Alfa Romeo 159 In-Dash CarPC

[Paracelsus]

So, I have been browsing the forums for quite a while now, first mp3car, now here, checking into hardware, software, brooding, planning, considering. Nothing has been done yet.

But plans are solidifying, and I might just start it off with a rough outline/proposal. It might give others ideas, it might get me helpful input or opinions from others or I might just give myself ideas from typing down my ideas.

I am going for an in-dash installation into a rather modern car, which will without a doubt cause me quite a bit of headaches down the road...

This is the victim:



Interior shot:
[IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l123/nookpics/alfa/****pit_full.jpg[/IMG]

And actually, the car is already Windows, so it can't get much worse


What I am starting off with is a stock HU (made by Blaupunkt, but sporting utterly disgusting sound quality), connected to a stock Bose amp which feeds the 10 speakers. Steering wheel control buttons will be integrated. Also, there is a Blue&Me bluetooth handsfree and mp3 playback system factory installed (B&M is the predecessor of what Ford now calls Sync).

The phone part of the system works flawlessly, both in terms of voice recognition, bluetooth pairing/connecting/contacts exchange etc. but it has some ugly downsides (bad playlist control, no decent equalizer either in B&M or HU, etc.)

After lots of brooding I will implement the CarPC for just audio playback and navigation for the time being. I hope to be able to wire the B&M handsfree output into the CarPC via LineIn and then automatically mute it that way. This way the system should be able to coexist properly.

I have a Double-DIN space available, however the "faceplate" where the display will go is slightly larger then DDIN (19.3x11.5mm) so I am heading for the following hardware:

8" Widescreen Touchscreen (LinITX/cartft brand)
Intel D945GCLF 2 (Intel Atom 2x 1.6Ghz CPU) w/ 2GB RAM
old 30Gig 2,5" IDE Hard Drive

and some obvious little gadgets like Bluetooth for GPS, OBD2, WiFi (still looking for a USB-Dongle that has an antenna input, so I can maybe replace the roof antenna with a Hirschmann WiFi/GPS antenna).

I am opting for indash mounting because I really do not feel like disassembling and rewiring the whole car. That restricts me to mini-ITX as the largest form factor, although I had initially settled on nano-ITX, but those are cost prohibitive as of now. I hope my decision is right, but I think in the long run (like when adding plugins/background applications) the Dual Core Intel will guarantee a smoother system.

One problem is that the B&M module sits in the DDIN slot as well (the actual HU is just a single-DIN asymmetrically attached to the huge faceplate. I hope that I will find a suitable location to place all the components in behind the dash. Another option would be mainboard installation in the middle center console, which might be an interim solution as it provides better access during installation/troubleshooting.

Technically it should all work pretty smooth, the biggest obstacle I see is that I will most likel have to fabricate or custom-cut a facia plate to cover the edges of DDIN bay... all the connectors for feeding audio to the amp, getting power, grabbing steering wheel signals are available in the original HU mounting area.

This is it for now. Gonna keep you updated.

[rxh81]

Hi,

nice to hear that you are going to do nearly the same as I did with my GT :-)

I didn't want to loose some space in the glove box or in the trunk and also I didn't want to rewire the hole car.
So the plan is to create a full integrated small box which is only installed in the dash :-)
Also I bought a small amp which sits behind the dash and my hole system is just connected to the ISO car stereo connector, like a real car stereo...
with power.. ignition and speakers..


Everything works for 1-1/2 jears now, but not completely finished yet.
Some small repaires were neccesary.

My system is really perfect...! But really not from the service point of view :-( I really regret this point... and probably would do it different next time...
When I have an issue with any component, I probably have to disassemble the hole system and this takes my several hours.. with even worse also a risk of damaging some parts on the pc system or the car...
Also I'm not able to receive all connectors on my MB...

I really like my system... but also have really fear that something will break, because it's hard to do service...

Additional... I would look for a transflective or I have the CTF700-H which also works good... but spend more on the screen otherwise you won't see anything on the day :-) Better 7" transfelctive than 8" standard...

Good Luck for planning!

[MarcelP]

@Paracelsus:

I Perhaps i can help you to connect the "Blue-and-Me"-System to Carputer.
I have here 2 Units of this system and would be also integrate into my Fiat Stilo.


(electric-plans and so on available, because i work every day on italian cars at work! )

[Paracelsus]

That would be great. I have ordered most of my hardware. Currently, I only have a cheap copied service manual to figure out the wirings and stuff like that (elearn).

Am I right to assume that the B&M delivers the sound output into the original stock HU through the lines AF+ AF- on the ISO plug? Or does it work via CAN?

Do you work in a certified Alfa/Fiat/Lancia garage/store?

[Hwriat]

Originally Posted by rxh81

Hi,

nice to hear that you are going to do nearly the same as I did with my GT :-)

I didn't want to loose some space in the glove box or in the trunk and also I didn't want to rewire the hole car.
So the plan is to create a full integrated small box which is only installed in the dash :-)
Also I bought a small amp which sits behind the dash and my hole system is just connected to the ISO car stereo connector, like a real car stereo...
with power.. ignition and speakers..


Everything works for 1-1/2 jears now, but not completely finished yet.
Some small repaires were neccesary.

My system is really perfect...! But really not from the service point of view :-( I really regret this point... and probably would do it different next time...
When I have an issue with any component, I probably have to disassemble the hole system and this takes my several hours.. with even worse also a risk of damaging some parts on the pc system or the car...
Also I'm not able to receive all connectors on my MB...

I really like my system... but also have really fear that something will break, because it's hard to do service...

Additional... I would look for a transflective or I have the CTF700-H which also works good... but spend more on the screen otherwise you won't see anything on the day :-) Better 7" transfelctive than 8" standard...

Good Luck for planning!

I am new member and i am interested in making my own car pc and i need your help!! I have an Alfa GT and i saw your picture with a very nice screen frame can you please tell me where i can find it?? If you can also suggest me any pc i would be thankful !! Sorry for my english

[MarcelP]

Hi,

Alfa GT <-- nice Car! Have repaired this cars for years..

You can use alternativ radio frame and build custom screen.

Where are you from??

Marcel

[156Chris]

Good luck with the build ... although I suspect that it would be actually easier to put the 'puter in the boot rather than to try and squeeze it into the dash ...