2002 golf 4 - in dash, first carputer :)

thorolf15 · 03-09-2007, 09:33 PM

First of all - Hi everybody!

I've been watching for a while now, guess I've had several reasons for not starting my install, but now I will!

When I first thought of doing it a had a old 3 series BMW, I knew I'd change it so didn't bother starting installing a carputer, even though I wanted to. Then I had a brand new BMW z4 for a few years, I didn't dare chopping up the dash in that one... But now I've got a golf 4, not too new so I don't mind chopping, not too old so I'll be keeping it for a while!

Anyways

The idea is to build in a lilliput 7" Touchscreen in this, and place the PC in there too.

I was thinking about:

90W OPUS
EPIA N 10000 1GHz Nano-ITX
512MB SODIMM RAM
160GB Seagate 2.5" SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive - 8MB Cache

And whatever 4channel amp I might dig up somewhere

I think I'll start up with this, make it work and then add other stuff as the project comes along.

I know a lot of people have already done this in Golf's but I haven't found a lot of people having build the PC in the dash, is there any reason for that?

I'll start posting pics as soon as I start building

KICK OFF!

Bits and pieces actually ordered / received

Radio cage, used
Ordered 6/3/07 Private from golfistes.com recieved 8/3/07
35,10 EUR

Lilliput 619GL - 70NP/C/T Touch Screen
Ordered 11/3/07 on ebay (3-5days delivery) recieved 15/3/07
208,92 EUR

Via Epia M10000G recieved 16/3/07
Ordered 12/3/07 ldlc.fr
118,98 €

512 Mo DDR-SDRAM PC3200 recieved 16/3/07
Ordered 12/3/07 ldlc.fr
30,02 €

Seagate Momentus 5400.3 Ultra ATA/100 - 80 Go 5400 RPM 8 Mo IDE recieved 16/3/07
Ordered 12/3/07 ldlc.fr
66,85 €

90W OPUS
One of these days - got it 23/3/07
Free from a friend's leftovers - I hope

Blaupunkt GTA 475 Amplifier
13/3/07 Feu vert picked it up
200 €

Cabling kit for amplifier
13/3/07 Feu vert picked it up
30 €

More cables and connectors
19/3/07 MediaMarkt picked it up
80CHF

9 LED Night Vision Camera
recieved 22/3/07
Ordered 14/3/07 on ebay (3-5days delivery) picked it up
80CHF

New ideas:

After some research and looking around I'm gonna change the way I'm installing my carputer.

The screen:

It will be permanently fixed in the dashboard, I'll start this as soon as I receive the screen! I bought a spare radio cage, so I won't have to take apart the car when working on the screen...

Audio:

I will install the amplifier behind the seats for now, maybe build it into the seats later. The speakers will probably have to be changed later on too, they actually are in quite a bad shape.

The carputer itself:

I will install it in the small room in the left side of my trunk. I believe it'd get to warm in the dash, there's not quite enough space (I know it's do-able, but it'd be tight). I'll save the space in the dash for future updates like GPS, sat radio, bluetooth, wifi, ect.

Redian · 03-09-2007, 09:54 PM

i'd go with 512 ram, its only 20 dollars more than 256 and give much better performance, also... the onboard sound SUCKS

i'd suggest getting an external sound card as well, it will sound cleaner and better than onboard sound, and if you go with 256mb ram, the onboard sound is going to take a good 40mbs of it =p

thorolf15 · 03-09-2007, 09:56 PM

I was just waiting for an excuse for bumping it to 512mb

Are you sure about the onboard sound? I'm more than happy about my standard sound in the car, if I can obtain something like that I'm more than happy...

Thanks for your input!

thorolf15 · 03-13-2007, 06:19 PM

Some news:

Ordered Mainboard, RAM and hdd yesterday. I bought an amplifier too, a blaupunkt 4 channel GTA 475 along with a cabling kit.

