04 GLI interior refurb and carpc

[cazzz]

I tried to build a mount out of aluminum. FAIL!

So, I searched the MP3car.com forums to get some ideas and presto.

It was so easy. I velcroed the LCD to the motherboard mounting plate. Then I used L brackets to mount the mounting plate to the radio cage.





The L brackets are velcroed for now so that I can adjust the screen for a final fit. The I plan to screw the L brackets to the radio cage.

[cazzz]

After sleeping on it I came up with a plan for the bezel.

The GLI trim is brushed aluminum.

So, what about a CNC'd aluminum bezel brushed to match the existing trim?

Dimensions are 6.5" x 7.5" and maybe 1/4" thick.

It would be awesome, but at what cost.

I will get a few quotes next week.

[dubluv2003]

I have a few pictures of a aluminum bezel that some body had made for a similar project. Looked very good. They are on my work computer tho.. So I'll post them monday.


Reply pulled from my arse.

[cazzz]

I have a few pictures of a aluminum bezel that some body had made for a similar project. Looked very good. They are on my work computer tho.. So I'll post them monday.


Reply pulled from my arse.

Great, I'd like to see it.

[dubluv2003]

From Mp3car.com

[cazzz]

From Mp3car.com

Awesome. I am on Mp3car as well. Is there a build thread or any more info on how he designed the bezel.

Certainly inspiring and exactly what I want to do.

[dubluv2003]

Not that I have found, it was from a for sale thread in 08'. It looks like he had made a couple. Not sure if the OP is still an active member or not.

[dubluv2003]

and that is for a 7" monitor, obviously. But Im sure any shop could do it for you. I would try to do something like a 1/2" flat edge, then maybe a 1/4" bevel all the way around. Those are just numbers Im throwing out there. Never actually have measured anything like that. Hope to see it come to life tho.

[cazzz]

Thanks, I think you are right, any shop could make the bezel.

I was just looking for ideas in the build.

Never hurts to learn from someone else before I drop the coin.

[cazzz]

Went to a machine shop today to discuss an aluminum bezel.

Problem 1. The machined aluminum is much brighter than the stock trim. And there will be machine marks throughout.

They quoted $65 cash for the machine work with any material I want to try. I am considering Lexan. It will machine well and I can finish sand it.

So, I purchased a .093 x 8" x 12" piece of Lexan at Lowe's. Using a table mounted zigsaw I created a flat bezel.

I need to finish sanding it tomorrow then paint it black.

Depending on how this looks I may source a thicker sheet and try it again. Then decide if it is worth having a piece machined. I am thinking I can shape it myself with hand tools.

Pictures tomorrow.

[cazzz]

Installation begins:

Cleaned up the wiring in the radio cage.

Installed the USB hub in the glovebox.

[cazzz]

LCD trial fit:



Another trip to the store, long tie wraps to hold the circuit board protective cover and heat shrink.

I lengthened the motherboard cable to the bezel mounted control buttons so I could reposition it. I guess I didn't measure and it is still too short so I get to add more wire to the 12 strand cable.

[dubluv2003]

I know you want to most likely go with the real deal, but could you not pick up some 3m brushed aluminum vinyl wrap for the bezel once complete? Something to think about.

[cazzz]

I know you want to most likely go with the real deal, but could you not pick up some 3m brushed aluminum vinyl wrap for the bezel once complete? Something to think about.

Funny thing is I have two 4' x 10' sheets.

I picked one up because it was mis-priced then got a second because the first had a crease down the middle.

I think I will run into the same problem as the machined aluminum, it will be close but stick out like a sore thumb.

[cazzz]

[AZN dubs]

looks good. but i have to say, the momentary switch and the toggle switch look a little out of place. if you could find some cleaner buttons, i think your dash/center console would look insanely awesome..

but still, you're doing amazing work

[cazzz]

Very nice and clean install. Your bezel came out fine. Keep up the great work! SNO

Thanks, it is a little rough but it is a good start.

Here is the bezel covered in 3M brushed aluminum.

[cazzz]

looks good. but i have to say, the momentary switch and the toggle switch look a little out of place. if you could find some cleaner buttons, i think your dash/center console would look insanely awesome..

but still, you're doing amazing work

I agree with you about the buttons.

I have new blanks when I find a permanent solution.

I tried to let the power supply control the computer but I just wasn't comfortable so I added the buttons so I could take care of the computer.

Now that is up and running I may revert back to the power supply controlling the computer and remove the buttons altogether.

[cazzz]

I know you want to most likely go with the real deal, but could you not pick up some 3m brushed aluminum vinyl wrap for the bezel once complete? Something to think about.

What do you think?

[Rapidfire]

Hey man, I was skimming over your build and noticed that while you were troubleshooting the issue with running Win7 on the Mac Mini that you had an issue with the vertical scrolling being inverted. Turns out as of OSX 10.7 (or 10.8, cant remember which) Apple decided to invert the direction of all trackpads to mimic real life (aka a tablet/phone). If you need to run OSX and want to change this- go to System Preferences- Trackpad- Scroll and Zoom- then uncheck "Scroll direction: natural."

