DIY E46 Media Centre: MP3, videos, Digital Radio, Digital TV?

654694 Views 2073 Replies 164 Participants Last post by harryberlin, 2 mo ago

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · Aug 25, 2012 (Edited)

[PIBUS] DIY E46/E39 Media Centre: MP3, videos, Digital Radio, Digital TV?

So I bought me one of those Raspberry Pi boards for $25 (actually more like $40 in Australia after shipping/gst etc) and hooked the video-out to my car. It works

It won't be easy, but potentially you could do lots of things with this, without ripping out your factory equipment:
1. MP3s with album art, playing from SDCard or USB
2. Videos off USB storage
3. Digital Radio
4. Digital TV? (antenna will be a problem)

Stay tuned, an interface to the headunit buttons is the next step. Information dumped at: http://pibus.info

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selien

· #2 · Aug 25, 2012 (Edited)

Thats sweet, I was going to build myself a carputer, then I couldnt be bothered, maybe one day.
Digital TV aerial isn't a problem, as long as you conceal and run it somewhere to obtain a signal.
I know I can hook up a usb DTV dongle to my Dynavin which has a aerial built in and it will work fine.

Jall

· #3 · Aug 25, 2012

I built a carputer in my E30, it was tight. Wanted OEM look with minimal messing around in the E46 though so went Dynavin. Raspberry Pi has been interesting me for a while, mainly as a low cost HTPC/XBMC box though. I'm interested to see how you interface it.

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 6, 2012

I know how to program a linux box, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Started designing a Raspberry PI to BMW interface board. Some features:
1. Can switch video between three sources using a relay: (a) Stock BMW menus (b) Raspberry PI (c) reversing camera.
2. Can read/write ibus while the PI isn't powered or booted up using an 8-bit microcontroller.
3. Provides switch-mode power to the PI and a way to turn it off automatically when you lock your car (don't want it draining your battery).
4. Provides two extra relays to control extra stuff: e.g. Power to your reversing camera (if you use it while not reversing), garage opener.
5. No need to rip out or wreck any factory equipment - except maybe the CD changer.

Hopefully will get a board fabricated soon. I need to quit my day job to have more time to tinker with BMW electronics.

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PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 6, 2012

shook said:
Where did you get it? I'm interested !

From Element 14.

JS330 said:
can you use the headunit buttons to control it?

When my board is done, yes.

Shonky

· #6 · Oct 7, 2012

Quite a bit more expensive than a Raspberry Pi solution but this one is basically plug and play carputer for E46 including ibus interface automatic switching on Aux etc.

http://ac-services.eu/shop/product_...--k-bus-bmw-s--e39--e46--e53--e83--e85-.html&

webdj

· #7 · Jan 9, 2013

i have raspberry PI too... i try to connect in to my E38, I think we have similar protocols=) I'll be watching this topic=)
ppmz, based on what you want to do interface board?
P.S. Sorry for my english=) i am from russia=)

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 9, 2013

webdj said:
i have raspberry PI too... i try to connect in to my E38, I think we have similar protocols=) I'll be watching this topic=)

Yes, it's all IBUS. Programming will be a big part of it, can you code any?

webdj said:
ppmz, based on what you want to do interface board?
P.S. Sorry for my english=) i am from russia=)

Interface board will provide power (and standby) to Pi, so it doesn't drain your car battery. Also it will switch video source via a relay between 1) BMW MK4 computer 2) Reversing Camera 3) Raspberry Pi. It's got a small 8-bit Atmel microcontroller to do this and uses very little power (around 500 μA) so can be left running 24/7.

I have this all working, but no software to do anything useful yet. I guess it will require some hacking with xbmc.

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[SeN]

· #9 · Jan 9, 2013

Interesting stuff... subscribed!

pythonis

· #10 · Jan 13, 2013

I had this same idea! how cool is it? I just got a wifi obd2 plugs and got them hooked up to my ipad for dashcommand. Does the raspberry pie have wifi? if so,you could do that as well for like $28 from ebay if you have the standard 16pin obd plug. this is so awesome! will have to defiantly get one now, like 5 pies actually I think...

