carpc in BMW
 

Hi chaps...
Ok, this is what I want to do..
I have an old laptop knocking around and am going to connect it to my e46, I know about cnnecting it to the i-bus but want to know the following>>>
Where can I pick up a stereo connection in my car (I have read everywhere that it's mono)
I have also read that people have used the tape option on their factory sat nav (I don't have tape, I only have CD)
If it's possable to connect to the AV (I can't see any reason why not), how does the computer know not to scroll through the menu's on carx before I have selected AVI (if that makes sence)
THanks in advance

ASH

If you want to use carX then you should connect it to the tape or cd in your case, there is no way for you to control pc from you car if you use AV channel.
Read full carx instructions and you will understand how and why

I have a factory screen (with CD built into it) but I want to ideally keep the CD so I can play a CD aswell as install CAR-X..
Is this possable? (I have TV in motion if that makes a diffrence)
Thanks in advance
ASH

Car PC with CarX is connected to the RearviewCamera input, the i-bus command (when swithcing to tape) is going to togle the system to switch to RV Cam imput and you will get CarX Menu on screen. Now when turning the knob you can control CarX.
I am not sure, but it should be possible to hook the CarPC with CarX instead of the CD changer witch i guess that you dont have.

Anyways the answer is NO, if you chouse CarX then CD/Tape got to go or CD Changer.

No, I don't have a CD changer, so that would be perfect..

You wil nead something like this
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=345
or
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=630

so the charger menu is activated and you will get sound trough the adapter.
Then you will have to look for a specific i-bus message when you switch to the charger, so it will give signal to CarX to switch to RV camera input
Theoreticly it is possible, however i dont know of anyone that did it.
Maybe you should try talking to Kiwi he if anyone knows how i-bus works and what the possibility of doing this is

I got a DICE silverline kit which works with ipods/iphone and it has a AUX in port for my car PC project. You need to get the Ibus interface from Resler then you could control Carx with factory knobs. BUT, I think the location of that scrolling knob is not ideal for controling media when driving. I am going for the iDrive style 3D mouse that will sit nicely inside the cup holder.

I have the resler's interface and it's very clever..

I am looking into this and getting very excited... (can't wait till I get some more money...

I was thinking about doing this a few months back but didn't think I'd get enough use to go through all the hassle in the end.

But anyway, from what I've read it switches over to CarPC mode when you switch to Tape mode on the head unit, correct? So can you not change a setting in CarX to switch when going to Aux mode? You can buy/make your own Aux In cable then and have stereo sound... Get to keep all your current bits and pieces then...

I was in my local electrical store the other day and noticed the Acer L3600. It caught my eye because it was so tiny... not much bigger than a laptop ut fully packed. Pretty good spec plus it had soundcard, tv tuner, fm tuner and vga out all built in and only about £400... thought it would be awesome for a CarPC project... man I'm sad :(

CarPC
 

Currently have a CarPC in my 330 (2001). Been working well with CarX. Only thing that I have done with it is upgrade the PS. Still have a tank battery connected though. The PC is connected to a Video module which I purchased a few years ago and using the Ibus interface from Resler. I mapped out the NAV radio controls for AUX and is working well. (haven't played with it in a while). PC is a mini-itx. Plays MP3's and videos (DiVx) with no jitter. I like CarX in that its a no frills basic interface which works well with the ITX board. I can post my INI file if anyone is interested. I have it currently set up to come up with AUX mode. Currently working on a CarPC for my X3. Finished the PC part. Ended up purchasing two. One very small footprint MiniPC (6"X6" size) and a larger setup in a VoomPC2 enclosure. Both of these are higher HP PC's with larger HD's/dual core CPU's. Did the basics on the X3 (already has NAV). Used a 3rd party video module and tapped it into the NAV video. Picture quality is nice. Finished the AUX port installation. My next step is to get the AUX audio to the rear of the vehicle. Thinking of using the CD-Changer cables for this doing a pin for pin from the front of the vehicle to the center console then to the rear of the vehicle. Its only three wires and I don't have to rip the car apart to pass the wires to the rear of the vehicle. Will post a picture of the 330XI setup.

hey peter, do you tink that is posible for you to upload som pic of your setup?

Here are some pictures of the 330XI. Will post some of the X-3 work in progress.

Picture-2 - CarPC in Trunk

Picture-3 - Combo Bluetooth & Wireless USB dongle/antenna

Picture-4 - 16:9 display (updated) running CarX CarPC application

Picture-5 - Back of CarPC

Picture-6 - Angel Eyes

Picture-7 AUX & Rear Hatch release installed in X-3. Same AUX port will be utilized for CarPC in rear of X3.

Picture-8 - Wiring AUX port in X-3

Picture-9 - GNET video module in left rear space area of X-3. This is where the small CarPC is going to be installed. Will update posts with more pictures once the CarPC is installed.

very nice:thumbup: :wow:

IBUS Interface for X3
 

Just finished "building" my IBUS interface for the X3. It will be connected to the Sirius IBUS interface.
Pic-1

Final X3 CarPC connections
 

Finished wiring/mounting G-NET video module (moved it from previously placed location) and IBUS Resler Interface. The G-Net module is mounted via two brackets to a BMW metal horizontal bracket which goes almost behind the main amplifier. I took apart the entire assembly before mounting the G-Net module. I initially removed the GPS Nav unit and left the Sirius radio unit in place. There are 4 bolts and 1 nut holding the assembly in place. Tested connectivity to IBUS. All OK except for my trimming around the USB connection (a bit sloppy) One thing to note, as I had forgot this regarding the 330XI CarPC endeavor. The 12VDC connection to the IBUS Resler interface has to be disconnected as it will cause some issues with the rest of the devices you have on the IBUS. The interface will draw its power from the PC USB interface and work fine with that. Attached are a couple of pictures.

