2005 Q45 F50 Nav DVD and Driving Hack

[thehacker3]

Hey guys,

I've searched high and low for this and still have not found anything specific to the F50s so I decided to post my problem before tearing apart the DVD unit and figuring it out Electrical Engineering style.

I am looking to perform three hacks, all relatively unrelated but still somehow connected.
In order from easiest to hardest (and unfortunately least to most necessary):

1. Auxiliary 3.5mm jack WITHOUT sacrificing tape functionality. Thinking about splicing the wires and just leading a cable out. Shouldn't be too difficult - 90% sure I can figure this one out on my own, but I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has done this before.

2. DVD movie hack. Essentially, I want the DVD unit to be able to play movies on the OEM LCD screen. Is this possible without an aftermarket DVD player? After all the research I've done, I still do not know the answer to this question.

3. Map Nav hack to allow changes to destination and whatnot while car is in motion. I read this thread regarding the M35/45 hack but their unit is in the glove compartment from what I understand.
nav-hack-in-nj-t490694.html

If anyone can provide any insight on any of these issues, I would appreciate it. Bonus C-C-C-C-C-COMBO points for anyone who can combine 2+3 in one procedure.

[thehacker3]

Bump... Anyone??

[djwarner]

First question: Does your F50 have a factory GPS? There are two different screens, one 6.5" the other 7", the GPS version the larger. This is significant because the signal interface is different between the two.

I do not have the GPS so my experience is limited. I have heard of others hacking in between the screen and control head. They would switch back and forth between the OEM system and a DVD.

It might be easier to get a system at Best Buy to replace the screen and feed the OEM video input in through an AUX input.

Question 2: What is your level of competence in modding electronics? There is a hack on another forum tapping in an iPod into the cassette tape head, but that was for a 2002 F50 and the cassette tape was eliminated in 2003.

[maxnix]

There was a hack posted on another Far Away forum for the DVD hack for a 2002 F50.

[thehacker3]

First question: Does your F50 have a factory GPS? There are two different screens, one 6.5" the other 7", the GPS version the larger. This is significant because the signal interface is different between the two.

I do not have the GPS so my experience is limited. I have heard of others hacking in between the screen and control head. They would switch back and forth between the OEM system and a DVD.

It might be easier to get a system at Best Buy to replace the screen and feed the OEM video input in through an AUX input.

Question 2: What is your level of competence in modding electronics? There is a hack on another forum tapping in an iPod into the cassette tape head, but that was for a 2002 F50 and the cassette tape was eliminated in 2003.

1. I have the factory navigation and the map DVD is in my trunk.

2. I'd say medium - high. I can probably do it and I have a factory cassette player in my glovebox..

[djwarner]

Check out

post6106022.html#p6106022

I've seen cassette MP3 adapters that have a 3.5mm plug on one end and a dummy cassette on the other for $10-15. My local Kohl's department store and Best Buy has them.

[thehacker3]

I'm using that cassette thing now but the quality is inadequate for my tastes. I'm looking for a more direct path to the stereo. I'm also thinking about removing the cassette player altogether to give me some more room in the glovebox. Otherwise I plan on going down the same route as in the m35 thread you just posted.

[thehacker3]

Used the guide posted above to do the mp3 hack today - excellent results!

thanks guys!!

and bump for the other two - DVD and GPS while Driving - anyone have anything on this for the Q?

[maxnix]

Yep, you just have to look at the right Far Away Forum, not here on NICO.