BMW IBus with original OEM Head Unit

**Janpeter** · 08-14-2007, 08:12 AM

Hi,

I have a BMW E39 530D Touring 2002 with DSP amplifier and original Navi unit.

At the moment I'm trying to get my CarPC working with the original LCD display unit. I have assembled a CarPC and use a box with Ibus and video out what connect the VGA out to the LCD display in front. The VGA is internal converted to NTSC, and I have the Windows XP screen on my Navi unit.

Everything works fine if I use BMWIbus tester software and choose option "RTS". in the box here a relay switching and this put the XP screen to the Navi unit.

However how do I get this working from straight from the navi unit????

I wants to use RR, but how do I setup up in the ibuscomm.ini file to detect with knobs is used in the Navi unit? I have read MANY threads, and this one seems the most interesting; BMW IBus-Heads
I have used the ibuscomm.ini file from this thread.

However I did not find any info for how to choose a knob in front to change the sceen to the windows XP.

Could anybody help me???

Many thanks in advance!

Jan-Peter<br /><br /><br /><br />

**Janpeter** · 08-23-2007, 02:53 PM

Nobody could help?

**sama** · 08-23-2007, 03:00 PM

you would need to setup ibuscomm to respond to a button with the RTS command.

how you do that, I'm not sure, but perhaps that sets you in motion

**Janpeter** · 08-24-2007, 02:59 AM

Thanks for your reply! I already learned a lot from your answer in several threads about ibus....

On www.hacktheibus.com, I found this answer;

Can anyone tell me how I have to handle the switched line function in ibuscomm?

In the .ini I can read:

; A ProcessEvent=Enable will set the line to HIGH.
; A ProcessEvent=Disable will set the line to LOW.

but how do I finally have to write it down that it works?

--------------------------------
Like this:

[ID:TEXT_MSGCD]
MsgTemplate="07202020202008434420"
Label="Text Message CD"
Parse=True
System=True
ProcessEvents=Enable

This listens for the Ibus msg for CD-play and pulls RTS high...
To switch RTS off you have to listen for another Ibus msg and use

"ProcessEvents=Disable" in a code snippet similar to the one above..

To everybody who is using IBusRR:

Is this functionality ripped out of IBusRR???
In that case, that is very unlucky since this functionality makes it possible to do VERY nice CarPC integrations with BMW OEM equipment...

In the ibuscomm.ini I found ProcessEvent and ProcessEvents ..... (the difference is in the last letter S!!)

If I understand it correct, in every part where there declared a ProcessEvents, the RTS line is pulled high or low?

I'm not a software guy so could anybody explain this?

Jan-Peter

**Janpeter** · 08-24-2007, 03:10 PM

Nobody?

I have searched by google for hours but coudn't fine any sufficient answer...

Ok, there better screen as the originall OEM head Unit, but it looks SOO much better to have the original screen....

**petec** · 08-25-2007, 07:49 AM

What you want to do is record your radio knob actions with the IBUS "sniffer" applications out there and once you have recorded what these actions are you can put functions to them. One of my original concerns was to be able to use the AUX audio for my carpc. I had to find out how when switching to the AUX audio I would see the PC video on the NAV 16:9 video display. The resolution on the stock HU NAV screen (16:9 and 4:3) is nowhere close to what you would get with another LCD but you have to consider that you will need this screen to work with the rest of the BMW devices. In addition you have sun fade. Ideally if you had a 3rd party LCD you would want to integrate it so it would give you the best of both worlds (and not have sun fade) maybe adding the ability to not only read the IBUS (knobs etc) but also the ability to use touch with it. I personally use bigger fonts and live with the BMW HU unit for now. While the internet surfing and email function fine...font size and resolution of the HU unit are somewhat lacking. A second LCD with a touch screen would be easy to connect. The concern there would be bringing a combo video cable up to say the glove compartment. I have been playing with using Cat5 cabling for my home touch screens and this would solve one issue. The other one of a touch screen would be easy. I use VLC for my setup to check settings etc once it is attached to my home network. It is not convenient though if I want to directly connect because then I have to plug a monitor and keyboard in. Another method would be to install a second display (larger than the first for the back seat passengers) and connect a wireless keyboard so that it would have two functions. One for the passengers to watch movies or play games and one for you to be able to access you computer. I started simple with my set up using CAR-X although I know that RR is much better. Today CARX does what I need and the display and functions are all that I need on my 330XI. I am building a new car PC for my X3 and may do RR for this one. The layout of the electronics on the X3 are different than the 330XI. I have more room in the 330XI than the X3 and it made it much easier. On the X3 purchased a GNET video module instead of trying to fit a BMW video module (tuner). The GNET video module will give me everything that I need for my carpc. I don't use the TV tuner part of the video module in the 330XI.

**Janpeter** · 08-25-2007, 10:34 AM

Petec,

thsnks for your answer. Indeed that's what I want!

I have also installed CarX and it does work acceptable.

But....if I can understand/learn how to change the settings in the ibuscomm.ini file you could do everything.

The resolution of the stock head unit is sufficient for controlling programs like Road Runner.

So we are all looking for somebody who can explains how the ini file of Ibuscomm is arranged

**Janpeter** · 08-26-2007, 06:37 AM

This morning I mount a second screen and a batterycharger in my car and started to play with Ibuscomm.exe. And I'm gettting my CarPC screen on the Navi unit!!!

I had to modify the setting ProcessEvents=Disable to ProcessEvents=Enable.

[ID:RAD_MENUTIMED]
MsgTemplate="68043B460213"
Label="Radio Sets Menu"
Parse=True
System=True
ProcessEvents=Disable

What I still don't understand that I have first to choose the option CD changer in the Navi menu with knob MODE, and after hit the right side of MODE (I guess this knob is SCREEN (changing between several screens in the Navi))

This is now working, next step is to solve the problem of the emulating of the CD changer. In the ibuscomm.ini file you can set an option to emmulate the CD changer, however this doesn't work in my E39/2002.

Does anybody has a suggestion?

**petec** · 08-26-2007, 10:43 AM

Curious 'cuz I thought "ProcessEvents=Disable" would disable the serial signal to ground for your aux (backup camera signal) to show up on the screen. I started to play with my setup (CARX) by installing RR and monitoring IBUS. My setup is a bit different in that I use the AUX mode for my computer. I already have a CD Changer so left that in place. I installed a network CAT5 connection in my garage so that I can use VNC via a copper connection versus a wireless connection. I ran it for a couple of hours with a battery charger connected to the car. While searching found an interesting program called NAVCODER. It changes the programming on the NAV computer via the IBUS. I was able to restore my split screen with it. With the NAV OS boot ISO you can also change regions,voices and prompts. I think I have a power supply problem in that it ran for a couple of hours then quite. It happened the same way last weekend. I validated this to be a power supply problem by taking apart the computer and using the AC-DC 12V brick and it worked fine. Meanwhile tried to install RR on a Cappucino PC with 2003 Standard server on it and it didn't work. I have been using the Cappucino PC's for home automation touch screens in the house (have two set up at this time).