Thread: 2003 BMW M3 Custom Dash / Overhead Console

Yes; slimline drives generally only need 5V, but I ran 12V "just in case" -- It's the same reason I ran a 5V wire up to where my screen is, even though it only needs 12V -- It turns out I may be having to put a USB hub in the front of the car, so the extra 5V line turned out to be a good ideea. That being said, the two ground wires in a regular drive power cable are actually the same, so there's really no need to actually run 4 wires - you only really need 3. I still ran 4.

I don't like to pull cables more than I have to. I ran 3 extra RCA lines between the trunk and front console, an extra firewire cable, and an extra 1/8" stereo miniplug cable. They're all unused at this point, but when I want an extra pair of wires to do something on, they're already there. I'd suggest over-cabling to anyone. It's a real pain to have to re-do.

Amazing install. Do you think you could make me an ibus card? I would just want it to display the ibus notifications on the screen for start...

Thanks for your help Gork,
Andrew

Hey Gork, I really like the slick interface you have on your screen - with the BMW roundel and touchscreen icons. Do you need a tablet PC version of XP to do this? Is there an easy way to create such an interface with XP?
Thanks for your help,
Andrew

CynicalWry: There are some people on the HackTheIbus forums that are selling I-Bus interfaces. They just connect through a serial port. If you don't have an extra serial port you can use a USB/serial converter.

smg: No those are just desktop icons on a wallpaper.. I found that particular wallpaper somewhere here on the forums, but I also have some new BMW themed creations that I'll post when I get around to writing up my recent carpc changes.

Thanks Gork. I'm looking into my first CarPC...any systems you'd recomend? Also, how does XP know when to boot up/when to shut down? Does the unit fire up when the car's turned on? Can it be set to shut down when the car's turned off?
Thanks!

smg ... sounds like you need to do some reading ... most people use 'shutdown controllers' to turn the pc on and off, there's many options for these. others turn it on and off manually.

Originally Posted by gork

2) I got a free reverse camera when my Lilliput order was severely delayed. I'm going to install this also.

Hey Gork, Where did you get your Lilliput? Sounds like they have good customer service if they gave you a camera with a display.

Hmm perhaps you missed the "severely delayed" part --

I pre-ordered the Lilliput from DigitalWW. At that point, it was a very new product, and waiting two months later than initially promised with my money in limbo was not very fun. I am glad I aready had a screen and my installation was not delayed for that long.

The camera was a nice bonus, sure, and everyone who was in the same boat that I was got one... I would still say, though, that I have mixed feelings about the customer service of digitalww. It's very come-and-go, as reading posts about them on this board would suggest. Pepole always get their orders, eventaully, though, which is more than can be said for a lot of one-man shows out there..