daydok

found this website:

http://www.tunertricks.com/blog/

guy puts an imac mini on his gti, then
uses a touch screen monitor for input.
the mini, if you have not seen it, is a 6.5"x6.5"x2" pc.
http://www.apple.com/macmini/

i was thinking of putting the mac mini on the glove compartment, and somehow routing the output to the idrive monitor. you can have a bluetooth keyboard/keypad combo for input.

use a bluetooth phone for data connection...

...am wondering if anyone else entertained this idea? seems like power is the main concern.

just wondering,
daydok

freed0m

Me too! Me too! I am seriously thinking about MiniMac'ing my E60...

Guest

I seriously thought about it as well, but then asked myself why? I already own an ipod and a dvd player was only $150. So what else would you be doing with it? If you really needed to do some wireless internet surfing you are better off pulling over and whipping out a laptop. For those that are interested here is a good site with lots of info:

http://www.mp3car.com

freed0m

Ya, I agreed with you 'Guest' in the praticality sense of things...

But the geek factor that "one can" is another thing. BTW, I am planning on putting in two Alpine 6.5" touch screen LCDs in the headrest to control the GUI and also use the MiniMac as a central brain for DVD/MP3/DivX/WWW (e60.net)

daydok

hey freed0m, let me know how it goes... sounds like a really cool project.
i do the surfing (wardriving via laptop), but the integrated lcd takes the cake for a mac mini install!!

freed0m

daydok,

Now you talking!!! I did quite a lot of wardriving 'back in the day' using Netstumber and Kismet to do security assessment of companies Wi-Fi infrastructures. You gonna be in Vegas this year for Def Con 13?

daydok

no, but it sounds like i'm missing out. (a side trip to the olympic gardens never hurts, either ).

i'm actually more on the SAN side of the IT world, but moving to CA i'm getting trained on e-trust as well.

i'll definitely be on the lookout for a black-on-black 545i with the euro reflectors on hwy101!

cheers,
daydok

freed0m

Wow! Small world We uses Network Forensics (aka. Silent Runner) and are considering SCC. I've done most of the SANS GIAC stuff... Def Con is just an annual off-site trip for our IT Security team

300TTto545

I have thought of the exact same thing (and posted about it months ago).

Costs about $1300 in total ($600 for bluetooth mini, $100 for keyboard and mouse, $500 for Idrive screen module, $200 for aux input for sound) - all very rough prices. Some have said just use a ac inverter for power - it doesn't need much. I was hoping for a 12V connector for the Mini - just a cleaner install (saves weight). I am also waiting for more word on the Navwithtv idrive connector.

I have thought of a ton of uses - true integrated MP3 (songname on screen), DVD playback (with TV option), browsing e60.net (I am sorry but I am not going to carry a laptop around), looking up menus of restaurants, checking email at redlights. I am currently house shopping and the internet access would help a lot - I did the laptop thing but I hated carrying it in and out of the house (and it isn't safe to just have it sitting there).

To whomever got an Ipod and DVD for $150 - great job. But that $ amount is unrealistic for most. And you still need the $500 connector. Where I come from, a DVD player is $100 and an Ipod is $200 at least. Are they in the same box - no. Can you see the MP3 song titles on your screen - no. Do you have to open the glove box to change songs - yes (unless you have it out which is certainly not what I want). So that solution realistically costs $800 - it isn't that much more to have a fully functioning computer. And I don't have a laptop (anymore) so add another $400 for even a used one and we are in the same ballpark.

What I really want is to tap into the idrive controller. I realize the mouse would work well on the center console and you can put a holster for it in the back seat area (or just behind the passenger seat). It would also be nice to tap into the steering wheel controls....

You know that 5 years from now someone will come out with a car with an integrated PC. With voice recognition. "google I-40 traffic cams". With open architecture. You know that it won't be BMW and it won't cost less than $2000 for awhile (although it might be $1000 added onto navigation)

daydok

i agree. man, it would be even nicer if we can use the i-drive as the mouse.

if not the five year wait, some brave soul (with lots of imagination and not fearing opening up his 5), can hopefully say "i've done it!", and here's how i did it. i'm sure, like you researched, the price is not the barrier - it's how clean the integration will be.

good luck on your house hunting!

daydok