2003 BMW M3 Custom Dash / Overhead Console

**blackrio_projec** · 07-11-2004, 07:33 AM

Sorry to keep asking things guys, but Im a newbie, someone told me, think it was gork, that it would be better to buy the GPS antena or something, I dont really remember, could you tell me if that was or if its something else, and by the way how I know if it works in Puerto Rico?

**srcstc** · 07-11-2004, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Jackboot

riuster: relocating the a/c controls is actually very simple. You just need to buy a BMW part that replaces your sunglasses cubby and your a/c controls will just snap in.

Jackboot is right. It's a piece of cake to move the AC. It only costs ~$40 and takes like 10 min.

Thank you Gork.

BTW I had ordered the Morex 2699R last week then I saw your post in another thread where you posted pics of your case and now I have two cases on their way to me.

Anybody wanna buy a 2699?

-Rich

These are the part numbers for the new Carrier to move the AC. You need one or the other. Email me if you can't figure it out.

**gork** · 07-11-2004, 11:37 AM

As for the touchscreen and the lilliput.. I switched over to a lilliput from a GAIN (xenarc type) monitor to get more brightness and a remote control, and I actually kept the GAIN touch screen overlay. It's plugged into the lilliput controller. The overlays are the same type and the controllers use the same drivers although my GAIN screen was serial and the Lilliput is USB. So if people are having problems with the touchscreen, it's probably the overlay. It looked a little cheap to me (that's why I kept the GAIN one. I put the lilliput one back in the GAIN housing. IMO, neither monitor is particularly good for Car PC's anyway, but nobody has found a better alternative at any price yet, so you take what you can get.

Jackboot and srcstc said exactly what I would have about moving the AC controls. The part cost me about $30 with bmwcca discount, and it takes about 5 minutes to move the controls. And yes, I do like the SMG a lot. I Autocross the car, and without SMG, I don't think I would be able to drop back into 1st gear so easily after a hard corner that I had to really slow down for. On a standard, I'd just keep it in second (not that good w/ heel and toe) and end up losing time.

blackrio: I don't really understand your question, but GPS works everywhere in the world, though I don't know of any good navigation software that works in Puerto Rico. Maybe some of the US based ones like CoPilot have PR maps, but you might write them and ask. Most receivers have an internal antenna, so it's just a question of putting them where they can see the sky. My receiver is sitting on top of my rear decklid and has no problems. They do sell receivers with external antenna jacks, but they are quite a bit more expensive. You also have to be particular about what receiver you get because some GPS software only works with certain receivers or vice versa. Look in the GPS forum for more info.

**jedi7001** · 07-11-2004, 01:16 PM

srcstc

thanks for the Part numbers.

**blackrio_projec** · 07-11-2004, 09:43 PM

thanks again gork, you didnt understand the question but you answerd my question :-D thanks again

**dimitris** · 07-12-2004, 08:30 AM

Hi Gork, the case that seems to fit in the cd-changer position is the morex cubid 3677. The only problem is that you can't fit a pci card. But then if you use a usb soundcard, you don't need to fit one in. Check out

http://linitx.com/product_info.php?c...roducts_id=291

Cheers

**forevertheuni** · 07-13-2004, 06:17 PM

wow...I'm with my mount wide open..the best carputer project that I saw..(and I saw..lots and lots of them).Do you own any mechanical book of your car or you just open the things and put it..I was very surprised with the mouse thing in the door of the car...you post is in my boockmarks and maybe..I can convince my mother to let me set up a system like that in my bmw

..(hers)...

**gork** · 07-13-2004, 06:28 PM

Thanks for your compliments!

The mouse in the door idea is just a mockup of how I thought a small trackpad or thumb button could work in this position. I actually use the Gyration RF Gyro mouse and a touchscreen to point. I am right handed, and using a mouse in the door like that would only make sense if I had a right-hand drive car (or was left handed). The person who asked about it was from the UK, and so it would make a lot more sense.

As far as the manuals -- no I just kind of rip it apart and put things back into it. The resources on this board are very good if you dig around enough to find them. Bentley does have an E46 manual for cars up to 2001, but I don't have one. I am fairly sure it's not going to cover the S54 motor in the M3, but it's probably a good manual for anyone with a normal E46 '01 or older. I had a bentley on my E36 and it was very useful the one time I had to use it

**jedi7001** · 07-16-2004, 12:46 AM

Gork, sure you are tired of getting asked this but I still must. I have been looking through the HacktheIbus site with no luck. The forum is hard to search and is not very user friendly. Most of the posts have to do with emulating a CD changer with keeping the OEM cd player intact. I know you mentioned you are not a pro at this and you just did a little research. I have noticed a few other people having the same issue. Really, I am wanding to just do what you did...use the steering wheel buttons for volume and track changes. I am pullling out the OEM cd player in my 2004 4dr 330i and do not want to do anything fancy with the on board computer display, just want stearing wheel functions. Again, I can understand if you do not want to get involved but would appreciate any advice or direction you can give.

I have little soldering skills and would be interested in buying a pre made ibus board from someone and my coding is a bit weak so a point in the right direction would help here too. I just need a basic run down of what I would need to make this happen.

Thanks Gork. Your thread is a great inspiration!

**ayclens** · 07-16-2004, 01:21 AM

Gork: I'm in the same boat as the bloke in the above post. I've searched for some info on how to use my 2004 330i steering wheel controls to adjust track and volume for my carputer...no luck. I am removing my OEM cd player. Can you point us in the right direction please?