How-to: Android Head unit on a budget!

pedrovader · 28th February 2013, 13:58

Hi All,

I've been itching to get an Android head unit into my 75, but the current prices are 1: Out of my budget & 2: More than I paid for the car (Almost)

After trawling the web I found quite a few Tablet installs, one of which was done in a Beemer, which fits in quite well, as our 75 stereo systems are readily interchangeable with BMW's, and with Android tablets getting cheaper, I decided to go for a generic tablet as a proof of concept, and maybe upgrade to a better one later on.

It's at most a couple of hours work, took me around 45 mins in the end after trimming the fascia plate to suit my Tab.

From This:[IMG]

[/IMG]
To This:[IMG]

[/IMG]

If you want to give this a go you'll need:

7" Android tablet, specs to suit yourself, but anything running Android 4.1 smoothly will do. I'm tethering my Phone to the Tablet so went for a basic model without GPS or Bluetooth (Plenty of apps in the Market to allow for GPS functionality)
Standard Double Din Fascia Plate
Connects2 Mp3 Adapter to attach to current head unit
12v Ground loop isolator (Didn't realise I'd needed this until I turned on the engine and got a lovely annoying hum from the audio).
Radio Code for your Stereo

1: Disconnect the Battery (Obviously!)
2: Connect up the head unit to the MP3 Adaptor, reattach the battery and check it's all working with your steering wheel controls, I used my Phone for audio checks.
3: Remove the top of the radio then remove the 2 retaining screws: [IMG]

[/IMG]
4: Carefully detach the front panel and ribbon, keep it safe, if you remove or disconnect the battery again, you'll need to put it back on briefly to input the code.
5:All the cables are connected up, and will fit nicely into the recess at the left side of the cavity, my Cigarette adaptor is already connected and slipped down the right side:[IMG]

[/IMG]
6: Put the radio back into the gap in the dashboard, with a 90 degree turn:[IMG]

[/IMG]
7: Here's the tablet mounted in the Fascia, I took a hot knife to the panel to allow for fitting, and connections,but use whatever you prefer, probably a dremel would be best:

[IMG]

[/IMG]
8:Slip the fascia and tablet into place, and screw into position. There's a slight gap below which supports the tablet nicely, and is out of sight behind the climate control faceplate:[IMG]

[/IMG]
9: Put all the various panels back, climate control, eyebrow etc, and you're done:[IMG]

[/IMG]
10:Enjoy your budget Android system!
[IMG]

[/IMG][IMG]

[/IMG]

Hope you all like it!

Disclaimer:
You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk.
The 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original author of this How-To can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result
of you following this How-To.

Parker · 28th February 2013, 14:00

Your pics don't work?

pedrovader · 28th February 2013, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker

Your pics don't work?

Fixed links for pics, should be OK now

stugee · 28th February 2013, 14:44

Very tidy install, can you still use the radio of the original headunit or is it just being used for the amplifier?

pedrovader · 28th February 2013, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by stugee

Very tidy install, can you still use the radio of the original headunit or is it just being used for the amplifier?

Forgot to mention that. Original unit is still fully functional, you just cant see it. I preset all the channels in FM I would normally have, and steering control still works, Tablet is on the Aux input, so I can switch between the two.

Geoff130 · 28th February 2013, 16:50

Very nice looking unit, where did you get the Rover logo?

MrDoodles · 28th February 2013, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrovader

Hmm, well spotted!

Must've slipped through the net on the Google Music upload, for the kids you know how it is...ahem *Gonna be a mighty King........*

That's what you're telling us!

Excellent job with the Tablet by the way!

ceedy · 28th February 2013, 19:18

Just wondering , how its the tab powered/ going to be ? ,

As its 5volt , can't see any power lead ..(yet)

These tabs are pretty good for the money under £50 , But so far I have found they just won't communicate with either a blue tooth dongle or a GPS dongle or an OBD2 reader , down to the current limitations of the micro USB on the tablet !!.

Well on our 2 anyway ..

C.

pedrovader · 28th February 2013, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedy

Just wondering , how its the tab powered/ going to be ? ,

As its 5volt , can't see any power lead ..(yet)

These tabs are pretty good for the money under £50 , But so far I have found they just won't communicate with either a blue tooth dongle or a GPS dongle or an OBD2 reader , down to the current limitations of the micro USB on the tablet !!.

Well on our 2 anyway ..

C.

I've got it running on USB power, and it's holding its own up to now. I had a real issue with my phone when it was running Google Navigation, using more power than the USB lighter adaptor could give it. I picked up a better one and that solved the problem, I've dropped the phone back on the old one for now, but I'm looking to get a more permanent source for the tablet, probably go for an inverter.

I'm tethering my phone as a mobile hotspot, and using tether gps lite from the market, seems to be handling it OK. Maps & Navigation aren't the biggest part for now as I'm between contracts, but time will tell.

AFAIK USB host functionality isn't enabled since Android 4.0, not sure if rooting might fix that, I'd love to get OBDII working but as my 75 is a 2000 model I don't think it's supported. I sacrificed both BT and GPS to keep the initial price down, but as proof of concept I'm pretty happy, and will probably upgrade the tablet in a few months.

galaxyclass · 28th February 2013, 19:20

Looking good this, every time I see someone do this the more I want to, a nexus 7 built into the car would be great, especially now that there is a gsm version out, I'm certain that the nexus 7 would blow away a head unit and should get the key lime pie update.

