So since September I’ve done very little on this project as it has been working quite well and I liked the optics it offered.

The changes I have done though are basically instead of using an old touch screen surround cut back and mounting it to the tablet screen I’ve cut slots into a new surround and now slide the tablet through this gap. I feel this gives a much better appearance. This is further supported by a gutted touch screen cradle plus angle brackets and double sided foam tape. All-in-all a very sturdy construction. The pictures below are interim and the rough edges etc. have now been finished of to an altogether better finish.





I also played around with the home screen layout and revised some of the Tasker App profiles to manage automated processes including launching Sygic navigation on power connection and closing on power loss. Also screen brightness etc were automated. Here's a quick pick of the new home screen.



Unfortunately, a mate of mine was looking for an Android build for his Beemer and whilst we were discussing options I started thinking and found this. It’s an 8.8 inch Android 6.0 head unit running the same resolution as the current 8.8 and 10.25 inch Beemer OEM units



Having talked to the supplier and Gary at InCarTec I’ve now ordered a similar unit and am waiting to get it in my hands to have a play. Basically it will replace the OEM stereo, in the same location. I’m going to use a spare head unit fascia as the surround and hopefully fit the stereo flush to this. Based on my measurements it should fit snugly both in height and width. Which is why I’m going ahead as I personally do not like the ‘empty space’ around a double DIN build.

I will then retain the MediaPad in the touch screen location and decide how to combine the two, using the 3.5mm headphone out of the MediaPad. However, I think I’ll use the Mediapad for an “on screen” clock and other info (weather, calendar, etc.) in default ‘mode’ and actively use it for movies etc. if required.

Below are a few mock ups of what it should look like once completed?

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

personally i think it's quite impressive, the vision and the know how plus the patience to carry it out. 2019 RRS P400e Autobiography
2014 RRS 3.0 TDV6 HSE Dynamic
2006 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSe
Alfa Romeo Guillietta 2.0 JTDM 2011
Mazda 3 1.6 2010
Subaru Impreza 2.0 WRX 2005

Thanks Pakolainen

Well a small update. I've received the head unit and it powers up which is far as I will get until it's installed.

Here are a couple of photos:





One thing you may note is that the surround isn't plastic but metal... Doh! That's going to complicate things a little.

I then hacked apart a spare stereo fascia, hacked being the operative word, to see how the two meet up compared to my calculations and bearing in mind the new issue with the metal fascia.

Again some photos:

















All-in-all, I am actually quite happy, and quietly confident that it'll work. So now I'm going to give the fascia and the stereo to my trusty garage and get them to mate them up, top and tail the metal fascia to fit and manufacture the brackets that will be mounted to the stereo chassis and mount onto the OEM mounting points.

Once this is done I'm going to initially install the stereo using the InCarTec kit and get it all functioning. Then and only then will I return the stereo to the garage for them to finalise the fitting and the prepare and paint the fascia.

Then it is the home straight with installing the new spoiler mounted reversing camera (from InCarTec), wiring it up to the new stereo and then re-configuring the tablet which is already installed. The end result should be a 100% Android In Car system running Android 6.0 all round and with full customisation and phone integration

But that is some way off and there is oh so much that can go wrong in between....

So fire away ladies and gents, let me know your thoughts

Cheers

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

And the award for perseverance goes to........

Have said it before, but very impressed with this, moreso as it is something that I couldn't even consider, let alone implement.

Well done Sir  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Thanks Beancounter_74 and I'm continuing.

Well due to heat and lack of spare time I've passed the Project onto my go to guys at the garage. They've had a play and as of today this is where we stand:











The fit looks spot on and it should integrate very well into the existing dash. Finally a modern main display supported by a secondary tablet in the OEM touch screen location

By the end of the week the brackets will be done, the filling/ sanding completed and the majority of the external cabling done. This will allow me to have a play before my holidays, and at least power it up and may be even do some configuration.

However, because of the timing, and Ramadan and my holidays little progress will be made until July , but then a 2-3 day hit should get this and the spoiler mounted camera working After that it's configuration time and deciding whether to install separate amps for all the speakers....

So what you think?

