new install

**markland556** · 06-04-2005, 11:54 PM

im working on setting up a media center in my 86' Mercedes 300E.
I just need suggestions on what screen to get and where to mount it. I was thinking of putting it infront of the vents and having it start where the wood center console ends. I was origionally going to have an xbox in the car and screens in the back to play against each other, but i think a computer would be better for a media player for the car. Are touch screens just the way to go?? and the like put a cd drive where my head unit is now??

**Cris** · 06-05-2005, 10:39 AM

I'd say, put it in the panle with all those buttons, and rewire the buttons to the center console around the gear shift lever. This is the best looking scenario!

And, it's not that hard either

. Also, I think a slot load will fit it there just on top of the screen.
Touch screens eleimnate the need of using a mouse and keyboard at all times.

**ALonDonThinG** · 06-05-2005, 10:49 AM

Yep , id go with cris , easiest and best result imo .

**markland556** · 06-05-2005, 02:32 PM

well iv opened it up before, (maby ill get a pic for you guys, but the heat/acc lines are hooked to vaccume lines (lots of work. The biggest thing i have against doing this is that i suck at cutting holes, so how would i make those holes for the buttons??

**ALonDonThinG** · 06-05-2005, 04:15 PM

Well at some point you either have to take the plunge and "cut" something if you dont want your screen surface fitted, will the screen fill the whole panel or will you be able to keep some buttons in situ ?
If you replace the panel around your gearshift with wood it will be easy to cut and finish nice. Ive not had to move vac lines so i cant know how difficult it is.
I was lucky enuff to get my lilliput straight in my dash without cutting or filling
but from installs ive seen here yours is nearly as easy as it gets.
If you do go for it im sure the guys in the fabrication thread will help you.

**Cris** · 06-05-2005, 06:44 PM

Aren't those just plain buttons? If so, that mean they have wire behind, which are easy to extend.
About cutting, the dremel is required here! This is the fun part of the whole thing

.

Another ideea, I see that center panel has 2 rows of buttons on it. On the buttom part are the vent controls, and on the upper part are those hazard light, defrost, and other's, right?! So, relocate the vent controls (along with the unit behind it, where the ashtray currently is. The upper part with the hazard buttons, relocate those buttons all along near the gear shift area. This is much easier that the first ideea, and I don't think you'll need to extend any wires to get the vent controls in the ashtray area.

Or, you you choose to loose the HU, and get an amp, relocate the upper center panel, to where the HU and ashtray are, and put the screen in there. You could put the screen in place of the HU and the ashtray, but this will not look as nice, and the viewing angle won't be that good either.
On a side note, consider yourself lucky you have such a clear dashboard, and space, basicly you can do everything you want in there... I'd also go about replacing that wood inside with some better looking wood.

**markland556** · 06-05-2005, 06:59 PM

my mistake they are all electrical buttons, if i could find like another cars buttons that are grouped closer togeather it would be nice. because these are big and i dont wanna have them near the gear shift because it comes pretty close, and it would be harder to reach them. if i take like smaller buttons i can mount them right below the screen.

**Cris** · 06-05-2005, 07:16 PM

Since pictures are worth 1000 words, here, just imagine how this would look like with some better looking wood around. Really, it's not that difficult to make it real!

**markland556** · 06-05-2005, 07:35 PM

wow, very nice, i think i need to get my friend over that knows photoshop so i can just start throwing things in. I like it, but im going to ditch the Head unit. and the buttons below the gear shifter i probably wounnt put there because it woulnd look right with the window button that are like right below them. But looks very good.

i wonder if i could make it so the computer could control the AC and stuff. like through the LPC port. hmmm.

**superart** · 06-06-2005, 04:30 AM

If you take out the HU and the button panel, you have a large area. That way you can mount a larger LCD pannel, like 10" maybe (hard to tell sizes from the pic).

You might even be able to find a descent 10" screen for real cheap, also you can sell the HU to help fund your project a little bit.

Use the computer as your new HU.