MK2 180 Centre Console Tablet build project - Making Another One?
 

OK, I created a thread a looong time ago with rough outline to my plans for a custom centre console. Thread was here:

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=11562

Well today I completed my order of items bar one or two cables. I have done this on a ?500 budget and still have around ?100 left. (I already had the laptop)

I have chosen to go with a laptop under the footwell for a couple of reasons; space/ventilation and when ignition goes off the PC will still run on laptop battery so no rebooting every petrol stop!

The plan is thus:

I am completely customising the centre console from the bottom up.

Installed will be a touchscreen monitor with DVD drive beneath it, usb slots, power button and push start button.

The above will be connected to a laptop with sat nav, ipod connectivity and all the usual PC gubbins (internet etc)

I will be installing an amp as there will be no head unit.

The four buttons along the top (fogs etc) will be removed and replaced with red led ring switches.

OBD2 data will be accessible.

The aircon will be relocated on the centre console and will be changed to red led's to match the rest of the dash.

I plan on extending the dash over the ashtray recess as I have no use for it and it means I can position USB ports there.

I will be running Centrafuse front end for the PC and I am running a second 4" monitor in the dash recess where the light sensor for climate control is. This will be hinged to allow it to be stowed away.

This monitor will be a secondary desktop, so using my iphone as a mouse, I will be able to have it display sat nav/obd2 data or......

I am also installing 2 night vision colour cameras, front and rear. The rear one will activate when I go in reverse and will display on the 4" monitor.
The front camera will be available to both monitors and will have a record function too. Obviously not gonna be high quality but will be fun. Also has night vision so may come in useful.

Lastly, I already have rear parking sensors but someone installed front ones but they have never worked and are becoming loose. So I have ordered new ones and they have a monitor that tells you the distance of the car in front. This will replace the clock.

Anyway, you're all probably asleep by now so here's some piccies!


ALL THE ELECTRICAL GOODIES

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0825.jpg

CLIMATE CONTROL CUT OUT AND PARKING SENSOR SCREEN SHAPED

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0826.jpg

ONE SWITCH HOLE FILLED AND SWITCHES TESTED

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0827.jpg

BOTH SWITCH HOLES FILLED AND NEW SWITCHES TEST FITTED

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0828.jpg

BOTTOM SECTION REMOVED

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0829.jpg

SCREEN POSITIONED AND PARKING SENSOR SCREEN HOUSING IN PLACE

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0830.jpg

SWITCH HOLE FILLER GLUED IN PLACE

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0831.jpg

SHAPED UP CLIMATE CONTROL FACE

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0832.jpg

CLIMATE CONTROL FACE TESTED IN POSITION

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0833.jpg

TEST PLACEMENT OF PARKING SENSOR SCREEN AND SECOND SWITCH FILLER IN PLACE

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0834.jpg

Still go plenty to do but next is DVD-RW drive with pc power switch and push start buttons either side, then climate control, then 2x USB ports and temp sensor for aircon. This should leave the cubby hole space at the bottom which I like having for the sunglasses :)

I have tested most of the electronics and am satisfied so far.

Will keep everything updated as I go.

looks awesome, reconing a good bit easier to do with climate control,

definitely, which is why I waited for my mk2 180 to do it! Was my plan when I had the blue one but crashed it first :(

Looks like you've raided Maplins buddy,,
Gonna be an Awsome thread-Goodluck.

Nice project m8, will keep my eyes peeled :ninja:

Nice project, looking forward to seeing this evolve.

Didnt your car come with mirrors? Lol

Looks like a cool project will be intrested to see it all done. :)

Lol, my mirrors dont record all the action :snap:

Have now ordered a new TF wheel with silver knobs to try using as volume/track up and down :)

Went to get the tracking redone so its will be all spot on.

Sounds interesting, how are you mounting the laptop?

in the passenger footwell, upside down on padded runners to help dampen vibration.

Wow!!! Looks a interesting and difficult project.

All the best with it, keep the updates coming.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::clap2::clap2::clap2:

I like a challenge Pete!. Already had to re-glue the screen as I was a little rough with the dremel!

I love the idea of this. I found this thread which at the time I was very jealous of when i had my ZR. Could be useful.....

http://www.themgzr.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=71775

Have read that before and a couple of other MG carputers so have plenty of sources, cheers for the linky :)

Well due to my gearbox failure and my car being at GeAServices in Falkirk, I have not been able to get any further with the build as I need to know it will all fit before securing everything properly. So hopefully in a few days I'll be back on it!

However, in the meantime, I bought a leather TF wheel with steptronic buttons and have now wired them up to complete track forward/back and volume up/down functions. Well chuffed.

thats awsome, how did you do the wiring to make it do that???

