Warning on Universal Headrest Monitors.

[lseguy]

Ex: The ones commonly found on Ebay with the monitors built into the headrest.

And not really a warning, per se...but more of an FYI

Ordered and received a pair of Innovatek headrests with 7 inch monitors built in. While they will fit into the headrest holes, you may want to use a dremel to cut the "notches" into the support pole, in the same location where the stock headrest has notches in it's support pole. The notches keep the headrest in whatever height position you have it in/keeps the headrest from sliding down unintentionally.

It think it's also important to note that while the Innovatek headrests will fit and look good, they will not fit your "head" like the stock headrests do. The Innovateks are not as "thick/round" as the stock headrests, not shaped the same, and as such, do not extend forward as much as the stock headrests do. It's going to take some getting used to not having as much neck/head support when driving around.

Just an FYI

 

[beaups]

what color did you get? how's the match?

 

[2001LS8Sport]

Hmmm....that surprises me they don't come notched. I can't imagine there isn't some liability issues there if you can't place the head rest where it will protect you.

Smart move lseguy putting the notches back in it.

 

[Patrick00LS]

post up some pics of the install

 

[lseguy]

The install is in progress...

The match was off, which I expected. I have a 2002 SilverFrost LSE, with the graphite/light grey interior. The headrests came a few shades darker than graphite.

I did some internet research, and found that SEM

http://www.sem.ws/

appears to make a excellent brand of products that would allow me to dye the headrests to my interior color, or extremely close to it.
I essentially followed this process:

http://4strokes.com/tech/seat_paint/

Last night, I masked off the seatrest poles and screens/and used the SEM Vinyl Prep, followed by the Bulldog Adhesion, followed by several coats of SEM Graphite (dont have the can in front of me to give the exact name of the color/code number). Used about 3/4 of the can on both headrests to make sure I fully covered the original darker grey. I'll take pics later and post them to hopefully show the before/after. My findings of the notchless posts and the headrest position when mounted, were discovered during a test fit..I don't have them actually mounted yet. Waiting for the final coats of dye/color to fully cure first.

 

[lseguy]

Hmmm....that surprises me they don't come notched. I can't imagine there isn't some liability issues there if you can't place the head rest where it will protect you.

Smart move lseguy putting the notches back in it.

Im guessing because they are universal? Not sure. During my test fit last night, there was enough "tension" where the headrests would stay upwards in the mount...but it was/is far too easy to push them down. I imagine without adding notches, they would eventually slide downward on their own due to road bumps, etc.

 

[lseguy]

Pics as requested..clock on each one for a larger image.

Fresh out of the box.





Comparison of monitor color vs swatch of factory LS Headrest vinyl


Seatback removed from seat. When flipped to the "on" position, the red switch in the lower left corner sends 12v to both monitors simultaneously



Installed....


Note the color matchup....not too bad, huh?


In Bright Sunlight


Front shot. Yes, that's a V1 on the back deck, covered by a 3rd brake light cover. With all tinted windows closed, it's impossible to see from outside. My Remote Console is mounted upper left corner of the windshield. The smaller device sitting at the frontmost part of the deck, is where my daughters plug in their headphones to listen to the trunkmounted DVD player.

 

[lseguy]

post up some pics of the install

As you requested...

 

[GrayGhost1]

Ron,

That looks great. You did an excellent job. What happened to the first set of screens you had in the LSE?

 

[lseguy]

Ken:
thanks. The others are about to go on ebay as soon as I find the picture CD I had with the pics of that install.