OEM style phone mount for e85/e86

S

shuey

Member
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
 
Completed :thumbsup: Very interested see what this will look like.

Didn't see question about Samsung vs iPhone, but I'm Samsung 4 Life.
 
Done :thumbsup: I would be very interested also, I've not yet found a mount that is exactly what I want yet

Wrighty
 
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.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/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.
 
Done

I have gotten close to buying a brodit but I think they are bulky and ugly
 
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.
 
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! :thumbsup:
 
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.
 
M1k3yC said:
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! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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 said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
Hey everyone.

So a quick update.

Another survey for you all. (Sorry!)

This is to get everyones thoughts on the prototype pictures I’m uploading shortly. I’m at a stage where I’m happy with the adaptor for my own use - BUT will need a few more prototypes for it to be good enough to actually have a product that I’d be happy to sell. There’s some tweaks I’ll be doing if there’s enough interested from people - so that adapter feels even more seamless and part of the dash.

The material is also likely to change (for costs purposes) but the colour will of course be black.

Unfortunately for now, if you don’t have the Satnav computer built-in, then this product would not work, as it uses the space where the sat nav folds into.

https://forms.gle/oQNS1tCznKzM3PRQ8

Feel free to add thoughts, on here to.
 
Some pics of the prototype.

Would be great to get more of everyone’s thoughts based on these pictures.

https://forms.gle/oQNS1tCznKzM3PRQ8

Feel free to add comments on here too
 

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Note: I’ll be working on making sure holder blends in better with the satnav front lip, if there’s enough interest from people

And before anyone asks, yes the mount is super secure… and can be removed in seconds. I’ve yet to do a the super super enthusiastic driving test, but so far it’s performed flawlessly.
 
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