[Frank2808]

Hey guys, I've spent the last hour reading posts here about the various concerns with installing aftermarket radios in an E90. Unfortunately, I haven't found a post that addresses my situation so I figure I'll post.

I have a USA spec E90 325i
I do NOT have Logic7
I do NOT have Nav
I do NOT have PDC
I do NOT have Bluetooth
I do NOT have Comfort Access

From what I understand, given the options I have, an aftermarket head unit/amp IS possible, but it won't be easy. Is this true?

Thanks!

[matt0528]

anything is possible with the right amount of $$$

[xcalibr]

carputer? www.mp3car.com

the company i work for actually has a product coming out that uses a mini-itx board. as soon as i get my (2nd) e90, i'm going to be working on a way to mod that box and turn it into a wireless internet enabled carputer.

no logic7 is not a big loss... it's not worth paying the premium for it anyway.
no nav is not a deal-breaker... you can install a touch screen (pretty cheap on ebay) and install a carputer in the trunk.
no pdc, bluetooth or CA, no big deal... my first e90 (i crashed and totalled it) didn't have any of that either.

what exactly are you looking to do? you get mp3 capability, so you got a load of songs. the ipod adapter will be out soon so you can add more song capacity with an ipod. if you're looking for a lil more oomph in your system (it definitely needs it), look at installing speaker upgrades or just an amp/sub package mated to the stock HU. People replacing the stock hu have been having problems... like chimes and such not working.

[Frank2808]

Eventually, I'd like to remove the factory radio and install a carputer device that would give me GPS, Bluetooth, MP3, etc. I'd be using a touch screen as an interface. I'm in the very early stages of planning so I'm just trying to picture in my mind how the carputer audio would hook into the existing amps/speakers. Is that even possible?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Frank2808

Eventually, I'd like to remove the factory radio and install a carputer device that would give me GPS, Bluetooth, MP3, etc. I'd be using a touch screen as an interface. I'm in the very early stages of planning so I'm just trying to picture in my mind how the carputer audio would hook into the existing amps/speakers. Is that even possible?

If you take out the factory radio, you would also be removing the MID. I´m not sure exactly what functionality you would lose without the MID since you don´t have a lot of electronics options, but to give an example, in the E39, without the MID, you cannot set the clock.

[xcalibr]

My reccomendation would be to leave the factory unit in and install a carputer that runs audio through the factory unit (aux or something). And to get better sound, just cut out the factory amp, install your own, and upgrade your speakers. Locate the carputer in the trunk or glove box or even under the front passenger seat, and mount a touch screen (cheap on ebay), somewhere on your dash or center console.

[smellygas]

Hi, Frank. I'm currently working on a carputer project myself. I'm using an Aopen Pandora (miniPC), which is tiny and can take Pentium M chips. I'm planning to mount a Xenarc 700TSV touchscreen on a rod that extends out of the cigarette lighter. The computer will output audio directly to aftermarket amps, mounted in the trunk. The audio output from the factory radio/nav/doorchimes are spliced into at the amp in the back, and diverted to the amps (i may use the computer line-in instead). I'm planning to add a backup camera that automatically switches the display over when i put the car into reverse. Hope this gives you an idea of where to start.

SmellyGas

Originally Posted by Frank2808

Hey guys, I've spent the last hour reading posts here about the various concerns with installing aftermarket radios in an E90. Unfortunately, I haven't found a post that addresses my situation so I figure I'll post.

I have a USA spec E90 325i
I do NOT have Logic7
I do NOT have Nav
I do NOT have PDC
I do NOT have Bluetooth
I do NOT have Comfort Access

From what I understand, given the options I have, an aftermarket head unit/amp IS possible, but it won't be easy. Is this true?

Thanks!

[sunchild]

I've already installed a computer in the E90. The hassle of turning it off when you turn off your car is just ... ehhh

[smellygas]

Originally Posted by sunchild

I've already installed a computer in the E90. The hassle of turning it off when you turn off your car is just ... ehhh

Have you considered a dedicated carputer power supply? The Aopen MiniPC that I ordered integrates with a Carnetix P1900 DC-DC converter, so it automatically sends the carputer into standby/hibernate/poweroff when the ignition is turned off.

SmellyGas

[Frank2808]

Hey thanks for the tip! So it sounds like it's at least possible.

