Has anybody had a go at putting an old (say second generation) iPod in their ashtray?

Yep you did read that right, in their ashtray.

I saw some forum (since forgotten where) where a guy has put his 2nd Gen iPod into his ashtray - unfortunately he didn't go into any details how it's hooked up, or in fact what it is hooked up to. There are a couple of photos showing the finished product (which I happened to save and are displayed below), but they really don't help.

Any ideas how to go about this? I'm especially interested about how he got it hinging down. I've got an old iPod, and I quite fancy the whole "stealth" idea around this project.

Any ideas?

Looks pretty cool.. pity you have to use a apple product.. haha..

Cheers Vice..

That's what I am gunna/want to do, but with my iPhone.

I have been wondering how to mount my ipod touch that connects to my head unit would be interested to see how it modify the ashtray

Its a pity the guy that did thaa is in norway or sweeden or one of those countries.

Been surfin' (the digital kind) and came across this product below.

Using this product, I was thinking that I'd put my old iPod in the ashtray, connect it to the aux connector on the back of a "front end" hidden in the glovebox. That way the system will be really steathy.
Now for a clever way to hide the speakers . . .

According to their blurb,
"The iSimple® PolyWire™ can be installed in almost any vehicle, regardless of whether it has a factory or aftermarket radio, and delivers outstanding iPod / iPhone audio playback while keeping your iPod or iPhone battery fully charged".

1. Your choice of two installation configurations
   
2. CD-quality music from your iPod or iPhone
   
3. Browse your music directly from the iPod or iPhone
   
4. Battery charging for all iPod / iPhone models
   
5. Optional secondary 3.5mm input (aftermarket installations only)
   

all good if you have a 3rd gen or later ipod. the early ones have firewire instead of the plug you see on this one.

Interesting . . . thank's for pointing that out.

Their site doesn't mention what generation iPod's are supported (well not that I could find anyway) - but I'll email and ask before spending my "hard earned".

Their site does say the following though . . .

Q: What types of portable media devices can you use with the headphone-style jack that comes with the iSimple PolyWire?
A: You can connect almost any type of portable audio device with a 3.5mm headphone-style input. This includes, but is not limited to, mp3 players, GPS systems, portable satellite receivers, hand-held video game systems or even laptop computers.

I'm guessing the quality through the 3.5mm jack wouldn't be as good as the RCA's.

So Barls, do you know of any other interfaces?

the earlier ones will connect through the 3.5mm jack but you wont be able to charge off it.
for the money you would be better off going down to ether dick smiths or jaycar and buying a 3.5mm to rya lead. would cost 15 bucks at the most for an early ipod.
ive got a brick ie 2nd gen myself and have been looking at something similar. currently using a radio transmitter.
you will get a decent quality through the 3.5mm but it will only be as good as your system.

Thanks again Barls, you're the proverbial mine of information.

Just had a look at the different generations on the Apple site, (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1353), and discovered that mine (a 60GB iPod Color) is in-fact a 4th generation iPod.

So looks like the Polywire will do me just fine after all.

heres another option for you
http://www.dsk.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12017 

I finally had 5 mins to waste. It's not wired up yet.....

Where did you get the plug from and how did you secure it?

just buy a Head unit that has a usb in the rear. mines connected through that and the ipod lives in the glovebox and the head unit give full controls. its months since i have even looked at mine and the last time was just to update some music..



steff......................

The dock is just EBay china stuff for 3$ and the stereo had a cable with it. Drilled a hole in the back of ashtray holder, and the dock is spaced and just stuck in. I did need to trim the black ashtray lid.

Came across the origional guys build thread if anyones interested.. Very good read and a nice bug..

Cheers Vice


http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?3808554/page1 

So. I bought a iPhone Dock on eBay ($3.00), a Polywire as described above ($36.45), and a RetroSound Frontend ($324.32).
Will post pix when I get around to fitting them - sometime in January 2011 is the plan.

Old Timer

hey mate, i love the setup with the old gen iPod. I currently run my iphone via the front 3.5mm jack on front and i want to clean it up a bit so im thinking ur on the right track with the ipod.

Trying to figure how to get the look that you ahve with the ipod sitting there as we as having it plugged in at the bottom for power...!??

Btw how did u hinge the ashtray. Wiked idea.

BTW (number 2) where did u get the sweeeeet speedo?

I ahve a convertible herbie, with coloured interior so id love to get a blue or red new speedo!

just seen this on another forum
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=684910 

ahhh sorry, i misunderstood what was meant in the thread :S

Thanks anyway ill source dylan out

That speedo is just a stock one with the center and surround painted red