In Car Computers

[Big Bruin]

I have searched, but didn't find a thing... I am looking for pics/details on others who may have done this in a 300 to get ideas on how to integrate a car-puter.

I have a mini computer that can be hidden out of the way all controlled by a 7" widescreen touch screen monitor. It handles MP3s, DVDs, movies, GPS, XM Radio, Internet on screen... and audio goes through the head unit.

I don't want it mounted in the dash since I want to keep the stock head unit. Maybe a flexible arm for the monitor? Bracket in front of the cigarette lighters?

I'll post pics of what I have (uninstalled) to give a better idea of what I need to get in there. Hoping someone else has a 300 with a small screen inside, too...

Thanks!

[sstevens805]

Talk to Shiltz, he's a member here and on mp3car.com and has a cool setup. MP3car.com has lots of junk on there to help you out. Also, you can buy complete car-puter's there and other accesories. hope this helps

[DannyC]

What about the bracket the police use to mount laptops and other devices? I wouldn't mind doing something like that myself.

Anyone know where to get the laptop brackets?

[quarky42]

Add a FM tuner card and remind me why you need the stock deck? Nice setup.

[Big Bruin]

I've been on MP3Car for years, too... Great place. I get alot of ideas there, but none are 300 specific.

I have a flexible steel arm that works to hold the display, but it isn't the cleanest look, and finding a good mounting point in the car is hard. Just like this thing, but modified to elminate that plate and it screws to the back of the display... http://www.arkon.com/dvdmount.php

In dash would be nice, and was what I did on my old Jeep, but I like the look of the head unit and bezel and don't want to mess it up. My goal is to keep the look stock, and by having just two cables (USB/VGA + Power) and maybe one or two bolts holding the whole monitor assembly in place for easy removal.

Maybe down the road I would integrate it in the dash, but I think I'd need a fabricator to help make the dash look just right.

[Hazman]

This site too
Ram Mounting

[RandomAccess]

Man... those don't look like they'll make the passenger too happy.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Ram Mount is what most police departments use and they are made very well......

plus they have 100s of designs and mix and match to your desires.

[Meathammer]

Well you could go the in-dash route and make it look factory. You'd need a touchscreen to fit the NAV bezel. I don't have the NAV unit in my car but this was my plan...... eventually as these can be readily purchased. I don't have the measurements but I don't think that the typical 7" touchscreen displays will fit the opening of the NAV bezel correctly (ie, seamlessly or without some modification to the bezel). However if they will, then you just need a custom case and you'd be all set.

[pigpen]

Yup in dash will look 20 times better!

[Kamakazie2]

Ive had a pc in the car for a while now.. the 300c navi dash holds a 7in xenarc touchscreen monitor very nicely. I am also using an ibm thinkpad laptop in the trunk. The 300 has plenty of hiding spots for voltage converters crossovers and usb hubs..

What did you want to use it for? you can build it out to do just about anything..

Have you considered mounting the factory radio in the center console? This way you still can use the steering wheel controls for vol and tuning.

[Electrofreak]

Wow... I used to build computers and do computer repair, and I never considered this... until now. Hmm... I can think of some pretty cool ideas already. I have tons of parts... and I'm sure I could pick up a touchscreen LCD for pretty cheap. I was considering spending up to 700 bucks for an in-dash DVD player, but if I can build something myself that can end up doing even more, why spend the money?!

Problem is I'd have to build a micro ATX box and my Maggie doesn't really have anywhere good to hide it that is ventilated well enough. I could probably pull it off with a laptop or maybe even a pocket PC. Time to brush off the computer workstation

Have you considered mounting the factory radio in the center console? This way you still can use the steering wheel controls for vol and tuning.

Hm... didn't think of what to do with the factory radio. I'm obviously getting carried away. Kamakazie, do you have any pictures of your config?

[Kamakazie2]

Let me delete some pics. Ill snap some at lunch today.