CarPCs to Test
 

Attached are a couple of PC's which I will be testing. A third one is just a micro ITX running a "D" Pentium 3.X processor. I have not installed it in a case yet and not sure if I want to use it. I purchased it because of its size and SVIDEO/RCA video output.

CarPCs to Test - 2
 

This PC is a 6 X 6 inch dual core processor - 1 GIG memory - 180 Meg HD. (MAC like but running XP). It has a ASTC tuner (via mini PCI card), S-Video, RCA video and slot loading DVD/CD RW drive. Monitoring temperatures on it and it appears to get somewhat warm. Very tight insides. This PC though would mount under the NAV computer with no issues. The VROOM case CarPC would have to be mounted outside either on the main deck or the removable panel. I purchased a second panel to mount this PC and use quick disconnects to replace the panel with regular panel.

My first test is with a low powered motherboard.
Runs pretty quick for XP SP3. Seems to be designed for being a CarPC. Video - Audio are quick. I like the additional PCMCIA amd CF memory options for additional media.

Processor
Model : VIA Samuel 2
Speed : 600MHz
Performance Rating : PR540 (estimated)
Type : Standard
L2 On-board Cache : 64kB Synchronous, Write-Back, 4-way set, 32 byte line size

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI CardBus USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Support : No
MP APIC : No
System BIOS : Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG
System : VIA Technologies, Inc. CLE266-8235
Mainboard : EPIA-M
Total Memory : 992MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : VIA Technologies Inc VT8623 Apollo CLE266 CastleRock CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 1x 133MHz (133MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1GB DDR-SDRAM
Shared Memory : 32MB
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 133MHz (266MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Digital Flat Panel (800x600)
Monitor/Panel : Generic Television
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : VIA/S3G CLE266

Physical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : WDC WD800VE-00KWT0 (75GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : TOSHIBA CDW/DVD SDR2612C (CD 24X Rd, 24X Wr) (DVD 3X Rd)

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller (WDM)

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)

Network Services
Adapter : VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter

Tested some new software called CarMedia - It is a basic no frills interface similar to CarX. One of the features was a plug n play IBUS module. The application found the IBUS interface and provided the choices for use (AUX, CD Changer, tape, etc). Once configured for AUX worked and very similar to CarX but without the video media player.

Because of the size of the VROOMII case I will not be able to fit it inside and below the NAV/Sirius unit. I ordered a second cover which I was going to modify with quick disconnects so that the CarPC could be installed on it with reinforced brackets. I found an Ignition on only power feed (which I am using for the Video GNET interface) and only have to feed power directly (fused of course) from the battery. Another feasible location is under the floor cover adjacent to the battery. This would present an issue though of lack of ventilation.

Nice setup, pete. :thumbup:

Low budget version in my E39 Touring; Works fine though.....

Tobmag, How did you connect your PC video to the Video on your E39? Are you using the NAV screen or did you use a separate LCD?

Hi Pete.

I'm using the origional 16*9 screen up in the front,TV out from the grafics card, also running with CarX over AUX sound. I-Bus inteface according to the drawing in NavCoder file.
Shut down controller (the one on the inside of the lid) comes from Mp3Car shop.

//Tobmag

Bringing AUX audio from front to back of X3
 

Thought I would write (will take pictures) of my efforts to bring AUX input from the front to the rear of the vehicle. The easy way (maybe?) would have been to run a cable from the glove box to the drivers side rear where electronics are. Instead I am planning on: (hoping this this will work)

1 - making two cables - one with a female mini stereo plug and one with a male mini stereo plug.
2 - connecting the leads of the front cable to the AUX jack. This would happen in the glove box. The three leads would be connected (with pins) to the CD changer cable connector sitting behind the HU unit.
3 - interconnecting the two CD Changer cables sitting in the center console. Only three connections will be necessary. If I am correct with the assumption that one cable goes to the rear of the vehicle and one goes behind the HU.
4 - connecting the leads of the rear cable to the CD changer cable which is sitting right next to the Sirius Box. I believe its purpose is the the CD changer in the center console.

I am lucky that I have both sets of CD changer cables already there. Not sure is this is standard with all of the E83's.

I have completed the wiring for the CarPC. I took a 15 foot stereo cable with a stereo jacks on each end and removed the AUX connection in the glove box. (BTW - its kind of a badly designed location per BMW mounting instructions). Connected one side of the stereo jack above the glove box. The glove box is easy to remove. There are three screws on the top, two in the back of the glove box and two on either side. The left side screw is a bit difficult because its very close to the hinge. Once loose the glove box comes out. Be carefull removing it in that you have the power wires for the flashlight, glove box light and myself I have the rear trunk release wires. Once I have the glove box off I could run the stereo cable near the top and parallel the fused panel wire cluster. I took the wire down the side and pushed it underneath the door floor edge trim until I got to the rear seat. Once there tie wrapped it to a bundle of wires going to the battery area. I used a short piece of wire to fish it to the opening in front of the battery. While I was by the battery I also cabled a 12 gauage red and black wire for CarPC power. I am now in the process of mounting the CarPC to the drivers side rear Navigation, Siruis, Bluetooth, GNet, Amplifier, IBUS adapter area. I purchase another cover so that I could remove the cover attached to the CarPC and put the spare cover on. I made an easy to remove jack which holds the power, ignition power and negative voltage. The other wires for the CarPC will be an audio cable (one pulled), USB cable (for IBUS), power cable and video cable to the GNET module. Took a while becaue I didn't know what it would take to bring aux to the rear section of the vehicle.
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