[cstavaru]

Originally Posted by Treppiede

Interesting. Assuming you'd intercept the sensors and still see a benefit in having a CarPC run the show, you could bypass the boot-time/speed/stability issues by running some flavor of BSD with heavily slimmed kernel on SSD... now that would be a sweet setup, but the cost of SSD would significantly raise the price...

I am not sure about the tuning aspect of a project like this, but the multimedia/iDrive benefits are worth the efforts IMO. I would love to customize the iDrive and would be willing to invest in the above hardware if I'd be able to:

• Visualize my own sensors for engine monitoring purposes
• Watch DVDs while driving
• Do the CD-MP3 encoding with my own format preferences and choose target for saving and playback
• Add my own codecs so I can watch DiVX/XViD-encoded movies (5-7 movied would fit on a Data DVD)
• Offer an alternate NAV option that uses the Google Maps API and updates points of interest/local businesses etc using your phone (see below)
• Android integration(!)... the NexusOne is an amazing little unit and will soon get a car dock. iDrive integration/updates via 3G would rock.
• Add Bluetooth if your car doesn't have it
• ...much more

All of the above should have an iDrive feel and be offered as additional menu options.

I've been thinking about this for a while, as I said in another thread... I'd love to have the time to tinker with this and see how it all works to gauge feasibility.

Thoughts? Thank you for the info cstavaru, this module seems worth looking into!

-Walter

Everything here can be done assuming you install the ACM module and connect a car pc. The module installation instructions even place a video/audio input in the trunk, exactly where I will fit the pc, so everything will fit nicely. If you fit a Mac Mini, I see no problems playing whatever you want. I will personally fit an industrial-grade enclosure without a DVD slot.

Playing video while driving is also simple: the installation instructions mention a wire that should not be connected if the country does not have restrictions about playback while driving (I will ask the installers to do this).

Oh, and how about having a Bluetooth/3G dongle attached to the PC and keeping a Logitech DiNovo Mini keyboard/touchpad in the glove box for easy access/browsing (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/ke.../3848&cl=us,en)

But my first application will be a boost gauge on the iDrive screen. And then I'll continue from there...

[chris b.]

very interesting.

[alextremo]

Originally Posted by scalbert

I would definitely like to see data but IMO, the control is better left to a dedicated CPU but with COMs to a unit which can display data on the iDrive screen.

Hey Walter, we could start with my PROcede car, especially since it has CAN data already and adapt to others.

+1 on the display only...

Let me know if you guys do this and what the costs are. I'm guessing it will need coding from BMW, so not just a PnP type install.

[cstavaru]

Originally Posted by alextremo

+1 on the display only...

Let me know if you guys do this and what the costs are. I'm guessing it will need coding from BMW, so not just a PnP type install.

It only needs coding if you don't have the AUX audio input option on the car. If the AUX option is present, no coding is required and a DIY is possible. Otherwise AUX coding and retrofitting is necessary. But in a DIY a lot of interior trim must be taken out in order to route all the cables in the correct way.

[335Caliber]

can you also watch Spongebob square pants on that device??

[klipseracer]

This would only work for visualization as scalbert is saying.

Piggy backs if i'm understanding them intercept all signals coming from the car and emulates the ecu and gives the ecu dummy signals or something to that effect. You can't change the programming inside the ecu from the canbus. People think the canbus is like the magical connection to the cars inner secrets. Its just a network for the cars electronics. Just because I plug a headphone jack from the back of my computer into my discman doesn't mean I can make it play 8 tracks.

[topcat87]

wow sounds to me like jb3 is some 20 cents a piece retro microcontroller

[JoeyFiasco]

Originally Posted by klipseracer

This would only work for visualization as scalbert is saying.

Piggy backs if i'm understanding them intercept all signals coming from the car and emulates the ecu and gives the ecu dummy signals or something to that effect. You can't change the programming inside the ecu from the canbus. People think the canbus is like the magical connection to the cars inner secrets. Its just a network for the cars electronics. Just because I plug a headphone jack from the back of my computer into my discman doesn't mean I can make it play 8 tracks.

+1

I tried to explain this before(not that i'm an engineer by anymeans), there's a similar thread about computer gauges and one of the posters thinks he can modify the OBDII signal to get the right info and sampling rate.

[Dr_Dirt]

Originally Posted by JoeyFiasco

+1

I tried to explain this before(not that i'm an engineer by anymeans), there's a similar thread about computer gauges and one of the posters thinks he can modify the OBDII signal to get the right info and sampling rate.

Shiv has demonstrated that you can put data on the bus with his on dash boost display. I would call that modifying the obdii signal to some extent.
Obviously reprogramming the ecu via the obdii port is possible since dinan and others do it. Now reprogramming a new page into the idrive to display gauges requires more knowledge than just adjusting a fuel map.
It seems feasible for someone to do this that is familiar with this type of programming.

[JoeyFiasco]

Originally Posted by Dr_Dirt

Shiv has demonstrated that you can put data on the bus with his on dash boost display. I would call that modifying the obdii signal to some extent.
Obviously reprogramming the ecu via the obdii port is possible since dinan and others do it. Now reprogramming a new page into the idrive to display gauges requires more knowledge than just adjusting a fuel map.
It seems feasible for someone to do this that is familiar with this type of programming.

yes, but even he said that solution is not optimal and takes a good chunk of bandwidth from the bus (i'll have to reread it to make sure). I was talking more from a piggyback point of view where signals are intercepted and changed before they reach the DME.