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 3, 2013

OK so I made some progress, here's a teaser video :

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DeclanM3

· #12 · May 3, 2013

ppmz said:
OK so I made some progress, here's a teaser video :

Very cool for an interface that was made in 1970 according to the date

Sweet features. Seems a bit slow though and what happens when you turn the car on (say after getting petrol) do you need to go through all the menus to get your music playing again?

JS330

· #13 · May 3, 2013

that is awesome! want to make me one

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 5, 2013

DeclanM3 said:
Very cool for an interface that was made in 1970 according to the date

Sweet features. Seems a bit slow though and what happens when you turn the car on (say after getting petrol) do you need to go through all the menus to get your music playing again?

Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.

JS330 said:
that is awesome! want to make me one

Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board

. If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

JS330

· #15 · May 5, 2013

ppmz said:
Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.

Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board . If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

I'm quite handy with the solder, would love to see the plans for it!

DeclanM3

· #16 · May 5, 2013

ppmz said:
Jeeze, you're a tough taskmaster, I only just got the basics going. It was slow because there was a stuck program running in the background on the Raspberry Pi, I've solved that now. It's about 3-4 times quicker when clicking things.

The hardware has power even if you lock the car, just gotta add some software that gracefully shuts down after ~5 mins of inactivity.

Sure I'll make you one. It took me 6 months, so the invoice will be $50,000 or so (though there's $10 worth of parts on the board . If you're handy with a soldering iron and have lots of patience I can give you the plans.

That's good that you managed to get it going quicker. Seems like a cool solution for music videos etc. I still think Intravee II is the best for music though.

Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

JS330

· #17 · May 5, 2013

so would it be possible to run this in conjunction with my GROM plugged if i had a switch where the cd changer is?

PeteAU

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 5, 2013 (Edited)

2

JS330 said:
so would it be possible to run this in conjunction with my GROM plugged if i had a switch where the cd changer is?

GROM? I use pin 13 on the white plug of the TV module to input video and the CD changer for audio-in.

I don't really have any plans, just a schematic, board & incomplete software. If you really want a blank board, PM me your address and I'll stick one in an envelope. It shouldn't be underestimated what would be involved to build it:

1) Buy a Raspberry Pi.
2) Find a store to buy all the necessary parts (some surface mount, some thru hole).
3) Program the ATTiny microcontroller (you can buy a programmer on ebay for $5 from Hong Kong).
4) Buy a switch-mode power supply board from ebay - $2 and solder it on.
5) Play around with lots of little connectors/RCA cabling etc.
6) Find a way to mount it (in a box?).
7) Realise that the software is a work in progress and probably lacks the features you expect. Source code is available though.

Maybe these photos will put you off:

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webdj

· #19 · May 5, 2013

Can you share sources? i install raspberry Pi in my e38, connect in to ibus with hand made adapter and run Carmedia. all works but it too slow, i want to run xbmc and use ibus commands with it.
P.S. Sorry for my english, i am from Russian.

JS330

· #20 · May 5, 2013

ppmz said:
GROM? I use pin 13 on the white plug of the TV module to input video and the CD changer for audio-in.

I don't really have any plans, just a schematic, board & incomplete software. If you really want a blank board, PM me your address and I'll stick one in an envelope. It shouldn't be underestimated what would be involved to build it:

1) Buy a Raspberry Pi.
2) Find a store to buy all the necessary parts (some surface mount, some thru hole).
3) Program the ATTiny microcontroller (you can buy a programmer on ebay for $5 from Hong Kong).
4) Buy a switch-mode power supply board from ebay - $2 and solder it on.
5) Play around with lots of little connectors/RCA cabling etc.
6) Find a way to mount it (in a box?).
7) Realise that the software is a work in progress and probably lacks the features you expect. Source code is available though.

Maybe these photos will put you off:

Where abouts in melbourne are you? I'd love to see it in action and that doesn't scare me too much haha

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