Thread: Here it is finished in my 95 C 280

Here's the add-a-fuse for the power for the laptop. We addded the one for the monitor later in the same fuse box. The trunk is way easier for wiring power b/c you don't have to go through the firewall.





Heres the VGA cable for the monitor and the USB for the touchscreen run into the upper DIN slot where the head unit used to be.



Here's us tucking the VGA cable the same way we did all the others: power, USB, etc.



Here you can see everything's clean and concealed.



The run out of the center console was a bit trickier to find, but we just used the same track that the stock (optional) MErcedes phone wiring used...







...and moved it around

I do so apologize for the big pics, if you want to see them easily, just go to: http://thekremlin.net/~davis/ and you can see them there and save them if you like.

Essentially, the install went smooth. It took us the longest on Fri., we were up till 5:00 AM, because we had to solve all the little problems that came up. Now, when we swtich the equipment to the 99 in three weeks it will take us maybe three hours total, if that. This, in retrospect was actually a pretty easy install, but I would NOT reccomend doing it alone. We had three heads rather than one or two on this one. We ran into a few compications with the relocation of the radio. We couldn't find a dash kit that would fit where the coin tray was and so we basically cut the entire backing off the coin tray and just used it as a front fascia so it would flush mount. It sits pretty secure in there with the metal sleeve we put over it, but I don't think we would've really even needed that, so if you don't have it, don't worry about it. As you can see, we pretty much concealed the wire for the tape adapter, and the sound isn't bad at all. Hell it sounds pretty damn good when it's Equalized right with your software. Right now I noticed it sounds like I'm kinda in a tin can, so I have to jack with it, but that's probably due to something I did. after we hooked it up it souded fine, but then I had to mount it and I think I might've done something to screw with the sond when I did, so the tape adapter overall does sound ok. I'm SERIOUSLY thinking about droppping the money for the fiber-op interface though, just to clean it all up, but we'll see. I still have to get a Firewire card for my laptop so I can run the DVD enclosure in the center console. I will take pics of this part when we do it, hoever it's not more difficult than what's illisratied above. I would highly reccomend Firewire for you're enclosure as it has enough power to run a slimline DVD/CDRW drive without external power (which means you only have to run one cord out of the center console and you don't have to find another way to power it.).

Since it absolutely annoys the crap out of me when people say they did something and then don't tell you exactly how they did it, if anyone has any questions, I will be happy to take a picture and explain it to you if it's not well enough explained up there in my previus post. By the way, the power wires to the monitor up front are just medium gauge speaker wire. It is wire DIRECTLY into the add-a-circuit, no plugs needed. We will take other and probably better pics in three weeks when we do the 99 C 280 Sport.

nice job... i'm rather interested in your opinion on the screen. haver you had any problems with it? how's the TS working? THX

The only issues I have, personally, with the screen are the fact that the manual was obviously written by someone who doesn't understand the structure nor spelling of the English language, the always-on clock kinda gets on my nerves, and one of the settings in the Menu options is labeled "Clock" but it moves the screen horizontally; wierd. Other than that, I ran a 25 point calibration on it with my finger and it works beautifully, no problems. The picture is clear an easy to see. The adjustments to the tilt work well and the motorization is good and smooth. Overall, I like it and the price I got it for $449 is good.

Ok guys, we did a little modification to the install yesterday. We moved it into the trunk and changed the interface to a front-end call Roadrunner and I have to say it is AWESOME! My friend is brushing up on his VB skills so he's gonna make me a custom interface with a Mercedes theme. I will post it when he's finished. Check it out.

Great Job Davis449,
I call a w202 c180 (95) my own and want realize a carputer-project as well. I have an old laptop and considering costs, the laptop-solution is probably the best way to get it done .
The problem I still have, is that I'm searching for an option to integrate a startup/shutdown controller in the Laptop-system.
How did you solve the problem or do you always start and shut manually?
There is a controller in the shop, but I dont know if it will work on laptop-boards, as it will on ATX-boards.
You could solder two wires to the power-button and connect them with the controller, but thats a big job buying it, waiting till it's in germany, makeing all the installation, putting a lot of time in it and finding out it doesn't work ;(.
Maybe someone knows an answer and posts it.
PS.: why didn't you take a FM-modulator instead of an adapter-casette to get the audio-signal into the sound-system?

I didn't use an FM modulator cause they sound like crap! I HATE FM modulators. The tape adapter sounds WAY cleaner and clearer than an FM modulator. I plan on wating a couple months and getting the adapter that bring the fiber optic CD changer port out to two RCA's so I can hardwire it tot he 99 280 Sport I'm getting in two weeks. As far as startup/shutdown goes, my friend found a way to use the modem port to trigger the laptop to power on. We simply use a phone cable with a button wired to the end of it to power it on mounted in the center console's top tray. We removed the switch below the screen that doesn't allow the laptop to turn on when the screen is shut. Shutdown is done by automatic Hibernation after fifteen minutes in the the Windows Power Options and then as a back up it's set to shut down all the way afer it reaches a certain battery level.

Hello,
I've just soldered two wires to my power-button and everything works fine!!!
I can use any external switch now and as far as my laptop is concerned it doesn't restrict the powering with closed screen.
But if I want to shut, down only hibernating seems to be a little riscy to me.
You mentioned, that you've installed some battery-backup-security.
How did you realize that?
By the way: thanks for fast reply. And I didnt know that modulators sound that crapy. I thought of buying a cabled one, because these radiowave modulators aren't permitted in germany.

Hibernation is not risky. I've been using mine for over a week now and it works fine. As for back up go to the Control panel into power options and go and set your desired level of battery under the Alarms tab and then go click on the Alarms button under Low Battery alarm and set it to Shut Down. This way when it hits whatever battery level you set it will automatically shut the compter all the way down. I would suggest setting this in the 80% area somewhere. Hibernation is great because when you hit that power button again it will boot up faster and directly to where you left off.