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

Originally Posted by JS330

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

GROM? I use pin 13 on the white plug of the TV module to input video and the CD changer for audio-in.

I don't really have any plans, just a schematic, board & incomplete software. If you really want a blank board, PM me your address and I'll stick one in an envelope. It shouldn't be underestimated what would be involved to build it:

1) Buy a Raspberry Pi.
2) Find a store to buy all the necessary parts (some surface mount, some thru hole).
3) Program the ATTiny microcontroller (you can buy a programmer on ebay for $5 from Hong Kong).
4) Buy a switch-mode power supply board from ebay - $2 and solder it on.
5) Play around with lots of little connectors/RCA cabling etc.
6) Find a way to mount it (in a box?).
7) Realise that the software is a work in progress and probably lacks the features you expect. Source code is available though.

Maybe these photos will put you off:

Can you share sources? i install raspberry Pi in my e38, connect in to ibus with hand made adapter and run Carmedia. all works but it too slow, i want to run xbmc and use ibus commands with it.
P.S. Sorry for my english, i am from Russian.

Originally Posted by ppmz

GROM? I use pin 13 on the white plug of the TV module to input video and the CD changer for audio-in.

I don't really have any plans, just a schematic, board & incomplete software. If you really want a blank board, PM me your address and I'll stick one in an envelope. It shouldn't be underestimated what would be involved to build it:

1) Buy a Raspberry Pi.
2) Find a store to buy all the necessary parts (some surface mount, some thru hole).
3) Program the ATTiny microcontroller (you can buy a programmer on ebay for $5 from Hong Kong).
4) Buy a switch-mode power supply board from ebay - $2 and solder it on.
5) Play around with lots of little connectors/RCA cabling etc.
6) Find a way to mount it (in a box?).
7) Realise that the software is a work in progress and probably lacks the features you expect. Source code is available though.

Maybe these photos will put you off:

Where abouts in melbourne are you? I'd love to see it in action and that doesn't scare me too much haha

Originally Posted by JS330

Where abouts in melbourne are you? I'd love to see it in action and that doesn't scare me too much haha

Very little to see, it's not even permanently installed in the car yet.

Originally Posted by webdj

Can you share sources? i install raspberry Pi in my e38, connect in to ibus with hand made adapter and run Carmedia. all works but it too slow, i want to run xbmc and use ibus commands with it.
P.S. Sorry for my english, i am from Russian.

Coming soon, I can't attach zip/tar files here. Maybe I'll open a sourceforge project for it.

I'm trying to hook up the audio cable now but not much success. What's the deal with the 6-pin CDC connector? I'm just getting silence even when my screen says "CDC". I've hooked up:

Pin1: Left
Pin4: Right
Pin2/5: Ground

Is there a special ibus command needed to un-mute it?

So you still have the 3 pin ibus connected to the changer and the changer has at least one CD in it to play? You'll need something to fool it that the changer is there with an audio disc or it will skip it (or at least not play). Ultimately your software could/should emulate the changer on the Ibus.

What about using the Auxiliary interface instead? The solution I linked to above originally came configured for the CD changer input but I moved it over to Auxiliary to keep the CD changer functioning (not that I have ever used it!). There are a number of DIYs to add auxiliary input on later models at the display unit.

Pin numbering looks good to me.

Shonky is right, the computer in the Instrument Cluster won't send messages to the amplifier to allow it to select the CD output as the amplifier input until it is somehow convinced that 1) the CD player exists, 2) it has a disk selected, 3) play has been pressed and 4) the disk is actually turning.

You require some device (like your ATTiny) to fake the responses to status requests and produce the appropriate codes to satisfy the Instrument Cluster. Your microprocessor can do this easily. Others have researched these so you should be able to google the codes.

I love the idea of a raspberry running a full version of xbmc to the existing screen. Aux in, Video stream, reverse camera are good inclusions. If the raspberry has the capacity I'd like to see you reserve space on your interface board for bluetooth to phone and possibly gps (even if YOU never intend to implement them).

