Bummer. I decided to not go with the ashtray install. I thought I had everything worked out: the parts, the electronics, the logistics - but it all turned out to be the wrong plan - and I broke my iPod dock connector in the interim.
This is what I was going to do: I have an old DLO car dock that I was going to take its parts out of, and I was going to retrofit the iPod dock connector into a slick-looking Phillips dock.
When I bought the Phillips dock I thought it was an iPod dock, and I had planned on using only that for the ashtray dock. It's about the same size as the ashtray, it's gloss-black, curved and looks great. Check it out:
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7372/7372461_ra.jpg
When the connector didn't fit (they look almost exactly the same as an iPod connector) I took it apart, took my old DLO apart, and looked to see if there were any compatible components. The connector from the DLO fit inside the Phillips almot exactly. The holes for the DLO connector's PC board were a little larger, but that was nothing that a couple of small washers couldn't take care of. I took the Phillips PC board out, screwed in the DLO's connector, and I thought everything was gravy. I closed the Phillips' housing and SNAP - the DLO connector snapped loose. I tried to fit my iPod in there just for sh!ts and giggles, and it was so close - but yet so far!
So I reassembled the Phillips (nothing was broken on that - every part and every screw was accounted for), took it back to the store, and got my $50 back.
I'll probably hold off on the ashtray idea until I can come up with a better plan. I saw the mini iPod installation document and although it's great work, it's more complicated than I prefer, and if I didn't have to dremmel anything that came with the car, the better it is for me. If at all possible I'd like the option to completely revert it back to stock. For that reason, I might go for the Flexible Dock idea instead.
I called a home-run on my at-bat, and I struck out. A couple more innings and I'll get another shot.