[cazzz]

Hey man, I was skimming over your build and noticed that while you were troubleshooting the issue with running Win7 on the Mac Mini that you had an issue with the vertical scrolling being inverted. Turns out as of OSX 10.7 (or 10.8, cant remember which) Apple decided to invert the direction of all trackpads to mimic real life (aka a tablet/phone). If you need to run OSX and want to change this- go to System Preferences- Trackpad- Scroll and Zoom- then uncheck "Scroll direction: natural."

The reverse scroll was actually a Xenarc OSX driver issue and it was only on the touchscreen.

It worked dine after I updated the driver.

[Vettes, Volvos and VWs]

Looking really good, great work! If I could make a suggestion I would recommend you build a box on the passenger side of the trunk where the little cubby is and put the mac mini and all the cords in there I think it would really clean it up. You can get carpet that looks pretty OEM and it would be real easy to make a little box out of MDF or something.

[cazzz]

Looking really good, great work! If I could make a suggestion I would recommend you build a box on the passenger side of the trunk where the little cubby is and put the mac mini and all the cords in there I think it would really clean it up. You can get carpet that looks pretty OEM and it would be real easy to make a little box out of MDF or something.

Good idea.

I actually thought about installing it on the left side where the CD changer is but I was concerned about the heat.

I plan on installing a sub enclosure on the passenger side.

If the Mac Mini holds up in the heat I may build a box around it in its current location for more protection.

[cazzz]

I have installed the 805TSV in my car.

The next step is to install an IR sensor and wire it to the monitor.

I would like to avoid installing the entire bezel. I can just use the monitors remote control.

Any ideas on the wiring diagram for the button board on the bezel.

I need to know which wires need to connect to the IR sensor.

[cazzz]

I was able to determine that the IR sensor is wired as follows:

Terminal A - wire 11 should be the output

Terminal B- wire 1 (red) should be ground

Terminal C - wire 10 should be 3-5v

However, i found a couple different terminal configurations.

I do not know what frequency IR sensor to use. There seems to be 2 common freqs, 38.5Khz and 56.8Khz.

[cazzz]

I plan on testing the LCD remote as follows. I have a 38.5Khz IR sensor, hopefully this will work.

Then I have to figure out which wire goes where.



Here we will connect the detector as such:

Pin 1 is the output so we wire this to a visible LED and resistor

Pin 2 is ground

Pin 3 is VCC, connect to 5V

When the detector sees IR signal, it will pull the output low, turning on the LED - since the LED is red its much easier for us to see than IR!

[dubluv2003]

nom nom nom! That looks great dude. I see what you mean about the shade difference tho, between the wrap and the real thing. The only thing I could suggest here is (i know its not what you want) but wrap the aluminum to that way it matches 100%, and on the plus side it will keep that real aluminum trim in tip top condition! Overall, I want your set up so badly. Great work, I hope to see more cool ideas from you in the future!

[cazzz]

nom nom nom! That looks great dude. I see what you mean about the shade difference tho, between the wrap and the real thing. The only thing I could suggest here is (i know its not what you want) but wrap the aluminum to that way it matches 100%, and on the plus side it will keep that real aluminum trim in tip top condition! Overall, I want your set up so badly. Great work, I hope to see more cool ideas from you in the future!

I just found two other wraps I might try. They are from alsacorp.com, they have brushed aluminum and stainless steel.

I can always go with black, but I will keep working at it.

[dubluv2003]

I just found two other wraps I might try. They are from alsacorp.com, they have brushed aluminum and stainless steel.

I can always go with black, but I will keep working at it.

Aww.. but black will take away from the elagance of it all. Either way it still looks very clean. I would like to see some hi-res pics of the radio cage though.

[cazzz]

Aww.. but black will take away from the elagance of it all. Either way it still looks very clean. I would like to see some hi-res pics of the radio cage though.

I have to disassemble the whole thing one more time.

What do you want pics of?

I will plan on taking some good pics of everything before putting it all back together.

[cazzz]

Success!!!!





Using the Xenarc remote I was able to receive the signal using the 38.5Khz IR sensor.

The next step is to wire the sensor directly to the LCD panel and get the remote to work.

[cazzz]

Setback!

I connected the appropriate wires from the LCD main board to the IR sensor on the bezel button board.

Remote did not work with only 3 of 12 wires connected.

I also could not see any voltage on the sensor.

I tried hooking up my powered IR sensor to the output line going to the LCD but that didn't work either.

It would be real nice if Xenarc would help out......what will it take to get the remote to work without using the entire bezel?

In the mean time, I will rewire the entire harness and see if the bezel is working.

[cazzz]

Just got an email from Xenarc.

Waiting for some details.

Great support and they were quick to respond.

PM me if you ever need contact info.

[McSlo2.0]

This is damn impressive

[cazzz]

Progress!

I lengthened the harness to the Xenarc bezel and everything works on the bezel including the remote.



Now I just have to figure out which wires need to be connected to the IR sensor.

It should not be too difficult, I need power, ground, and an output wire.

I am waiting on a schematic from Xenarc.

In the mean time I might poke around and test some voltages and continuity.