My special secret, released for a fee lol.

Wasn't too difficult actually, I had initially planned to wire the switches to the media keys on a keyboard but space would have been an issue and the keyboards are no longer green boards so not so easy!

So.... I have stripped a USB, 4-button mouse.
Wired the forward and back motions on the wheel to mouse switches 1 to 4.
Using Hydramouse or similar, reprogram the mouse clicks to be volume up/down and track up/down.

This means when I press back on the left one it is a left mouse button click, which in turn puts volume up. Press forward and it is a right mouse button click, which puts volume down.

The same is done on the right wheel switch and the other 2 mouse buttons.

Is this something you plan on doing yourself? If so I can knock up a diagram.

ha ha...easy he says...I only want mine to do the electric windows...perhaps wiring wizard smokey can have a look when he has a couple of spare hours:fish::fish::fish::fish:

Jim. Should be easy enough to do that for two windows if you like. I'd happily give you a hand when I'm available.

thanks mate next time you have some weekend time let me know

i would love to do it but it does not sound easy at all! lol would i be able to do it with a normal headunit :S
also how good are you with car electrics?? i have a few things i want to do :D

I do have a plan of creating a more basic system whereby I would make a custom console with 7" touchscreen and standard din slot for headunit. Would be a plug n play with a laptop/pc build for sale but I'll be finishing this one first lol

Well as I haven't had much access to my car the carpc has been paused til I can get some measurements done.

In the meantime, I have completely wired up the TF wheel switches with good solder points and plenty of wire for when I install it in the car.

I have taken a wee video to prove I've done it for a start but also to show its functions.

LEFT + = Track Up
LEFT - = Track Down

RIGHT + = Volume Up
RIGHT - = Volume Down

Double Click RIGHT + = Mute

I have wiring completed to allow more functions as I haven't assigned Double Click LEFT +, LEFT -, RIGHT -, MIDDLE and Double Click MIDDLE.

It was quite difficult doing double clicks while balancing the wheel on my knees but you get the idea!

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...h_4ebbecde.jpg

Very cool mate like that

Cheers Grimmy. Did some work on the centre console again today. Have almost completed the final part at the bottom to include the temp sensor, 2 switches (pc power and engine start) and 2 USB ports. Once glue has hardened, I will afix it to the console and then it will be time for filler/sand/filler/sand/filler.... until finally a paint to see where the blemishes are.

Today I put on the first layer of filler and once it hardened, I gave it a little sand to smooth it off slightly. Tomorrow I'll be sanding it thoroughly to see where I missed if anywhere....

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/6c561b9a.jpg

that looks awsome! coming along nicely! and the video just makes the paddle shift music changer even better!!

Cheers Chris.

Did a bit more sanding today and gave it a light coat of paint to 1) get a feel for what it will look like in the end and 2) to see where and how uneven the sanding was.

It showed me there is a loooot of sanding still to be done but its heading in the right direction.

Sorry for the pic quality, flash wouldn't switch off, but you get the idea on progress.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...d/PICT0006.jpg

Can see a production line coming along!!!

Looking good.

Looking good mate

If I ever do another one Pete it will be far less complicated!
This ones a labour of love to have it as custom as possible!

Brilliant bit of work coming along nicely there, How do you know so much about electronics mate ? past work or are you learning it as you go ?

been learning since I was about 10! Just kept taking stuff apart and trying to reassemble it. Failed many a time but just seemed to logically be able to work things out.
What I don't know, I try to find out!

i did the same taught myself how engines worked, started with lawnmower engines, got about 10 out the dump, got 5 of them to run out a mismatch of parts lol, definatly the best way to learn,

its looking very promising mate, keep at it

Cheers Ritchy, I plan on making this as close to perfect as I am capable!

did i see a sealey power products power inverter in all that.if it is i would not use that at all as they have a tendancy to go faulty plus also they do not give out the right sine wave for running computers.

Cheers for the concern mate. It doesn't appear to be a Sealy model but regardless it is not being used to run a computer, it is purely to power the USB Hub which I have tested. If it fails, it will not be a major issue.

I'm still concerned about the use of a laptop, they are not designed to run while on the move.

Have you replaced the hard drive with a solid state version, that would go some way to helping.

I ran a standard pc base in the boot a few years back with normal hdd. Bearing in mind they are not designed to move at all whereas laptops are, and it never had an issues. I will be using foam to absorb some motion as well but I don't forsee any issues. Time will tell

That's not a bad idea, you know, or even run the whole thing from a 16/32GB pen drive. Hard drives really dont like being wobbled.