I purchased this device to use in a 2012 Honda Ridgeline. I had a heads-up display back in the 1990's when I drove a Pontiac Grand Prix, and I've really missed it. Fortunately this device has brought that feature back to my vehicle.
Installation of the device was rather simple. I just plugged it in and moved it around my dashboard until I found a spot where the reflection looked good on the windshield. Once I found that spot, I applied the adhesive and that was it. The adhesive actually adheres, which can be a problem for some adhesives in Florida. It has been mounted for two months without any problems.
Next, I installed the tinted strip that is included. This applies to the windshield so that the reflected speed can be seen more clearly whether it is bright or dark outside. I must say that I removed this after it was on for only an hour. First, I didn't like the distraction of this black strip in my field of vision. And second, the device is so bright that I didn't need it! I can see the speed clearly anytime of day. So I'm glad I removed the tint and I haven't missed it.
I will add that if you decide to use the device without the tinted strip that you might see a "ghost image" of the speed in your windshield. This has to do with the reflection of the speed through the glass. Basically you get a nice bright number with a fainter number appearing behind it. I found this a bit annoying at first, but I quickly got used to it and I don't even notice it anymore. This may or may not happen in other vehicles depending on the angle of the windshield.
Finally, I would like to mention that I liked this device so much that I went to a car-audio installation shop and had them hard-wire it into my vehicle. Now it doesn't have any cables hanging over my dashboard. After two months it looks and works wonderfully.
In sum, this device exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate to purchase it again.
This could easily be a 5-star product with a simple modification. The mounting bracket should slide into the base of the speedo BOTH WAYS, not just one. Every dashboard is curved differently, but in the majority of cases, people are going to place this speedo near the base of the windshield behind the "hump" of the steering wheel guage cluster. On most dashboards, the "hump" slopes downward toward the windshield, meaning that placing this speedo level where it will get the maximum reflection off of the windshield will involve using the included mounting bracket. This wasn't my first rodeo installing an aftermarket HUD speedo...I've had them before and they weren't this expensive, nor did they have a design flaw like this.
This speedo is brighter than my old ones (this one has bright green numbers instead of the harder to see in daylight red) and it automatically turns on with the vehicle ignition and off once you shut off the ignition, and it remembers your selection of MPH/KPH and any speed warnings you've selected (I can't comment on that feature as I don't use it). Those are major perks, as an old one I had before had to be manually turned on and off (which required leaning far over the dash every time you wanted to use it or turn it off) and if the old one sat too long without power being supplied to it, it defaulted to KPH, which required yet another manual change. This one suffers from none of that. Basically, once you fix the flawed mounting system, you're off to to a maintenance-free experience.
The good news is that the bracket has a base which sticks to the dashboard well and a hinge to angle the speedo anywhere from zero (or 180) degrees (parallel to the surface of the dashboard) to about 90 degrees (perpendicular to the surface of the dash). The bad news is that with the conventional dashboard design sloping downward toward the base of the windshield, the way this bracket is designed will only allow for the speedo to be pointed AWAY FROM the windshield (and subsequently shine backwards numbers directly in the driver's face).
Just to make sure I wasn't falling victim to "stupid user error", I removed the screw from the hinge and flipped the part of the mounting bracket that attaches to the speedo the opposite way. Even worse. So long story short, in order to mount the speedo so that it's level and reflects onto the windshield and not away from it (and toward the user, where the image would be backward anyway), I had to carefully modify the mounting bracket with a Dremel tool.
The speedo has a groove on the underside that slides into the bracket on a "track". That groove is blocked on one end. I had to drill out and sand down the one "blocked end" of the groove on the speedo so that I could flip the mounting bracket around and mount it so that it actually reflects onto the windshield. Now that I've done that, it works great. Unfortunately, the product is a bit high-priced to start out with, let alone for a product that needs 30-45 minutes of precision "reengineering" in order to work properly. It's not exactly rocket science, but not everyone would have the tools (or the patience) to do it.
I'd welcome the seller and/or the manufacturer to take a look at the design of the bracket and try installing it in 10 or so vehicles and get back to me with their findings. All of the vehicles I've had in the past as well as those I have now have the dashboard curving downward toward the base of the windshield. Basically, the mounting bracket needs to be flipped around to be angled correctly. I'd recommend making the groove on the bottom of the speedo "open" on both ends, or at least place the "block" on the other end of the groove so that it can be easily mounted on 98% of dashboards out there without modification.
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i aim very pleased with my Gps Head up display Speedometer Was very easy to install looks great and the dis play fits nicely in the shaded part of the winshield so that no one knows its in the car.
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Should you buy this? Will you be glad you did? Those are the questions you want answered when you read a review.
You will love this device if you have realistic expectations. I had the heads up in a Corvette. This is nearly as good.
After you order you should go get some outdoor rated 3M double sided tape. From my experience this is removable from a dash board later. Although, use at your own risk. The tape that comes with the device is 3M brand and it is great. Problem is that you will want to try out multiple locations. If you have the tape on standbye then you can more easily make adjustments.
Get your device mounted exactly where you want it before you put in the reflective window film. You will want to mount it, then drive to test it at speeds in the double digits. You need to see the double digits so that you know that you have the angle just right. Mount, adjust, mount, adjust, then when you think you have it perfect you should mark the location with a pencil. Remove the tape. Clean everything with rubbing alcohol. Then remount. Then test again.
Putting the film on the window is tricky. Like tinting windows, or applying a screen protector to a cell phone. Wash your hands first. The oil on your fingers will cause you problems. Then apply a little soapy water to the window and the back side of the film. Place it where you think it goes, but don't brush the bubble out yet. Drive a little while the water is still there to test the location. When you think you have it, then you can work the bubbles out.
Leave the vehicle in the hot sun for the day afterwards to help with any remaining bubbles.
The device will work without the film. Appears to work better with it.
Don't expect the thing to react to your speed changes as quickly as your speedometer. It won't. No GPS based speed sensor will. It will do awesome at tracking speed variations at speeds above 20 miles an hour. Not perfect, but very good. When you take off from zero, or slow down to zero is when you might notice a slight delay.
I have had this for only about 3 hours. My impressions may change. If they do I will post an update.
This device arrived a day earlier than expected. It was well packed. The packaging is very professional. I would give the seller 5 stars.
This device is better than the ones that use a sticky pad to just sit on your dash because it won't fly around in a sharp corner, and because of ability to adjust the angle.
The only reason I did not give this device 5 stars is because the adjustment is only for tilt. If it had a ball type adjustment for angling it just perfectly, then I would have given it 5 stars. You can adjust the side to side angle if you need to by adding a little extra 3M tape under one side of the mount.
Bottom line: Buy it. The fact that it even exists is awesome.
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The image projected on the windshield was much too small, and the reflection of the unit itself and the cable running to it was annoying. I'd have really liked to have an optional display mode so you could put it at the base of the windshield and read it directly.
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