(in case you don't get the matroshka reference, that's the name for those Russian dolls that fit inside each other - thanks for the correction BigMiniAl!)

As some of you may already know, at one point I had planned to retrofit the OEM navigation system into my mini. The more I researched, the more it looked like a lot of work for a somewhat mediocre upgrade (to be fair, the OEM setup is more than decent, but even so it didn't seem worth the trouble).

I quickly decided I would go the car PC route. I still wanted that OEM look, so I set down the path of building a car PC that would look more or less indistinguishable from a standard Mini that just happened to have the nav option. Today I can finally share the fruits of my labor!

Also, check out more photos and details here: http://www.mp3car.com/show-off-your-...ed-photos.html

I present to you, a Mac Mini within a Mini:

 

I forgot to mention that I'm also working on a custom Centrafuse skin that will match the dash lighting and general look. I'll be making that available for anyone else that might be thinking about going this route. Also feel free to pick my brain if you're considering a similar project and I'll do my best to help!

 

Well done! That's probably the cleanest non-OEM nav setup, with the benefit of having a car PC as well.

 

That's astounding!

 

LOL - you used a Mac Mini to run Windows in your MINI? Crazy! And looks amazing. I want a hidden compartment under my dash trim!

 

Very nice!

 

Pretty cool install but actually "babushka" just means grandma. The word you are looking for is "matroshka".

 

I always though that babushka was an old woman. but I will trust Alan because he is Russian and speaks the language.

Why run Windows on the Mac MINI??

 

Why put a Mini in a MINI? Because you can.

 

That's an ambitious project, very cool.

 

Wilco,

Great job. I personally used an AOpen computer of the exact same size as the Mac Mini and in the same location.

You obviously left the clear face plate off the speedo unit so that you can use the touch screen. how well does that work for the speedo needle.

 

Wow - crazy ambitious project! Very cool! Okay - maybe this is a stupid question... I can see having a program automatically launch at startup, but how do you launch anything else if the "Start" button is buried down in the bottom left beneath the speedo?

 

@BigMiniAl Thanks for clearing that up. I tried to figure out if "Babushka" was correct, but it seems the interwebs failed me.

@schatzy62 Actually, the one I used didn't have a faceplate that covered the entire thing. Instead it was just a plastic ring that was limited to the speedometer. In fact, when I removed the original nav screen, I basically had the world's most expensive plastic doughnut.

 

Actually, my decision to run Windows was based purely on the available software and hardware support. I do have it set up to dual-boot, so I can always switch to OS X with a quick reboot. Unfortunately, there just isn't a suitable solution as elegant as Centrafuse for OS X, nor does OS X support all the hardware/peripherals that I'm using.

Hopefully in time that will change, but for now I had to stick with what would give me the most flexibility. Being a software developer, and a recent Mac convert, I'm hoping that in time I'll be able to rig something up myself that will do the trick.

 

Amazing!!! Hey you're just 2 states above me. Maybe sometime I'm tmhe future you can install one on my MINI.

 

Man, I've been on this site for years and don't remember such a clean and smart radio/CarPC mod ! I want to do the same ! Got an old Mac Mini and a dremmel :-D

Could you please post the list of the components that you needed, especially all the OEM pieces like the Nav speedo ring ?

Thanks!

 

I'd be happy to. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I'll try and gather up all the part numbers and post them up tonight. There should only be a couple (I believe the speedo itself is available fully assembled).

 

sickkkk

 

I was at the dealer the other day, and asked about retrofitting that type of speedo into my 2009 MCS, and the mechanic told me it could not be done. I told him someone on the NAM forum had done it. He said the speedo would not work, as they are programmed for the car they came with, and if I saw one used not to buy it.

I KNOW you made this work!!!!