upspace

very clean and professional installation.

wondering how exactly you did the spacenavigator plate. did you got some spare parts or were just using a plastic piece. and how did you attach it to the box? did you take out the slider to open/close the cabinet?

would appreciate some close-ups how exactly it is attached.

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kelmk

Thanks. I started with the stock cup holder and used a dremel to cut off the bottom of the front cup holder. I wanted to keep this piece to use to fill up the hole. I then chopped off the rest of the holder except about half and inch for structural reasons. Then I used some plastic epoxy to fill in the difference between the bottom piece and the hole since it is a little bit smaller. Once that is set I sanded it flat and then used some body filler to smooth it all out and sanded again. Now it looks like there was never a hole there. After taking the big metal bottom off the space navigator, I used it as a template for where to cut the new hole. I used a dremel to cut out a hole the right size for the SN and it pops right in. No need to even secure it in any way since it's tight enough.
I drilled a couple more holes for a power button and a bass volume knob and then finished it off with some SEM paint to match the rest of the center console.

I can post some pics tonight when I get them off my camera.

kelmk

So, I added some pre amps to my install because the line out from the Turtle Beach SRS was too low to drive the amps.
I went with a PHOENIX GOLD SLD44 SIGNAL LINE DRIVER PROCESSOR from the front and rear and a JL AUDIO CL-RLC 2-Ch REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL / LINE DRIVER for the sub. I like the JL Audio because it has a remote volume knob that I mounted beside my space navigator. It's very cool to have bass control right there.

I am also using FreeIce full time now as it has everything I need and it very slick. I have decided to use iGuidance 4 as my gps of choice after creating a custom skin for it. I like that it has voice prompts for road names and not just directions so I don't even have to have it visible all the time. I will usually Minimize it and watch my position of Google Earth instead. I am using goops with live gps tracking in Google Earth and it's awesome. It blows everyone away when they see it for the first time.

I'm still working on getting steering wheel controls back after removing my head unit and I should get my new lilliput transflective from Motorcity today. I can't wait to get it in the car. I fried the last one I had by hooking up the 12v power reversed. Not smart at all.

I got a few other toys not carPC related that I need to throw on too. Angel eyes, new rear rotors, new belts. I spent the last two days replacing my springs back to sport suspension after having it lowered for the last 6 months. The bottom of my car and front bumper were taking too much of a beating.

kelmk

Lots of people are asking about the Space Navigator mod so here are some new wip pics.

kelmk

I got fed up with screens that I couldn't read with the top down so I splurged on a cartft 7" transflective CTF700-SH. Got it in two days from Germany. Total came to around $700 Next to the iphone, it's the best screen I have seen in daylight and the contrast is awesome. On a bright sunny day with the top down I could see the screen 100% of the time. Even with direct sun reflection. The top screen is a Motorcity transflective.

WraithJ

Firstly I have to say that is a great install, its all neat and tidy, just like a BMW.
The space navigator idea is great i wanted to use either one of thoose or the powermate, there is somewhere on the forum, someone who bought an iDrive controller from breakers and bought a control board and has wired it up, looks good. I was thinking of cheating, getting the Navigator then ataching iDrive know to the top, it depends whether I get e30 or e36.

Also iPhone Snap! Best screen ever!

WanderLustMan

your install looks incredible. I'm a complete newb to carpc's but i'm a technologist at heart and will use your set up as a guide for installing a system in my 05 M3.

Looks great!

kelmk

I was just trying to show how incredibly bright the cartft screen is. Still not as good as the jesus phone but pretty close.

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kelmk

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions. Today I'm obsessed with looking for a good windshield HUD.

WraithJ

yea the screen on the iPhone really is top notch, do you have youre pc turning on over ignition or via a switch, also is any part of your pc hooked up to the ISO stereo harness?

kelmk

I am still running through the OEM harness and amp other than the sub with has it's own amp. Maybe someday I'll get a new amp and rewire everything but the stock HK is pretty good.
For startup I am using a PAC TR7 module which detects a constant 12V and sends a momentary pulse which is tripping a relay connected to the laptop power switch.
For shutdown I use laptop shutdown control software which turns off the laptop when it starts running on battery power.

nysaz

this is a very cool setup! very professional!!

WraithJ

Ahh I like the shutdown idea, very cool! Cheers for the info, looking foward to seeing more of your work in the future!

dougmeng

This looks great! I am almost ready to install in my E60 on Tuesday. I hope my install turns out as good are yours.

kelmk

Thanks guys. Today I am fabricating a panel to fit in the ashtray slot that will have an extra usb port, ipod dock and IR sensor for my lcd. I'm still trying to figure out where I should relocate the auto dim light sensor to.
Actually I wonder how it works and if I could somehow hook it up to my interior dim knob.
That would be super cool. Anyone know how a light sensor works?

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