theklassic

we finished up this little project a few weeks ago and i thought you guys might like to see the end result. big props to my brother, who without him, there would be no way this would've been done. thanks also goes to ITL, moahdib, and the acurazine and mp3car guys. --- thanks!


now on to the details...


hardware:

shuttle XPC (2400XP, 120gig HD, DVD combo drive)
OPUS shutdown/startup controller
xenarc 7" touch screen display
USB GPS antenna (navi)
P.I.E. X3 (audio tap)
bluetooth adapter (for internet access through mobile)
ione wireless keyboard/mouse combo
blue LED external usb hub (hidden in center console)
amp wiring kit and various other electrical supplies, switches, and cables


software:

windows xp pro
roadrunner frontend
MC2.0 skin
winamp w/ vis
iguidance
lots of hacks, tweaks, and OS edits


basic process:

hack apart dash
move original LCD down (involves extending 44 wires, and some minor fabrication)
fit touch screen (dremel work)
run wires (battery, ground, ignition, switches, sound, video, and misc)
test
reassemble
and test


cost:

approximate total cost (minus the computer): $800
approximate time to completion: 20 hours


features:

navigation
audio (about 80 gigs worth of mp3s)
video (DVDs, MPGs, etc etc)
games (various emulators; N64, SNES, GB, GENSIS, MAME)
internet (city events, movie times, restaurants, streaming music, etc, etc)


pics:


Project car: 2005 TL - Non-Navi



Stock Dash Layout



Objective: Move stock display into the lower storage compartment, integrate aftermarket touch screen into dash



HVAC controls, storage compartments, and center console removed



Audio tapped (via P.I.E solution), wires extended to trunk and center console



Xenarc 7in TSV monitor along side stock LCD bezel, cut, sanded, and repainted



Practice fitting with HVAC and headunit wires extended



Lower console with compartments removed and original LCD w/ main board set in place



Xenarc display mounted



Back together again...



Booting upon ignition



Software: RoadRunner w/ MC2.0 skin (Frontend), iGuidance w/ IGmod (navigation), and Winamp w/ Milkdrop



iGuidance embedded into frontend



Original HVAC/Radio display moved to lower compartment



Alternate angle



Center console: External 4-port USB hub, aux audio input, and toggle switch to shutdown computer when not needed



Full view



Milkdrop visualization



Frontend's main screen



Frontend's audio screen



upcoming:

TacoBellSauce

GODDAMN THATS HOT
do u have any pics of the computer?
do u have to manually shut it down before turning the car off?
awesome job fabricating

theklassic

taco, here you go:



its not much to look at right now, but i plan on making a psuedo sub enclosure for it using a speaker grill for ventilation. i got the carpet, grill, and the clips, just need the time.

we're working on a couple other things right now, most importantly, an RSX-S install - almost done.

oh yeah, and the computer is wired into the ignition with a startup shutdown controller, so it will automatically start up when the car starts, and automatically shutdown after 10 seconds when the car is turned off.

AcuraTL06

Nicely done. Looks good.

Where did you get that wallpaper?

triton3k

looks hot. Now you got me wanting to do that mod. I've been debating on what to do with my non-navi and this might be a good route if I cant find the necessary parts for a stock navi.

Sclass88

Very Impressive.

I think you are the second guy on the TL board who has done this, if I'm not mistaken. Props to you guys for having the guts to even attempt this.

theklassic

from acura.com of all places. they have some pretty decent updated images for 06.

socal16

That is tight! I like how you moved the stock display to the lower compartment. Definitely looks hard to do though, but well worth it.

maluskills

Awesome install...very smooth
Where are you located?

theklassic

just updated the profile, i'm in rockville, MD.

and thanks for the comments guys, i don't think i could've been more happy with the way this install turned out. i think the non-navi people out there in need of something a bit more should definitely research this route. its slightly time intensive and you definitely need some basic electronics skills, but the end result is worth it.

