Thread: 2003 E46 BMW 3 Series Ci Coupe UK Install Complete - custom dash/RR skin - many pics!

So in RRconfig you just set it to use an External dvd app and used PowerDVD as the window name? Which version of PowerDVD do you use as I have never gotten that to work correctly (or with WinDVD).

So far I have these screens complete:
- Music Player
- Video Player
- DVD Player
- Web Browser
- TV
- GPS

However, the TV skin I've made does not use Winamp like the standard RR skin. I simply have my TV app (Avermedia) embed into RR and send it keyboard strokes to control it. So I need to make a similar version for the Winamp TV version.

GPS embeds iGuidance at the moment although as I used MapMonkey for a while, I also have a skin for that.

Still need to do:
- FM Radio (I havent got an FM receiver yet so haven't bothered with the skin)
- Satelite radio (As I have no experience and no way of finding out how to use this someone else will probably have to make it. We don't have sat radio in the UK!)
- Mixer - This I need to change so that it has the Winamp equaliser, master volume, and the individual speaker level (I'm running a four channel sound set up)
- Mobile Phone - As Phoco (PhoneControl.NET) doesn't like me, I cannot get it to work with me SonyEricsson P910i. I therefore haven't bothered with the skin for it yet. I'm planning on getting an old T610 to work with it. Just means I'll have a separate number for my car! If I do get this up and running, I will probably replace one of the main menu items with "Phone" so that it is easily accessible. I think it should probably replace the "Utilities" menu option. The utilities will then be moved the moon button (now the night skin mode) as night mode can be accessed from the shutdown menu anyway.
- Utilities section - this is not in anyway complete. At the moment the "Games" section has three working games (Pinball doesn't work). I plan to add more to this including an emulator. Has anyone got any good game recommendations for this section (touchscreen freindly)? The "Applications" section is simply the new "launch" area (loads apps from your "launch" folder), and "Utilities" and "Settings" are incomplete. I plan to put Windows Explorer, Control Panel, RR Config, Disk Defragmenter, Network Settings etc. in the Settings section. And I plan to put Notepad, Calculator, Paint, Picture Slideshow Viewer etc. in the Utilities section. This all takes time as the buttons are hardcoded (as opposed to read from a list like the launch section) as you can see.

Also working on getting tomtom to work in RR. I have got it working fine it's just that it is too processor intesive and runs very slowly making it unasable.

All my skins are drawn in Macromedia Flash then converted to JPEGs. They are easily editable by anyone.

Let me know if you think the complete areas are enough for you so far and I will release the skin early. Its only in 800x600 at the moment. The other thing is that I found strange is that when you don't use the standard Windows XP style (the blue/silver/olive start bar etc) and use normal appearance, all the fonts in RR get much bigger!! This is a pain meaning that to use this skin you have to use Windows in normal appearance (not the XP look)

Excuse my rambling once again!

LLOYDY

@nkotch

Yes that's it. I just use PowerDVD 5.

LLOYDY

I'm sure if you released an early version people would jump on it. It's already got everything I would use on it (maybe except some of the app/utility areas) but I would definitely try it out.

Here's an early reslease of my skin. I call it "Simplistique" .....

No doubt there will be problems and issues using it as it is very icon based - i will help where I can.

The Download: Simplistique_BETA_V0.1.zip

To Install:
- Set your Windows appearance to standard non-XP (Desktop Properties | Appearance)
- install fonts from the !FONTS folder yo your windows fonts folder (default: C:\Windows\Fonts) by simply copying the files there
- copy all the files to your RR skin folder into a folder name of your choice

NOTE: As I use only touchscreen there is no ON items i.e. hovering over a button will not highlight it or anything

LLOYDY

As promised, here is a comprehensive list of my expenses. I know I have spent well over the odds on some things but I'm sure you can understand that when you're close to completing your intall you just want to get it finished and end up spending more than necessary from highstreet stores etc.

Some prices are in Euros and US Dollars but the totals are in UK Pounds Sterling (&#163

OK...


FROM: Janus (MP3Car Forums) (Next Xenarc Morex loves E46)
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€350.00 Xenarc 7" touchscreen (700TSV)
€220.00 Xenarc moulded bezel for E46
€611.52 + PayPal fees + Delivery
---------------
£423.28 TOTAL


FROM: MP3Car.com Store (http://www.mp3car.com/store/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$002.95 Extra Monitor Power Cable (CNX-CA-LCD)
$379.00 Mini-ITX Vehicle PC Case (MPX-ITX-CD)
$148.99 Ultra Low Profile 512MB DDR PC3200 RAM (mp3car-00022)
$224.99 VIA EPIA SP13000 Mini-ITX Motherboard (SP13000)
$144.99 Pioneer Slot Load DVR-K05 DVD±R/+R DL/±RW Dual Drive 8X (DVR-K05)
$010.00 CD Adapter Slim Type CDROM/DVDROM/CDRW Adapter
$110.81 UPS Fast Delivery (couldn't wait!) (TOTAL for PC £604.24)
£120.00 Customs!! Imported equipment into UK incurred VAT
---------------
£724.24 TOTAL


FROM: eBuyer (http://www.ebuyer.co.uk)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£087.15 Toshiba Harddisk 100gb UDMA - 2.5in 4200rpm
£003.99 Shipping
---------------
£091.14 TOTAL


FROM: PixMania.com (http://www.pixmania.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£045.96 Avermedia AVerTV DVB-T Hybrid + FM PCI
£001.00 Charity Donation
£005.79 Delivery
£009.06 VAT
---------------
£061.80 TOTAL