28th February 2013, 13:58	#1
pedrovader Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Wednesbury Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	How-to: Android Head unit on a budget! Hi All, I've been itching to get an Android head unit into my 75, but the current prices are 1: Out of my budget & 2: More than I paid for the car (Almost) After trawling the web I found quite a few Tablet installs, one of which was done in a Beemer, which fits in quite well, as our 75 stereo systems are readily interchangeable with BMW's, and with Android tablets getting cheaper, I decided to go for a generic tablet as a proof of concept, and maybe upgrade to a better one later on. It's at most a couple of hours work, took me around 45 mins in the end after trimming the fascia plate to suit my Tab. From This:[IMG][/IMG] To This:[IMG][/IMG] If you want to give this a go you'll need: 7" Android tablet, specs to suit yourself, but anything running Android 4.1 smoothly will do. I'm tethering my Phone to the Tablet so went for a basic model without GPS or Bluetooth (Plenty of apps in the Market to allow for GPS functionality) Standard Double Din Fascia Plate Connects2 Mp3 Adapter to attach to current head unit 12v Ground loop isolator (Didn't realise I'd needed this until I turned on the engine and got a lovely annoying hum from the audio). Radio Code for your Stereo 1: Disconnect the Battery (Obviously!) 2: Connect up the head unit to the MP3 Adaptor, reattach the battery and check it's all working with your steering wheel controls, I used my Phone for audio checks. 3: Remove the top of the radio then remove the 2 retaining screws: [IMG][/IMG] 4: Carefully detach the front panel and ribbon, keep it safe, if you remove or disconnect the battery again, you'll need to put it back on briefly to input the code. 5:All the cables are connected up, and will fit nicely into the recess at the left side of the cavity, my Cigarette adaptor is already connected and slipped down the right side:[IMG][/IMG] 6: Put the radio back into the gap in the dashboard, with a 90 degree turn:[IMG][/IMG] 7: Here's the tablet mounted in the Fascia, I took a hot knife to the panel to allow for fitting, and connections,but use whatever you prefer, probably a dremel would be best:[IMG][/IMG] 8:Slip the fascia and tablet into place, and screw into position. There's a slight gap below which supports the tablet nicely, and is out of sight behind the climate control faceplate:[IMG][/IMG] 9: Put all the various panels back, climate control, eyebrow etc, and you're done:[IMG][/IMG] 10:Enjoy your budget Android system! [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG] Hope you all like it! Disclaimer: You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk. The 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original author of this How-To can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result of you following this How-To. Last edited by Dragrad; 6th March 2013 at 22:57.. Reason: Disclaimer added as per Club Rules

28th February 2013, 14:00	#2
Parker This is my second home Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 Auto (X350) & Hyundai Tuscon 2020 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bridgend Posts: 10,342 Thanks: 69 Thanked 559 Times in 356 Posts	Your pics don't work? __________________ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...a585a72d1c.jpg "The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself" SOME VERY USEFUL LINKS SIMPLE DOOR MIRROR REPAIR FITTING CROFT DOOR FINISHERS FORUM RULES CLUB SHOP

28th February 2013, 14:44	#4
stugee Avid contributor MG ZT+ 1.8T Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: West Lothian Posts: 249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Very tidy install, can you still use the radio of the original headunit or is it just being used for the amplifier? __________________ "Understeer" is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. "Oversteer" is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. "Horsepower" is how fast you hit the wall. "Torque" is how far you take the wall with you.

28th February 2013, 19:18	#8
ceedy This is my second home All Trophy Blue ,ZT260#50 , ZT CDTI Auto, ZR105+ and 1.8T Firefrost spoiling the Set . Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nr Sherborne But in Somerset.. Posts: 6,098 Thanks: 916 Thanked 1,214 Times in 768 Posts	Just wondering , how its the tab powered/ going to be ? , As its 5volt , can't see any power lead ..(yet) These tabs are pretty good for the money under £50 , But so far I have found they just won't communicate with either a blue tooth dongle or a GPS dongle or an OBD2 reader , down to the current limitations of the micro USB on the tablet !!. Well on our 2 anyway .. C. __________________ The Three Bloo's Wifey's Zr105, MY CDTI & 260 #50 and Number One sons 1.8T in Firefrost When I were a lad Zero to 142 in 10.25 secs at the Pod on my Blown Norton. 210 Kart Champ in 70's

28th February 2013, 19:20	#10
galaxyclass Posted a thing or two MG ZT+ 190 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,047 Thanks: 119 Thanked 59 Times in 58 Posts	Looking good this, every time I see someone do this the more I want to, a nexus 7 built into the car would be great, especially now that there is a gsm version out, I'm certain that the nexus 7 would blow away a head unit and should get the key lime pie update. __________________ Mods done - Spyhole mod - Xenons - Blue dash lights (except message centre) - VIS indicators - Illuminated sun visors - Drivers grab handle - Smiley plate - Rear electric blind - Handbrake compensator. Mods to do - Powerfolds - Better ICE - Headlight washers - Heated seats - cruise - And loads more i can't remember. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

28th February 2013, 16:50	#6
Geoff130 Loves to post MG ZT 190, Rover 75 CDTi, Honda VFR 750, Honda CB550F Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Derby Posts: 395 Thanks: 75 Thanked 36 Times in 28 Posts	Very nice looking unit, where did you get the Rover logo?