Toyangel

very nice bro! 10+++

bluenoise

Very nicely done! If I didn't have Navi, I'd be contacting you for guidance on doing my own setup.

your_mom

Clean. I love how well everything is integrated into the dash.

Acura should have offered this from the factory in the first place. I would've sprung for a carputer like that, but the Navi seemed like a waste of money since all it does is navigate.

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

awesome! (again! ) now show me that RSX!!!!!

bluenoise

And quite a bit more, but you already knew that.

theklassic

yeah navi is a lot of coin, but acura does make one of the best systems. i personally, don't travel much outside of my usual routes, home, work, nightlife, etc, so i don't really have much use for it, and at ~$2000 it was a turn off (rims instead!!!)... navi, in my setup was more of a bonus feature. i'm a music nut, winamp and a hard drive filled with all my tunes is all i need to go.

i do agree though, that with all the tech know how honda/acura has, a carputer would be something they could definitely streamline for the public. i'm thinking windows CE or the like. something user friendly and integrated from the start.

and why not?
if a small group of car geeks can do it almost right, then what're we waiting on?

theklassic

ha. i'll wait for my brother to chime in here with his pics. he was working out some bugs in his carputer setup earlier tonight. btw. i think we've met... you drive a blue 2nd gen TL, yeah? if you do, then you definitely know my brother.

toytoy

WOW....just amazing. I was thinking to purchase Eclipse AVN 5495 system, after seen what you have done to your lovely TL, i have changed my mind TOTALLY. I need more detail about those parts and installations. Thanks.

VtecMW

Absolutely beautiful. Very clean install. I'd love to have something like that!

saturated_fat

I think it looks gay, Like your FACE!

My RSX install is better than yours, damn right its better than yours. I could teach you but I have to charge...Oh wait you owe me money !


Teaser:

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

Cyph3r

Kickass install! If I didn't have the in-built NAVI, the time and knowledge I'd do this too..

But, is it just me, or do I see CD-TEXT appearing on your radio display??

Regards

theklassic

nawh, i wish. its just the XM titles popping up. to get sound from the PC/IPOD i installed the P.I.E. X3 device which taps into the XM port. it toggles between 3 inputs when in XM mode. it's pretty sweet, the down side is that you still see the XM display up. no biggie though.

theklassic

wow. whoever made that bezel and computer box for you must have some insane skills. i think you should pay him more rent this month. i think he would like that, whoever he maybe.

moahdib

Truly awesome install =)
I am very proud to see you guys taking this to the next level after I pioneered this idea.
Its a lot of work but its by far the best mod you can do.

BTW (coming soon) : I am working on moving the stock HVAC lcd "elsewhere" and adding a 2nd LCD in the lower compartment... 2 xenarcs baby! I can have one dedicated for GPS, and another for music, videos, etc...

tejesh83

Very impressive install. Its looks right at home in the TL dash.

Everytime I see a TL carpc, I get inspired to start my own project.

It may sound silly, but when I was deciding on what vehicle to purchase, I actually considered how well I could integrate a carpc. In my last car, 03 Infiniti Qx4, I did a similar install. Its pretty awesome to have all your music at your fingertips and easily browsable through the touchscreen. Navigation, wireless internet, etc are all great, but the music interface is what I think makes it really special.

When I test drove the TL, I was very impressed with how well the stock navi integrated with the car. The only thing the system really lacked that I wanted was a good mp3 solution, but Acura was promising music link. So, I went with the Navi and waited for the music link release.

