Momentum V69 - Accessories

[Coss]

I think it was this one from Smart Madness for $499: http://smartmadness.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=360 There was apparently another aftermarket manufacturer that had a cheaper model but it did not get as good reviews and did not have the "speed boost" box.

Install was about half an hour. Just a couple of screws to get the steering wheel cover off, a couple plastic bolts holding the gas pedal down, and drilling a hole in the dash for the LED. That was the scariest part since he wanted me to do the drilling. I hate drilling into other people's cars but fortunately I did not leave a long scratch mark all the way down his dash. There was a 50/50 chance of that, knowing my track record. You should see me with a Dremel anywhere near a motorcycle frame, it is carnage.

That bad huh?

$500 isn't bad for a kit made specifically for it; and it sounds very complete.

 

[floydv]

I think it was this one from Smart Madness for $499: http://smartmadness.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=360 There was apparently another aftermarket manufacturer that had a cheaper model but it did not get as good reviews and did not have the "speed boost" box.

Install was about half an hour. Just a couple of screws to get the steering wheel cover off, a couple plastic bolts holding the gas pedal down, and drilling a hole in the dash for the LED. That was the scariest part since he wanted me to do the drilling. I hate drilling into other people's cars but fortunately I did not leave a long scratch mark all the way down his dash. There was a 50/50 chance of that, knowing my track record. You should see me with a Dremel anywhere near a motorcycle frame, it is carnage.

I installed the other available aftermarket cruise control for the smart. It was purposefully designed and built by Area 451 solely for the U.S. first-gen 2007-2015 Smart Fortwo (model designation 451, hence the company's name).

Contrary to what you may have heard, it was a model of simplicity and elegance, taking full advantage of the smart's drive-by-wire system. If I recall, it cost about $480 and was fully capable of a DIY installation; took me about 45 mins taking my time. Once installed, it worked flawlessly. The kit came with a perfectly OEM-matched replacement wiper stalk with a single, multifunction button on the end for the cruise control functions (on/off, accelerate, reduce speed) and an LED light to indicate the system was on.

And contrary to what was said before, I recall the Area 451 unit was the first on the market to provide user-customizable pedal mapping, with about a dozen different maps including a BOOH mode (Bat Out of Hell). The MDC unit came after, and a number of users complained about that unit suffering unexpected shutdowns due to the inner wiring being a tad too short and not being secured properly, causing an internal connector to become disconnected at inappropriate times.

That was by far the best aftermarket equipment I bought for my smart. Really quality engineering. I recall watching with my fellow smart owners the progress the guys behind Area 451 were making as they thoroughly tested and refined the design until it was market ready. They were very transparent in showing their progress. Reminds me a little of the Elio.

 

[Ty]

I installed the other available aftermarket cruise control for the smart. It was purposefully designed and built by Area 451 solely for the U.S. first-gen 2007-2015 Smart Fortwo (model designation 451, hence the company's name).

Contrary to what you may have heard, it was a model of simplicity and elegance, taking full advantage of the smart's drive-by-wire system. If I recall, it cost about $480 and was fully capable of a DIY installation; took me about 45 mins taking my time. Once installed, it worked flawlessly. The kit came with a perfectly OEM-matched replacement wiper stalk with a single, multifunction button on the end for the cruise control functions (on/off, accelerate, reduce speed) and an LED light to indicate the system was on.

And contrary to what was said before, I recall the Area 451 unit was the first on the market to provide user-customizable pedal mapping, with about a dozen different maps including a BOOH mode (Bat Out of Hell). The MDC unit came after, and a number of users complained about that unit suffering unexpected shutdowns due to the inner wiring being a tad too short and not being secured properly, causing an internal connector to become disconnected at inappropriate times.

That was by far the best aftermarket equipment I bought for my smart. Really quality engineering. I recall watching with my fellow smart owners the progress the guys behind Area 451 were making as they thoroughly tested and refined the designed until it was market ready. They were very transparent in showing their progress. Reminds me a little of the Elio.