Started cabling the amplifier today, that cabling kit is ridiculous, they can't possibly sell it to people other than people like me doing this for the first time

The cables are of good quallity and all, but for crying out loud it'd hardly be enough for cabling 2 speakers in a 2cv... Gotta go shopping for more cables

Anywho here's what I've done this afternoon, not much really, spent a lot of time looking up how to dismantle the dash, and where to put the amp. Guess I'll speed up once I get used to working with the car

Taking apart some of the dash:

Cabling from battery:

Finished in engine room:

Where I had to stop for today:

tigergibb · 03-13-2007, 08:44 PM

I like the VW Golf's. I'd like to see the progress on this one

. The cabling is very expensive at the store. A $90 8-gauge amplifier installation kit I saw at HiFi Buys cost me only $20 on eBay

.

thorolf15 · 03-13-2007, 10:57 PM

It sure is expensive, I already see it coming, you know the being more expensive than I first thought it'd be thing

I hope that I'll receive the parts soon, I can't wait to start working on that bezel!!!

thorolf15 · 03-19-2007, 07:46 AM

Some news, got my screen, motherboard, RAM, and hdd last week!

Picked up some cables today, and I've been doing some more cabling...

I'll post pics as soon as there are viewable changes

thorolf15 · 03-23-2007, 01:52 PM

Spent a whole day cabling, now the amp is in! Have been testing for a few days now with my PDA, since my HU is no more, it works just great!

I cabled the VGA cable for the screen, and 1 USB cable to the dashboard. The plan is to hook up a USB hub in the dashboard. I've pulled a cable for power for the PC in the trunk too.

Had a go on a box today. I can't justify paying somewhat 100$ for a voompc.

It just fits in the trunk, I don't know if this is gonna be the final one...

Okay, I've rigged up the screen next to my PC, and hooked up the PC in a old tower for testing. I've installed Roadrunner, so far it looks great! It's gonna take me a few more days to get it all installed though, it's complicated!

That's it for now

Dennis5587 · 03-23-2007, 06:41 PM

you got to change your sig... you've started!

congrats

I'll be waiting for an update though...

thorolf15 · 03-24-2007, 05:55 PM

Dude, you're right, I'll get it done

I got my newest toy today, the reverse camera, MAN it's cool!

And as for what I've accomplished today, not much but hey it's coming along

Started taking apart the screen:

Here I've got what's going to be molded in to the dash!

A litlle pic of my dash:

This is how I think I'll put the screen:

Now for the controller board, I'll be soldering a few wires on there to extend the IR for the remote:

It was alot easier than I actually thought! Here it is working, in first try too

The screen is showing my reverse camera in action

2k1Toaster · 03-24-2007, 06:05 PM

keep up the good work.

thorolf15 · 03-24-2007, 06:10 PM

Thanks mate

It's great fun! Can't wait to start "fiberglassing" tomorrow!

thorolf15 · 03-25-2007, 08:25 AM

Finally I got started!

First I had some fun with my dremel, what a lovely tool, not much grinding is needed for the screen to fit

While the dremel is warm, I cut up the screen a bit

Test fit! I think it looks cool allready

It's only hot glue holding it..

Put on some araldite, just to hold the screen, will make it look nicer with some filler, and bondo tomorrow!

I'm really pleased with todays results

Dennis5587 · 03-25-2007, 05:38 PM

There you go, looks good.

thorolf15 · 03-26-2007, 03:41 PM

Slooowly getting there

Sanding the araldite (This stuff really rocks)

First layer of bondo, fiberglass padding or whatever it's called, in my case it's leftovers I found in the garage

Sanding again...

I couldn't see whether it was getting there or not, so decided to finish off the day with a little black paint, just to see how it looked

One question though, how do people plug the cables in the screen once the bezel and screen are in place? I'm not sure there'll be space enough on the sides of the screen...

Any ideas as for where I can make a tiny hole for the IR?

Should I remove the recess around the screen or keep it? I thought it's look ghetto if I kept it, but never after seeing it painted I actually think I'll rather fill it up... What do you think?

One last one, am I annoying you with all the photos? I love threads with loads of pics myself