1997 BMW M3 in progress.....

**Digital318is** · 12-31-2004, 02:39 PM

Hey Guys!

My first post here, I am already for my carputer install in my 1992 BMW 318IS (E36) its a coupe. I have today a
7 Inch Touchscreen Lilliput TFT Screen,

a 1ghz intel celeron micro pc with 256mb sd pc 133 ram, 20GB Harddrive 7200 RPM, 20X Slim DVD Drive in the micro atx case, 4 usb ports, 32MB onboard video.

I am using the Irock Beamit 400FM FM Modulator so i could get sound from my pc to the car stereo, i wanted to plug it into my deck but its kinda old and doesnt have an input

, ill buy that eventually but for now this fm transmitter will do just fine.

I also bought a 350 watt constant power inverter with a 700 watt peak, i bought this at walmart, not the best but it deffiantly does the job.

I plan to plug the Touchscreen and the pc into the inverter, the fm transmitter is getting wired into my lighter power. Hopefully this install goes great. If you have any advice please let me know!!

**Skipjacks** · 12-31-2004, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Digital318is

Hey Guys!

My first post here, I am already for my carputer install in my 1992 BMW 318IS (E36) its a coupe. I have today a
7 Inch Touchscreen Lilliput TFT Screen,

a 1ghz intel celeron micro pc with 256mb sd pc 133 ram, 20GB Harddrive 7200 RPM, 20X Slim DVD Drive in the micro atx case, 4 usb ports, 32MB onboard video.

I am using the Irock Beamit 400FM FM Modulator so i could get sound from my pc to the car stereo, i wanted to plug it into my deck but its kinda old and doesnt have an input

, ill buy that eventually but for now this fm transmitter will do just fine.

I also bought a 350 watt constant power inverter with a 700 watt peak, i bought this at walmart, not the best but it deffiantly does the job.

I plan to plug the Touchscreen and the pc into the inverter, the fm transmitter is getting wired into my lighter power. Hopefully this install goes great. If you have any advice please let me know!!

How's that FM modulator work for you? That'st he route I was thinking of taking for sound.

**shadowpuck** · 12-31-2004, 04:30 PM

Skip:

great looking install. i had never considered the windshield wiper idea but that's brilliant!

i'm most interested to see your information regarding the wiring runs as i have a very similar E36 (95 325is) in which i'm working on a system...

i took a look at your GPS issue thread - i figured you earned it, you posted photos after an all-night marathon install session....

sorry, i don't have any ideas on that - but i do know that many have had issues getting the USB-serial driver working properly in Windows. hope that gets fixed!

**Digital318is** · 12-31-2004, 04:52 PM

I havent tested it out in the car yet, I did test it inside my house and it worked fine. The only concern i think i have right now is that the antenna is located in the trunk i believe. So i think it would perform better if it was some place near that, I just took out the obc and im about to cut the sunglasses box. Ill keep ya guys updated.

www.nitrostudios.net/carputer/default.asp

that will be the site for some updates if i dont post here.

**Digital318is** · 12-31-2004, 05:02 PM

Sorry for posting again, but i have to ask a quick question, how did you mount the lcd into there? I am still thinking of ideas on how to mount it. I was thinking making a bracket from the right side there is currently some metal there i could possibly connect to and have a bar go across it. I am still thinking of ideas before i continue.

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-31-2004, 06:26 PM

It's a pretty clean fit (might even pop in) with the lilliput display. Check out his thread on BimmerForums.com where he talks about it.

**Digital318is** · 12-31-2004, 06:53 PM

Alright so he just epoxed it right into the spot. I will goto home depot tomorrow to buy some and hopefully it works out well. I also thought of another idea, custom build a little box so i could actually take the screen out later if i wanted to. Just plexiglass a little inside so the screen could fall right into the slot perfectly fine.

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-31-2004, 06:58 PM

You probably don't need any epoxy.

**Skipjacks** · 01-01-2005, 01:38 AM

I absolutely needed epoxy. Mine wouldn't stay in without it. But other people with that same car have had luck without any adhessives at all. Luck of the draw I guess.

The wires run through the center console (don't have to remove it, just cram them up there from the side) and behind the passenger seat, then in the crack of the back seat to the trunk. In total there's about a half inch of space where the wires are visible. I'll put a pic up of it this weekend or you can look at the guy I copied here...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ht=DIY+monitor

I got hung up partying today and didn't think of taking more pics.