Reverse camera for early (ibus) L322 (cheap!)

[bgennette]

A guy in Melbourne (Australia) designed a cheap, simple interface between the infotainment communications wiring (ibus) and a tiny computer (Raspberry Pi) that intercepts messages from the radio buttons to fake a CD Changer/player WITH video switched from the computer to the multi function display on the dashboard. The Pi runs a multimedia player (called XBMC) to output music and video from any USB device - flash memory, disk drives, TV receiver sticks, etc.

A trivial part of the system also monitors the ibus for messages from the vehicle's gear box to switch in any cheap NTSC camera when reverse is selected! The (unused) phone button on the radio is similarly monitored to allow manual selection of a rear camera when towing large trailers.

A Raspberry Pi costs ~AU$30, a memory card for the Pi costs ~AU$10 and the interface costs ~AU60. Adding postage brings this to ~AU$120. You'll need to assemble the interface circuit (needs a small, low power soldering iron) and add a few cables (plus remove any existing CD Changer, but an 8GB memory card will have space for ~50 CD images ... so you won't be loosing anything when it is removed).

Note - the interface only switches the video and amplifier in response to signals from the Raspberry Pi, it doesn't do anything on its own - you must connect a Raspberry Pi to make it work.
The Raspberry Pi needs 2 (or 3) bits of software to do its magic - 1) XBMC for running the Pi, 2) Pibus20130813.zip for interfacing to the ibus and video module (plus a message has to be added to /.config/autostart.sh to start the interface program whenever the Pi powers up) & 3) a program in the interface's controller (supplied with the kit).

All BMW, Range Rover L322, and Minis that have a Mk III or Mk IV infotainment system that uses ibus (up to about 2006) can add this if they have the multi function display on the dashboard.

Check it out - you will be impressed.

PiBUS 2 - A Raspberry Pi-BMW Interface Board (http://pibus.info/index.html)

bye.

[Laurie]

Thanks for that :D You should also post that on the Ffrr site

Laurie

[Homestar]

So, what can be done for those without the video display in the car, just the basic mid display? I'm not tech savy enough to understand if a different display or something can be used?

[harlie]

That's great, as a long time user of XBMC having it integrated in the car would be too cool.

[harlie]

So, what can be done for those without the video display in the car, just the basic mid display? I'm not tech savy enough to understand if a different display or something can be used?

Interesting Q Gav.

The kit is essentially a PC with OpenElec operating system. OpenElec is a cut down version of Linux that was put together by the XBMC community (huge community of nerdy folk like me) for the single purpose of running XBMC as a media center on PC without pesky Windows meddling, interfering and messing things up. You format the drive, load openElec and the PC is now a box that runs XBMC as the interface with Linux in the backend, all configuration is done through the XBMC interface. With this super cutdown OS the PC is now very fast, so it will run on a very low powered PC like the RasPi.

Once setup and installed, the PiBus receives input from the iBus wire, so I can’t see a problem here, those inputs are available from the basic MID system. From looking through his site, I see the video outputs are utilising the TV tuner module. A different monitor may work, but there could be issues with video format. You would need a new modified xbmc skin because your new monitor would have a much higher resolution than the factory screen.

Wonder if a touch screen would work. His pibus software converts the ibus signals into keyboard messages, and most importantly sends audio data back to the head unit. If a touch screen (need linux drivers) was added you would have touch screen functionality which works really well with XBMC. The MID unit would still be required to process audio. The PiBus would replace the CD changer and serve music through that channel.

Just thinking out loud…

[Maxintosh]

With the cost of just the MFD display being affordable and easy to find (fleabay, etc.), this could be a affordable (and nerdy) way to change from the MID to the monitor display on the dash, and have the benefit of essential a home theatre in the car dash, maybe also a GPS for the Pi?

The other is how to get the video feed into the MFD without a TV tuner unit?

The only trick is the getting the right connectors for the swap-out MID/radio/cd to the MFD and what to do with the radio & the aerial cabling (in dash for the MID/CD/Radio and in the left rear boot space for the MFD (monitor) & BM53 radio/TV Tuner/GPS/DVD)?

Just more thinking out aloud...

[harlie]

the entire harness is different in cars that have the MFD compared to MID, but I'm not sure if it will allow the MFD to be installed without GPS,TV ect. I know you need the loom for the GPS and TV modules

[Maxintosh]

I have seen and read part of the BMW E53 Monitor & Navigation Retrofit, see this...

Loading... (http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/nav/X5Nav%20Retrofit%2016-9.pdf)Loading... (http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/nav/X5Nav%20Retrofit%2016-9.pdf)

and is not for the faint hearted.

However, there are a number of fittings/plugs that swap between the radio/MID and the MFD, e.g. the I-Bus interface. There is some other info on other RR forums where it has been done, including photos and instructions. From my cursory inspection the loom changes are mostly allowing the aerial to be replaced from dash to left rear, and some CD Changer feed, as the amplifier is already in the left rear.

Just hoping that someone with more intimate knowledge of the system and BMW electronics can help out here, as this PI enhancement and a screen would be welcome upgrade for a lot of the older MID interfaces, with the all those dead pixels, etc.

[Homestar]

Hmmm - someone smarter than me would need to work all that out...:D

When someone manages to do it, let me know and I'll pay you to do mine....:)

Want a weekend project Harlie???:D

[Maxintosh]

If it is just the reversing camera and you've got the TV screen, try this for 40*USD...

Best Sellers BMW RR TV Video module Video Input cables (http://www.bimmernav.com/store/catalog/bmw-rr-tv-video-module-video-input-cables-item-39.html)

[p38arover]

Reverse camera for early (ibus) L322 (cheap!)

See https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l322-range-rover/254222-fitting-bmw-x5-style-reversing-camera-2.html#post2726234

This is even cheaper. No PiBus required, just a relay, a camera, and moving a few wires.