First mod to my new Outback

[RoboProf]

I just got my new white Outback 2.5 Limited, and I am still savoring the new car smell. But I already made a small improvement to it :-)

The storage bin between the front seats is nice and large, but small items like a pen, hand lotion, 10' tape measure (I always carry it with me as I like to do handyman stuff :-), etc, tend to roll around in the bin.

I had a large block of very high-density closed foam, which I cut to the same width as the bin (and it is about 4"x4" in the other two dimensions), then used a fostner bit in the drill press to make various holes of different diameters to hold small items.

Voila', no more things rolling around, and everything is in plain sight.

Next mod will be to find a place to attach the holder for my cell phone. I bought the "

Universal Car Mount Holder

Universal Car Mount Holder

" on Amazon, which seems to hold any smart phone really well. It comes with a suction cup and a long flexible neck, but I am thinking to precisely fit a piece of heavy hardwood in the little coin holder (?) between the two heated seat switches, and just attach the phone holder to that, without using the suction cup at all. I will have to think about that a little bit more...

[go12]

Short of having a new vehicle, second fun part is the mods. Same storage bin between seats, stuck an led light and switch. Illumination light kit was a wonderful mod, lights up the interior at nite just right. Even copy cat the blue led mood lite to my toyota. Mud flaps, weathertech floor mats, after market backup camera, some 5/8 inch side body molding around wheel well arches, door edge protectors, extended arm rest pads, hidden hitch, engine grounding wires, remote starter, wheel locks, oil drain valve, garbage bag, 19mm TSB, scangauge2, radar detector, small side mirror stick ons, static cling windshield tint plastic, side and rear nets, rear corner guards, folding bins, and replaced interior dome lites with LEDs. Working a improving my GPS mount, may have to drill screw holes for the heavy support needed ? If airbag did not deploy out from top center console, it would have been a great place for gps. Approx. $2k and done. Gratz on new vehicle, and sounds like U may develop more ideas !

[05stram]

I just put my ink pins under the arm cushion and also use the place to hide my GPS whhen I go in somewhere. The Arm cushion has a hidden tray there in case you were not aware of that.

[SenecaOutback]

I spent all last Sunday installing the Factory Remote Start,110 Outlet Kit and interior illumination kit.While it was dismantled I installed A/M heated seat elements in the rear seat and put the control switches on the back of the center console........

[Ruby Doo]

Originally Posted by SenecaOutback

I spent all last Sunday installing the Factory Remote Start,110 Outlet Kit and interior illumination kit.While it was dismantled I installed A/M heated seat elements in the rear seat and put the control switches on the back of the center console........

How does the rear heated seat kit work? As far as heating the seats like the front, just as warm etc. I would be interested in installing my own.

[wutbürger]

Originally Posted by Ruby Doo

How does the rear heated seat kit work?

If it's anything like the others I've installed, you simply need to:

-Pull up seat fabric (a combination of j-channels and Velcro typically, even easier on back seats)
-Attach heating elements (just two large heating pads, one for bottom one for top)- typically include double-sided tape already built in
-Run wires
-re-assemble seat fabric
-Wire into a 12V power source

It's extremely easy to do- once I didn't it on my wife's car, every person in the family started asking for them hahaha

I plan on tackling them in the Outback over the summer for next winter

[SenecaOutback]

Originally Posted by Ruby Doo

How does the rear heated seat kit work? As far as heating the seats like the front, just as warm etc. I would be interested in installing my own.

The ones I use are the Extreme Heat ones and are a little warmer than the factory front elements.

[vr4Legacy]

For a mounting spot for my XM, I got a cubby for under the stereo from a base model. It doesn't have a lid and is a little bit bigger of an opening.

Then I cut a piece of plexi glass to fit the opening. Made a bracket out of a piece of aluminum l bracket and bolted it to the holes already in the cubby for the rubber mat. From there I drilled some holes and bolted my XM mount to it. Looks clean, very sturdy, and 100% reversible when I eventually upgrade my stereo.

I can post pics later if you are interested..

[sunset_ed]

Originally Posted by vr4Legacy

For a mounting spot for my XM, I got a cubby for under the stereo from a base model. It doesn't have a lid and is a little bit bigger of an opening.

Then I cut a piece of plexi glass to fit the opening. Made a bracket out of a piece of aluminum l bracket and bolted it to the holes already in the cubby for the rubber mat. From there I drilled some holes and bolted my XM mount to it. Looks clean, very sturdy, and 100% reversible when I eventually upgrade my stereo.

I can post pics later if you are interested..

Yes, pics please!

[scoobydoo2]

Originally Posted by sunset_ed

Yes, pics please!

......