Obioban's 2005 IR/IR Coupe

[Obioban]

Finally had a chance to get my car reassembled, with the rear wall installed. Hoping to be able to take her for a spin tonight!

Upholstry work is very much not my forte, but it's the trunk, which I've always looked at as the business end of the the car, that doesn't need to look immaculate.



Stupidly, I didn't think to take a picture from the front, and now the child seat is installed... so I can't.

Not sure what people are talking about when they say the rear plate isn't as noticeable as the front brace-- to me, it's just as impactful to the driving experience, in all the same ways! It also has an unexpected side benefit, that I'm getting notably less sound transmitted from the trunk to the cabin. That may sound like stating the obvious, since I literally put a wall between them, but enough sound deadening was removed to install it that I expected it to go the other way. Related: I'm pretty sure this is actually a net weight removing mod, once you factor in the sound deadening that must be removed to install it.

[Obioban]

Do you ever take phone calls using CarPlay? If so, can anyone hear you on the other end/does it sound like you’re in a helicopter? Not happy with my Avin/Heli setup

Ha, not if the car is in motion. I either stick an airpod in or stick my phone, on speakerphone, between the sun visor and roof.

That said, that's also what I do in the e60, e82, and did in the e46 back when it had stock bluetooth, sooo.... not much change.

I don't know if my standards have changed, or the way phones interact with bluetooth has changed, but I swear the factory bluetooth speakerphone was viable/fine from 2005 to ~2015, and it isn't anymore. Not sure what's up with that...

[Bry5on]

I was replacing my Avin (because, being the high quality Chinese unit it is, it has decided that it won't turn on if it's a little chilly out) with an Xtrons, and was kind of surprised that the two units were seemingly different inside.

Fronts (Identical):




Rear (unrelated, everything in different locations):



Also, the new unit has internal wireless carplay, instead of a dongle.

I'm sure it's pissing into the wind, but I selected this particular unit over Xtrons other offerings (or another Avin) because it supposedly uses automotive grade internals. We will see...

Do you ever take phone calls using CarPlay? If so, can anyone hear you on the other end/does it sound like you’re in a helicopter? Not happy with my Avin/Heli setup

[Obioban]

Finally had a chance to get my car reassembled, with the rear wall installed. Hoping to be able to take her for a spin tonight!

Upholstry work is very much not my forte, but it's the trunk, which I've always looked at as the business end of the the car, that doesn't need to look immaculate.



Stupidly, I didn't think to take a picture from the front, and now the child seat is installed... so I can't.

[D-O]

Really nice work. Sonos is the bomb.

[Obioban]

Been building a house for long time, and don't really generally feel comfortable posting pictures on the internet.

However, I think this is probably fine. I've been doing, among other stuff, all the low voltage wiring in the house. Yesterday I finally finished that (well, hardware wise) and wanted to show off the prettiest part of my ~400 hours of work... before I ugly it up with patch cables.

[0-60motorsports]

While not impossible, it would definitely be difficult to implement, requiring a string of ADCs and DACs tied to a Microsemi/Microchip ZL38002. I would need both the input from the microphone as well as the output audio from the headunit, both in digital PCM format. That, coupled with the exotic ZL38002 are a recipe for an expensive unit.

I am currently working with another dev to develop a CarPlay / Android Auto solution that keeps the Nav computer in place, uses the factory Board Monitor and Board Monitor controls and most importantly: Does not require a Video Module/TV Module, meaning it would plug and play into any factory Nav car. The unit will be Raspberry Pi based (because of course), and leverage one of the "CarLinkits" dongles. I may also take it a step further and allow it to displace/replace the Nav radio and the Nav computer so it can run standalone with just a Board Monitor -- this would make it much easier to retrofit to a Non-Nav car, for example.


-Ted

Ted,

Im really looking forward to this. Me and Bluebus dont get along LOL

[t3ddftw]

What we really need to make the mics in these things viable is for someone to release a line in/line out box with a background sound canceling chip in it. I tried to talk Ted ( t3ddftw) into making one, as he's currently using just such a chip in the Bluebus, but couldn't sell him on the idea. I think it would actually have a pretty large audience-- basically anyone with any 3rd party heat unit in any car, using an external mic.

While not impossible, it would definitely be difficult to implement, requiring a string of ADCs and DACs tied to a Microsemi/Microchip ZL38002. I would need both the input from the microphone as well as the output audio from the headunit, both in digital PCM format. That, coupled with the exotic ZL38002 are a recipe for an expensive unit.

