HOW TO TURN THE SQUARE CUPHOLDER INTO AN IPOD BASE

Parts/Tools Required:
1 piece Square Cupholder: Click here to for details on how to purchase any of these items.

4 pieces, radio removal tools, Click here to for details on how to purchase any of these items.

AND

an audio adapter cable:
a) Blitzsafe VW/M-LINK V.5 adapter that plugs into the CD changer plug on the back of the standard radio (or the nav radio too) to offer an iPod connector on the other end.

OR

b) Modified Belkin mini-amp cable. This plugs into the A/V port on the back of the Nav radio. It needs to be wired to power. It should be fused and the power line should be filtered with an NS-2 filter.

Procedure:

Installation of iPod plug in square cupholder

1) Carefully measure and dremel an angled slot in the cupholder for the iPod plug as shown below. BE SURE TO dremel the slot in the REAR of the cupholder!

2) Remove the locking tabs from the iPod plug by filing them flush. This will allow the iPod to slip on and off the plug so the tabs will not have to be pressed.

3) Check the fit of the iPod and the iPod plug in the dremeled hole. Mark the plug with a line so you know how deep it must be for it to fit when the iPod is in place.

4) Mix some two part epoxy and glue the plug in place, making sure it sticks out far enough so the iPod can slip on and off.

5) Let the expoy harden fully and you are done with the installation of the plug.

Installation of square iPod cupholder into the center console

1) remove center console box light by prying top out and unplugging the light from the wire.

2) remove center console box by lifting at light hole and flexible front of box at the same time.

3) remove T20 screws forward of console box.

4) slide open ashtray compartment then lift plastic and wood trim as one piece from front. Note: Photo shows wood trim around cupholder removed. This is not required at this point of the installation.

5) slowly work plastic and wood trim off of center console from front to back. DO NOT BEND TOO MUCH - must come up as one piece. Be patient and work slowly.

6) find connector for 12V plug by following the red/grey/brown wire into foam wrap and unplug connector.

7) unplug all other wires from center console switches. Note they all have locking tabs that must be depressed to release them.

8) At this point, the entire plastic/wood trim sandwich should be free.

9) Now remove the wood trim from around the cupholder by squeezing the 4 silver metal tabs on the bottom of this wood with a pair of needlenose pliers.

10) Next remove the old double cupholder from the plastic tray by squeezing the 4 sets of three "finger" tabs under the cupholder. 6 of these "fingers" are shown in this photo:

11) Snap the new square cupholder into the plastic tray.

12) Snap the wood around the cupholder.

13) Run the wires along the inside of the center console towards the front of the center console.

14) Slip the power wire and the black radio connection wire between the side of the center console and the carpet, so that it exits the center console on the passenger side near the front of the center console.

15) Remove the dash panel above the passenger footwell by pulling down on it at the rear corner. You can completely remove this to make wiring easier.

16) Pull the radio out using the radio removal tools. You can disconnect it and set it aside.

17) Fish the radio connection plug up to the back of the radio. I use some thin gauge welding rod with a 180 degree bent hook to snag the wire and pull it up through the dash.

18) If you are using the Blitzsafe, remove the blue CD changer plug from the large radio plug and plug the Blitzsafe's plug into the location for the CD changer plug. Also don't forget to connect the ground wire for the Blitzsafe unit to an appropriate ground such as the Torx screws behind the radio.

18a) If you are using the modified Belkin unit, plug the A/V plug into the nav radio's A/V port.

18b) Then wire the power connections for the Belkin. Wire this to an appropriate connection on the fuse box on the passenger side of the dashboard fusebox. Be sure to use a fuse connection on the positive power side and the NS-2 power filter.

19) Plug the rest of the plugs back into the radio and put it back in place.

20) Put the passenger footwell dash panel back in place.

22) Test the system using your iPod. If you are using the Belkin unit, you may need to adjust the volume setting on the Belkin amp so that the iPod volume is equal to the radio volume. DO NOT overpower the volume by turning the Belkin amp up too far. This could cause distortion at higher levels.

21) Put the top of the center console back in place. Make sure you plug in any center console wires you may have disconnected.

22) You should be done.