Ok, some progress on this...

please refer to the link in my sig for the full story. Here's what it looks like all powere up

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1013.jpg

and With a reverse cam preview

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1015.jpg

:D

Cool!

Sweet!

How much to ship to California, US:--)

very very cool

cheers guys.

8, it's really not that difficult if you can spare the time. The hardest bit is fabricating the screen. If you're handy with workshop tools it's easy.

pc part is just like buying a normal pc.

That's cool, dude.

another update, it's in now :)

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1020.JPG

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1024.JPG

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1026.JPG

I'm not completely happy with the dash, I'll be redoing it again as the console is warped at the bottom right, and the screen edges are not 100%. It'll get me up and running for now, but the target is 100% OEM look.

one last update today.

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1044.JPG

There is now a PC where the radio used to be

That is amazing.

If you're handy with workshop tools it's easy
Lol - that's like saying "if you're 7 feet tall, playing basketball is easy..."

it is :)

Fantastic job.
I build my own PC's, so just out of curiousity, what are the detailed specs on it? ... which link in your sig?
I have wood trim in my car... think that would stop me from doing it, unless I had a low cost replacement set to play with.

Yo,
Rod

Cheers man

The ///Mputer one (http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=149061)

check this out for a wood trim: http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7642&highlight=radiotrib (a few pages in)

Sama,

Thanks bro... don't be surprised if I step into a ... er ... science project :)

Yo,
Rod

I looked at the second post... no freaking way I could take my car that far apart... I'd end up in a straight jacket!

if you do, welcome aboard! seriously, it's a good hobby, with lots to do in it.


read from here onwards on that post, for a wood trim:
http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7642&page=3#95

pc spec are here: http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4095 (sorry, missed that one)

Fantastic job.
I have wood trim in my car... think that would stop me from doing it, unless I had a low cost replacement set to play with. Rod

There is no such thing as a low cost replacement for the 8 series wood trim. No one makes an aftermarket console trim in the same wood pattern/tone/grain as the rest of the interior. I have searched. Factory is $1000+. The easiest route to duplicate screen size would be a retractible unit, although I don't know how you would adapt a PC display.

lots of options whale, if you don't want to hack your dash:

http://digitalww.com/store/products.asp?cat=8

Excellent work SAMA!!

cheers fella.

love your car btw, especially the rear end zeemax stuff. You got some more pics somewhere?

looking good..where did the AC controls go?

friggn sweet

So this powers your climate control and such, along with a full blown touch-screen pc?

cheers fella.

love your car btw, especially the rear end zeemax stuff. You got some more pics somewhere?

Thanks!!! I had lots of pics but lost them when the pc crashed. I will be taking more pics once I finally decide to put it up for sale online.

Hi Sam, do you have connectivity sorted for your car pc? What about a 3G/HSDPA usb modem? Most areas of the UK will get 1 to 2mbs.

looking good..where did the AC controls go?

They are here temporarily:

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1028.JPG

But will be moved here soon. however... (read next reply)

*image is currently TallTony's pioneering work. I'm getting one made for me also.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x74/BigTvProductions/P180208_1421.jpg

So this powers your climate control and such, along with a full blown touch-screen pc?

yep, eventually. here's the thread on that:

http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7596

I'm currently reverse engineering the HVAC unit:

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_4312.JPG

Hi Sam, do you have connectivity sorted for your car pc? What about a 3G/HSDPA usb modem? Most areas of the UK will get 1 to 2mbs.

yep, will be using my phone in the start, since it supports HSUPA. But I wll get a USB 3 card, at 10/month for unlimited access. Then I can have google earth live, traffic updates, internet should I need it (dangerous when driving!)





thanks to all for the nice comments :)

Sama! In TT's center cosole, Is that a USB port also?

yep

Sam, who are you getting unlimited data for £10 a month from?

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/commerce/servlet/gben-server-PageServer?article=MAIN.UK.INTERNET.STATIC.USBMODE M

no such thing as unlimited really. There's a £100 from 3 that doesn't look like it has a cap. It can only get cheaper soon, it has been dropping and lots of providers are competing now.


