Thread: BMW E39 carpc questions (Europe)

First of all, thanks everybody for the quick replies.

Originally Posted by Cris

The truth is none of them really do work 100% perfectly, especially if you stuff them with all the aditional software you have in mind...

Hmm pity, is there a general consensus on what the most versatile frontend is?

Originally Posted by Cris

- there are quite a few navigation programs that cam be succefully embeded into a front end, like Destinatot, IG, et. Depends on where you're from and what nav software you are going to use. Same thing for Radar feature.
- I think all front ends support Phoco. Check for your phone's compatibility.
- iBus is not for car diagnostics. For that you must have a OBD II scanner&software. iBus is for controlling stuff already in the car. Almost every BMW install has that.
- an AV camera is usually used for a rear view camera. So this is not something to be supported from a front end. However you can have an USB rear view cam, but it's not by far the idea solution.
- video - obviuosly. TV - with a TV card. DVB, you can buy a separate kit, that pluggs into the AV from the monitor. It's a stand alone kit.
- TS. 8" will not fit in that dash for sure.
- access control. There's a little program by Stevieg that's made for Centrafuse.
- that's almost doable. It won't be the same...

-Is anyone using the radar and/or TMC feature in Belgium?
-Checked phoco, doesn't support it yet but maybe soon
-Thanks for clearing that up with OBD/iBus difference
-I'll just wire the cam to switch on when I go into reverse, you're right no need for frontend here
-Dumped the idea for an 8" TS, went and checked with the local stereoshop and missed 4mm in height
-Access control looks ok, hope I can reskin it into a bmw style panel
- Maybe the dealer has a dummy iDrive set that I can use to create that kind of button.

Originally Posted by Cris

There's no front end that will satisfy all your demands by itself.

OK fair enough it's a bit demanding , got any suggestions on what could come close?

Originally Posted by Cris

You could use the RAM, HDD, WiFi, USB stuff...the rest they're a little too much for any PSU to take on. Not to mention all the stuff you want to add...

Maybe it's best that I sell the pc and just start clean xcept for the usb stuff, with that kinda amp draw my battery wouldn't last too long when I'm not driving.

Originally Posted by Cris

As I said, as far as I know, an 8" will not fit in there.
You can always add the buttons, but I'm sure it won't look as good as it does made by them.

True again ;-) Went to my local car hifi centre and tried a WS 8" and no joy missed only a few mm of space dang

Again thanks m8

Hi Darque,

I decided to ditch the ATX pc and go for a new ITX setup, you're right it's simply too big to be "integrated" and the power draw is murderous

Thanks 4 the reply

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

You could use the PC itself, although I'd ditch the high-end 3D card. There's no need for that in a car at all and it will just suck up precious power.

The only reason you wouldn't want to use that setup is simply size and power requirements. The power requirements can easily be handled by using an inverter (not recomended, at least by myself) or reading this FAQ and choosing an appropriate DC-DC PSU.

Ah sweet just saw it *drooling*

Is the "climate" button for the airco or the weather.com thing?

Originally Posted by Enforcer

It won't.

The Access control is supposed to run first and then start up your frontend when access is granted.

You can skin it (I have used the OSK that was in the orginal iDrive by BTBE) to look similar to the skin for a front end if you want. I use the iDrive empty with the OSK.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

Ah sweet just saw it *drooling*

Is the "climate" button for the airco or the weather.com thing?

The climate at the moment just has the option of the weather screen. But as soon as some comes up with a way of interfacing to the climate controls, then we can look at skinning it in.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

First of all, thanks everybody for the quick replies.


Hmm pity, is there a general consensus on what the most versatile frontend is?


-Is anyone using the radar and/or TMC feature in Belgium?
-Checked phoco, doesn't support it yet but maybe soon
-Thanks for clearing that up with OBD/iBus difference
-I'll just wire the cam to switch on when I go into reverse, you're right no need for frontend here
-Dumped the idea for an 8" TS, went and checked with the local stereoshop and missed 4mm in height
-Access control looks ok, hope I can reskin it into a bmw style panel
- Maybe the dealer has a dummy iDrive set that I can use to create that kind of button.


OK fair enough it's a bit demanding , got any suggestions on what could come close?


Maybe it's best that I sell the pc and just start clean xcept for the usb stuff, with that kinda amp draw my battery wouldn't last too long when I'm not driving.


True again ;-) Went to my local car hifi centre and tried a WS 8" and no joy missed only a few mm of space dang

Again thanks m8

Glad I could help.


From what i've used so far (about all of them), the one that seems the most versatile would be Road Runner. It's also the most popular, there are many addons, skins available, and it has a great support.
Centrafuse also promises to be a great front end. Version 1.6 will soon be released, and it has great expectations...

Kind of a late reply, but hey!

Originally Posted by Cris

As I said, as far as I know, an 8" will not fit in there.
You can always add the buttons, but I'm sure it won't look as good as it does made by them.

Originally Posted by WaterLift

True again ;-) Went to my local car hifi centre and tried a WS 8" and no joy missed only a few mm of space dang

Correction! The LinITX 8" Widescreen/CarTFT CTF800 does fit in the E39 dash. I've tried it and it goes in comfortably with a few mm to spare all round. I'll post measurements soon. I'm currently creating a bezel. It's my first attempt so it'll probalby be ****e!

As for the frontend, you will probably use RoadRunner just because of this skin!

Or because of this skin: iDrive for Road Runner - Originally by BTBE

just linking the threads, not repeating!

Here's a link to screen fitting in the dash

Originally Posted by sama

just linking the threads, not repeating!

Here's a link to screen fitting in the dash

Damn that looks sweet If I just waited 1 more day to order my CTF 7" I could have taken the 8" Any progress on the final bezel fitting?