DIY E46 Media Centre: MP3, videos, Digital Radio, Digital TV?

So I bought me one of those Raspberry Pi boards for $25 (actually more like $40 in Australia after shipping/gst etc) and hooked the video-out to my car. It works

It won't be easy, but potentially you could do lots of things with this, without ripping out your factory equipment:
1. MP3s with album art, playing from SDCard or USB
2. Videos off USB storage
3. Digital Radio
4. Digital TV? (antenna will be a problem)

Stay tuned, an interface to the headunit buttons is the next step.

Thats sweet, I was going to build myself a carputer, then I couldnt be bothered, maybe one day.
Digital TV aerial isn't a problem, as long as you conceal and run it somewhere to obtain a signal.
I know I can hook up a usb DTV dongle to my Dynavin which has a aerial built in and it will work fine.

I built a carputer in my E30, **** was tight. Wanted OEM look with minimal fcking around in the E46 though so went Dynavin.

Raspberry Pi has been interesting me for a while, mainly as a low cost HTPC/XBMC box though. I'm interested to see how you interface it.

can you use the headunit buttons to control it?

Where did you get it? I'm interested !

Originally Posted by shook

Where did you get it? I'm interested !

From Element 14.

Originally Posted by JS330

can you use the headunit buttons to control it?

When my board is done, yes.

Interested in this project.... Great idea! I received my Pi a little while back but haven't had time to play with it yet.

What's your background? Are you into programming?

Originally Posted by Ballistic325

Interested in this project.... Great idea! I received my Pi a little while back but haven't had time to play with it yet.

What's your background? Are you into programming?

Yes I know how to program a linux box, so that shouldn't be a problem

Started designing a Raspberry PI to BMW interface board. Some features:

1. Can switch video between three sources using a relay: (a) Stock BMW menus (b) Raspberry PI (c) reversing camera.
2. Can read/write ibus while the PI isn't powered or booted up using an 8-bit microcontroller.
3. Provides switch-mode power to the PI and a way to turn it off automatically when you lock your car (don't want it draining your battery).
4. Provides two extra relays to control extra stuff: e.g. Power to your reversing camera (if you use it while not reversing), garage opener.
5. No need to rip out or wreck any factory equipment - except maybe the CD changer.

Hopefully will get a board fabricated soon. I need to quit my day job to have more time to tinker with BMW electronics

Quite a bit more expensive than a Raspberry Pi solution but this one is basically plug and play carputer for E46 including ibus interface automatic switching on Aux etc.

http://ac-services.eu/shop/product_i...83--e85-.html&

i have raspberry PI too... i try to connect in to my E38, I think we have similar protocols=) I'll be watching this topic=)
ppmz, based on what you want to do interface board?
P.S. Sorry for my english=) i am from russia=)

Originally Posted by webdj

i have raspberry PI too... i try to connect in to my E38, I think we have similar protocols=) I'll be watching this topic=)

Yes, it's all IBUS. Programming will be a big part of it, can you code any?

Originally Posted by webdj

ppmz, based on what you want to do interface board?
P.S. Sorry for my english=) i am from russia=)

Interface board will provide power (and standby) to Pi, so it doesn't drain your car battery. Also it will switch video source via a relay between 1) BMW MK4 computer 2) Reversing Camera 3) Raspberry Pi. It's got a small 8-bit Atmel microcontroller to do this and uses very little power (around 500 μA) so can be left running 24/7.

I have this all working, but no software to do anything useful yet. I guess it will require some hacking with xbmc.

Interesting stuff... subscribed!

I had this same idea! how cool is it? I just got a wifi obd2 plugs and got them hooked up to my ipad for dashcommand. Does the raspberry pie have wifi? if so,you could do that as well for like $28 from ebay if you have the standard 16pin obd plug. this is so awesome! will have to defiantly get one now, like 5 pies actually I think...

OK so I made some progress, here's a teaser video :

Originally Posted by ppmz

OK so I made some progress, here's a teaser video :

Very cool for an interface that was made in 1970 according to the date

Sweet features. Seems a bit slow though and what happens when you turn the car on (say after getting petrol) do you need to go through all the menus to get your music playing again?

Originally Posted by DeclanM3

Very cool for an interface that was made in 1970 according to the date

Sweet features. Seems a bit slow though and what happens when you turn the car on (say after getting petrol) do you need to go through all the menus to get your music playing again?

Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.

Originally Posted by JS330

that is awesome! want to make me one

Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board . If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

Originally Posted by ppmz

Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.



Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board . If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

I'm quite handy with the solder, would love to see the plans for it!

Originally Posted by ppmz

Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.



Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board . If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

That's good that you managed to get it going quicker. Seems like a cool solution for music videos etc. I still think Intravee II is the best for music though.


Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

that is awesome! want to make me one

so would it be possible to run this in conjunction with my GROM plugged if i had a switch where the cd changer is?