2008 Mazdaspeed 3 (REFACTR)

**willmeyer** · 06-22-2009, 10:05 PM

Updated 081009: center cup-holder control panel
Updated 081909: custom software

My first PC install, with a TON of help from people on this forum (very much appreciated). Full details of the setup and install are on my site, here.

Intel Atom micro ATX board, 2G RAM, 320GB laptop drive
Power via M2-ATX and Opus POL
GPS mouse, OBDII interface, webcam/mic, WiFi, 3G WAN
Liliput 7" touchscreen and 16x2 LCD
Space Navigator, arcade buttons, wireless keyboard/touchpad, wireless game controller
Gear custom built into trunk, touchscreen fabbed into dash, custom control panel in center console; lots of small custom features in the interior
Windows XP, Centrafuse, DashCommand, game emulators, and a LOT of custom software
iPhone interface, Google Talk account, LCD feedback, flexible software for more

The Physical

The car:

The dash with touchscreen and head unit custom-mounted (replaces built-in OEM HU and ashtray, lighter, indicators):

Custom fab in the center console (replaces cup holders):

Custom floor in the trunk, with sub and PC gear:

Software

The main carputer screen (Centrafuse):

A viz (Centrafuse and Honto 2):

Two versions of the virtual gauges (custom DashCommand dashboard):

A custom iPhone interface (car publishes its IP to my website, I hit my public site to redirect to the car, wherever it is):

An IM session with the car (custom software, it acts like a command line app but I can run it in an IM session via Google Talk (any Jabber server, actually)):

The custom software runs as a daemon on the car, hooks into OBDII, LCD, GPS, and manages a whole bunch of stuff while exposing several interfaces (web for iphone, IM, telnet command console, etc.)

**Snoogan** · 06-23-2009, 02:55 AM

Awesome another Speed3.

I must say i really like the custom ashtray plate with the radio in it - i hate to get rid of my head unit cause i like the top LCD screen too much.

How well does the piano black replacement double din match to the rest of the black?

Also does the subwoofer have a screen or anything - id be afriad of something in my trunk cutting it?
Other than that its awesome - cant wait to see it all done (assuming theres more phases).

**willmeyer** · 06-23-2009, 06:19 AM

i hate to get rid of my head unit cause i like the top LCD screen too much

Yeah I debated this pretty long, I lost the left side and center of the LCD, and just have the right side with the HVAC stuff. In the end I think it was worth it because the fitment of the screen is nice up high like that and its easy to interact with. And I figured at some point maybe I could try to microcontroller it up or something, though to be honest I might also make some kind of cover plate for the lcd as well.

How well does the piano black replacement double din match to the rest of the black?

Its perfect, the piece is OEM (just not avail in the US). Honestly its one of the things I am most pleased with -- getting the dash looking good.

Also does the subwoofer have a screen or anything - id be afraid of something in my trunk cutting it?

Not yet, but yeah I still have some finishing work to do on the trunk, including some red lighting and a better cover plate for the cutout for the electronics, and I'll do some kind of sub grille too.

Other than that its awesome - cant wait to see it all done (assuming theres more phases).

Thanks a lot! And yeah, there is a phase 2, when I can

**rockyct** · 07-06-2009, 06:07 PM

I'm just getting started with my 08.5 Mazda 3 and your site has been quite helpful. I do have a few questions:

I see the GPS puck is in the dash where the OEM navigation system goes. Does it work pretty well under there, or do you wish you put it somewhere else?

I also see that the OBD reader is in that spot also. How did you hook it up to your OBD port? Is it always plugged in or did you splice it so that a repair shop can still use the port?

Also, I'd love to use some of those Mazdaspeed logos, but I'd really rather have it just say Mazda 3. I know no one would know I don't have a Mazdaspeed, but it would bother me. If it isn't much trouble, could you redo some of them to say Mazda 3?

Thanks

**willmeyer** · 07-07-2009, 01:52 AM

Thanks, glad there was useful info there...

The GPS puck has been no problem under the plastic housing there. Not sure if it would be better outside, but I havent really noticed any problems.

The OBDII I have actually plugged into the standard port, with a low-profile L plug, and its drilled through a hole in the top of th elittle cubby that it sits in. I did this so that when its all hooked up its pretty invisible, but its still easy to just unplug and plug something else in as needed (I want to get an AccessPort, but also for dealer trips).

You (or I) could chop the mazdaspeed logo down to just say Mazda, though I don't really have any assets that just are mazda 3 emblem type logos. Those you can probably find around somewhere -- the mazdaspeed ones were the ones I had a hard time. You could also just use the Mazda font (its an actual font, not a graphic like the mazdaspeed one) and write it yourself in pain or whatever -- I had the font at one point but dont remember it. PM me if oyu need help there.

**rockyct** · 07-07-2009, 07:39 PM

Thanks, I didn't realize there was a publicly available font. Thanks to google, I found it here: http://www.dafont.com/font.php?file=sf_automaton in case anyone else wants to know where to get it. I'll make a graphic from that.

**imgoingforit** · 07-08-2009, 04:13 PM

One of my favorite installs so far.

**willmeyer** · 08-10-2009, 07:27 PM

Updated the original post with some pictures of my new center console control panel, space navigator, arcade buttons, 16x2 LCD:

closer:

**rockyct** · 08-10-2009, 11:25 PM

Ouuu, very nice. Too bad I use the cup holders in my mazda 3. What do you use the 16X2 LCD for and how did you get the space navigator to work with centrafuse? I thought they were still working on drivers for it.