Worklog: Wasabi's 2001 VW GTI VR6 Carputer

**Wasabi** · 06-25-2004, 05:28 PM

I thought I'd start off with some commentary on what I am looking for in a carputer, and maybe a few pictures of the components I've picked up along the way.

I have a 2001 Volkswagen GTI VR6, Reflex Silver. When I first started car shopping, I knew that I wanted something sporty, but with enough versatility to be able to haul camping gear. I immediately fell in love with my GTI during the test drive. The car was perfect, used (only one year!) and had a mere 10K miles.

The only thing I found disappointing was that the Monsoon stereo system had an in-dash tape deck. I mean really. Cassette? Everything certainly sounded great as far as I was concerned, but I've always been disappointed with the limitations of a CD changer in the trunk. And wow, how did I ever live without stereo controls on the steering wheel? Some things, I just didn't want to mess with.

That's when the idea of the carputer really fell into place.

So, I started reading up. Taking measurements. Buying parts. Buying more parts when it became clear that my original plan was flawed. But now, I think I've got a solid idea of how to get this thing built.

So. The components:

VIA Epia M-10000 Nehemiah Mini-ITX Mainboard:

PW-70a Micro Power Supply and ITPS from www.mini-box.com

60 GB IBM Travelstar Hard Disk Drive

SmartDisk VST FireWire Portable CD-R/W 8x8x24

This will do for starters, I think. I realize that the chassis is conspicuously absent from this list. Hopefully it'll be worth the wait once it's posted.

**Wasabi** · 06-28-2004, 11:35 AM

So, if I keep the Monsoon head unit, I get to use the volume controls on the steering wheel. What about next track/previous track? And I'm pretty sure that the Monsoon doesn't have an AUX input. What to do?

Enter the VWCDPIC!

It connects to the CD changer harness in the hatch, provides stereo inputs, and even allows serial-port communication with a PC, with a plug-in for WinAmp.

That sort of brings me to another point: I don't want to lose any utility or space in the car's hatch. So why not put the PC in the bracket for the CD player? I took a quick measurement, and determined I needed a case that was about 7.25" deep, 9.75" wide, and 2.5" tall. I haven't been able to find a pre-manufactured mini-itx case with these dimensions, so it looks like I'll need to fabricate something myself. Time to break out SketchUp, and toss together a design:

**chiefsalami** · 06-28-2004, 02:10 PM

what do you plan to do for a display?

I've got a 2003 GTi (20th Anniversary Edition) and am working on a car PC solution right now too.

**Wasabi** · 06-29-2004, 03:03 PM

I picked up a 7" Lilliput touchscreen, which arrived yesterday afternoon. I've spent most of today fiddling around with WinAmp, MediaCar, FrodoPlayer, and MediaEngine, looking for the interface that best fits the way I want to work. Since I'm keeping the factory headunit, don't intend to play DVDs, and haven't yet bit the bullet to buy the GPS module and software, I think I'm gonna stick with WinAMP for now - I'm already comfortable with the interface.

**archimense** · 06-29-2004, 03:09 PM

Glad to see another VW on the site. If you want to talk about VW installs PM me. Here is what I did with my jetta.

I have a 2000 Jetta VR6. I kept my monsoon, got an auxialliary input adapater from www.logjamelectronics.com so I can keep my cd changer, and get two more audio inputs. I did a digitalWW in-dash pull out conversion on my Lilliput, and put it in above my Monsoon headunit. Got MediaCar running and all that...

I am currently mounting an EPIA M10000 in a Travla C137 case to the top of my trunk beside my Monsoon amp.

**migrane** · 06-29-2004, 03:24 PM

weehaaa, yet another VR6

Great. I am still wrestling with the conversion from a double din to a single din hu. I have a carcpu case with opus pwr sup gps and all the rest of the goodies. Will get an indash monitor from digitalww. Like to keep my monsoon as well so I need to look for a cd-changer to rca adaptor as well

Can you guys post some detailed pics of your setup. I am interested to see how the digitalww monitor looks installed etc.

Migrane

**yunusyu** · 06-29-2004, 03:38 PM

great job on the planning stage, very organized

**migrane** · 06-29-2004, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Wasabi

That sort of brings me to another point: I don't want to lose any utility or space in the car's hatch. So why not put the PC in the bracket for the CD player? I took a quick measurement, and determined I needed a case that was about 7.25" deep, 9.75" wide, and 2.5" tall. I haven't been able to find a pre-manufactured mini-itx case with these dimensions, so it looks like I'll need to fabricate something myself.

Umm tried that already but the space is WAAAY too cramped. There is absolutely no space for proper cooling and other things like that not to mention that you will have a hard time fitting the pwr supply, hdd and mobo and a fan in the same case. and no shock proofing of the case etc. I found the carcpu.com case to be the best alternative. It is sturdy, looks ok and built nice.
The best way that I could come up with to get the mobo into the cdchanger tray is to turn the connectors of the mobo facing the front of the car because you wont be able to connect anything to it if positioned otherwise. I have mounted the mobo on a lexan plate that can slide into the cdchanger tray. On the bottom of the plate I have attached a aluminum fitting that holds a slim dvd drive harddrive and powersupply.
It was a complete nightmare to wire all the components together it looked like a big mess and it was absolutely not safe.

I also tried removing the metal bracket that holds the cd changer and crafting my own bracket to be attached with the same screws as the cd changer bracket. But unless you have someone craft you that out of steel aluminum is not going to cut it. In addition to that you need very small corner radiuses that can only be achieved with a professional bending machine.

If you can come up with something please let me know and take some pics.

Migrane.

**Wasabi** · 06-29-2004, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by migrane

Umm tried that already but the space is WAAAY too cramped. There is absolutely no space for proper cooling and other things like that not to mention that you will have a hard time fitting the pwr supply, hdd and mobo and a fan in the same case. and no shock proofing of the case etc.

Right now, cooling is what worries me the most. On the bright side, the SketchUp program I've been using lets me test out ideas on getting everything to fit. If I'm right, I should be able to manage at least a pair of 60mm fans, the PW70-A power supply (that thing is TINY!), the ITPS, and Notebook HDD in the case along with the motherboard. I went with firewire for the slim CDRW drive because it supports huge cable lengths. I've got it hooked up with a 15-foot cable right now, and I think that'll let me put the drive in the dash, if not the glove box. For the other wiring, I'll probably have to make a couple of custom cables myself, though.

The case i'm using is going to be built from scratch - I just need to get the nerve up to start the fabrication process... I live in an apartment, and it's gonna be messy!

**archimense** · 06-29-2004, 04:53 PM

Here is a link to some photos on yahoo of my install so far. Currently I just have a crappy tower in the trunk until I get my EPIA mounted, not to mention I have to put my dash back on.
Yahoo Photos

But it gives you an idea of what a VW will look like with a in-dash pull out LCD.