Query on E34 OBD1 display options.

[Shoomakan]

Hey all,

I'm in the process of cleaning up my interior, and I've had a few ideas I'd like to discuss with you.

1. Have a tablet/phone display show certain information via an app such as TORQUE, or one similar. This will have a custom mount in the car and be part of the car's actual dashboard/console.

2. Install a double din touchscreen headunit with a Windows CE OS. That way, it will become my car's main multimedia device, and I'd also connect it via USB to the diagnostic port and have it run a program similar to TORQUE.

Now, after doing alot of reading online, I've found out some things. Namely,

1. Our cars have OBD1, which apparently is un-standardized and therefore the connectivity options are much more limited. I can buy a normal scanner and scanning program and run it, but it wouldn't be what I want it to be that way. I want it to be a car diagnostic/display device as well.

2. I can't find any bluetooth OBD1 connectors. Found plenty for OB2. However, I did find an OBD1 to OBD2 conversion cable. I wonder if those can't be matched up to work.

What I found which might be relevant:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-IN-1-BMW-Diagnostic-Interface-INPA-BMW-Dash-Scanner-2-10-Scanner-1-4-OBD2-Tool-/251207104443?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3a7d1c37bb&vxp=mtr

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325ic-M50_2.5L/Tools/Scan_Tools/

I know at the very least, I can get the tablet/phone/WinCE headunit in and hook it up to my audio, so at the very least it could be a multimedia device. I'd love to do the rest of it, though.

So, any ideas? Links? Products?

[shaytanabyad]

Best of luck and please keep this going. I'm a big apple fan but I think Windows would be your best bet if you want to do more than just audio. From what I've read, I don't think the OBDI to OBDII converters work well. It might get some data across but not all. I've been told the only true way to have access to everything is through a serial port - hence the suggestion to go the Windows route. Anything is possible though...it might just require some coding on your part.

Check out my thread on trying to get the M5 cluster working in my 540. It might help answer some questions about OBDI access.

There's always the GERT box, too, which is pretty sweet.

What are your plans for mounting? How would you get it in the dash and still have access to the HVAC controls?

[Shoomakan]

Best of luck and please keep this going. I'm a big apple fan but I think Windows would be your best bet if you want to do more than just audio. From what I've read, I don't think the OBDI to OBDII converters work well. It might get some data across but not all. I've been told the only true way to have access to everything is through a serial port - hence the suggestion to go the Windows route. Anything is possible though...it might just require some coding on your part.

What are your plans for mounting? How would you get it in the dash and still have access to the HVAC controls?

What HVAC controls? :devillook

Gert box is definitely cool. Not what I'm looking for, though.

[shaytanabyad]

I guess I ran with an assumption. You'd put it were the radio/OBC/HVAC controls are, right?

[cddallara]

It's probably all stripped out, because race car!!

? :shifty

[Hofmeister]

Like said likely better off on Windows tablet or even a stripped out netbook with touchscreen. Not just for performance but also because reading on a small screen while driving might be bad.

[Shoomakan]

It's probably all stripped out, because race car!!

? :shifty

Race touring!!!!

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:D:D

[shaytanabyad]

Ha. Nice.