I use T-mobile on my laptop and pay 20/month for 3gb

So Sama, what software are you planning on running on it to manage the overall interface? Are you just going to use it like a regular PC running Windows, will you use Media Center as the front end?

I assume you're going to use that system to drive the audio in the car as well... have plans laid out for how you see that working?

So I haven't been to the forums in quite a while now but came across you nice project here. I'm an IT guy and am really interested in doing this now. I might have to copy your project. You have done a very nice job. That's looks good and is such an awesome idea.

I can see it now!

Sorry officer, I didn't know I was speeding, I just got a "blue screen"!!

In all seriousness, on of the ways to keep the E31 on the road long after BMW decides to NLA all those electronic modules would be to develop an interface to the various pieces and let a PC be the master, At least it would be "software" controlled instead of NLA hardware!

I am also sure that a private effort would be much more enjoyable then IDrive!

Great work, keep us informed!

thanks a lot guys.

@csshiftlet - yep, this is a known domain and many many front ends exist. www.mp3car.com (http://www.mp3car.com) and www.digital-car.co.uk (http://www.digital-car.co.uk) are community websites dedicated to carpc's, and here are a couple of examples of front ends that allow you to control the pc whilst driving. Here's a skin by enforcer called iDrive (for obvious reasons) and it's driven by the RoadRunner front end.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/attachments/rr-skins/36976d1163178013-idrive-2-20-release-audio.jpg

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/attachments/rr-skins/36977d1163178047-idrive-2-20-release-freedrive.jpg

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/attachments/rr-skins/42988d1182636783-idrive-2-20-release-menu_off.jpg

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/attachments/rr-skins/36979d1163178141-idrive-2-20-release-phoco.jpg

@840boy - hope you do, and it would be great to have more people on board, expanding on ideas. TallTony over at www.clube31.net and www.digital-car.co.uk has also done some pioneering work with the screen and HVACs etc. worth having a look

@MWrench on my E39, I had this wired up to the ibus and could do various things, of most use/interest was the steering wheel controls and being able to talk to the MID to display info. There's no reason why anything can't be plugged in, as long as the correct protocols are used. There are OBD/II interfaces around that would allow you to hook in. As I understand, a laptop + BMW software can allow you to do wonders, and this is no different than a laptop, so the same software can be installed.



there are so many things you can do with a carpc in a car, depending on your walk of life.

Alicia Keys? :shifty

don't shoot the messenger!

Some of TallTony's work updates. lovely!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x74/BigTvProductions/P290208_150301Medium.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x74/BigTvProductions/P290208_145901Medium.jpg


http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x74/BigTvProductions/P290208_1459Medium.jpg

Nice Sama... I wasn't aware such software existed. Very interesting... :awink

Greetings everyone, I am the 'TallTony' from clube31, and just thought I'd post in here for the first time.... I'd previously registered as TonyUK840, but I am still Tall.. !

Sama has helped a lot with my project, and hopefully I've inspired him in some areas. Hope you like both installs in their current state of completions.....

Cheers,
Tony

aha, he shows!

sama, please tell me when you are ready to sell a kit of this to me. Would be handy for me when travelling in your beautiful- but hard to navigate in -contry
All The Best and have a nice weekend
Bror

Alicia Keys? :shiftyYou'd have to own a 8 to enjoy her mellow music. :D

Sama, when you talk to Tony next tell him to check his PM box at clube31 and get back to me please. I want his springs! Cheers

IT'S ALLIIIVVEEEEE!!!!

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1054.JPG

http://www.imprint-aa.com/Mputer/IMG_1056.JPG


@broraxelson - hehe, but seriously, I can make one for you if you want. pm me

@rcrad - I will dude

Damn that is nice!!

You'd have to own a 8 to enjoy her mellow music. :D

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh114/e30xproject/bfc%20remarks/bigshifty.gif:(

Found it

Wow that's really nice! Love the OEM look. There's a couple of nice car PC set ups over on the Astra Owners Club website (where I came over from) but yours looks so OE it's unbelievable! Top job!

On another note: Is there a reason you put the check control there and are relocating the air-con controls. It looks fine and everything, I just think I would've done it the other way round (ie. check control in the centre console).

Steve :)

Just realised... the answer to my question is probably that the OBC is too deep to go in the centre console.