Cool story. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Maurtis]

I installed the other available aftermarket cruise control for the smart. It was purposefully designed and built by Area 451 solely for the U.S. first-gen 2007-2015 Smart Fortwo (model designation 451, hence the company's name).

Contrary to what you may have heard, it was a model of simplicity and elegance, taking full advantage of the smart's drive-by-wire system. If I recall, it cost about $480 and was fully capable of a DIY installation; took me about 45 mins taking my time. Once installed, it worked flawlessly. The kit came with a perfectly OEM-matched replacement wiper stalk with a single, multifunction button on the end for the cruise control functions (on/off, accelerate, reduce speed) and an LED light to indicate the system was on.

And contrary to what was said before, I recall the Area 451 unit was the first on the market to provide user-customizable pedal mapping, with about a dozen different maps including a BOOH mode (Bat Out of Hell). The MDC unit came after, and a number of users complained about that unit suffering unexpected shutdowns due to the inner wiring being a tad too short and not being secured properly, causing an internal connector to become disconnected at inappropriate times.

That was by far the best aftermarket equipment I bought for my smart. Really quality engineering. I recall watching with my fellow smart owners the progress the guys behind Area 451 were making as they thoroughly tested and refined the design until it was market ready. They were very transparent in showing their progress. Reminds me a little of the Elio.

Thanks for the update about the Area 451 module. I was not libeling them intentionally, just repeating what I heard from my friend with the Smart when I asked him about the one he bought.

 

[Ty]

I think it was this one from Smart Madness for $499: http://smartmadness.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=360 There was apparently another aftermarket manufacturer that had a cheaper model but it did not get as good reviews and did not have the "speed boost" box.

Install was about half an hour. Just a couple of screws to get the steering wheel cover off, a couple plastic bolts holding the gas pedal down, and drilling a hole in the dash for the LED. That was the scariest part since he wanted me to do the drilling. I hate drilling into other people's cars but fortunately I did not leave a long scratch mark all the way down his dash. There was a 50/50 chance of that, knowing my track record. You should see me with a Dremel anywhere near a motorcycle frame, it is carnage.

Ah, what a great value a center punch would be to you... nothing like using it to make a dimple in whatever you want to drill into in order to keep your bit from wandering.

 

[Maurtis]

Ah, what a great value a center punch would be to you... nothing like using it to make a dimple in whatever you want to drill into in order to keep your bit from wandering.

Huge, except I made the mistake of loaning my one good center punch to a neighbor. You know, the one who never returns tools. Yeah... Last I asked he was "looking for them". But they are cheap and I should definitely buy another.

 

[BilgeRat]

Consider adding an automatic center punch to your tool box: they're about as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

 

[Coss]

Consider adding an automatic center punch to your tool box: they're about as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tool...2-spons&keywords=automatic+center+punch&psc=1

I have one just like this; it's 35 years old and works like the day it was new. One difference, mine says "Snap-On" on the side of it.
If you ever want to turn tempered glass into thousands of little pieces, set spring tension at MED and in a corner, place and click, poof.
Marking plastic, set to soft or LOW, click, dimple.
Steel, set to MED or FULL, click great drill starting point.
No other tools needed.

 

[BilgeRat]

Coss, if yours is 35 years old, there's at least a chance that I handled it in the warehouse.

 

[Ty]

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tool...2-spons&keywords=automatic+center+punch&psc=1

View attachment 11340

I have one just like this; it's 35 years old and works like the day it was new. One difference, mine says "Snap-On" on the side of it.
If you ever want to turn tempered glass into thousands of little pieces, set spring tension at MED and in a corner, place and click, poof.
Marking plastic, set to soft or LOW, click, dimple.
Steel, set to MED or FULL, click great drill starting point.
No other tools needed.

Keep it in your glovebox... nothing breaks a window better. My wife keeps one after watching a news thing about a submerged car. In her defense, we were in Montana and the road to town had a sweeping left curve with the river to the right. They pulled more than a couple of cars out of the river there.