BMW 5 Series E39 Boot Install (rethink)

[Sama]

when I bought my pc, I loved the VoomPC case, thinking it was great for for having a nice mini package. I went over the odds to accomedate everything into the small package. You can see the details of the pain in this thread.

Ever since, it's been squeezed in where the CD changer used to be in my car, and I've noticed that despite my efforts of keeping the case cool by making the airflow as clear as a nose that's just had a lozenge, the case still got hot on hot days.

Not only that, the ultra low profile package limited the use of plugin CF-IDE adaptors, and any use whatsoever for the PCI slot.

Whilst thinking about a place for it, I decided I should ditch th case all together and make my own mount. Something a little more modular and accessible.

So, here's the rethink I have in mind:

Before:



After:



Seemingly nothing is different, but notice the CF card in the IDE slot, and the PCI Wifi card, which has 3 external aerial inputs!!! Dunno how it performs yet.

Also, I've rewired and rerouted the cables a little, and they are enough to hold the PSU and the mobo, without a plate underneath! this wasnt' intended to happen, I only found when I took the boards off the voompc case.



Next, some spacers from Maplin underneath, so that I can mount the board on an alluminium sheet.



And finally, I coated the ally with some funky foam, to give it a nice rubbery black look and feel. I didn't take any pics of that (forgot), but you can just about make it out in the picture below. which also shows where I intend to put the pc.



and this peice of furniture comes from the boot, and was designed to be opened/closed very often, as the CD changer lived there. the picture below is from some other fellow that did an install there, and therefore the optical drive you can see there does not exist in my install.



I plan to make a port where you can see the optical drive, so that I can just remove/plug-in my external HD when I want to upadte music/videos.

the next stage is to strengthen this furniture. I already have a couple of ideas (using even more ally!), and I'll post some more pics later, as I need some input.

[Scouse Monkey]

fibreglass would be easier to work with for strengthening that sama

[2Fast]

Smashing work there sama.

[Sama]

cheers 2fast

I guess you're right there scouse. I've got some ally that I bent to support the corners, but have been thinking of ways to get keep it there. mainly, I thought of putting ally on the other side, rivetting it in, then coating the entire thing with matching carpet.

but I'm liking the idea of epoxy sticking to the carpet, which saves all that rivetting and carpeting, and at the same time as giving it some good strength.

most of the time, the comptuer will either be at a right angle, so given the area moment of inertia laws, this will not braek anything, and otherwise when maintaining, it'll be on it's side, as shown in the second to last pic.

[mischka]

my collegue - also an e39 driver - saw your work today and he went potty with enthousiasm he wants a carpc now as well but i warned him it needs some skilled hands to get it done that way.

[Sama]

it does yes, however I think that with continued enthusiasm, any hands can become skilled! I didn't know diddly squat about bezels, now I do. nor about frames, and now I do.

...perhaps one day I'll do enough spraying that I will be able to do that too!

[Scouse Monkey]

well we all know who really did your dash sama. is she gonna set up in business doing them? I need my dash doing - shall i send it all over as is she does the hardest car to do then she will have a good portfolio and the 306 is the most popular carPC car in the UK!!!!

[Sama]

wtf, where the hell did you get that from?

I did it

I fabbed it

I designed it (not the frame perhaps)

I broke it

I redid it

I I I

ME ME MEE!!

[Scouse Monkey]

did ya hell!

[Scouse Monkey]

you gonna post summit Sama?

[Sama]

freak! I was grabbing the link to show elsewhere.

I will post soon though, I'm going to take final pics before I take it all out!

[Scouse Monkey]

hehe. I am the all seeing, all knowing scouse!

taking it out? you got a new motor then?

[Sama]

nope, but getting one soon, and selling this. Still contemplating if I should sell it with or without. what do you think?