Thread: 2001 Audi A4 1.8TMS

I posted the skin in the RR Skins subforum.

Here you go.

So I'm just about done w/ the bezel.

I started w/ the install kit mentioned above and the OEM xenarc housing. Because the housing is longer heightwise than that install bezel, fabrication involved more than just gluing the two together and calling it a day.

I neglected to take pics of the entire process, but the process was simple, but does require a lot of patience to fill, shape, fit, fill, shape,fit, fill, shape, fit some more. I'm not going into detail on how i did this, as it is covered quite extensively in the Fabrication forum.

Anycase, here is the almost finished bezel:



Still need to do some filling and smoothing, but I should have it primed and painted during the holidays.

Anyways, enjoy!

So the bezel is complete and I've started to tear into my interior. As it stands now, my entire center console and driver's side door trim is out and I have started to run the TS VGA and USB, HU aux audio input, OBDII Interface cable, and power cables.

Here's a pic of the completed bezel. Don't mind the little specs. They flaked off w/ a light brush stroke and left no impressions/indentations. The match is really good. There is an irregularity in the sheen when comparing the bezel to the surrounding climate control and ACC/cupholder trim. I can live with it. Besides, you really have to look at it closely to really realize it. I see it just because I'm stupid like that.



Still left on the plate to fab are:
- A USB panel mount for this handy piece of harware. Cut a pair of holes, mount using the supplied screws, and done.
- Rear decklid rack to mount my PC and, in the near future, amps for my audio upgrade. Here's an example pic borrowed from another audi enthusiast:



The idea is keep it stock looking, retain full trunk functionality, and easy access to remove PC for updates, upgrades, maintainence, etc.

As far as software development goes, still need to finish a couple more skin files (i.e OSK, Video Menu, Browser, etc.) and all that will be left after that is optimization for quicker boot times. As it stands, fastest clock time is 43 seconds from cold boot to music, 24 from hibernate. I suppose it could be quicker.

Nearing the end of the project. Hope to have this all done by the end of the week.

nice job, like stock bezel

So, I've installed all the components and everything is in reasonably working order. My Xenarc TSV was acting up, but seems to have settled down a bit and is working as it should.

To be honest, I'm not as happy w/ the bezel as I thought. Because the Metra double din kit was not a very good install kit to begin with, the bezel does not install as cleanly as I would like with the screen in it. Even before mockup, I had to rework the Metra kit to fit properly as it bowed outside the lines of the dash.

Once it came time to fab, the bezel without the screen flexed to give me the fit that I was pleased with. However, the bezel + screen is just rigid enough that makes it not sit flush with the rest of the dash causing it to stick out about 1/16" at some of the corners and recess 1/16" at others. Nevertheless, I was not happy with the fit.

The other issue I'm having, as with most users, is daytime viewability. I can't see the frigin' front end. Pointless to have a carPC if you can't even control it from the front end. This is a major sore spot.

So after much debate and heartache, I've decided to scrap the current bezel, hack up the OEM symphony HU and use that as a template to fab in the MP3Car transflective Lilliput screen.

My reasoning to go with the Xenarc at first was I found that it was more trouble free, as I gathered in the post in this forum regarding the lilliputs.

I hope that it will be a trouble free installation as I will have to take apart the transreflective screen. I really hope I don't break anything.

I'll post up some pics of the dash installed as soon as I'm able.

Finally got around to starting the new bezel for the transreflective LCD. Here is it's current state. Still got lots to do in terms of finishing, but at least it's on it's way.



Not really sure what to do with my Xenarc now. I guess I'll probably sell it.

My system has been up and running quite reliably for the past 4 months now and I am quite happy with the results. I'll post the install pics once I'm all done.

Few points I still need to resolve is final wire routing from the cabin into the trunk and some faint waveforms showing up in my LCD display during operation.

I tried my best to keep the VGA signal line away from anything that could introduce the waveform, but it looks as if I'll have to gut my interior again to properly shield the cable.

Nearing the end of this project and I am quite excited to see this part come to a close.

After that, it's all about skinning as seen here. It's not completely original, but it will once I get up to speed with using PS.

F@*!!&%

Well, just failed on my first attempt to transplant the transreflective LCD from the original housing to the bezel.

What was not discussed in the lilliput FAQ was that if were going to remove the buttons and still use the backing part of the housing, the VGA controller board would stick out further (~0.5") than the the LCD itself.

As a result, the touchscreen and LCD fit in the bezel, but not the VGA controller board w/ the backing attached to it.

Just to make things even more of a PITA, the bezel developed a hairline crack which, of course, ruined the finish.

So now, going to have to mod the back housing to fit, re-finish the bezel and go back take it all apart again.

On the bright side, I managed not to F- up my ridiculously expensive LCD screen.

Originally Posted by Sal R.

Inspired by people like SharksWeb and Nicklemedia in AudiWorld, I, too, decided to undertake the task of installing a carPC to play MP3s, Videos, DVDs, and have NAV and VAG-COM capability on the fly. Here are my specs:

...

hey, so what was the final outcome of your install? I do realise this thread is a few months old now, but I've been searching on installs in Audi's and this one seemed to be the most similar to what I had in mind for my install.
I'm still in the planning stages, but one question I had on your install was with the screen installed in the gutted headunit cage, how are your removing the unit from the car? Obviously you cannot use radio keys to just pop the unit out.....

Also, I have been searching the audiworld forums and found alot of helpful information. I couldn't find any threads or work logs from SharksWeb or Nicklemedia, if you have links to their installs I'd be interested in takin' a look.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Rocky388

hey, so what was the final outcome of your install? I do realise this thread is a few months old now, but I've been searching on installs in Audi's and this one seemed to be the most similar to what I had in mind for my install.
I'm still in the planning stages, but one question I had on your install was with the screen installed in the gutted headunit cage, how are your removing the unit from the car? Obviously you cannot use radio keys to just pop the unit out.....

Also, I have been searching the audiworld forums and found alot of helpful information. I couldn't find any threads or work logs from SharksWeb or Nicklemedia, if you have links to their installs I'd be interested in takin' a look.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, sharksweb and nickel have moved on to other things and nickel doesn't seem to have his pics up anymore.

My carPC is currently out of the car since I'm doing a few new things, one of which is in corporating mithc's HD radio in the carPC and Robby BMW's TMS.

I did manage to integrate the MP3Car Transreflective screen into the Symphony HU, but the results were far below my expectations, so I never posted pics as it was a rather ugly piece of work.

So here you go:




Once the bezel heat cycled for a few months under SoCal heat, lines and holes became apparent. These blemishes were not there prior to the install. I can't really explain what happened, but it forced me to start over.

I gutted a broken spare HU I was able to get my hands on and built the screen bezel into that. Since there will be no holes for the radio keys, I removed the securtiy tabs that used to hold the original HU in place. It pretty much slides in and out and is press fit in place w/ the help of the upper trim and HVAC.



(Geez...I never realize how dirty my steering column was...)