[smellygas]

You could also just get a cheap $500 laptop from Dell, and buy a startup/standby/hibernate/whatever controller for less than $100. A good source for all this is the mp3car.com forums. The mp3car.com site also sells parts and stuff, and the prices are decent (not the cheapest, not the most expensive).

SmellyGas

[Frank2808]

Hey Smellygas,

I have been reading mp3car.com like crazy for about a week and I can't find a single project on an E90. (lots of E46 etc tho). Since I've always wanted to try custom fiberglass/bondo work I'm going to attempt to replace the stock radio with a piece to mount the touch screen and relocate the climate controls. Unfortunately, that's only half the battle. When (if) I get the screen in place then there's the problem of getting the carputer to interface with the stock speakers and amps.. Any ideas how to do this? Or does anyone have a better idea where to mount the screen?

[smellygas]

Originally Posted by Frank2808

Hey Smellygas,

I have been reading mp3car.com like crazy for about a week and I can't find a single project on an E90. (lots of E46 etc tho). Since I've always wanted to try custom fiberglass/bondo work I'm going to attempt to replace the stock radio with a piece to mount the touch screen and relocate the climate controls. Unfortunately, that's only half the battle. When (if) I get the screen in place then there's the problem of getting the carputer to interface with the stock speakers and amps.. Any ideas how to do this? Or does anyone have a better idea where to mount the screen?

Yeah, I considered this as an option too. Here were my concerns:
1) would have to relocate the stock radio
2) don't know if disconnected the stock radio would cause one of the "fault" lights to com eon
3) would need to do custom bondo work (i've read it can take 40+ hours
4) (minor) would be a theft risk

Interfacing with the stock amp shouldn't be a problem. People have posted which wires to splice into at the amp connector. Just wire the carputer line-out to the line-in equivalents of the amp. Good luck.

SmellyGas

[xcalibr]

use the aux jack in your center console to hook up your carputer to the stock sound system.

or if you're getting rid of the stock hu completey, just dump/bypass the stock amp --get a nice aftermarket amp... easy to hook up to your stock speakers. just run a minijack-stereo rca cable from the audio out on the carputer to the amp input, and hook up the amp outs to the stock speakers. check for wiring diagrams on this forum... just do a quick search. i'll post a diy for hooking up an amp when i get my car if there isn't a good one available already.

you won't find a project on mp3car for our car specifically --you can be the first! mp3car forums jsut gives you some ideas of what other people have done... and provides you with the resources and products that can make it happen. don't actually buy from mp3car though --they're prices are marked up quite a bit.

[magmd]

Well...I was checking out the other site..and ran into this.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=141791

[Frank2808]

I was planning on completely dumping the stock radio, lowering the temp controls, and putting a touchscreen in the location of the old radio, using the extra space I gained from lowering the temp controls. I'm going to make a cardboard template this weekend to see if everything will fit...

[smellygas]

I'm not sure u can dump the stock radio, because for a non-iDrive vehicle, you need it to access certain controls/features, I thought. I'd also be careful, you might trigger a warning light. ...or who knows, maybe u don't miss the features it provides and no random light will come on. Let us know how it goes. I haven't come across any other custom screen projects for the E90 anywhere else. Good luck. I've already done a complete custom installation of speakers and amps, and the carputer is going to be installed any day now...lemme know how I else I can help.

SmellyGas

[BenMW]

Check this out...this guy installed a wireless computer in his car...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17244

[Frank2808]

Hi guys, thanks for the links.

The carputer in that link is great. I don't really like the screen location (not very OEM) and he left the factory head unit.

I decided to approach this project in 2 phases.
Phase 1, I'll assess the possibility of doing the fabrication. i.e. - will everything physically fit where I want it to?
Phase 2, determine if it's possible to tap into the factory amps/speakers without the factory head unit in place. This will include assessing what features are lost by pulling the HU.

Last night I used some poster board to cut out templates of the center console, heating controls, and the bezel for a 7" Lilliput touch screen. By my calculations, everything should fit in there with the exception of the heated seat buttons, which will have to move. I'll keep you guys posted.

[jeffersonkim]

I used a pocket PC, Axim x51v & a wireless hard drive, Asus WL-HDD together to act as my carputer.

You can go to my website to see my new carputer setup that has videos too. . . JeffersonKim.com