Thread: BMW E39 cable DSP amp --> Epia M10000

Hi guys,

Sorry that it took so long but here they are, the quality kinda sucks because it was taken with my cell phone cam.

Here are some pics of the bezel:

bezel in place:


Bezel with closed flap:



A UTP cable from the trunk to the center console, used for the power & reset button, power & HD leds:

Buttons & leds are located in the small compartment behind the ashtray (also includes a power switch for the TFT:



Used some crimping tube to keep the wiring nicely together because it otherwise obstructs the opening & closing of the compartment flap.

very good progress dude, glad to see it going well.

I've noticed 2 things:

you've kept the frame in to hold up the flap. will your screen fit with that in there?

you've put the buttons in the small compartment. will the buttons be at the top or bottom? I assume at the bottom so that you can see the LED's. this does mean however that the space in there is wasted. not a big problem I guess. I would suggest that you have the reset button at the top, so you dont' accidentally press it.

I also noticed you have the nokia mic next to the lights switch. why not have it in the center where the sunroof controller sits? there's plenty of room there and you'll get much better sound coverage from the whole car.

Finally, how are you planning to finish the bezel? spray it? I've just had a go at wrapping mine with vynil and it looked completely factory! shame the vynil wouldn't strech and therfore couldn't wrap around corners. Anywya, I'm lokoing for some conformable matt black vynil at the moment. I would highly recommed you do that too.

glad to see you're moving on. keep it up

Thanks m8,

The screen will fit nicely behind the bezel, made to fit the screen visual area exactly too ;-). The only problem is the harnass behind it because the screen is a bit deeper, I should take it out but time is not on my side lately .

They are on the topside as not to hit the buttons by accident while still retaining some space for little stuff. The LED's are more a kind of visual control in case of startup problems. In the dark they are quite visible.

I am indeed having probs with the nokia mic, I really have to shout to get people to hear me. Unfortunately I don't have a sunroof panel and I don't know where else to place it without screwing up the OEM look.

I have some black bumper spray that I can try on the bezel but I'm trying to figure out something else first:
How to keep the stock radio while having my bezel in place, coz every other radio solution kinda sucks compared to the original, been thinking about opening up the MID and relocating the components to another location (ASC button region maybe) but I'm still thinking that over.
The vinyl idea doesn't sound bad, have you tried heating the vinyl to see if it becomes more flexible? Maybe then you can get the corners done.

I also tried a DVB/DAB USB stick from pinnacle but they don't work at all where I live, so I returned it and got a folding bluetooth PDA keyboard http://www.hcw.be/hcwcs/p.asp?p=B9584 instead along with a presentation mouse which work pretty nicely in combination.

While using the CAR2PC adapter I experienced some issues in case you're considering to buy one:
- Random doesn't work in winamp if using the car buttons to go forward/back
- If you want random then you have to use the car button that says "random" to activate it, this isn't a big issue but damn annoying that you have to push it each time you want to listen to your pc without hearing the same 100 songs over and over again.
- When playing tracks regularly (not random), you will only hear the first 100 songs, anything above 100 is basically impossible AFAIK without randomizing.
- The usb plug was busted after a while and had to resolder a new plug on it (could be my fault that the plug was busted, but even then the quality of the original did suck IMHO)
- Even though this all works via iBus, you can't send or receive any data from it thru another program.
- The great thing about this gizmo is that it automatically pauses/stops winamp as soon as you turn of the car or switch to FM or Traffic information. and resumes when switching back.

Otherwise I blew a few rear speakers because Navigon 4 NCK decided to use a high pitched voice recording that has a volume level that's thru the roof compared to regular audio volumes. There is no seperate volume settings to control Navigon because it uses the master or the wave volume of windows.

Also my touchscreen doesn't function properly (the panel itself not the screen) anymore, no matter how many calibrations or driver reinstalls the damn thing keeps pointing to the SW corner of the screen. I even removed the casing to check for a false pressure point of the case against the panel.

I mounted the screen above the center dash vents for the moment (where the old gps was mounted)

That's it for now, keep it up too m8

Originally Posted by WaterLift

The screen will fit nicely behind the bezel, made to fit the screen visual area exactly too ;-). The only problem is the harnass behind it because the screen is a bit deeper, I should take it out but time is not on my side lately .

you mean the din frame at the back? if u take that out, the flap will go too! u may have to cut it.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

They are on the topside as not to hit the buttons by accident while still retaining some space for little stuff. The LED's are more a kind of visual control in case of startup problems. In the dark they are quite visible.

