I've had the car a little over 3 weeks, so mods are limited, but here it is:






My Windows 7 car PC project should be complete in the next week or so with, navigation, 8.9" touchscreen, OBD2 integration, wireless keyboard, Dolby 5.1, JL 10W1 subwoofer and 5-channel amp.

I've been in the European car scene for a while...

-Jeremy

 

Curious on the details of the Car PC. Could you PM me the specs, and what you are using for equipment?

 

Your project sounds cool , looking forward to seeing those

 

I'm starting with an Acer AspireOne Netbook to get the 8.9" screen, 320 GB 7200RPM HD, and 1.5 GB RAM. The screen fits perfectly in the Metra double DIN adapter and will look factory. That will be the only visible piece and the rest will be behind the dash. What is needed to make this work are the following:

1. Solderless TouchScreen Kit for the 8.9" Screen (done)
2. Metra Double DIN dash kit (done)
3. USB Dolby 5.1 Audio Converter (done)
4. 5 channel amp (coming)
5. USB wireless keyboard with multitouch touchpad (coming)
6. Acer 12v DC-to-DC power adapter (coming)
7. USB 2.0 powered hub (coming)
8. Jaguar OEM stereo plug adapter (optional to not cut OEM wires, but also coming)
9. Various cables to plumb everything up
10. VGA-to-AV adapter, so I can hook up my headrest monitors for the kids to watch movies.
11. StreetDeck frontend software
12. Bluetooth adapter for BT headset
13. USB GPS module

The hardest part to work though is remotely operating the power switch, as this BIOS does not support wake from USB. I think i have that figured out though.

I work on the Windows team, so this is a good exercise in testing out mobility scenarios and feasibility. I think I will pair this with a MIFI or tether my smartphone to the car PC to have the ability to make phone calls using Office Communicator. Should make my traffic-ridden commute more productive (I'll keep my eyes off the screen).

 

might not wake from USB but should boot from USB right?

 

Car looks great!!

You're a braver man than me running 20" rims though!
How does it ride?

The Carputer looks like a mission but should be worth it once it's all done!

Good luck and look forward to hearing about the updates!

 

Other than installing Windows 7 (which I've already done from bootable USB), what would be the rationale for booting from USB? To run a Live Linux distribution and have a large portion of my USB devices not work?

 

Very nice car. Do the tires rub at all in the back (w/passengers or w/o passengers)? Just curious as you have a very nice tuck both in the front and rear. My 18x8.5's rub with the arden lowering springs so just want some advice how you managed ure look if it doesnt rub, i really like the look. TIA

 

Nice kitty you got there. I've got the same color and was wondering what % tints you have on it. Keep up the good work.

 

The rear fenders are rolled quite a bit. I've owned the car for 4 weeks, but these are the fourth set of wheels and tires I have had on it. Came with the BBS 2 piece wheels, which I promptly removed.

Then I tried 19x10 ET35 and 265/30/19 will not work with rolled fenders whatever I tried. I'm guessing a 245/35/19 on that rim is possible. Fronts were 8.5" ET35 with 225/35/19.

Snow was forecasted in early/mid December, so I then put my snow tires (18" Porsche Ultralights with adapters) on with 18x10 rear and 225/40/18 Goodyear Ultrgrips. Surprisingly that worked, albeit with corrected ET20, the outer wheels were more than an inch outside the car.

Finally, the 20s benefitted from the work to get the 19s and 18s to fit. These do not rub whatsoever (regardless of load), though the offsets are pretty high - 45mm rear and 42mm front. I wish the rears were out 10mm more, but I haven't investigated longer studs yet and this is the first vehicle I have ever owned without lug bolts.

 

20% all around. It has been quite livable so far, though I am used to 35% on previous cars.

 

Hey exexpat, glad to see you you. You have to be one of the few that haven't had problems loading 20's on their X. Must have just the right set up. Love the car and tints. Looks an awful lot like mine. Too many potholes here for me to even consider less rubber than a 225/40/18 so I won't spend too much time envying your wheels.

Did you just paint over the bumper marker lights?

 

I'm used to it. I probably have the only type 4 VW transporter on the planet with 22" wheels (not donk, but a Bentley fitment in silver), so fender rolling, pulling and wheel spacing is second hat.

Markers ae covered with graphics vinyl silver. I may sand the markings down and redo it if I get bored/****.

 

Well...thanks for doing that. It was something I was considering and now I've seen it. Didn't want to paint them if the law was going to make me change them back. I already have painted tail lights but I've been assured they are still legal.

 

I need to get more pics up of other parts of the car. I tinted my taillights, but just the clear part. It is the opposite of what people tend to do in North America, but how European car manufacturers tend to tint their taillights. (everyone here seems to leave the white and tint the red - a pet peeve of mine)

 

car looks great ex, really nice
Those rims are gonna take some cleaning thats for sure with so many spokes!
I'm concerned that there is little / no tyre sidewall protection and think that those beauties are gonna be kerbed / rashed in double quick time though

Lookin forward to future posts

 

Having had the first set of 205/40/17 Pirelli P700Z in North America in 1994 and cars with +4" - +6" wheel fitments since, (hopefully without jinxing myself) I can honestly say this doesn't bother me. The only thing that damages rims in my house is when my wife drives the car, but even she is pretty good at keeping off curbs - though she doesn't care whatsoever about protecting wheels.

 

You mentioned that you had some bbs wheels, may I ask if you still have them and if you would be willing to sell them?

 

Sorry, keeping those for the impending sale in three years.

 

FINALLY an X with proper wheel fitment- props for that. So funny how other x type people freak out about upping to 7.5" wide wheels when so much more is possible... I'm in the process of working a set of 20x9.5 rears onto my car as well.

Whats up with your brakes? Brembo calipers but tiny rotors? Are those just caliper covers?