I am currently working with another dev to develop a CarPlay / Android Auto solution that keeps the Nav computer in place, uses the factory Board Monitor and Board Monitor controls and most importantly: Does not require a Video Module/TV Module, meaning it would plug and play into any factory Nav car. The unit will be Raspberry Pi based (because of course), and leverage one of the "CarLinkits" dongles. I may also take it a step further and allow it to displace/replace the Nav radio and the Nav computer so it can run standalone with just a Board Monitor -- this would make it much easier to retrofit to a Non-Nav car, for example.


-Ted

[jrgatfh]

When I installed it, I used a 3rd party mic. Never tried it without that So, not sure my experience transfers.

That said, it works well when stationary and is pretty useless when I'm in motion. I stick an airpod in if I want to have a conversation with someone while driving.

What we really need to make the mics in these things viable is for someone to release a line in/line out box with a background sound canceling chip in it. I tried to talk Ted ( t3ddftw) into making one, as he's currently using just such a chip in the Bluebus, but couldn't sell him on the idea. I think it would actually have a pretty large audience-- basically anyone with any 3rd party heat unit in any car, using an external mic.

I would kill for something like this and agree there would be a market for it if people knew it existed.

I would buy something like this for both my cars.

[Bry5on]

When I installed it, I used a 3rd party mic. Never tried it without that So, not sure my experience transfers.

That said, it works well when stationary and is pretty useless when I'm in motion. I stick an airpod in if I want to have a conversation with someone while driving.

What we really need to make the mics in these things viable is for someone to release a line in/line out box with a background sound canceling chip in it. I tried to talk Ted ( t3ddftw) into making one, as he's currently using just such a chip in the Bluebus, but couldn't sell him on the idea. I think it would actually have a pretty large audience-- basically anyone with any 3rd party heat unit in any car, using an external mic.

I actually traced the circuits in mine back to the processor and mic pins themself - the external mic is ONLY used with the Bluetooth module (ie: A2DP and phone connection). It switches over to an internal mic that has circuits coupling to ground and picking up noise from the throttle actuators and alternator for everything else. This is why it’s such shit while you’re driving using CarPlay. A noise isolator in front of the head unit might make a difference, and cutting and redoing the traces on the board itself would also likely to it. I started the experiment but the unit does NOT like being disassembled and reassembled. My touchscreen started to become intermittent after one of the reassemblies. A line in isolating circuit won’t do it here sadly.

I’m also using AirPods, it’s a pain in the ass, just a really poorly designed set of circuits.

[0-60motorsports]

https://xtrons.com/bmw-rover-mg-andr...b-rom-pe8246bl

I will add the disclaimer that I only ever use it in CarPlay mode, so don't know how happy I'd be with it if I tried to use it's native interface. It just boots into CarPlay, and I only exit if I want to use it to pull codes on my car/etc.

Thanks! Yup I plan to use it in CarPlay mode too. Hopefully get it in the Black Friday sales.

[Obioban]

Good to hear! Do you have a link to the one you ordered? I think im going to try it out with apple carplay instead OEM NAV with BB.

https://xtrons.com/bmw-rover-mg-andr...b-rom-pe8246bl

I will add the disclaimer that I only ever use it in CarPlay mode, so don't know how happy I'd be with it if I tried to use it's native interface. It just boots into CarPlay, and I only exit if I want to use it to pull codes on my car/etc.

[Obioban]

Bumping this since someone else brought up the xtrons

When I installed it, I used a 3rd party mic. Never tried it without that So, not sure my experience transfers.

That said, it works well when stationary and is pretty useless when I'm in motion. I stick an airpod in if I want to have a conversation with someone while driving.

What we really need to make the mics in these things viable is for someone to release a line in/line out box with a background sound canceling chip in it. I tried to talk Ted ( t3ddftw) into making one, as he's currently using just such a chip in the Bluebus, but couldn't sell him on the idea. I think it would actually have a pretty large audience-- basically anyone with any 3rd party heat unit in any car, using an external mic.

[Bry5on]

Interesting. My Avin rear doesn’t look like either of those, it has the white xtrons connectors but different layout. Does/did your microphone work for taking calls while using CarPlay? Mine’s got an incredible amount of feedback

Bumping this since someone else brought up the xtrons

[0-60motorsports]

It’s been great, 100%! Reliable.

My only complaint would be that the screen is glossy instead of matte.

Good to hear! Do you have a link to the one you ordered? I think im going to try it out with apple carplay instead OEM NAV with BB.