E89 replace cupholder phone tray w/full oddments & wireless charging?

[Christopher72]

I can't believe how ridiculous the armrest covered cupholders are! First of all, how do you even reach a drink if you want it, and they aren't substantial enough to prevent a normal tumbler from tumbling.... :headbang: SMH.. who designed this? The cupholder in the passenger's seat is much more useful for a nice https://www.yeti.com/drinkware/tumblers/21071501032.html. Additionally 2011 phones were tiny things.. my extra large palms prefer a plus size phone that's too wide for the cradle side.

I've read Dave's, Roddy's, and a few others threads on the topic (well done) and I've decided to pick up a standard full-size oddments tray and matt. My question is thus: Has anyone created a mod for the oddments tray to implement a wireless charger underneath the matt, using the existing phone cradle wires to power the charger? Any ideas how to approach that? I do have access to filament and resin printing for custom work to integrate into the full-size tray.

Thoughts and guidance welcome. Thank you.

 

[AnubisZed]

This is something I considered doing for my wifes phone (mine doesn't have wireless charging), but due to the little amount of time she'd ever use it I decided not to, but I did research into it......

So yes it's possible, you could go down a couple of different routes here.

1) Buy a pre-made charging mat that has a USB connection. I would say then connect the wires, but USB is 5v whereas the incoming supply is 12v. You could use an car USB converter (they normally come in 1 or 2 USB's attached) and that would power the changing mat. Just open the lid place your phone on the mat and away you go!

2) As you could 3D print then this could be an option, all though a lot more work but then it would be a custom fit. Using a coil that already has a 12v pcb controller attached would negate the need for anything else.

Regarding power supply from the car, and referring to the connector underneath the Eject box/ centre console...

12v+ is on pin 5 and 12v- is on both pins 2 & 13 (both same size wire to the same ground point). It's running on 0.75 wire and fed from fuse 13 which is a 10amp supply, so should be adequate for the job

 

[Christopher72]

Dave,

The research begins! Thank you for the nudge with options. I'll post on it again as I make attempts.

 

[Smartbear]

My car has the storage tray, i just placed a wireless charger that my phone sits on it just plugs into the USB port at the end
Rob

 

[Christopher72]

Still investigating the ideal charging pad to add under the rubber mat, but I'm rid of the useless cell tray that couldn't hold a modern cell phone... love the space. Found the oddments tray and mat for $36 USD new - deal.

 

[stevenfstein]

Christopher, what was involved with removing the existing tray/cupholder and replacing with the oddments tray/mat? Is there a part number? I have a 2014.

Much appreciated.... Steve

 

[AnubisZed]

Christopher, what was involved with removing the existing tray/cupholder and replacing with the oddments tray/mat? Is there a part number? I have a 2014.

Much appreciated.... Steve

How-to here...
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132196

 

[Christopher72]

Christopher, what was involved with removing the existing tray/cupholder and replacing with the oddments tray/mat? Is there a part number? I have a 2014.

Much appreciated.... Steve

Currently 8 more left on this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/193850955538 $36 USD for the tray and mat together... shipped to USA from Latvia for only $10.

 

[javis20]

Christopher, what was involved with removing the existing tray/cupholder and replacing with the oddments tray/mat? Is there a part number? I have a 2014.

Much appreciated.... Steve

Currently 8 more left on this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/193850955538 $36 USD for the tray and mat together... shipped to USA from Latvia for only $10.

Thank you. That would be perfect for my sunglass case and my Kahr CM9.

 

[mcbutler]

Still investigating the ideal charging pad to add under the rubber mat, but I'm rid of the useless cell tray that couldn't hold a modern cell phone... love the space. Found the oddments tray and mat for $36 USD new - deal.

I wouldnt recommend a charging mat at all. They are usually quite specific in where exactly the phone has to sit to charge properly, if at all. A phone sliding around in the car would have no chance.
Recent Iphones are no problem as they have the excellent mag lok gizmo that secures the phone to the mat precisely where it has to be, you could simply use a sticky pad to secure the small round mag wireless charger to the base of the tray and plug it into a USB C charger for your cigarette lighter....

 

[B21]

AnubisZed…

With the GP oddments tray, can you salvage the USB connection that formerly went to the snap in adapter?

I’ve bitten the bullet on removing my snap in but ideally would like to retain that USB capability ?

Another follow up on the weird re-booting of my Top-Fi system following how damp in the boot causes endless re-boots..in that process I’ve lost my streaming artwork from the snap in connector route…same iPhone via the USB port streams artwork fine…weird..