986 Carputer?
 

After looking through my options for an upgraded audio system in my 986, I'm thinking maybe a carputer would get the job done. I want the ability to play MP3's, navigation, mobile phone integration, and maybe some other guizmos that I most likely don't need.

There are literally dozens of questions as to how I'm going to get this done, but first things first: Has anyone already attempted this?

I believe someone integrated a Mac Mini into a Boxster, once.

A carputer could be pretty neat... but would cost a lot for what you get out of it.

Personally, I'd find a MicroATX system, install it into an ammo can, wire it up in the front trunk and use a 7" touchscreen. Rig it up with a WiFi and Bluetooth controller, connect it to an amp to drive your speakers, wire up a mic for the wireless headset profile...

There's a ton you could do with it, but it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy...

That's where it pays off to be a computer engineer =). I think I'm going to go with an ITX board. I've seen examples in other cars that fit right into the dash. With a custom enclosure, I'm sure I could throw a touch screen on the outside and flush mount it.

As far as cost is concerned, it's either this or an in-dash DVD player for show. Suprisingly enough, their about the same price.

For anyone who's interested in the concepts behind it all, http://www.mp3car.com has a nice faq on how it all works.

Carputer
 

I just read "Geek My Ride", which my local library happened to have. I have a 7" screen and HKS CAMP system that I'm going to put into my Boxster. The book had lots of info on carputers, but may be a little too basic for you. But I thought I'd throw it out there as a resource for ideas.

Personally, I think the Boxster would lend itself really well to a carputer. Think about it - the front trunk has a lot of space, it has the battery right there, the alternator has good output (120 A), and you only need to run cables through the firewall to the passenger compartment. It seems like the install of something would be easier in the Boxster as opposed to doing it in the rear trunk of a standard front engine car.

Kirk

Laptop
 

Seems to me you could disassemble a laptop and get the same thing accomplished with less space...

Definitely... Find a decent used Pentium III laptop, free it of it's LCD screen, remove the keyboard and mount it in a box... use a touchscreen LCD in the dash and USB devices for what the unit doesn't have internally.

Kirk, do you have a flip-out screen, or are you going to do a flush mount where the AC controls are usually? MP3car.com is missing some links on it's main page for some reason..... I was going to link a Boxster install they had there. They used a completely in-dash configuration, accented in Guards Red. It doesn't look bad at all, but he lost the cubby holes. The lower center dash (right behind the shifter) seems like it would have plenty of room. After all, besides the two pockets there, it's just open space in the back.

I've thought of using the laptop, but can't seem to find a ribbon cable to convert to a new LCD. The ribbon is pinned a bit different from a standard in-dash touch screen. I'll have to look more into it. I've seen some really hacked up carputers, and really don't want that. I love a clean install. An micro-ITX or even a nano-ITX solution seems like it would be efficient, just more expensive. The nano ITX boards are only 4.7" squares....I may be able to make a single DIN box and just live with one less pocket. I'll take some pics when I get a chance.

Rather than using a P3, I think I may go with a Dual Core, assuming I can find a decent ITX board that supports it. Cooling is another issue, but being that close to the battery, I'm sure I can manage to rig some kind of fan or even a water-cooled solution. Those water cooling setups for desktops are really efficient, and use barely any power at all.

Don't bother playing around with a laptop. If you're interested in that route... go with a UMPC instead. I have a Samsung Q1 which I love and would make a much better base than the laptop since it has the touch screen already.

I thought about that, but I just don't think the processors on those are powerful enough. Another issue is how you would expand one of those in the future. I'm sure most of the circuitry is proprietary; so fixing or expanding anything would be very limited :( .

I'm kind of leaning towards a VoomPC2 enclosure with an Aopen i945GMT. Those boards use socket M, so a Core2Duo processor will go nicely; not to mention functionality for 8 USB ports, 4GB of memory, and PCIe for enhanced video. Not bad for a 170mm square board. I just hope there is a riser so that I can stick a PCMCIA slot on there for wifi :D

As for the laptop and the ribbon cable for the LCD, don't bother with that - use the VGA port on the back of the laptop!

a UMPC would be neat, but they're not all that cheap.

Would be nice if someone came up with a nice in-dash dual DIN PC with a hard drive and touch screen built in. It would probably be uber expensive, tho...

Found the link I was checking into. Double DIN in-dash setup. Very nice.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fabrication/69068-just-finished-porsche-install.html

As far as using VGA, I'm honestly considering HD video....so either DVI or S-video most likely. I'm finding a plethura of thing to tinker with =)

Don't forget you'll want to make sure you get a transreflective LCD otherwise the display will be washed out (re: unreadable) in the sunlight with the top down.

Thanks for reminder. I'll have to see if I can find a double-DIN one. Either that or maybe some kind of "hood" to block the sunlight without blocking visibility of the LCD. $400 or so is still $400.....

