BMW OEM screen to touch screen - anyone?

**Robert_IT** · 03-26-2008, 11:07 AM

Hi BMW experts

I have read about a million threads and am constantly stunned by the knowledge you guys show here.
There is one thing I have not been able to find yet though.
I am owner of a BMW 530 MK4 Navi. and never succeeded to put a PC in it

I am about to change it for a Range Rover and have already bought a few hardware even before the car.(T2300E processor, Industrial MiniTX motherboard, 8GB Industrial Flash drive(OS drive), 2 SATA Laptop drives(storage) 2GB ram, Silabs Radio, intelligent power supply and more.

What I would REALLY like though is to replace that dull low light OEM screen to a bright touch screen like the LinITX 7" or Lilliput? I know it is 1/2 an inch bigger but with a little cutting and modding I am sure I could fit it. Maybe fill the gap's turn off the "flipping" function (who uses tape anyway?) and this way make a nicer and bigger screen. (Perhaps using the redundant "eject" button to flick between PC output and OEM output?)

Question....-- has anybody tried this? Will the OEM Navi / TV signal be readable on a higher resolution screen? What kind of LCD controller would handle this? Tap into the OEM output and convert the RGsB into VGA or Composite?
I have read about the IBUS interface and though I haven't done ANYTHING yet I know the interface CAN be done controlling the PC's volume and functions from your steering wheel buttons, but nowhere have I seen anything about upgrading that "SHI..." screen to a top notch one and still kept the OEM system?

One question regarding IBUS though how will the IBUS know when to control the PC's volume and the OEM car system volume if both is in use? + Next track, browse and so on? What kind of "switching" is needed?

I am a newbie and I am sure I will return with a lot of questions, I am amazed how much information there is available on this site..
Keep up the good work everybody… If anything (I know it is time consuming) a Dedicated link / Site with a compiled How-To-Do’s in a “database" like format would make this forum near perfect. Would save a lot of time for us newbie’s…

Thanks in advance
Robert

**Craggy** · 03-26-2008, 04:00 PM

I am in the middle of this process at the min. I have the pc installed inside the case of my 6cd changer in the glovebox. I have replaced the oem screen with a CTF700h and am awaiting delivery of an RGBs to composite converter to reconnect the oem signal to the composite reversing camera input on the new screen. I plan to build a cmall circuit to add a simple push button to the car to switch between the carputer and the oem idrive and also connect it to the reverse for camera / sensor image from idrive.
Since my car is an E60 i have the Most bus, not Ibus, I have installed an E46 Ibus steering wheel in place of the original wheel, and plan to coinnect the wheel directly to Rolfs Ibus controller in my carputer. This should allow me to independantly control my carputer using Ibus without bothering the rest of the car.

What E series is your car?

**Robert_IT** · 03-26-2008, 06:41 PM

Hi Craggy,

Thanks for the fast reply,

I own an 11/2002 E39 530D Auto Estate with all the bells and whistles. Bought it as new but am getting rid of it now. Bought my wife a brand new little car (Citroen C4 VTR Plus 2.0 Diesel) and want a toy to tow the boat, Having a company car as well, so really I am not going to buy another brand new Range Rover but I am still considering to go crazy and buy the face lifted MK3 with touch Navigation and optic bus. But to be honest it is hard to justify that kind of money for a car that will spend most of its life in the garage. So I will most likely end up buying a good condition 2003-2004 with the BMW Navigation and the IBUS hence my post.
I am not too impressed by the OEM BMW screen which is pretty useless when the weather is sunny and bright. (I live in Italy)
I want to replace the screen with a LinITX and put a couple of screens in the headrests as well, I am going to run the kids to school in this as well. (Yes I know it is politically and environmental wrong)So running RR or CF on the PC and keep the OEM CD-changer and Navigation on the front screen seem like a good idea.

How are you converting the OEM RGsB signal into composite or VGA? How do you physically connect the output from the car system? Is your system anything like mine? And what kind (brand) of converter are you waiting for?? (lots of questions

)

Please any more info and pictures would be very welcome.
Did you have to modify your OEM cluster to make the slightly bigger screen fit?

As ever grateful
Robert

**Craggy** · 03-27-2008, 03:40 PM

I had to modify my centre console only slightly to take the new screen. BMW have a 6.5" and an 8" options so fitting a 7" screen in place of my oem 6.5" was easy enough. The converter im waiting for is an RGB+s/RGB+HVS to composite/SVideo converter, Link http://www.converters.tv/products/rgb_to_pal/68.html

I plan on connecting this to my reverse camera input on my new screen and connect the 12v autoswitching wire to a switch on the dash and the reverse on the gear lever so I can switch back and forth between the carputer and the oem IDrive or have it auto switch when I put the car into reverse for automatic visual of the parking distance control.

No idea what quality will be like yet but considering the oem screen had only 400x240 pixels and 256 colours converting it to composite and displaying it on the CTF700 screen should retain a lot of detail. (I hope)

**MGSteve** · 01-13-2010, 04:16 PM

Has anyone else been able to do this, I'd love to replace the OEM screen with a higher resolution screen.

**Banstead** · 04-02-2010, 02:02 PM

Hi saw your post from some time ago - how did you do, as I am in your footsteps!

**medial** · 04-22-2010, 06:57 AM

I'm considering doing a carputer installation as well for a 2003 Range Rover and will be receiving the car in a week or so. So we might share a similar interest.
But I haven't gone as far as thinking of replacing the display.
As I understood it the BMW Mk IV navigation computer that many think of as a suitable RR upgrade is a separate unit that reside at the back of the car in a compartment. While the center dash screen unit is a Range Rover native piece of thing ? So replacing a screen of a BMW dash console is not necessarily the same thing as attempting this on a Range Rover ? Is this a correct assumption or does the Range Rover instrument panel screen share display mechanics with some BMW model ?

**Rex32** · 05-22-2010, 05:56 AM

It is the same screen as the BMW, just a different color bezel.

I want to do the same thing, did anyone make any progress with this? I have a 2003 Range Rover too!!

-Mike

**daveo1000** · 06-03-2010, 06:29 PM

hi all, i am also in the market for a new monitor for my range rover,pre touch screen... i see theres a few people trying, any luck...i have go carx all set up and working,just the monitor that lets it down,
thanks daveo