Cheers

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

Now with the protective card taken off, filling/ sanding underway










Personally think it looks good, hopefully with the Kenwood amps and a decent interface this build should really hit home.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll collect the head unit with the brackets installed and have a proper trial fit and power up over the weekend latest. Initially I'll run it with the head unit amplification but expect to install the external amps asap.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

This is insane.
If this thing can do FM/Spotify/satnav/iPod and steering wheel controls, I will bring my car over to you with a bucketful of cash and ask for a build of this kind. Regards etc.,

Wojtek

---
WAS: 2006 RRS Supercharged
IS: 2010 RRS TDV8 HSE

Yes it can , or at should be able to. But it's a looong drive from Poland to Muscat

Check it out here. Lots of others to chose from but happened to choose this one as it looked the best fit.

However, if it all works your local car audio experts should be able to do this no problem

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

And the great Range Rover God of the mud said, let there be POWER!!

and there was:







It's working

Loads to do but it's proof of concept, and I know you guys say no photo, didn't happen so there you go.

Whats to do? loads, not in any pareticular order though:

1. Get speakers working initially with InCarTecs speaker bypass then with amps.
2. Pair bluetooth and WiFi - DONE
3. Get steering wheel controls to work
4. Change boot animation from Toyota to Range Rover/ Land Rover - ONGOING
5. Finish surround in piano black
6. Make cabling nice
7. Strip down and relocate OEM stereo - DONE
8. Download apps, map data etc - ONGOING
9. Attach USB drive with music and movies as the internal hard drive is limited to 16Gb
10. Install new rear spoiler mounted reversing camera and hook it up
11. Position external mic in OEM location.
12. Position external GPS receiver in OEM position.
13. Trial Nova launcher interface and also Android Auto & Automate beta

Well that's it for now.

Let me know your thoughts

Cheers

Guy

Edited: For updates plus additional items on list. 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

Last edited by Guyzer73 on Thu May 11 2017 8:08am. Edited 1 time in total

Speechless.
If there was a possibility to route the stock 4x4 info screen to the big one in order to replace the small stock touchscreen with the basic Disco3 empty box... that would be the king of all systems for a RRS. Regards etc.,

Wojtek

---
WAS: 2006 RRS Supercharged
IS: 2010 RRS TDV8 HSE

@ TheWojtek, I don't think that would be possible, at least not directly. However, if you can think of a way please let me know

Apart from that I'm liking having two customisable screens in the car, I should be able to get an awesome setup sorted out. The only gripe I have is that the top screen is still unreadable in direct sunlight, something that happens a lot here.

Ultimately thinking of designing some kind of 'visor' to be added to the dash top to give some 'shade' to the screen.

Cheers

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

Last edited by Guyzer73 on Thu May 11 2017 8:34am. Edited 1 time in total

That is superb Guyzer, hats off to you,

Is this just a one off prototype for your own personal amusement, or have you ambitions to make something that is marketable? I'm sure there would be people who would like to spruce up the inside of their first generation RRS's.

Good luck with the next items on the list  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Cheers Beancounter_74,

It's for my own amusement. Whilst I can see the market for it the cost is significant when you consider the head unit, InCarTec's various harnesses and then in all likelihood two further amplifiers, associated cabling, spoiler mounted rear view camera etc. Not to mention my location isn't great for shipping things to the UK/Europe...

However, once completed and working properly I upload a guide of sorts on how others can replicate this build.

I'm going to need the luck, as the say 80% of the work for 20% of the time/ cost, the final 20% takes 80% of the time /cost. In this case time as it's all the fiddly wiring and configuration that needs to be done. Currently driving around with no audio whatsoever, which I hope to rectify tonight.

Cheers

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"

No audio, that would do my head in, I think I'd have gaffer taped a Bluetooth speaker to the dash by now to run from my phone  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

something similar had already crossed my mind...

Let's just say if I can't get the audio wired up tonight I think I'll be 'installing' my Bose Soundlink in the car until it's working...

Guy 2006 RRS S/C CONSTANTLY under modification...
1994 RRC 4.2l not LSE sadly gone but not forgotten
LR Defender 300Tdi - affectionately know as "The Black Beast"