would significantly add to cost, and would also mean people would have to remove things from the dash to install wire that’s hidden.

So for now I’ll just be sticking a basic phone holder that’s looks OEM. However for those more adventurous, I could create a separate adaptor to ensure there’s a flush cable mount, if there’s enough people wanting to go down that route.

Anyway pictures of prototype coming soon (not final) but should give people an idea of what the final product will look like and how it’ll work.

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:50 pm Completed on behalf of the missus who uses a Galaxy S10 in her E85. Currently have a Brodit fitted (came already in the car)
Tbh it seems ok to me, but does slightly cover the lefthand heating control dial.
Biggest bugbear is the faff to feed the charging cable through the small hole in the bottom, so an integral charging connection would be ideal.

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