BMW 540i Project Part 2

**davem** · 10-26-2006, 12:13 AM

I love this install!!! I have an e46 M3 and I replaced the rearview with my monitor, but I really like the OEM look your setup has. Plus the open/close of the monitor must add a really wow factor!

Curious... are you using a PIC to generate the iBus codes?

So I saw you are using a Griffin Powermate... I just got mine and it's great. Looks kinda like iDrive so that's cool. I wish it came with a orange LED instead of blue ... have you ever thought of replacing the LED to match our orange/red interiors? Be sure to post pics of your fabricated install, I just put mine over the hazard button but it still looks nice... I'll post pics if you want.

**turbocad6** · 10-26-2006, 01:01 AM

hey, thanks for the pictures, I'm sure that can be interfaced, gotta see if I can get my hands on one

**bimmeracer** · 10-29-2006, 02:27 AM

wow. is it easy to control those two screens while driving? i cannot imagine trying to control a carputer w/o ts while driving.

**DarthTater** · 10-29-2006, 06:38 AM

davem - no PIC for now, though I may try that at some point in the future. Your install sounds really cool, definitely post some pics. (or do you have a worklog you can point me to?)

bimmeracer - I designed an extremely simple RR skin to suit the installation - it's no different than trying to use a stock head unit. Controlled completely by a powermate near the armrest - ie. no reaching. Left, right, select. What could be easier than that?! Of course, it's not very flashy compared to what most use in their vehicles, but since I kept my factory nav system, I really only need it to play some music, XM, and the occasional video for my son. (Though, eventually, there'll be a standalone dvd system for the rear passengers.)

These are the only options on the main menu.

Both the XM player and the audio player are like this - there's nothing to control except the scroll list to select a song.

I don't have a shot of the music browser handy, but again, the only thing to control is to navigate the scroll list.

**DarthTater** · 11-23-2006, 09:14 PM

Finally got around to taking a daylight vid and fabricating a home for the powermate. I added a USB port as well as a powerswitch for the hub in the vicinity of the powermate (just in case it decides to get flakey coming out of hibernation). The video shows how well the monitor copes with direct sunlight! It's easily readable under all conditions.

Save target as:

monitor divx

**sama** · 11-24-2006, 05:15 AM

Darth, I'm mighty impressed dude. Youe' done an excellent job

The only comment I have is regarding the powermate knob. It's position looks perfect but it doesnt' match the interior. Is that knob changeable? that's if you care of course

looking forward to seeing what you come up with next

**DarthTater** · 11-28-2006, 08:41 AM

Hey Sama,

Yeah, it's a little out of place I suppose, but I'm only mildly bothered by it - All of the black powermates I found were double the price of that one and I'm a cheap bastard by nature! How's your FE software coming?

**sama** · 11-28-2006, 10:53 AM

how about spraying it with some rubberised material, like the one BMW use on the under-arm compartment handle (latch type thing)?

front end is coming. it's been on hold for a short time, whilst I get a (fingers crossed) money making project on the go. it's great the way it exists in my head, I justneed to continue coding

could you tell me the part numbers of the bits I'd need to pull off what you've done? I really really like it!

**DarthTater** · 11-29-2006, 03:17 PM

Yeah, maybe I'll try that eventually. Doesn't quite bug me enough yet!

As for part #s, the only BMW part I'm using now is the Z4 monitor itself. I run the video and simulated ibus over Cat 6e from the PC to the mon (it was easy to pull under the carpet!). Then I simply tapped the +12 and Earth from the existing factory monitor - no troubles so far. The Z4 monitor part # is 65-50-6-945-164. For the powermate, I disassembled the existing sliding door cubby in the console and replaced the door with a piece of plexiglass over some wood with a stained walnut finish. It doesn't have the burling of the factory pieces, but the color matches well enough.

**sama** · 11-29-2006, 03:48 PM

thanks for that.

I have just bought a spare one of those sliding door assemblies. don't have a design in mind yet. I also got a spare flap for the under-arm compartment. I think with a little work, and some leather stretching, I can get a CD rom fitted into that. It definitely has enough space in there to do it. though, it would have to either load from the back, or by opening the flap and revealing the drive. Front loading is possible, but it would make the opening of the flap cumbersome.

another thing that I'll be trying, which you maybe interested in is to stick pwr/reset buttons in the ashtray, with HD/pwr lights. I suppose it depends on whether you smoke or not!

what you can do is remove the chrome part with a cone in it, which allows you to put a cigarette out, by removing the latches to the plastic container, and then finely cut a peice of plexi to go in there. There are some very fine ridgest that can be strengthened to hold the plexi high. Then... here's the celver bit... sand the plexi so it diffuses light, then stick an amber LED inside the container, and cover the plexi with black vynil. cutting out a very think border around the buttons will then result with buttons that have illuminated borders for that special OEM look