After much research, I've come up with a requirements / function list and a few things I'll be implementing:

1. MP3 audio
2. DVD playback
3. Navigation with voice (GPS based)
4. Wifi via USB
5. Bluetooth via USB
6. OBDII diagnostics via USB
7. In-cabin access for USB devices
8. Mini wireless keyboard
9. AM / FM Radio (possibly XM or Sirius as well)
10. Touchscreen (transreflective)
11. PCMCIA slot type I & II
12. Voice recognition

I've decided on a VoomPC2 case mounted in the front trunk with a "molded in" LCD touchscreen and CD \ DVD slot loaded drive in the dash. I'm thiniking a VIA C7 enabled board, as they run on around 20w at full load. This project should be interesting, and cost around the same price as a high end in-dash DVD unit.

I'm currently looking for a fabrication shop that will be able to mount a 7-8" LCD in my radio bezel (I'll be relocating the AC controls to the lower bracket) locally. I'm in Northern VA, so if anyone has any suggestions, please share.

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures and keep this thread going throughout my install for those who may be interested in this as a future modification.

Finished??
 

Did you ever finish this project? I'm looking to do something similar.

Unfortunately not =(. A slew of things got in the way of doing any modification to the car. Now that things have slowed down a bit, I'll have more time to start working on a few of the dozen projects I have in store for it.

I'm loving the C4S cluster. How much trouble was it to get it in there?

Actually, it was not that bad. If you are planning to do it, use C2 cluster, it is even easier and less problems.

I'm just looking for something that's a bit more functional and appealing than the standard 986 one. I love the idea of being able to use the on-board computer, but cringe at the thought of installing the stalk.

I'm just looking for something that's a bit more functional and appealing than the standard 986 one. I love the idea of being able to use the on-board computer, but cringe at the thought of installing the stalk.

"Zometimes, a car, ist just a car..." - Sigmund Freud

Or was that a Banana?

I did not install 4-stalk yet. You can control OBC with 2 switches also. At the moment I only have 1 switch installed to control everyday needs (scroll one way and reset). I have not decided if I go with a second switch or 4-stalk.

As long as I could scroll through the options and reset, I'd be perfectly happy. Did you find an install guide on here, or just figure it out on your own?

If you google, Boxster OBC Hack, whiteson.com has a great DIY guide. The function you don't get without the second button is speed gonging, which is completely pointless. It allows you to set a speed, and once you reach that speed the car beeps at you. Like I said, pointless! :cheers:

That is a great DIY. I'm not sure if I want to risk doing it myself though....let's just say I'm not the most electrically inclined. Either way, at the very least, I'll push the techs at my closest dealership to turn on the OBC and see if they can maybe set it to "distance to empty."

My situation is a little different, because I have 01 986S and my cluster is 04 C4S which has new style dot matrix OBC display. I actually cannot reset with one switch, I can see reset screen, but cannot reset without second switch (or 4-stalk). Pressing switch 1 right, I get to this screen and pressing left I can scroll DOWN until bottom. With one switch I have no way to get to "reset all" or actually reset anything (except trip with the left peg). Pressing right again here gets me back to normal screen.

http://a248.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...41605767f7.jpg

I have wired second switch contacts already, so I know what they do. I just don't have the switch (or 4-stalk yet).

Here is my normal display:
:dance:
http://a533.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...160c323b24.jpg

My next "project": ;)
http://a829.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...1dfd1c0bc4.jpg

More pics @ myspace. :D
Also rentech.org has a long topic about cluster swap:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12805

Without a switch you only get outside temp display and even if you would get "distance to empty" you could not reset it without a switch. It doesn't reset automatically when you fill your tank.

I was afraid of that. I'll just have to suck it up and put a switch in somewhere. How much did you pay for your cluster, if you don't mind me asking?

I got lucky $101 shipped from Ebay. You must be careful with ebay clusters though, that is complicated instrument and you want to get one which works. Read the LOOOONG topic @Renntech, that explains a lot about 996 clusters in 986. :cheers:

@cmarks20

It is an extremely easy hack. It sounds complicated but it is actual very easy to do. It took me about an hour total, and I had never done anything like that to a car before. Boxster's are designed so incredibly well, that you won't have to struggle with anything. :cheers:

That's good to know. I've never done anything like this to a car before either. Guess it's about time to start looking at clusters =)

I've been thinking about a clean way to add a car computer to my 2001 boxster, too. My current thinking is to take one of the Asus EEE laptops and put it in the shelf for the owner's manual. Surprisingly enough, it has the same dimensions as the shelf. So I think it would work. If I ever wanted to remove it, or upgrade to another UMPC or laptop, it would be easy to replace, too.

For the display, I am debating between a 1DIN touchscreen that folds out, or a 2DIN touchscreen. To use the 2DIN, I would have to remove the DSP unit. I'm not sure how hard that would be, but I don't really care about the DSP unit, as long as the factory changer still works without it...

My thought was that I replace factoty cd-changer with PC (incl. 160GB HD), so I do not need a CD player. 160 takes quite few MP3's. I'm also planning 7" touchscreen in top 2 Din slots.

'nother carputer :)

http://gthing.net/carputer-5-final/