In case anyone is curious. Yes, the ipad mini does fit in the hvac/radio display screen. currently I'm in the process of installing it. Hopefully will have it all done in the next couple of weeks. Will let you know how it turns out when done.

 

Wow, I'm anxious to see how this turns out....

 

Thanks. Will hopefully be able to get it done soon. With New Years and a business trip next week, it might be tough getting some play time with the TL. BTW, the electrical part will be plug and play since I already have an Isimple gateway installed I will not have to worry about supplying power and integrating it into my sound system. Another thing I'm adding is a Bluetooth camera that will run through the ipad and be used as a reverse camera as well as a Bluetooth GPS system for navi. Should be fun now just need more time.

 

bluetooth camera. Interesting and deff something new to me. Love to see how this will work out so it can be applied to the android intergration.

 

Yeah it's gonna take some integrating but it's doable.

 

interesting. some challenges i see are properly mounting it and the charging issue. Doesn't say what kind of voltage it runs on but I doubt it's 12.unless you can find some kind of usb splitter so and extend the wire so it will have power when needed. Then comes the question is if there's a possibility of over charging it this way.

 

Mounting will be an issue so will probably open up the case and extend camera away from the case. Will also need to water proof it but not too challenging. Power will be fed through USB and for that I can use a car lighter USB charger and open it up and feed the adapter 12V for power and 5V from adapter to cam through USB. Overcharging shouldn't be an issue since components that charge through USB have a built in circuit (voltage comparator bridge) that will stop charging the battery once its voltage threshold is met.

 

nice job!! I am in the process of doing mines as well.

 

Saw your PM. I used the 3M 1080 matte black vinyl wrap and also used Evercoat Euro-soft glazing putty for the filler. Not sure how far along your into your project but I personally found that iTunes wifi sync was not reliable so I had to get a 30 pin extender cable so i can sync music etc. Also, are you using a gateway to integrate into you audio system?

 

Just got one for Christmas and I love it, and it did cross my mind as getting one for my navi screen.

In for finished pics

 

Yeah mine was an early Christmas present too, and since my TL is non-navi this will be a nice upgrade for it as well. I was pretty close to getting a 7" tablet at first since there are a few members in this forum that have already installed them and I knew that those would fit for sure but the fact that the ipad would be a plug and play for the sound system and to feed it power led me to pull out the calipers and see if I could make it fit. It was tight! ~.2mm at bottom corners is all the room you get to fit ipad between the hvac buttons.

 

That is crazy close!

Is yours connected with cellular?

Also, how do you hook this up to the audio system?

 

Not cellular. Will tether to Galaxy S with an app called Foxfi. Its like $7 and there are no extra charges if you have unlimited data. For GPS I'm thinking of adding either the XGPS150A or the Garmin GLO which are both bluetooth and will work with iOS. As far as the audio integration goes, I currently have an ipod touch that is connected to the audio system with an Isimple Gateway that not only inputs the audio but also provides a charge to the ipod. I did have to buy an Lightning to 30 pin adapter for the ipad and a 6' 30 pin extender cable which I will run to the center console and from there provide a connection to the gateway or to my laptop for syncing to itunes. I can take a pic of the setup (outside the car of course) to give you a better idea of what I'm using.

 

Here a pic of the connection setup.

Here's another. Pic quality sucks but didn't feel like digging up a real camera.

 

Looks great !!!

 

Thanks!

 

I am totally in to see how this will turn out. Hopefully you won't run into any major issues!

 

What kind of temps do you normally get in your area? I'd be worried about the screen or the battery messing up..

 

It gets close to 100F here in the Summer and even though the TL is parked in the garage it will definitely get hot. Will this shorten the life of the ipad? yes it will, but if I get a couple of years out of it then its time for an upgrade to something else anyways so not a big deal. I think for people like me the challenge is the fun part and once its done its time for the next challenge. To be honest if I didn't install the ipad in the car it would probably be sitting in a book shelf collecting dust anyways, so its all for a good cause

 

Subscribed for finished project!

 

I sent you a PM with a few of the parts I used. I've been taking pics as I go so if I get a chance I will try to do a write up of the upgrade. BTW, the GPS seems pretty straightfoward but the camera will be a bit of a challenge, fun!

