VIDEOS - My 350z Roadster Install

**notion** · 12-17-2006, 12:04 PM

Google Video Blog: Part 1 - Test Bed Feature Guide (16mins:06secs)

Google Video Blog: Part 2 - System finished & installed (17mins:13secs)

Hi Guys,

Here's a copy and paste from my install thread over at www.my350z.com

First I just have to say - WOW! The 350z is a car PC installers dream. All those handy dandy compartments behind the seats to place your rig in, the flip-up center console area to drop in a touch screen with a faceplate that acts as a sunshade - I think I'm in love :icon11:

The Car PC system - oh yeah you need one!!! :icon38:
This will be my second car computer system, my first was a real duct-tape and sticks job built into my s2000 a few years back. I learned all of the tricks over at http://www.mp3car.com, it's a great community with everything you could want to know about DIY car computer and entertainment systems.

Maximum Functionality doesn't need to mean maximum cashola
The goals for this build are going to be more complex than my previous attempts but hey that's what makes it fun right? I'm going to focus on keeping the cost down while not sacrificing any of the functionality that you would expect from a premium system. Car PC's are a great way to show that even on a minimal budget you can blow the socks off anything you can buy off the shelf at virtually any price point (plus you get the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing you did it yourself).

Car Computer functionality requirements

Simple Touch screen functionality
The ability to watch Hi Def Movies (DVD's are soooo last month :icon14: )
Store, play and organize a large music library
Store, play and organize a large video library
Store, play and organize a large photo library
Provide high quality GPS functionality
Provide impressive fun gaming options (passengers only :icon39: )
Support for on-board cameras
WiFi support for syncing to your home network
Wireless internet access
Weather Reports
Easy expandibility for options such as XM Radio, Car information/diagnostics/engine management, USB powered nasal hair trimming etc.
Intelligent power management linked to the ignition system and battery health

Hardware - The Cost So far: $632

Used Lilliput 619 7" touchscreen from eBay - $152
mATX mobo with onboard 6 channel audio, PCIe graphics support, built in USB 2.0, SATA Raid, LAN, - $41
Sempron 3500+ 64 Processor - $55 (low energy consumption)
GeForce 6500 256mb vid card - $65
WD 160gb 7200rpm Hard Drive - $80
Linksys Wireless B/G PCI card - $19
Used Slim Slot load DVD±R/±RW/+RDL/RAM Multi Drive - $30
400 watt inverter from Frys - $40
Cheapo 350 watt standard ATX power supply - $25
GlobalSat BU-353 20 channel GPS Receiver - $62 (Thanks Leemik)
USB gamepad - $25
2x USB Nightvision/Color Cameras - $19 each

Software

Windows XP Pro with Windows Media Center patched in.
RoadRunner Car PC software
GameEx game console software
Google Earth Pro with GPS support

Car Hacks

Complete guide to removing your center console
SomethingFishy's OEM Headunit 'AUX-In' hack to use the stock sound system
TonkaDogs guide to running heavy guage power direct from the battery
Run VGA, Audio, PC Reset and small keypad cables from the storage compartment to the center console.

The Install Pics

Removed the whole center console

The center console with storage area removed and Lilliput 7" screen. You can see the audio cables coming out of the stock head unit where I did the AUX-In mod.

Rove the flip up door of the storage compartment

Lots of very very careful dremmel work to get the facia off the storage unit.

The facia with the lilliput screen pressed up against it for a fit check, then glue gunned into place

Screen now attached to the facia

Some barbaric modding to the lilliput case to allow the flip up door to freely move.

Door and facia with screen fitted and door lifting properly

Screen in place

Slide the whole console with screen back into the dash, being careful to route the cables properly

All in nice and tight

All the various cables routed through the car along the center console and under the carpet edge of the doorsill on the passenger side. No cutting is required to get the cables from these areas into the area under the tray in the storage compartment.

Holes dremmelled in the side lips of the tray allow for all the cables to be brought in pretty clean.

160gb hard drive mounted on springs on the side wall of the bay. I mounted it on it's side so that up and down shocks from the road were less likely to make the drive heads hit and damage the drive plates and data.

The motherboard installed and ready to fire up

Notion

**we87** · 12-18-2006, 03:59 AM

EXCELLENT INSTALL!

And very nicely shown with the Videos.... Well done indeed. Does GameEX run off of MCE itself? Or is it completely seperate? The reason I ask is I heard the "MCE Noises" when you were going through the menus there....

**notion** · 12-18-2006, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by we87

EXCELLENT INSTALL!

And very nicely shown with the Videos.... Well done indeed. Does GameEX run off of MCE itself? Or is it completely seperate? The reason I ask is I heard the "MCE Noises" when you were going through the menus there....

Thanks.

Yes you can run GameEx as a stand alone module, the writer just wanted it to be compatible with MCE and feel like an extension of that, it even has a MCE skin.

Notion

**bembowe** · 12-18-2006, 09:45 AM

I really love your setup. The GameEx is a good find and i'll be incorporating that in my system soon. What made u decide to go with roadrunner rather than MCE

**notion** · 12-18-2006, 10:11 AM

Hi,

I went with RR because of the music navigation in MCE. Some of the buttons in the artist/album lists aren't very TS friendly and also searching for artists/songs is not very easy as the search is designed for the remote rather than a real or on-screen keyboard.

I also like the open-source factor of RR

Notion

**leemik** · 12-18-2006, 03:20 PM

Heeeeeyy..

so wait.. the door just hangs there or does it fold back too? You should have bought an '03 Nav pocket.. It bolts right up to the 04 dash and the door opens and folds back nicely giving it a nice clean look.. That's what I did to mine..

otherwise, very clean and nice install!

--mike

**notion** · 12-18-2006, 07:34 PM

Hey Mike,

Yeah the door folds back just the same as it always did - was a real pain-in-the-butt to get working, but that's me, always doing things the hard way.

Notion