Introduction: Install Phone Into Car Dashboard Subaru Legacy

Step 1: How & Why

I will show you how I installed phone in dash of Subaru Legacy/Outback 2010-2013, without "touching" a dash.

Everything is removable and you can turn back into original in a couple of minutes.

I decided for this installation because I'm a very big freak of hidden cables and simple usage.

I improvised a lot during the process. My goal was to improvise with materials I was found at home, don’t “touching” dashboard and use phone without battery. I spent many hours to find player, tasker (macrodroid) app, made tasks and tested everything.

Just in case, because you never know I added micro usb cable for charging. :))

*Why I need MacroDroid?

1. Timer for music player: I am driving to my job around 30 minutes into one way. So when I seat in car, just run task and player start automaticly. When I arrived at work I just turn off car, and task will stop the music over a minute. With this function I prevent if I forget to stop player when leave a car:)

2. Screen ON During player run, screen is ON and dimmed. So if I want to change the song, I just touch the screen and press next song. When I touch the screen, brightnes go to 100% (or what you set in macrodroid).

Step 2: I Needed

Hardware:

I find a lot of stuff at home or bought it in local store. Links are only for example.

Phone Samsung I9000 Galaxy S

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9000_galaxy_s-31...

Phone case

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hard-Back-Case-Cover-F...

2A Dual car charger

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLEOMAX-SAMSUNG-GALAXY-S2...

Block Magnets (Neodymium Block Magnets 25x8x2 mm N52)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Very-Strong-Neodymiu...

Circle magnets (18mm x 2mm Neodymium Magnets)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10PCS-18mm-x-2mm-Super...

Cable with fuse (Add A Circuit Fuse Tap Piggy-Back MICRO) I was in seventh heaven when I found this cable:))

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Add-A-Circuit-Fuse-Ta...

Micro USB Male to Female Adapter Cable Extension Angle Connector Cord

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Micro-USB-Male-to-...

Micro USB cable, minimum 140 cm long

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GENUINE-OEM-SAMSUNG-1-...

Audio cable, minimum 140 cm long

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-3Pole-Mini-Stereo-M...

Cable Conduit Tube Pipe

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5M-Long-9-5mm-OD-Flexib...

Fiberglass repair kit

http://www.amazon.com/Bondo-420-Fiberglass-Resin-...

3D carbon Wrap Vinyl Film

http://www.amazon.com/black-Carbon-Fiber-Professi...

  • Acrylic spray Putty (filler)
  • Polyester filler
  • Wooden stick 8x8mm
  • 3M masking tape
  • Aluminum foil
  • Sandpaper (80 & 320)
  • Chipboard (13 x 14 x 3.6cm or higher. (Space between chipboard and dash I fill with foam)



Software on phone

ROM [4.2.2] Cyber-SGS IV Style (If you have better suggestion, don’t be shy to share with us;) )

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=...

Nova Launcher Prime (paid version) (have a lot of customization. Most important is that everything is force to landscape view)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com...

MacroDroid "tasker" (paid version)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com...

Music player (paid version)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com...

Widget for audio and brightness

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de....

Step 3: How to Use Phone Without Battery

Step 4: I Made Model From Hard Paper to Locate the Phone on to the Position.

Step 5: Glue the Phone With Case on to the Chipboard (13 X 14 X 3.6cm)

Step 6: Protect the Dashboard With Masking Tape and Aluminium Foil.

I don't trust just masking tape, so I decide to use aluminium foil.

Step 7: Fiberglass...

Make powerful mix for fiberglass and do it in warm space or outside on sun. It will dry much faster. Make 3 - 4 layers of fiberglass.

Step 8: Cut & Sand

Be very very careful and precise when you cutting and sanding!! Every mistake will make you nervous and you will loosing your time with filler.

NOTE: I recommend to you, that you make laser cut plexiglass mask with hole for display on phone. I lost a lot of time to make perfect edges.

Step 9: Place Magnets on Dashboard

Step 10: Place Magnets on Mask

Put couple of magnets inside and couple of them outside of mask. Move magnets and mask to the right position. Make lines with marker around magnets on both side of mask.

Then glue the piece of wood (8x8mm) and magnet right in the center of circle. Now you have position of mask. You must be very precise here!

Step 11: Make It Smooth

I used filler 3 times and still is not perfect:( With filler you can repair mistakes of cutting and sanding.

Step 12: Make It Smoother

Couple of layers filler in spray. Sand with 320 sanding paper.

When you made it realy smooth and without any scratches, than you can spray it with any color or put on vinyl sticker.

Step 13: Wiring

Plug in stereo jack and with multimeter you can locate which connector is correct.

I decided to solder it, because like I said, I am freak of hiding cables and for a better sound. I don’t trust on this jack in car:)

Step 14: