sat nav screen

I have a 99 P38 with the interesting rectangular hole in the top centre dash - could a sat nav screen be retro fitted so that it all looks original and then use the screen as a pc monitor with one of those car pc's tucked away in the boot - not interferring with the original loom at all - it's just an idea but I was looking for ways of installing a display screen so that it looked original.....is it possible to just purchase the trim and install a new screen but from photographs it looks as though the original screen is integral with the trim....
Thanks

If you have the upgrade HK Sound system it may be that the centre dash speaker housing has been removed leaving the hole in the dash? If so i'd suggest looking for a new housing although the upgrade system is very rare (only on Vogue SE & Westminster i believe).
I'm not a huge fan of aftermarket sat nav's unless you can do a good job of installing as it just asks to be nicked.

Hi,

Firstly, yes it is possible to do what your trying, but its not necessarily that easy.

I spent along time trying to get mine right.

THe trim panel, due to the size of screen you will want (for it to be visible and useful) will need to some chopping about. This isnt really a problem, but you will need to get creative with your method of mounting the screen in the hole you end up with. Due to the molding methods used, the back of the trim has a lot of awkward shapes to chop about and enable it to refit correcly.

Main issue i had in the design, is getting round the glare that is placed on the screen during the day. You will notice most vehicles have a shroud of some time around the screen. So will be worth thinking about that inorder to have a usable screen at all time.

There are plenty of options to run power etc fromt he headunit wiring so that is simple.

Running the cables from front to back isnt too difficult.

You will need to decide on whether you want sound from the system, as this will require a additional stereo loom part, just a plug and play, but will remove any sound output from your cd changer as it gives you an effective "aux in".

Apart from any of the issues, its a fun project.

Thank you both for the replies - is it worth purchasing off fleabay a P38 sat nav screen and trim and starting from there -

smokeyone said:

Thank you both for the replies - is it worth purchasing off fleabay a P38 sat nav screen and trim and starting from there -

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Considering the silly prices the OEM screens go for on ebay and how far screen technology has come in the past 10 years or so, i'd get something more up to date!

I used to have a 2001 330ci with built in sat nav (same screen as used in the P38). This was years ago and even then the screen resolution looked on par with most 1980s computer games

Had not considered new technology and screen resolution - might be better of trying to fit a new lcd screen in to the existing dash -

Buy a 7", 9" or 10" tablet computer with GPS and maps built in, much better bet, paid £71 for mine direct from China and it even has my lane on it which many dedicated Sat Navs do not, it also has 3G telephone which can be used for positioning, Bluetooth etc plus WiFi for email on the move.

This looks like it was done well.

P38 - Navigation & iPod Integration Installed - CLEAN

This is mine - Garmin Nuvi 50 powered from a parallel circuit with the 12V power socket

How does anyone get such a neat fit after cutting the plastic near the clock....all told told seems a better way to go though - was thinking of a screen in the dash - car pc in the boot together with one of those baby wireless keyboards ....

Datatek, which make and model of tablet did you get?

merlinpjl said:

Datatek, which make and model of tablet did you get?

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PerfecSanei N79 7" Inch Core Android 4 3G WCDMA Smartphone SMS Sim Tablet PC GPS

Ebay item number 350836771157 about £71 delivered. The handbook with it is useless but the tablet seems quite good, the only bit I have not tested is the telephone function.
Update, phone function now tested, works well.

Its somthing ive thought about but cant find a screen that fits properly
I just want a monitor with at least 2av inputs 3 would be ideal
Im pretty good with the wireing and would want dvd,rear view camera and gps
In my boyracer days i had a killer system 5screens two dvd players tvs and over 4000watts
It was worth 3grand shame it was in a car worth about 1/2that

So you could store music on the Android and then play via the car stereo !!

smokeyone said:

So you could store music on the Android and then play via the car stereo !!

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Absolutely and do it while looking at the maps

Speaking of looking at the maps - is there a way of the music cutting out while the GPS gives you directions and then returning to music automatically -

Just a thought - but why is a made in China 7 inch Android less money than a 7 inch pc monitor or is the screen quality vastly different -

Of course you can always go for a single din sat nav unit if you don't want to butcher your dashboard.

smokeyone said:

Speaking of looking at the maps - is there a way of the music cutting out while the GPS gives you directions and then returning to music automatically -

Just a thought - but why is a made in China 7 inch Android less money than a 7 inch pc monitor or is the screen quality vastly different -

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HD screen Because they are made in huge quantities and sell on low margins.

HD screen Because they are made in huge quantities and sell on low margins.Ah thanks

First thing then - see if there is a way of neatly installing the screen in the dash - might buy a secondhand trim to experiment with -

Cheers

smokeyone said:

HD screen Because they are made in huge quantities and sell on low margins.Ah thanks

First thing then - see if there is a way of neatly installing the screen in the dash - might buy a secondhand trim to experiment with -

Cheers

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Waste of effort IMO, just buy a mount and stick it on the screen