hans14914

Thanks guys.

I should have a new batch of pictures soon with finished inserts, including the acrylic sections. These sections have been made large enough to provide illumination behind the buttons an *****, as well as for the label/icon below. You will notice that there is discrete lighting behind the push-buttons for the climate. This is how you can tell the status of the vents. The label/icon below the function will be constant, but the ring around the button will glow if the feature is toggled on.

From left to right on the climate section, we have: fan speed, AC, recirc, full color OLED display (only way i could get the backlight and display to match the factory digidash on the 89+ cars), foot vents, windshield vents, temp control.

The windsheild button has a timer feature, if you press and hold, it will activate the defrost mode. When in defrost, the backight on the button changes to red.

I am working on a simpler version of the climate interface as well, but that is down the road. It will use the same "brain" so development will be fast and easy... once I have time to do it.

IrishLegend

Cool.

pcar928fan

YUMMY!!! Reminds me of the Keith's white GTS in many ways! Pauls S4 also favors this...they just kept with the stock A/C stuff though and just added the screens and moved stuff around a bit. Making the switches and climate control stuff current and up to date electronically would make a HUGE improvement in the car overall!

Leon Speed

Wow. Looks like a lot of work. I appreciate you doing this, looking forward to the end product. So where does the radio (in my case with integrated navigation) go?

Benton

Sheesh Hans, I didn't know that's the kind of stuff you were doing with the console parts! I look forward to seeing the end result.

hans14914

There will be a working version available for viewing at SITM this year. Make sure you come so you can play around with it.

That said, the frames and infrastructure are done now. These are CNC'ed parts, so they can go into production soon. However, I have just finished up the frames, and havent even had a chance to send a set down to Paul for him to work his magic.

In full disclosure, I also do not have the acrylic inserts tweaked yet. I am planning on having them perfected tomorrow night, but that is speculation. Again, once the code is perfect, they are ready to go, they are also CNC'ed parts. After the acrylic is shaped properly, I still need to perfect the diffuser coating to get an even backlight. I have to try a couple things. I have some special vinyl to apply to the back, also a custom paint used in large scale rear projection systems, and good old fashioned sanding or chemical etching to try.

Additionally, hardware design is completed for the climate, but the code is still in early stages. I can operate all functions with simple commands, but have not bound them together in an "atonamous" code. I have found a local software designer who will help me complete this portion of the project.

It was my intention to wait to post this until there was a working prototype. However, this is in no way vaporware. I just felt the need to get my hat in the ring with the recent posts by HP and others that they were experimenting with a similar design.

Prices will be fair. I am working out an agreement with a vendor to discount pricing on the LCD. My current mainboard of choice is the Zotac NM10-ITX, and it is availble for around $140 last i checked. It is complete with processor, and wifi... all you need to add is ram (and HD, PS... etc, but no extra processor or wireless car purchase require). It is very energy efficent, and has a good built in feature set. Also - lifetime warranty.

Thanks
Hans

AO

Hans,

I'd like to nominate that you quit your day-job and work full-time on this (and some of your other skunk-work projects) so we can all benefit. Anyone 2nd?

Ninespub

It looks like I can sell my spare console, extra faceplates and other stuff I was gonna start modding this summer. It looks like a great idea and the execution thus far is impressive. As always though, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth over the expected entry price for your effort because (almost) all of us are broke from the the other needs of our beloved 928's.

BTW, between you and Paul, you probably could do an extension of the center armrest forward into the old switchplate area that has a fixed cup holder of sorts. That's one of the things I was gonna do after I put the switches where the ashtray is, delete the clock and rear AC controls and put in a double-din receiver/nav unit. Not that I thought about this at all. As Joe Biden would say: This is F*cking Huge!"

hacker-pschorr

Hmm...that same piece in brushed aluminum.....?

hans14914

HP,

You can have any finish you want. Paul will be providing the top layer, and his CO2 laser can cut and engrave just about anything. It is up to Paul to comment, but I designed the backlight section the way I did, so it would be relatively easy to customize the labels/icons under the 8 carputer buttons. Most will use for normal track control functions and modes (radio, GPS, Sharktuner....) but you can use them for anything.

Also, to address the comments about needing more room for gauges - the LCD works as an auxilary dash. Use something like the Innovate AuxBox, and you can display and log as many parameters as you want.

Champagne

Hello everyone, and thank you for the positive comments.

Hans as been working very hard on this and we spent countless hours refining the vision of a complete system for those who choose to bring their cars in line with the finest offerings that is produced today.
But we also designed the system to be modular in that one can choose to use only one component to update one of the original systems that might be failing.

The AC head and the window switch modules will both be available on their own, and also as part of a complete system.

The whole system, including the separate modules will be available in a variety of finishes to complement any interior.

More details to come.

Paul

Jim M.

All I can say is WOW! I'm interested whenever it becomes available. I've been wanting to add a GPS system but dislike the dash mounted or suction cup units. WOW, great work Hans.

auzivision

Hans... don't forget DR design request

Mike Frye

Seriously. I'm drooling here.

How about offering up a group rate for the first batch if there is enough interest?

You probably won't recoup all of your development costs at once, but it could help replenish the funds a bit and get some of us a good deal for less than planned retail.

Hadn't thought of that. Duh! Very cool!

Champagne

We will look at all the possibilities and if there is a way we will try to offer an introductory discount. As the different components become available, we will need to gauge the actual demand for each. Setup cost for these electronic devices is not cheap.

Paul