iPad installation for Nav etc

[bdavbdav]

Hi All,

Not so long ago I installed an RNS-E in my 09 A3 sportback - the RNS-E seems well integrated, but apart from that its a bit of a pain to use - iPod integration is rubbish and nav seems a bit flaky (I think I may have a dodgy DVD drive).

After seeing this, I started looking at how the iPad could be used in place of the RNS-E for music and Nav, and how that could be integrated.

I have the old concert radio sat here, whose volume and tune knobs sit proud of the dash, however most of the rest of it is fairly flush (and if it sits too proud still, I can't imagine removal of the faceplate would be that difficult.)

Does anyone know of an auto interior fabricator in the south central area of England (or possibly further afield) that could be contracted to help design and build a unit such as the one in the link above, using materials as close to whats currently there as possible?

My next question would be does the Concert respond to any CAN-BUS commands other than the ones issued by the wheel? My intention, if this is at all feasible (I'm happy creating the app, the integration is the questionable bit), is to make an app so that when its sitting over the radio, things such as source selection, radio presets etc are changeable.

Am I just getting myself into a world of hurt? Thanks to anyone in advance!

 

[glasgowdubber]

That is the ********!!!!!!

If this is a hint of what's to come for ICE, stick me down for one in every car i own from now

 

[J.R.]

I'm also on this mod : ........Try and email or contact : SoundMan Car Audio - SoundMan News and see if they can make one for are Audi a3's. If not we need to find somebody in the UK....this mod is a must because I ain't really felling RNS-E any more......even thou I've never had one..lol

 

[sparki]

New VW Camper ‘Bulli’ has iPad as control centre | Tech on the Go – News and Reviews covering iPhone, Android and Mobile Computing

Saw this in Top gear mag for the new VW camper if i could do this for the a3 it would be sick!

 

[bdavbdav]

Thats what I want to go for ideally - I know Vol+/-, Seek +/- are transmitted on the CAN bus to the radio so they shouldn't be too hard to suss out, its just other things, such as source selection and power - If I could nail those, I could cover up the whole radio, and still have a functioning radio (Station name appears in DIS, which also means you could sniff it on the CAN bus, and display it on the "fake" radio interface on the iPad, using a CAN bus interface).

 

[bdavbdav]

I'm also on this mod : ........Try and email or contact : SoundMan Car Audio - SoundMan News and see if they can make one for are Audi a3's. If not we need to find somebody in the UK....this mod is a must because I ain't really felling RNS-E any more......even thou I've never had one..lol

Indeed - I've only just bought the RNS-E a couple of months ago and already its driving me nuts. I've just dropped them an email - I guess for it to be economical it would be good to get a handful of people after them so the design is worthwhile on their behalf.

 

[sparki]

Top 9 iPad in-Car Solutions - Car Tech - Car Audio and Electronics few different solutions and people doing it

 

[bdavbdav]

I've just been down to size it up - the ipad fits (widthways) between the edges of the two rubbery side bolsters either side of the HU, so I'm sure it can be done fairly neatly with some forethought - maybe if a dock could be fabricated with the rubbery stuff either side as an extension on top of the radio.

 

[sub39h]

i don't think this is a terrible idea... i can't see it being all that difficult wiring the SDS button to the button at the bottom so you have voice control, and i'm sure the audio could be wired out using an AUX connection of some description.

but how quickly will it wear thin that you get to your car and the window's smashed and someone's been at the dash with a hacksaw trying to get the iPad out? not worth it imho.

 

[J.R.]

i don't think this is a terrible idea... i can't see it being all that difficult wiring the SDS button to the button at the bottom so you have voice control, and i'm sure the audio could be wired out using an AUX connection of some description.

but how quickly will it wear thin that you get to your car and the window's smashed and someone's been at the dash with a hacksaw trying to get the iPad out? not worth it imho.

Well if it's not parked on your drive .........you simply take it out of the nice leather cover... .....simples ....... check out the video.....

 

[Kelza]

this is done in a audi a4...
Audi A4 Avant Build with In-Car iPad - Install Logs - Car Audio and Electronics

 

[NHN]

This is nothing tbh chaps, check out mp3car.com, some of the work on that site is unreal, 1st class in all areas.

 

[poli84]

I love the G8 set-up where he was running the the Rev program.
His application is crap (I would want it much more integrated in the dash than that), but running that app that is connected to the OBD is really cool.

The OEM bluetooth doesn't support music playback does it?
You would need to change that out also.

The A4 had a good idea of running a standard radio in the dash, fitted with bluetooth and USB out.
You could then build a custom bracket over the stereo for the iPad to sit flush.
The bracket could have an integrated charge point or you could just play your music over bluetooth and charge when you take it in at night.

I'm pretty keen on this.
Would love to see some development.
Love the idea of a custom app too.

 

[spencer361]

As a temporary measure before I buy an RNS-E I bought the xcarlink bluetooth system to go in the back of my symphony so now I can get the music/movie sound through my ipad and iphone. My Mate in is renault has done the same thing and hangs his ipad from the most furthest air vents under the windscreen over the center dash vents.

But really this is what you want!

 

[bdavbdav]

@Spencer - that is exactly what I want - if it doesn't look OEM(ish) i'm not bothering!

Just had an email back from Doug at SoundMan who reckons it would be about $1000 (£630ish at the moment) for a prototype, which could then be duped by someone else. If the dock was absolutely amazing, £630 might almost be worth it alone. I'm sure he must be able to drop the price to do a few of them - half the battle has to be in the design.

Doug Bernards ✆ to me
show details 23:29 (10 hours ago)
i'll make the prototype and you can have em made. i charge about 1000 per dash mod.
so i dont know if it would be cheaper to have me hand build all of them or have someone pop moulds for you

 

[J.R.]

@Spencer - that is exactly what I want - if it doesn't look OEM(ish) i'm not bothering!

Just had an email back from Doug at SoundMan who reckons it would be about $1000 (£630ish at the moment) for a prototype, which could then be duped by someone else. If the dock was absolutely amazing, £630 might almost be worth it alone. I'm sure he must be able to drop the price to do a few of them - half the battle has to be in the design.

That's Great......I better start saving..........But who's going to be the Ginny pig first ?

 

[N8]

Was gonna post that pic, Luke Massy did this one:

 

[bdavbdav]

The Beetle one is very neat - gone for the volvo style floating dash.

@Digzz - I'm on the edge - on the one hand its a lot of money for what it is, but on the other, looking at their previous work, if anyones going to do a good job these guys are. I've still got to work out whether I want to keep the radio behind, or scrap it and mount a small amp in its place behind the dash - only problem then is the high level feed to the bose - I'm slowly getting into the cycle of replacing more and more stuff (especially after seeing the guide for using an iPad with digital audio out to an Audison BitOne )