I will be using the ashtry for that! I saw 2fastmr2's setup and was amazed at how nice it looked.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

I am indeed having probs with the nokia mic, I really have to shout to get people to hear me. Unfortunately I don't have a sunroof panel and I don't know where else to place it without screwing up the OEM look.

run it along the roof trim, then let it just peep out and fold over. that way it will sit at the center of the roof, without any wires showing. Alternatively, you can mount it on the rear view mirror. Also turn on mic boost in the volume control if you havne't already, that'll help.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

I have some black bumper spray that I can try on the bezel but I'm trying to figure out something else first:
How to keep the stock radio while having my bezel in place, coz every other radio solution kinda sucks compared to the original, been thinking about opening up the MID and relocating the components to another location (ASC button region maybe) but I'm still thinking that over.
The vinyl idea doesn't sound bad, have you tried heating the vinyl to see if it becomes more flexible? Maybe then you can get the corners done.

I thought of opening the mid too, but it's no breeze! I Would sugest to move the mid to the driver side pocket. that's where I'll be fitting mine.

I did heat the vynil, but it's not the conformable type. it has almost 0 elasticity and therfore snapped at every attempt to shape it. shame! i'm finding it very difficult to find matt black conformable vynil. I used some to dechrome my car, but it's only about an inch wide, so no go there.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

I also tried a DVB/DAB USB stick from pinnacle but they don't work at all where I live, so I returned it and got a folding bluetooth PDA keyboard http://www.hcw.be/hcwcs/p.asp?p=B9584 instead along with a presentation mouse which work pretty nicely in combination.

I have that keyboard. I dont' even use it!

Originally Posted by WaterLift

While using the CAR2PC adapter I experienced some issues in case you're considering to buy one:
- Random doesn't work in winamp if using the car buttons to go forward/back
- If you want random then you have to use the car button that says "random" to activate it, this isn't a big issue but damn annoying that you have to push it each time you want to listen to your pc without hearing the same 100 songs over and over again.
- When playing tracks regularly (not random), you will only hear the first 100 songs, anything above 100 is basically impossible AFAIK without randomizing.
- The usb plug was busted after a while and had to resolder a new plug on it (could be my fault that the plug was busted, but even then the quality of the original did suck IMHO)
- Even though this all works via iBus, you can't send or receive any data from it thru another program.
- The great thing about this gizmo is that it automatically pauses/stops winamp as soon as you turn of the car or switch to FM or Traffic information. and resumes when switching back.

I'm very happy with the ibus controller. soon you'll get one too! I've got RR displaying song names in the instrument cluster! as for auto switching, that would require a bit of coding. thanks for the idea, I'll stick it in the first verison of the ibus program I'm coding

Originally Posted by WaterLift

Otherwise I blew a few rear speakers because Navigon 4 NCK decided to use a high pitched voice recording that has a volume level that's thru the roof compared to regular audio volumes. There is no seperate volume settings to control Navigon because it uses the master or the wave volume of windows.

hmm... I'm sure there's a way to control that. I'm not sure how feasible this is, but perhaps navigon can output to a virtual device? something to research

or jsut use some other software!

Originally Posted by WaterLift

Also my touchscreen doesn't function properly (the panel itself not the screen) anymore, no matter how many calibrations or driver reinstalls the damn thing keeps pointing to the SW corner of the screen. I even removed the casing to check for a false pressure point of the case against the panel.

bummer

Originally Posted by WaterLift

I mounted the screen above the center dash vents for the moment (where the old gps was mounted)

That's it for now, keep it up too m8

as long as it works! that's all the counts

u can remove the mid all together, and everything can be powered up and emulated through software. check the links in my signature (Dash and Scrolling IBUSComm)

a) yep, put a pc there instead

b) sure, if u have a dsp that's great

c) don't get the one from eedesignkits, read the scrolling ibusomm thread

d) yes, i've done that, see the dash link

e) sure u can, but I would suggest relocating it as you'll loose the trip computer otherwise, and various other ways of accessing security functions etc. although theoretically u can do all these things using the ibus software, i've not seen anything that does that yet. i'm working on some ibus software that may do it, but i can't be sure till i finish

f) do a search for madfish's install on here, he's got info and pics on how to remove/run cables

yes, it's all feasible. my advice is that you search for E39, thre's plenty of info here.

welcome and good luck

Nope, I can still use all those using the button on the indicator stick. I have actually moved the MID display (the one with the radio controls etc) to the dashboard, using a standard CAT5 network cable. It's a very easy job, and it allows you to still hae radio etc.

I'm plan to integrate those functions into the carputer, when life allows it! All the software needed already exists.