Well I personally think music link was a flop. The interface is pretty lame. So, I am now reconsidering a carpc.

theklassic

this i gotta see! where would you put the stock display? where running out of room as it is already... cup holder compartment maybe?

theklassic

man, that QX install was pro! nice nice nice! sorry to hear about the wreck, but you have some great skills in the way of making stuff look OEM, you could, and should, go for another install on a 3rd gen.

i'm curious to see how you would handle the trunk and wire control. the QX4 was clean!

go for it!
collin

theklassic

heh. i don't think its just you, based on what i've read it's a flop by anyone's standards. i can't believe they released such a thing. considering that the stock navi and interface is so well put together its even more insulting!

i don't get it.

maluskills

I wish someone in the NY area was willing to do this carputer mod for us less technical folk

theklassic

the only question is whether or not you have the time...

you can definitely figure the rest out. plan well and you can do it. the hardest part is the most tedious part, and thats cutting and extending 44 wires. the rest lies in making stuff fit by chopping plastic and plexi - neither of which we had prior experience with.

it was a great learning project. i really don't think there's any single person on here that couldn't do this. check mp3car.com

getting someone else to do it for you though may set you back a few thousand. not good.

Meek32v6

iTrader: (7)

THis set up is real hot and clean. I saw in on MP3 last week. I've noticed alot of us MD/DC/VA folk have some nice rides and custom projects. I hope to see this in person at a near future meet
I want to do this but I still have some research to do...

ITL

Awesome install...I definitely feel your pain. After doing mine, I did an almost identical setup for a guy that drove to ATL from DC one weekend. After months and months of use, this thing gets better every day! How'd you hook up your "valet" power switch? I guess I need to update my thread on my install, now!

nope...third

moahdib, long time, no see....Any ideas as to where you'd put the oem? it just isn't enough to relocate it once, is it?

come to ATL

theklassic

Totally agree. I think I'm spoiled to the point that any of my future cars MUST have this setup.

As for the valet switch its just a simple two pole toggle switch that cuts the "ignition" wire going to the OPUS. We used the cigarette lighter +12v line that was right there and ran that to the PSU; switch off and PC shuts down, switch on and it boots back up. nothing as complicated as building a computer into a glove box from scratch and fabricating a cooling system.

ITL

lol...thanks for the props, man. I'm on my 5th carpc case for the glovebox, now. The latest one is simple, yet highly effective. It's a single piece of plexi bent into shape and properly directs the airflow most effeciently in the glovebox. I'm sure I'll come up with several more variations of it.

sangwl

amazing!!!!!!!!!

a couple questions for us noobs out there,

I'm planning on buying an aftermarket nav unit, but obviously would need to replace the non-navi screen.

now i love the idea of how you put the original non-navi screen into the lower half of the console where the two compartments are.

1. can you show us day time pics of how that screen fits flush to the center console? TTHANKs in advance.

secondly, you just showed me how i am going to do my install.
thank you.

sang

theklassic

i'm at work right now, but i'll get you some day light shots soon. here's the thing though. take a peek at the shot on the first page that shows the original LCD and main board behind the lower compartment/gear mount. you'll notice that it doesn't really fit flush with the opening.

that was one of the major issues i had with this install, i had to cut and paint a piece of plexi to fit just right over the LCD/compartment opening to hide that fact. you'll also need to mount the main board somehow behind that same piece. and before i forget (not sure if ITL has a better recommendation) but i had to cut the board itself of the HVAC controls --- scary i know --- but there's really no way to get it to fit right since the edges hit the top of the lower air vents that run down the center or the car.

i know this is hard to picture. sorry. but the basic gist is: trim main board, secure it to the back of lower console (epoxy/screws/etc), then cut and paint a piece to plexi to fit over the front.

maybe ITL and moadib can chime in with a better way?

ITL

I cut about 1/8" notch as mentioned above in the bottom corners of the board to fit snugly with the air vents. I'm actually using the screws from the storage compartments to secure the screen on the holes in the trim piece.

Acuraluvr

iTrader: (2)

wow.... awesome install on the TL..... you never said total cost including the computer... $$??

damn.... u willing to do that for someone else???

theklassic

i already had the computer lying aroundm (stole it from my brother.) but the rest of the parts and tools costs around 800. and we are actually doing it for other people, he just completed his install in his rsx, and we may start on a couple of friends' cars.