bluewings777

Hi to all,

i'm a newbie. I've tried to read a lot of thread about knob and car pc new system but i'd like to follow an other approach so i'm looking to help about it. I want to install a pc car on my new bmw 3-series with I-drive.
I've yet an lcd, a knob and so on in original configuration and i dont want to change lcd or install a new knob.
I think i have only :-) connect my vga out to the original lcd screen and build some piece of hardware and or software to use bmw original knob as a mouse. I think i have to think to a build a board that is trasparent to a bmw (knob control lcd screen software) or when i push a button, for example, i switch lcd and knob control to a car pc. I know knob is limited in movement and is not a mouse but i'd like to develop a very simple interface so standard knob is enought and i have not to touch my car.

Thanks for every suggestion you can give me

Enforcer

Interesting, I will watch this thread with interest.


What I will say though is,

1. Using the orginal BMW screen will not give good results from the PC, seeing as it's just an TV screen (unless the newer ones now have VGA. Unlikely) and not a VGA screen.

2. If you manage to reverse engineer the iDrive controller and get it to work on a PC, I think you will become a hero to many BMW drivers

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bluewings777

1. I understand about it. But i think that if quality is enough for BMW standard interface i can build a similar interface with add on functionality that could be acceptable. However i think as you LCD is analogic but i hope soneone have some more information on wiring or cable pinout on that lcd
2. Hero ?!?! ... i thought that someone have do yet :-) however i'll spend time to do that because i think is the right integration for a bmw with idrive installed.

5er

What about creating an Ipod Emulator to "speak" to the original Idrive?

You would be able to choose the songs on the screen as well as use the original Knob.

5er

bluewings, why not just use the Ipod connection to interface with the computer via an emulator. This way you use the original screen without spilcing wires, as well as use the knob to choose songs.

If you do choose to do this let me know, I would love to do this as well on my e60.

bluewings777

Thanks for the interesting suggestion.
Have you an emulator software and/or ipod interface to study ?

5er

No, sorry...
I don't think that it should be a problem to find...