 

qurious, let me know if you need the scans to wire the speakers....

I put in a 7" screen in my car...the audio/video input is my samsung galaxy note....this runs to a preamp and to the stock amp and speakers

 

Thanks Swoosh, but I'm actually using the Isimple Gateway to integrate into my sound system. Already using it for my ipod touch and it provides power to ipad and allows me to use steering wheel control as well. BTW, that is one sweet ride your driving Always wanted to that to my TL but I kind of got swayed somewhere else and starting dumping money into my G35 instead. Oh well I've been giving my TL a little more attention lately so.....

 

^^^ I did see the isimple

well the TL is my first car...so i basically try anything and everything i like on her LOL...

the G35 is a great car post some pix up

 

good lord that would have been easier...

 

Yeah I have two cars, the g35 is the daily commuter now and the TL just chills. I also have a 95 Chevy p/u that I use very rarely, I used it about two months ago to help a buddy pick up a couch he bought. My real project (well soon to be project) is an old 47 Chevy truck. All I have is body and frame that I keep at my buddies garage and hopefully will start messing with this Spring. Anyways I'll get some pics of the g35. It's fun as hell to drive but kind of boring on the interior end.

 

Yeah I saw your ipad install, did you not use a gateway?

 

Nope. There is a Kenwood X996 installed where the larger dash pocket used to be.

I was just talking about the mini. The headunit was actually pretty simple.

 

I cant wait to see how this setup turns out!!

 

Very creative. Good stuff!

I'm wondering.... once the iPad mini is integrated to the spot where the Navi screen used to be, you no long will be using the stock Navi because you can simply use GPS on the iPad Mini as long as you have data connection.

Sound will play through the iSimple and stock HU to the stock amp & speakers.

If you add a DSP which takes signal from the stock amp/HU and add after marker amps for the drivers, to some extent the entire stock sound system is no longer needed! All the stock system does is to allow steering wheel control to the iPod.

If we can find something small with functionality like this:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=605

We can connect the optical output to the DSP if the DSP has optical in (Bitone, MS8 e.g.). We'll be able to play music through the iPad Mini with Toslink Optical connection. May be I didn't look hard enough but I can't seem to find a digital to optical iPod integration unit except for the Cambridge iD100.... $$$$$ .... ouch... I wish they had a version for car integration....

Anyway, one can play music via fibre optic connection with a carputer but it seems to be more neat if music is play from an iPad Mini through a fibre optic connection. Just a thought.

Definitely want to check out how this project turns out. Good luck!

 

Thanks guys! Haven't had too much playing time lately and this week I'lll be out of town all week so not much progress lately. I did get a chance to extend the HVAC wiring with a homemade wire harness but that's about it.

@mamamilk008

That would work but I actually think the stock HU is a nice piece of equipment, it outputs a nice clean signal and having the CD, radio, and tape (yes tape) is a nice feature. As far as the GPS goes, I plan on adding a bluetooth and using an app like Garmin USA which actually does not need a wifi connection to work, only drawback is that its a huge app like 1.5g so it would work like a standalone unit like a nuvi.

 

Make me one

 

I thought you where done with your install?

 

almost....wires are dangling

I need to man up and finish the thing

 

I was just thinking... What in the world do you do if the gyro logic in these tablets decides to flip the screen orientation? It's not like you can shake it to make it realize what orientation it should be in.

 

It has a screen lock feature. Once you rotate where you want it, you just lock it in.

 

just curious if you are installing it in a way that you can remove it or is it permanently gonna be in there?

 

It's going to be permanent. That's one of the reasons I decided to buy a 30 pin extender cable for it. That way I can sync with laptop or if needed I can unplug the ipad and plug in my ipod.

 

hmm...that is a good idea....

another thing which was swaying me away from tablet install was I didnt want to leave it in the car 24x7

am very eager to see your finished project

 

I'm eager to see it too Actually there's a company in Tampa who builds a custom bezel for the ipad mini that gives you the option of removing the ipad. Only things is they want $800 and that's just for the bezel. I think with a little extra work and good fabrication skills, which BTW I don't have, you can probably build a similar bezel. Here's the link of the company.

http://www.soundwavesoftampa.com/pho...l?Cat=3&SCat=3