USB mount for Suzuki Swift Mk3

thingiverse

My new car stereo unit presented me with a slight problem: The previous one had onboard USB. But my new unit uses a non-removable USB flylead designed to dangle down behind the dash. Presumably intended to exit via the glovebox or something? Or maybe it's meant to be poked through some dirty great hole drilled in the dash? Either way, I didn't know! There were no suggestions in the instructions, and neither idea appealed to me very much. What was needed was a panel mount. But I didn't want something that looked horrendous or bodged. So I formulated some criteria with that goal in mind: 1. I didn't want any visible fixings - They're fine hidden on the back of a telly or PC case. But on a dashboard, they just look cheap and amateurish. 2. I wasn't willing to disfigure any visible part of the factory dashboard - One day I might want to refit the original stereo and sell the car, and something like that can impact the resale value. 3. I wanted the USB to the left of the head unit - Well away from the driving controls of a UK right-hand drive vehicle. (Good news for any overseas makers: A simple mirror-flip of the main part of this design will cater for those uncivilized fools who still insist on having their steering wheel attached to the wrong side of the car!) 4. I didn't want any sort of extension lead - In the automotive environment, it's just asking for trouble. It's more stuff to rattle behind the dashboard, provides more opportunity for dirty contacts, and adds the potential for it to vibrate undone at some point down the line. If you want to fit an aftermarket stereo to a Swift, you'll need a custom mount. But I didn't want something that looked horrible or bodged. So I formulated some criteria with that goal in mind: 1. I wanted the mount to be as small and discreet as possible - The less visible it is, the better. 2. I needed the USB port to be accessible from the driver's side - This would make it easier to use while driving. 3. I wanted the mount to be easy to install and remove - This would make it simpler to take out the stereo when selling the car. 4. I didn't want any visible screws or other hardware - These can look messy and detract from the overall appearance of the dashboard. Once printed and assembled, I was able to test fit everything into the dash, and see how much I would have to cut away behind the fascia to clear the mount and cable. The game plan was "as little as possible", so I started by removing small sections at a time, and testing until I found the clearance was sufficient. Then I removed another few millimeters all around just to avoid any potential rubbing points that might cause annoying noises at a later date. Once satisfied it was okay, I reconnected the wiring, and pushed it all into place to give it a quick test run. Everything worked as it should, so I now turned my attention to the new stereo's outer bezel trim. I knew this was going to be a problem because the aftermarket fascias are designed for the stereo to sit slightly proud of the aperture. I have no idea why they do it that way, as it makes the stereo stick out like a sore thumb and just screams "aftermarket!!". So I decided to make my life harder by making my stereo sit as far back as possible to give a factory fit look. The downside to this is that you can't get the stereo's outer bezel to fit in the fascia as the locating well is too small to accommodate it. As you can see in the main picture, I've temporarily printed a trim to fill the gap for the time being. But I have plans to print a full custom unit, possibly even incorporating a built-in hood or cowl to shade the screen slightly in direct sunlight. This is now posted here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4551915 So there you have it; it turned out really well, and doesn't look bodged (well, not too bodged, anyway). Obviously a close inspection shows where my hole-filing skills were a little uneven but, to be honest, if you're that close to it, the chances are the airbag's due to trigger any moment, and you've got bigger things to worry about than a little wobbly hole-filing! (Please note, since I prepared this page, I have slightly revised the mounting bracket's STL to remedy a weak point in the design. It's in the files, but it's not showing one of those fancy blue Thingiverse preview doo-dahs.) Happy printing folks!