I have seen several CarPC end results and some partial DIY's but I figured I may as well write a DIY for everyone to be able to use. I do not have factory navigation so I will have to add an overlay in order to have touchscreen feedback. For those with it, you are able to tap into the screen and then through a USB cable into the computer. I pulled the battery on my MacBook so whenever it gets power it will automatically turn on.
Parts List:
1 Computer, many use a mac mini, I had a MacBook lying around so I decided to use it. You have to get rid of mac OSX in order to use CentraFuse which is the frontend I decided to use. I'm using windows XP as it’s small and fast to boot.
Centrafuse 4.0 or other version, its $150 but a Google search with to**ent will provide magical results
Touchscreen Overlay- available at dealextreme.com for $35
VGA to composite Converter Box- dealextreme.com $35
3.5mm to composite Audio cable
Yellow composite video
OBDII to USB box- this is optional but I really wanted to see my gauges on the dash
2 20 foot USB extensions- one for the screen the other for the OBDII port
MacBook 12v power adapter
Electrical Tape
Wire Taps
Lots of Patience!

First Step is to remove all the dash.
Put the cars e-brake on
Put ignition to “on” but doesn’t start, move gear lever to drive, now push down the leather sleeve from the chrome trim and you will reveal a clip holding the gear shifter. Now pull up on the gear shifter and now you can pull up the trim off. Once removed there will be two screws at the bottom of the Hvac controls, remove those and then there will be two more screws below the air vents, remove those and now you have access to the screen.
Next tape the overlay over the LCD screen as seen in the picture, don’t wire anything up yet as the flex connector is weak and you wouldn’t want it breaking.

With the overlay installed, it’s time for some wiring. I slid the usb cable through the right side if the dash, down through the console past the cup holders and then the wires leave the center console under the passenger seat tracks.
They then crawl into the passenger plastic siding and then up through the rear seat. If you stick your hand in-between the backrest of the back seat you will feel foam in a hole, if you pull the out you have direct access to the trunk. I would recommend removing the entire lining of the trunk as it makes the job a lot easier, this way you can hide the wires better as well. After removing all the clips, on the rights side you will be able to see the whole the foam once covered. After passing the USB cable there are still others to pass through, the Video, Audio and OBDII usb cable. For audio and video after removing the cup holders, which pop of by sliding the trim piece forward and then up, you will see the Composite video connectors, you have to tap all 5 wires, there will be a red and green on one side and then red black white on the other. The Audio share a ground. You have to cut the ends of the composite cables and tap each corresponding wire.
Sneak the cable back to the truck once again. The OBDII cable takes the same path only on the driver side. Once this is all done you have completed the wiring side of the project, which is the hardest part. For the software I will continue this DIY for Centrafuse and personalizing it as other may decide to use a different front end. I will have more pics up soon as I’m finishing it later today and tomorrow.

 

in for updates!

 

Nice.....

 

Ran into some issues with the resolution on the screen, I'm investigating it further. As of now i have two option, replace the screen with a liliput touchscreen or get a VGA to RGB converter, both options are around 200 300 so I dont even know if i am going to continue with this project

 

I hope you do. Standing by for updates.

 

I have some updates!
I have reasearched since i wrote this thread and have found that standard VGA already contains, RGB+HV output, this is very important as i can easily go from vga directly to the monitor. I will experiment this weekend by trying to tap into the screen. If this works i will have to create a switch with several relays that will switch the screen from the CarPC to the OEM display output

 

Any updates? I am installing a pc as well but am looking to add another touchscreen (somewhere) instead of tapping into the original screen.

Planning to add pc for OBD dianostics ,.etc

 

did it not work out in the end..