I think its pretty simple. Try this. On my first design i was able to fit a micro atx (Commell Lv670) motherboard behind the lcd screen on my A8. and trust me when i say the lx has 2x the room in the dash.
For temp control i actually punched a 1/2 inch hole in the air vents in the dash so i had heat in the winter and a/c in the summer.. The only time i had trouble was when th temp dipped below 18 degrees F, then i had to wait about 5 min while the heat kicked in.

I didnt use a headunit. I was able to get a custom made am/fm rds tuner from the good people of mp3car.com. The most expensive piece of car pc hardware for 1940's technology.. go figure.



anyway back to the install.

In the dash i had the following

Xenarc 7 inch VGA touchscreen - today they have new monitors that have non glare glass.
Microatx mb with 2.5in hdd
Opus makes a 120w 12v input pc power supply with auto sence on off
Use the 5v rail on the opus to power any usb hubs

This will get you started. I really want to stress that the laptop is so much better to use. This is my 4th car pc install and the laptop by far was easier. The hardware is made for hibernate/resume and anytime u need to rebuild you can pull it out and bring it inside to resintall stuff

A laptop with broker screen is a great candidate!

Cell phone pics for now:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/atta...8&d=1166797528

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/atta...9&d=1166797538

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/atta...0&d=1166797550

[Big Bruin]

I don't have any steering wheel controls, so that isn't an issue for me, plus I already have every component, so I want to work with what I have.

I have:

VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX motherboard
512MB DDR memory
DVD/CDRW combo drive (which will have to be left out in the new case)
256MB PCI Video Card
160GB laptop hard drive
Lilliput 7" widescreen VGA touchscreen
USB GPS receiver with Delorme Street Atlas 2007
XM Direct receiver connected via the Serial port
USB wireless network adaptor

Right now everything is back in this case, which is a great unit, but totally fanless and unable to handle high heat in a car. Will be moving into one of these cases before final install... Will be great since it allows the CPU fan to be installed, two case fans, and one PCI card. The whole thing is still only about 8"x8"x3" - so it can hide in a lot of places.

The frontend is Windows XP, but with this free app called Road Runner is the interface, which makes nice big touch screen buttons for control, and makes it easy to control GPS, MP3s, Movies, XM radio, Internet, as well as other things I don't have activated (FM, Sirius, Bluetooth telephone). Extra cool since someone made a skin to include the Chrysler wings in the software.

Everything is built and functional... But presently on my desk instead of in my car. Just need to make it happen, and I suppose I just need to get creative...

[Kamakazie2]

I don't have any steering wheel controls, so that isn't an issue for me, plus I already have every component, so I want to work with what I have.

I have:

VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX motherboard
512MB DDR memory
DVD/CDRW combo drive (which will have to be left out in the new case)
256MB PCI Video Card
160GB laptop hard drive
Lilliput 7" widescreen VGA touchscreen
USB GPS receiver with Delorme Street Atlas 2007
XM Direct receiver connected via the Serial port
USB wireless network adaptor

Right now everything is back in this case, which is a great unit, but totally fanless and unable to handle high heat in a car. Will be moving into one of these cases before final install... Will be great since it allows the CPU fan to be installed, two case fans, and one PCI card. The whole thing is still only about 8"x8"x3" - so it can hide in a lot of places.

The frontend is Windows XP, but with this free app called Road Runner is the interface, which makes nice big touch screen buttons for control, and makes it easy to control GPS, MP3s, Movies, XM radio, Internet, as well as other things I don't have activated (FM, Sirius, Bluetooth telephone). Extra cool since someone made a skin to include the Chrysler wings in the software.

Everything is built and functional... But presently on my desk instead of in my car. Just need to make it happen, and I suppose I just need to get creative...

Im using roadrunner with the alpine skins. I noticed your in North Jersey. Im in Eatontown. If you need some help or wanna check out my setup let me know.

As for GPS i would highly recommend Iguidance 3.0. It integrates rather well with RR and allows for auto screen switching when approaching a turn.