2000 BMW 328Ci (e46) - laptop install - Page 2

gork · 05-25-2005, 03:11 AM

Hark: Try a power supply from CarNetix. They are a bit more expensive but they are absolutely top quality from what I understand. I'll be ordering one soon for my brother's mac mini install.

Here is one theory: Many DC devices have a nasty habit of shorting the leads of a PSU (very briefly) when they start up. In my personal experience, the Audigy2 NX seems to be a culprit. Depending on how the PSU is set up to provide power, shorting the 5V rail may or may not affect power to the laptop... of course the laptop has its own internal power supply so even losing power into the laptop for a brief moment should not cause problems... But maybe the short causes a short on the laptop's power rail too...

You can build various isolation circuits to help this problem... Or you can get a carnetix PSU which seem to be pretty tolerant of it..

Hark · 05-29-2005, 12:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by srcstc

I posted this on your thread but I'll post it here too.
I drilled a hole on the bezel to put a pin in to hold the LCD from sliding down.

Rich

Got any pics that you can show us? What about using some sort of friction tape around the edges of the screen to hold it in place as well, behind the trim?

jedi7001 · 05-29-2005, 03:43 AM

Hark, I tried the tape thing, just did not cut it. I am going to try the "pin" option this weekend and let you know how it goes.

Hark · 06-02-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jedi7001

Hark, I tried the tape thing, just did not cut it. I am going to try the "pin" option this weekend and let you know how it goes.

So how'd it go?

Cris · 06-02-2005, 12:57 PM

That looks really nice!

jedi7001 · 06-03-2005, 01:03 AM

I may have to ask Rich but I could not fit a PIN in anywhere. I decided to tighten down the clamps as best as possible, add a lot of heavy duty tape for support and it seems to work. I have some pics but need to upload. I could not figure out a good way to use a pin at the bottom. just no room. I have had it up for a week and a lot of driving. Still all good.

As far as you power problems, I have gone through a bunch of problems myself. More so the heat in AZ. I have had to pull my setup from the trunk to the inside of the cabin. the E46 has AC vents under the front seats and I am hoping to squeeze it under the driver side. I initially was going to do this with a t23 IBM laptop and docking station. The laptop just would not fit well under those seats. It is real tight under there. I noticed we both are looking for a good BMW frodo skin. I am no skinner so let me know if you find a good one. Just not enough time in the day to work on a skin.

srcstc · 06-03-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jedi7001

I may have to ask Rich but I could not fit a PIN in anywhere.

Maybe I didn't explain it well enough so I made this pic. I put it where the red dot is. I just make a small hole about 1/4" deep (carefull NOT to drill all the way through!) and I put a small nail, brad nail I think, in the hole. Then some hot glue to keep it from coming out. Took me a minute. If you do that, it'll never come out. Also put some hot glue on the clamps.

Hot glue is great because it's a VERY strong hold but it's not permanent.
Put some take on the drill bit so you don't drill too far.

Rich

jedi7001 · 06-03-2005, 10:50 PM

Genius!

No, really my dumb *** trying to do a pin from the side. Looks like this will work. I will give it a try.

srcstc · 06-03-2005, 10:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jedi7001

Genius!

No, really my dumb *** trying to do a pin from the side. Looks like this will work. I will give it a try.

Lemme know how it turns out.

Hark · 06-16-2005, 11:36 AM

Well, after a brief hiatus (birth of our daughter, Fiona) I've got everything working as is - thanks to Jeff for telling me how to disable the temp sensor on my uSDC20D shutdown controller, it seems to work fine now. Next step is to add the user power switch to the uSDC, and start looking at GPS solutions. I'll probably take the screen out again and do the pin/hot glue suggestions above.

I also need to find a solution to the low-volume issue, since the V coming out of the laptop doesn't seem to be enough to get the audio volume very high using the stock hk amp/speakers. Gork's thread talks about using line drivers, which may also be another future purchase.

So what's the cutoff for when this craziness ceases to be a "work log" and becomes the "show off your project" thread?

Hark · 07-10-2005, 02:40 PM

I'm getting frustrated with improving the sound quality - I'm using an Audigy 2 ZS Notebook to the SVEN4 to my stock HK amp, and it sounds great, just low volume. I tried adding in an Audiobahn AEQ6Q eq which I hoped would boost the power of the signal coming out of the laptop/Audigy, but it's still not very loud, and now it sounds somewhat distorted at high levels. Anyone else have any ideas?

Jir1984 · 07-21-2005, 11:28 AM

i just have a question about your powering setup..im buying the same shutdown controllor...just wondering how that went. Where did you decide to mount the shutdown controller and how did you run a wire to the ignition. i have a 2000 323ci so i have the same setup as you...just wondering how you did that step.

Hark · 07-21-2005, 11:49 AM

I used a project box from Radio Shack to protect it. I've got it mounted in the trunk, where the rest of my stuff is (left side underneath the trunk liner) next to the laptop. It's funny, I can't remember where I pulled the ignition wire from - I know it was somewhere in the trunk. I'll have a look and see if I can trace it.

Hark · 07-21-2005, 11:58 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by srcstc

I just make a small hole about 1/4" deep (carefull NOT to drill all the way through!) and I put a small nail, brad nail I think, in the hole. Then some hot glue to keep it from coming out. Took me a minute. If you do that, it'll never come out. Also put some hot glue on the clamps.
Rich

I yanked out my screen to try this, but I noticed a couple of problems.

First, for the nail hole - the nail is supposed to keep the front of the screen (the top layer) from sliding down, but with mine that front top layer is recessed further (not as tall?) than the thicker screen backing - which means that the screen backing would rest on the nail, but the top layer of the screen still might not quite reach it. Maybe I need to move the backing up a bit, but it didn't seem like this was possible.

Second, putting hot glue on the clamps only keeps the screen backing from moving, not the front top layer. Has anyone tried hotgluing the top layer in place, or will that ruin the screen?

Jir1984 · 07-21-2005, 02:43 PM

Yo Hark...sounds good then..i thought you had to go run a wire to the front of the car to where the key ignition is lol..just let me know if you find out which wire it is..im assuming its near the cd changer bay. Do you just splice into it or just tap in? Also i was just wondering which root you took to run your wires up to the front. i have a 323ci so have the same body and everything..did you go under the rear seats and under the left side platic piece near the drivers door..then go through the center console that way or what. please let me know and thanks for the help!

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