2003 BMW M3 Custom Dash / Overhead Console

**aircow33** · 09-12-2003, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by gork

From my best guess the MINI's probably do use the I-Bus. I'll know for sure when my roommate's Cooper S arrives... build date at the end of Oct... They share many of the same components in the navigation, cd-changer, radio, etc, so it would stand to reason that they do have I-Bus.

I'll be helping him with his project, so you can probably stay tuned here for info on it. This question will undoubtadely be answered there as well. My girlfriend is planning on a MINI also, but I probably won't get to sink my claws into that one

that would be awesome gork. i noticed that your car doesn't have a head-unit anymore. Does that mean everything is connected to your CarPc? including the cd-changer controls, radio stations and speakers?

**gork** · 09-12-2003, 04:21 PM

I never had a CD-Changer, but yeah the computer is hooked directly into the amp now for audio. An FM-Tuner card provides the radio and the CD/DVD drive in the overhead console serves as a CD-Player. The amps come on with the car but I have a switch where I can manually turn them off when I need to

With enough work you could have a car-pc control an OEM BMW CD-Changer.. all you have to do is send the changer the right commands v ia I-Bus and hook its audio output to your line-in. You can work backwards from the CD-Changer Emulation code on the HackTheIbus Yahoo group.

**paulpv** · 09-14-2003, 02:35 AM

EXCELLENT SETUP!
I drive a 2003 Nissan 350Z, and I have always been a LITTLE bit jealous of the BMW M3 drivers.
Now I am REALLY jealous of your M3!

Check out my project some time too:
http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/

Nice choice in keyboard and mouse!

Phuckin nice!

Pv

**gork** · 09-14-2003, 11:25 AM

Ah a "Z" driver

I had seen your site yesterday or day before.. Nice work you put into the screen electronics! There is a guy in my building who just got a Z and may be interested in refitting a carPC. He did not get the navigation option, though. Did you, in your research, come across any information on retrofitting the navigation to a car without it, or actually, perhaps just the screen?

**paulpv** · 09-14-2003, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by gork

Ah a "Z" driver

I had seen your site yesterday or day before.. Nice work you put into the screen electronics! There is a guy in my building who just got a Z and may be interested in refitting a carPC. He did not get the navigation option, though. Did you, in your research, come across any information on retrofitting the navigation to a car without it, or actually, perhaps just the screen?

Cars without nav should just use the xenarc screen.
In a few weeks I plan on replacing my nav screen with a xenarc.
The nav screen is just too fuzzy (due to cheap VGA to composite scan conversion built in to the motherboard), and the xenarc is less than half the cost of a good scan converter.
I plan to use my nav screen's mounting brackets to fix the xenarc in place.
Removing the $2,000 nav system and only keeping the brackets makes those some very expensive mounting brackets!
Heck, at that price I could buy a lambo door kit!

http://www.carexcess.com/decah-350z.html

Ah, too ricey.
I'd rather drop in an ATI procharger:
http://www.procharger.com/SPORT_COMP..._compact.shtml

Anyways, the nav screen brackets could perhaps be bought seperately at the dealer or salvaged.
Some people have mounted the xenarc with what looks like zip-ties and epoxy!
<HORROR!>
http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/pics/d...s/img_2014.jpg
http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/pics/d...s/img_2016.jpg
http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/pics/d...s/img_2017.jpg
http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/pics/d...s/img_2018.jpg
</HORROR!>
I haven't seen a xenarc mount in the Z that I like (or thought was sturdy enough) yet...I hope to do a good job myself (obviously).

Pv

**gork** · 09-14-2003, 03:08 PM

Ah, I didn't know it was composite only. . I thought you had converted the VGA to RGBS like others using the PSOne screens to get higher resolution on your built-in monitor... Anyway yeah if the dash bracket and parts could be ordered seperately, that would be ideal... I'll have to check into it when he gets more interested ..

**paulpv** · 09-14-2003, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by gork

Ah, I didn't know it was composite only. . I thought you had converted the VGA to RGBS like others using the PSOne screens to get higher resolution on your built-in monitor... Anyway yeah if the dash bracket and parts could be ordered seperately, that would be ideal... I'll have to check into it when he gets more interested ..

Just thought i'd clarify the true video signal path:

Computer: VGA to Composite output (built in scan-sconversion, to GEX-P7000TV)
Navigation: RGBS output (to GEX-P7000TV)
GEX-P7000TV: Composite (from computer) and RGBS (from navigation) inputs
GEX-P7000TV: RGBS output (to screen)
Nav Screen: RGBS input (from GEX-P7000TV)

So, I end up converting VGA to Composite to RGBS.
How stupid sounding does "Composite to RGBS" conversion sound?

No matter what, it will never be any better than Composite quality.

A high quality "VGA to RGBS scan converters" that runs off of DC power was what I originally wanted, but they are tres expensive!
We're talkin over $1000!

As you are well aware, the xenarc provides a simpler video path, VGA quality, and touch screen abilities.
Cons are that the xenarc screens, even the newer one, are not as bright as the nav's screen...but the Z shades the screen very well anyway.

I suggest your friend go with the xenarc.

Take care, and nice ride!

Pv

**skassama** · 09-19-2003, 01:52 PM

DOes any one know if the Infinity I300 - 99 uses either CAN or the I-Bus

**GezusK** · 09-21-2003, 03:19 AM

Nice setup.

I was considering that mouse and keyboard myself. Do you think it'd be much trouble to wire the recharger base for the mouse into the car's power system? I figure it shouldn't draw too much power while recharging without the car running. And it'd be nice to have a little cradle to drop the mouse into when its not in use.

**1300mer** · 09-21-2003, 04:27 AM

Hey gork. nice to meet another fellow m3 brethern! I own an e36 m3 so don't shun me for that

. Anywho, I remembered you mentioning about the usb audio to cut down on noise and I'm sure that works, but I just wanted to make sure if you have grounded the power supply and the inverter. That would fix the problem more than likely. And I can't thank you enough for even mentioning about the ibus. It makes me enjoy my current carputer install even more!