mac with standard bmw monitor

**catboy** · 10-06-2006, 09:33 AM

Im at the planning stage of building a carputer (just spec-cing things out) and am struck by the cheapness of non intel mac mini's. I was intending on building a windows carputer, however given the similar relative cost Id prefer to go the mac route if possible.. I have a 12" ibook and am really happy with it and would like to make the car mac also

I have an E39 BMW and its got retrofitted nav including the 16:9 screen, so nav isnt an issue (I want to retain the OEM nav) however I want to use the carputer for mp3's movies, and if possible to replace my rubish old nokia handsfree kit with a bluetooth type installation (pref part of the computer rather than an oem retrofit due to cost).

Im aware there are issues with resolution and timings (ntsc, RGsB input) to the BMW monitor, and have seen a bit of software that will adjust the output of the video card to do this on a PC, but am not sure if something similar is available for a mac?..
Has anyone installed a mac mini (or similar) to a BMW using the standard BMW monitor, and if so how did they get over this?

Also, I know there is a "plug-in" which works with the windows front ends to allow the standard monitor controls (knobs, buttons, etc) to control the windows front-end over ibus.. This is done with a USB or serial to ibus connector, which I guess would work fine with a mac, however Im not sure whether theres anything out there to do the conversion between ibus inputs and computer functions on OSX?..

Basically I just want to perform the main control's through the standard screen, and the resolution of the standard screen is also enough for me. Im not much of a touchscreen fan, so Id rather not go that route.. I would however look to have a keyboard/mouse for more in-depth operations

Sorry if these questions have been answered already; I have searched, however Im not sure if Im putting in the correct search terms, or if its not been asked here.. If anyone has any information that might help me I would be really grateful

b

**pepsibobby** · 10-06-2006, 10:52 AM

first off welcome to the forum and you have decided wisley to put a mac into your car.

second using the OEM monitor for your set up is well difficult, it will not be any kind of standard connection comming out of the monitor so you will have to figure out the pinouts to work with either VGA or RCA which would then prob not look very good. I would suggest just purchasing an intel mac and putting a touch screen where your screen already is.

third. the ibus hardware would thearetically work but you would have to write some software that would interface with that hardware for a mac. As far as i know it hasnt been done yet.

finnally. The keyboard and mouse. I purchased a keyboard and mouse set that is OSX specific and has a built in iTunes, iPhoto, and Safari "button" and it can control volume and so fourth. The mouse that comes with it has volume and song changing functions for iTunes.

Hope I was a help. Good Luck.

**catboy** · 10-06-2006, 11:12 AM

I have found this

http://www.3dexpress.de/

which I think would give me the chance to adjust the display timings and resolution to suit my existing in-dash monitor, however I would have to check with my 12" ibook over the weekend to see if I can get to the required settings as apparently although you can configure to whatever you want the mac may not allow certain settings if they are not suitable for the monitor (hopefully this isnt the case

)

As for the ibus control, I could live with an idrive style controller similar to someone else has used in the "show off my install" bit of this site, which looks ok, so I guess as a comprimise I could live with that..

The interface with the monitor isnt too bad; I have some information from a guys site who has done this already, however he used a PC based car computer, and I would really like to use a mini mac, due to... well everything

I will keep trawling, but am keeping my fingers x-ed that someone has a solution; Im in no position to write my own software!

b

**Hoosier** · 10-06-2006, 09:13 PM

DisplayConfigX works pretty good but be sure to keep a multisync monitor around so when and if you can't see anything you can reboot with the multisync and remove all installed displays and get back to normal. The multisync may be the only way to get back to seeing the OS. I have yet to find how to keep all of my normal displays after installing a new setup so I have had to go back and forth until I conquered the beast.

**Hoosier** · 10-06-2006, 09:25 PM

Also you might find this link helpful.

http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/f...rgb/index.html

There are some interesting tools on the page. I have used the Screen timing calculator and configuration file generator to use for input into DisplayConfigX.

I had thought of using my native RGB 7" screen but is is a synced RGB and I never found enough info on how to hook it up so went with the xenarc 7". Since I did not have the Nav to go with the screen it was not a problem for me to switch. I assume you want to keep your installed nav but add tunes. I don't know what kind of space you have in your vehicle but have you considered adding a screen somewhere? Have you thought about just installing an Ipod setup for music?

I wanted a carputer so I could have DVDs, music, nav, TV (don't worry, I wont look while driving, lol), rear camera, web, etc. plus have worked in computers since before we had PCs so this is a natural direction for me.

**catboy** · 10-07-2006, 05:54 AM

thanks for the info... I have a 5 series touring, so theres a lot of space in the car for hiding things, but Id really like to keep the bits you can see OEM.. I am considering as a follow-on fitting a flip out monitor in the rear of the arm-rest though for people in the back..

Basically I want to use the BMW nav for the time being just because its there, however I want to add dvd/music/internet/photo's and possibly add some kind of bluetooth based hands-free... Im not sure how viable that is right now, because thats a kind of secondary aim, so Ive not even started looking/reading into it

I currently have a BMW tv module, which gives me tv, reversing camera, and aux-in, which I was thinking of adding a hacked x-box to so I can kind of use it as a mp3 file store, however I reckon its gonna be about the same price to do a simple PC install and sell my tv module, which also gives me more flexibility for future upgrades, and means I might not have to have an x-box controller on the passenger seat!..

I have considered selling my nav computer, screen, cd changer and tv module, and doing a touch screen install, but not sure how that will function; I have a BMW radio module currently which deals with audio (its both amp, radio) and I dont think I would be able to control this through a touch-screen/computer and dont want to get into the depths of adding amplifiers, re-wiring everything, as I dont have a garage right now. I would also need to find an off the shelf frame for an aftermarket monitor/my dash, as I dont have the facilities to do any moulding or anything (my mrs would kill me if I did it in the kitchen

) and I havent been able to find one yet

I guess if I could get at and control the ibus using an interface (either usb or serial) and some software similar to ibuscomm for the mac I would be away, as Im sure I could figure out the commands for different functions; vol/track up/down from steering wheel would control the radio module anyway, and Im sure I could create a menu to control the radio function by reading ibus outputs from the radio module (the video side of the radio function is dealt with by the nav computer/tv module)

So basically if I can find the following things, I would go touch-screen..

Something that can read/send ibus messages on mac OS
A frame for a monitor to suit my dash
A way to control the radio function for amplification

If I went the whole hog with touch-screen, etc., then i could sell nav computer/screen which would pretty much cover the bits I need for the new install, so thats not so much of an issue

b