My vehicle is not a real BMW, it is an early l322 Range Rover that was designed when BMW owned Land Rover and shares many parts with the BMW X5, in particular the ibus infotainment system.

Keep up the good work ppmz,
bye.

The multi media is fantastic.
I cant wait for the step by step instructions.Does it have a gps set up.
THATS AWSOME DUDE !
For DECLANM3

You tube dude it will be fantastic

Originally Posted by ppmz

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.

(Dynavin) How did you get video out from your unit.Again can you please show me how you acomplished this great fate. Bloody amazing !
Step by step with extreme information.
Thank, I hope I can solve a problem you may have.

Originally Posted by ppmz

GROM? I use pin 13 on the white plug of the TV module to input video and the CD changer for audio-in.

I don't really have any plans, just a schematic, board & incomplete software. If you really want a blank board, PM me your address and I'll stick one in an envelope. It shouldn't be underestimated what would be involved to build it:

1) Buy a Raspberry Pi.
2) Find a store to buy all the necessary parts (some surface mount, some thru hole).
3) Program the ATTiny microcontroller (you can buy a programmer on ebay for $5 from Hong Kong).
4) Buy a switch-mode power supply board from ebay - $2 and solder it on.
5) Play around with lots of little connectors/RCA cabling etc.
6) Find a way to mount it (in a box?).
7) Realise that the software is a work in progress and probably lacks the features you expect. Source code is available though.

Maybe these photos will put you off:

I don't have this setup.What a shame.

Originally Posted by nicgala

The multi media is fantastic.
I cant wait for the step by step instructions.Does it have a gps set up.
THATS AWSOME DUDE !
For DECLANM3

I'm not planning to write any detailed instructions because this project isn't for everyone, it requires too much electronics knowledge. But if you ask something specific I'll try to answer it.

Originally Posted by bgennette

You require some device (like your ATTiny) to fake the responses to status requests and produce the appropriate codes to satisfy the Instrument Cluster. Your microprocessor can do this easily. Others have researched these so you should be able to google the codes.

I have that working now (CDC emulation). Sound works Now I'm playing with the MODE button and making it automatically switch the video when it detects the CDC screen and switch back to the MK4 when you return to the main menu.

Originally Posted by bgennette

I love the idea of a raspberry running a full version of xbmc to the existing screen. Aux in, Video stream, reverse camera are good inclusions. If the raspberry has the capacity I'd like to see you reserve space on your interface board for bluetooth to phone and possibly gps (even if YOU never intend to implement them).

I doubt I'll re-do the board. It has no GPS or bluetooth, but the Pi has USB ports so it's easy to plug-in a $4 bluetooth stick. I think you can ask the MK4 GPS for position data on the ibus. But honestly I actually like the MK4 navigation and see no need to replace it. I don't think you could beat it, it even does dead-reckoning.

Maybe another video this weekend if I make some progresss...

Under the coin tray is a female connection. What is it used for ? Help

I'm a Technician by trade and the pink board is soldered behind the coponants. Was the componants included in the price you paid for ? I want one, and with some research you can obtain an iso image of a disk and download your gps.
Nic

Nearly everything working well now Any volunteers to create a better XBMC skin?

Originally Posted by ppmz

Nearly everything working well now Any volunteers to create a better XBMC skin?

Coming along nicely. Much quicker now


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but in all seriousness I really want one of these!

Nice work, as i already wrote you in the german e39 forum. Why dont you use psyborgs openbm software in combination with the pi and raspbmc like some of us do? The openbm xbmc-plugins are very rich-featured already and some additional developers wont harm the project ;-)

All software released at: http://www.classiccomputing.info/pibus/

Originally Posted by ppmz

All software released at: http://www.classiccomputing.info/pibus/

Great work Peter!

Finished modifying the pm3-hd skin, it's pretty polished now without bits of the GUI off-screen and unreachable anymore. BTW why are Samsung phones so bad at taking low-light videos?

I want to add digital TV next, but having trouble getting a strong enough signal. My dvb-t USB dongle might be too crap for the job...