Easyriders Car PC Project

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 22:43

[TW]Fox;11545114 said:
That looks absolutely horrible - you've blocked your aircon vents and it makes the interior look really nasty

You've also blocked the adjuster dial on the heater with your clip, how do you adjust the top vent temp now?

A tad dramatic tbh

There is more than enough airflow for the Air con.

I turn the dial with my hand.

Its a compromise between functionality and it being hot swappable.

This install does not alter functionality of the aircon at all.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 22:55

I'm not asking people to fall in love with a car pc install. lol

Its designed for functionality.

My car can be OEM in 5 seconds

It really is no biggy.

Don't get so upset... Although your comments are welcome

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 22:57

paradigm said:
I agree that it looks turd

Should have fit it INTO the dash tbh.

Thats an option but I really CBA

Plus its a thief magnet.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:03

OllyM said:
Looks like the sort of bodged install you get in a police car

Its functional and removable.

Thats the key to me.

I have:

Satnav
250GIG of storage
Multimedia
Virtual surround sound
OBD DATA
Real Time Tyre pressure monitor (coming soon)
Bluetooth Phone
WIFI

Don't care if you all say it looks like a back end of a bus!

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:06

Fact is:

My car can be OEM in seconds

And a multimedia hub in the next second.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:09

[TW]Fox;11545351 said:
Who cares what car someone wants to buy next? Who cares what wheels someone has just fitted? Who cares about suggesting cars for people? Who cares about what insurance company everyone uses?

Who cares completely removes the point in a discussion forum Quite frankly we do care or we'd not even be here, would we?

Keep it both on topic.

Fact is:

My BMW has more funtionality in :

Satnav
250GIG of storage
Multimedia
Virtual surround sound
OBD DATA
Real Time Tyre pressure monitor (coming soon)
Bluetooth Phone
WIFI

Than you

And I can remove these capabilty in seconds making my car "appear" OEM

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:11

paradigm said:
No, so if it has random wiring trailing over controls so its in the way, so if it has "bits" just stuck on, or so if it gets in the way of other functions, then IMO (not yours, MINE) then it looks awful

Same goes for modding PC's, your house, your car, your boat, etc etc etc

One wire does not "get in the way"

This install does not get in the way of other functions either.

So this comment is flawed mate.

If it did then I would admit it.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:14

paradigm said:
But you can't use these capabilities whilst looking OEM, so it fails in my eyes.

Why does that matter?

Its no different than having a mobile phone clipped on your dash

If looks prevail over functionality then good luck to you.

I would rather have fingertip access to my entertainment when doing a 5hr

drive than what it looked like.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:20

paradigm said:
One wire over the dash is "in the way" to me.

Secondly, you can't see your vents, so a function is not only with something "in the way" but, in reality, is completely obstructed.

Can't see the vents does not mean they cannot be used.

There is more than enough "gap" to not restrict airflow"

It matters for the reasons I have given you numerous times already. Try reading.

No need for that TBH.

It looks turd IMO (in MY opinion, MINE, not yours).

Explain to me how he WOULDN'T have fingertip access to the same media if he had spent the time actually recessing the screen into the dash?

This may be a possibilty.

But that means more cost,more time

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:23

OllyM said:
Well, we can just agree to disagree

Yes,

And this being my first car PC install I'm happy.

*******$ 250 on a double din bezel does not offer enough titillation right now.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:28

Biohazard said:
If you are both talking about using the centre blowers with the screen in place, you couldn't. Does get hot. I certainly wouldn't anyway, I'd block them off and use the door vents if I had a screen installed like that.

TBH,

I ran the screen like this for 3 days while at work and forgot it was on

No airflow at all and no problems

On a desk with foam behind.

The thing was hot when I picked it up.

There is 3" clear from the vents. and TBH i never use them.

I use driver side blowing cool air on my face

So issue never resulted

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:30

Tom|Nbk said:
Obviously not bothered about the whole vent thing. Right.

yeah

No issue,

As there wasn't one.

My vents are fully functional

And do not hinder my usage of my air con before the screen was in place.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:32

Biohazard said:
It will die 100 times quicker that way, trust me. Heat kills everything electronics wise.

Its not running like that now. lol

Its mounted on the dash. With no issue.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:34

paradigm said:
Wait for a cold day, whack on full cabin heat, watch your screen die.

Explain?

I just turn the vents off?

Keeping the ambient in car temps as what i want.

With respect...Do you think I'm stupid?

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:39

paradigm said:
Heat KILLS electronics

And be cold, ace

Why would i be cold?

The 2 centre vents are not the only vents in an E46.And having worked with watercooling and phase and overclocking and PC hardware and monitors and know more about them than you then stop before I destroy you.

With no vents on? Cool. What if you want some heat blowing on your left hand side?

I'm not a pussy

Yes

My BMW has more multimedia functions than yours.

Deal with it

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:44

Tom|Nbk said:
Summer is coming up, you won't need the use of the hot vent but also consider you prob won't even be able to use aircon. Electronics don't like icy cold either and when winter comes back round you'll be wishing you had use of the centre vents when your car won't heat up fast enough on a sub 0 day.

My aircon works just fine.

If it didn't ,I would explain for info.

Fact is..everything works great.

I park my car up and no one knows I have a car PC in my car.

That was the idea.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:46

Tom|Nbk said:
I think the only thing that's gone wrong here is the Screen. It doesn't take much effort or money to get it properly intergrated and would look so much better.

A double DIN BMW bezel is over 150 quid.

Thats a lot of money for a piece of plastic.

And Nothing in my install has gone wrong.

I set out to install a car pc.

I did
It works

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:52

paradigm said:
I have dealt with it, and WHEN I get around to getting my next car, it will actually have the multimedia system INSTALLED, not slapped haphazardly to the dash

Like I said, your project has given me a lot to go on, and I was really looking forward to pics of it IN the dash. Oh well, at least I've got the rest of your project for reference, as the information has proven usefull

Well I'm glad my install has given you some scope.

I questioned a Retro FIT BMW satnav install but costing nearly 1000 quid and

it being a rubbish dated satnav etc.. put me off.

I have more functionailty and at a fraction of the cost.More speed and

upgradabilty.

I may indeed do a double DIN install.But thats the joy of car PC I can tweak it all I like.

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:53

Tom|Nbk said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-...003QQitemZ130214870539QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD2V

Lol wut?

50 odd quid

No

That is trash :eek:

easyrider · 21 Apr 2008 at 23:55

Tom|Nbk said:
Looks fine to me. You point a better looking one out to me. That would certainly look better than the TomTom.

Do a search

Thats what I love about you Tom...

You think nobody knows the answers.When they have clearly covered them all.

Do you not think I cannot put BMW E46 Double DIN in google?

I nice one that looks OEM costs what I say.