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So, Ever since i bought the MINI I was flurting with the idea of a computer with a 7inch LCD screen in the car. I had also done this previously in my 330Ci last summer. Now it was time for the MINI, I did a search and saw some ways fellow MINI owners did it. So i decided to take a different approach. All though I didnt have the auto climate control this project was going to be a little harder and time consuming. I wanted to shift the whole audio, toggle switch and climate down wards to make alot of room uptop for my screen.
So, with the help of my friend Andrew and his handy Dremel. We got to work...
This is the part where we Completely demoed everything and up up all the plastic. and shifted the entire climate control about 3-4 inches downwards. Drilled some holes and plunked it right in there... PERFECT!
Alright, so the first picture is the rough part that we have created in house the new 7inch Xenarc Monitor. The rest of the pictures are with the monitor in and the computer all plugged up (GATEWAY 3520GZ Laptop with Centrino) which was installed in the back next to my Sub and amp.
For the side where the big open space was, we cut out a thin peice of MDF and wrapped in with black felt and screwed it into place. My car is still alittle dirty after the install, but I didnt get a chance to clean it yet.
So i have my computer wired up.
Installed the AUX, so i can play DVD,s and Audio from the computer, and i have the Gyration wireless mouse and laptop size keyboard hooked up. Im going to get the wireless broadband now by Verizon wireless and see how that works out for me.
are you going to write a how to?
really intrested, i wanted to install a 2din hu in my mini,
keep up the good work
Thanks. At this point, since i just did this it would be quite difficult to do a write up. Just because this was all impravised, but me and my friend will sit down and maybe fabricate something to that it could be easly installed by anyone with a few minor cuts here and there and just put in our peice and install your toggles, head unit and A/C. ill try and write up sometime this week tho.
That is quite awesome. From the looks of the screenshots, its running WindowsXP. What other software are you using? Do you have a GPS module hooked up to it? What about navigations software. Is the laptop installed perminatly or is it easily removable so you can take it with you?
I'm trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to do for my carputer project and this was a great insight into the physical aspect of modding the car.
From where did you get the LCD? Do you have any other ideas for computer control? Seems to me like it will be mighty difficult to use the computer (music, directions, etc) while driving, what are your plans for that?
That is quite awesome. From the looks of the screenshots, its running WindowsXP. What other software are you using? Do you have a GPS module hooked up to it? What about navigations software. Is the laptop installed perminatly or is it easily removable so you can take it with you?
I'm trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to do for my carputer project and this was a great insight into the physical aspect of modding the car.
From where did you get the LCD? Do you have any other ideas for computer control? Seems to me like it will be mighty difficult to use the computer (music, directions, etc) while driving, what are your plans for that?
Yep, i am running windows XP, and DVD software for DVD's and windows media player. I dont have any GPS hooked up yet, I have to do some home work to see what is avaliable for PC's. The laptop is removeable fairly easy so if i need it i just take it out from the rear. I bought my monitor last year from a local shop here in NJ. Its not hard to switch things with the wireless keyboard while im driving, it has all the buttons for play/stop back/next volume mute, but one i get the touch screen thats the 7 inch xenarc also. The only difference is one has a USB interface on the back of the monitor for the touch screen. So once i get that ill just swap them out.
I've been thinking of doing a similar thing for a while.. just don't have the time to play with it. The way I was/am going to do it is slightly different - I'm planning on getting rid of the headunit, and connecting the PC upto the iBus, which can then read the pushes of the MFSW, connecting up the PC to the HK system (using the HK enabler probarbly... unless I get time to do the research GBMini did to replicate the iBus signals the headunit sends)... basically replacing the whole stock "entertainment system" with a system that runs totally as part of the car.
This is the only thing I regret about not getting the Sat Nav system - having the screen so available for anything.
I've been thinking of doing a similar thing for a while.. just don't have the time to play with it. The way I was/am going to do it is slightly different - I'm planning on getting rid of the headunit, and connecting the PC upto the iBus, which can then read the pushes of the MFSW, connecting up the PC to the HK system (using the HK enabler probarbly... unless I get time to do the research GBMini did to replicate the iBus signals the headunit sends)... basically replacing the whole stock "entertainment system" with a system that runs totally as part of the car.
This is the only thing I regret about not getting the Sat Nav system - having the screen so available for anything.
Hmm, yea that would be pretty interesting. But get a touch screen for that. I just wasnt in favor or getting rid of the HU, cause i still use it and its convinient. Post when you startyour project tho im curious to see how it comes out.
truely amazing. as soon as I part with the money for a second glovebox and a touchscreen LCD I am going to put my Mac Mini in with one of the shorthand keyboards. DAmn money come in faster!!!!
Personally I think Destinator is the best - and you can get a program that uses its maps, and is totally customisable - its called Map Monkey. Try that
Great job. I was also wanting to do this. Thank you for pioneering the way. If you get the mod kit built for sale let us know.
drewffff
yep, i need to get somethign manufactured, it would be hard for a plug and play option tho.. ill see how much it costs me to get this put together... I will be contacting Xenarc to see what their thoughts are in the proccess and seeing if i can use their 7 inch touch screen monitors which are very reliable and connect fairly easy.
if i can get enough people to get interested i might get the whole set up with a 7 inch touch screen, so all u have to do is take out the HU and A/C and toggeles and just plug everything up..
Start a list and ill see if i can get something on the market.
Why did you place the CD player at the bottom of the stack?
The CD player (loading slot) appears almost non-accessible directly in front of the shifter. Seems from an ergonomic perspective that it would have been more usable if it was directly below the LCD. Is there a depth issue from another component that fell into play?
Visually I think it would be more appealing if you painted the trim of the LCD to match the CD Player, HVAC controls, and the Console Switches and left the downtubes the original color.
What material did you use to fill the area between the section of downtubes you trimmed out and the edge of the LCD?
Great work! Have you tackled such dash modification before? Could you return the stock to dash if you replaced the downtubes?