FROM: eBay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£001.79 4m Coax RF Video Cable Extension
£001.49 Delivery
---------------
£003.28 TOTAL


FROM: eBay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£007.95 5m Male - Female High Quality VGA extension cable inc Delivery
---------------
£007.95 TOTAL


FROM: eBuyer (http://www.ebuyer.co.uk)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£003.51 4 Port USB 2.0 Bus Powered HUB Star Shape Transparent Blue (Free Shipping inc VAT)
---------------
£003.51 TOTAL


FROM: Rich ("SrcStc" MP3Car.com Forums) (Also makes great bezels! - BMW E46 Custom dash trim for a Xenarc LCD) and Cardomain.com (http://www.cardomain.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It turns out I didn't needs the SVEN4 - European 3 Series don't have an amplifier - it is built into the head unit! Thanks anyway Rich! SVEN4 Now for Sale!!
$032.95 Peripheral Electronics SVEN4 (PERSVEN4)
$007.95 Schosche BMW Wiring harness (SCOBW01B)
$013.95 Schosche BMW antenna adapter (SCOVWA3B)
$006.95 Shipping to US Address
Shipping to UK
Extra for doing me the favour + PayPal Fees
---------------
£067.19 TOTAL


FROM: eBay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£029.99 Holux GR-213 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver SiRF Star III
£009.99 Delivery
£004.00 Postage Insurance
---------------
£043.98 TOTAL


FROM: Rolf Resler (http://www.reslers.de/IBUS/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
€035.00 Rolf Resler's Serial IBUS connector Delivered
---------------
£024.49 TOTAL


FROM: eBay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£005.00 Logitech Digital USB Plug and Play Desktop Microphone
£007.25 Delivery
---------------
£012.25 TOTAL


FROM: B&Q (http://www.bandq.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£069.99 Dremel Multicutting tool
£019.99 Multimeter
£008.96 Heavy Duty Velcro x 2
---------------
£098.94 TOTAL


FROM: Halfords (http://www.halfords.co.uk)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£099.99 Sony XM-SD14X 4 Channel Amplifier
£199.99 Fusion FEW12PK Amp & Sub boxset
£014.99 Fused Distribution Block
£010.99 Distribution Block
£003.49 Wire Block Connectors
£003.49 Fuses
---------------
£332.94 TOTAL


FROM: Currys (http://www.currys.co.uk)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£029.99 Indoor Antenna 1 For All (SV9320)
£025.98 JVC 3.5mm to Two Phono x 2
£005.99 JVC 2 Phono to 2 Phono
--------------
£61.96 TOTAL


FROM: Maplin Electronics (http://www.maplin.co.uk)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£009.99 1.8m Serial Cable extension
£004.99 Sub speaker cone grille
£043.07 Cables and general connectors (lost receipt!) includes the below:
lengths of high quality 4, 8 and 12 gauge cable
battery terminal connectors
wire connectors
aerial cable connectors
---------------
£058.05 TOTAL


FROM: eBay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£012.99 Renegade Ground Loop Isolator
---------------
£012.99 TOTAL

--------------------------------------------
GRAND TOTAL: £2,027.99
--------------------------------------------


LLOYDY

very very very nice.

[QUOTE=lloydy
....Avermedia AVerTV DVB-T Hybrid + FM PCI
LLOYDY[/QUOTE]

Hey man, nice setup, good to see another PC equipt BM on the UK roads

I have a Compro DVB-T300 & Analogue TV card in my M1000 board. The video on analogue is choppy. Digital is a little better. I suppose its something to do with decoding etc. I know its the pc as the card works very well in my home machine.

How smooth is analogue and digital on your 1300 board and how good is your card overall. Particularly the software you use, is it WDM compliant?

Keep us posted on the antenna, cos I have tried the works mate. From coat hangers to £45 "wideband" diversity antennas.

Originally Posted by sweetlikealemon

Hey man, nice setup, good to see another PC equipt BM on the UK roads

I have a Compro DVB-T300 & Analogue TV card in my M1000 board. The video on analogue is choppy. Digital is a little better. I suppose its something to do with decoding etc. I know its the pc as the card works very well in my home machine.

How smooth is analogue and digital on your 1300 board and how good is your card overall. Particularly the software you use, is it WDM compliant?

Keep us posted on the antenna, cos I have tried the works mate. From coat hangers to £45 "wideband" diversity antennas.

LOL! Actually analogue and digital viewing seems fine on my PC as far as smoothness is concerned - however, recording is a no no (which I predicted beforehand).

Before the Avermedia card I tried a WinTV PVR card (same thing but by Hauppage) and it was terribly slow. The PC just wouldn't keep up with it. Although the WinTV card worked fine with the WinAmp TV plugin which leads me to believe it was the crappy WinTV software. Have you tried WinAmp TV plugin? I would recommend trying it if not.

Avermedia's software is decent (but far from perfect). It is WDM compliant and in fact is one of the few instantly compliant with Windows XP Media Center Edition. It seems decent enough for ehat I want - although I cannot get Radiator or the likes to work with it so I'm looking to get yet another piece of hardware to use FM radio with my PC.

As far as reception is concerned I've tried many aerials also but none of them are any good. To get a decent picture you can only be parked and be pointing in the right direction! For diversity antennas I thought the card itself has to support diversity - I have a diversity antenna ready for FM which has two 3.5mm heads which I assumed needs a card that supports the two inputs?? Am I right in assuming this? If not, then why are there two heads - surely the card is what decides the best signal not the antenna itself?

LLOYDY