I want to upgrade my RX-8 to have the LCD screen, but I was not prepared to pay the $2000 for the NAV option.. I'm looking to find the Mazda Part Number for GPS LCD Screen, and the plastic molding that replaces the stock moulding..

Does anyone know what the part number(s) is/are? And has anyone taken the upper center portion of their dash apart? How do you get the top peice off?

Thanks,

OverLOAD

im looking into doing the same, i just need the plastic piece that comes w/ the NAV system then i will take an aftermarket TV of some sort and flush it in. I will also connect this to a brain and tv tuner so i can have tv in the car. the part number and price will be greatly appreciated :)

oh this sounds like a nice idea for down the line... good luck with ur search

I called the dealer, and this is the p#: FE0166DV01 and the MSRP list is $1532...

That sure is a heck of a high price, but if nothing else, at least it's cheaper than the full cost of the $2000 nava option.. plus, I have to see if I can order it from my dealer that promised me 15% off accessories (I don't know if this qualifies) or if Trussville Mazda will carry it..

I'm excited about it though, this may get me a step closer to my dream of the Mazdaspeed style LCD Gauges..

OverLOAD

is that price for the plastic piece and the LCD screen? because it will be alot cheaper to just get the plastic piece and buy an aftermarket LCD screen and flush it in.

Originally posted by OverLOAD
... And has anyone taken the upper center portion of their dash apart? How do you get the top peice off?

Thanks,

OverLOAD

Here's a clip from my posting on my Music Keg install:
"...so I decided to check out the space above the stereo. There were a couple of screws (left (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/VentCoverScrewLeft.jpg) & right (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/VentCoverScrewRight.jpg)) to remove, then the vent grills just pop out. Following that, there were a couple more screws (left (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/TopCoverScrewLeft.jpg) & right (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/TopCoverScrewRight.jpg)) and the central top cover pops off. (upward) Since I don't have the Nav unit, there was plenty of space (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/opendash.jpg) there for the RF Mod (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/RFUnitOnTop.jpg)."

Originally posted by jdaled
Here's a clip from my posting on my Music Keg install:
"...so I decided to check out the space above the stereo. There were a couple of screws (left (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/VentCoverScrewLeft.jpg) & right (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/VentCoverScrewRight.jpg)) to remove, then the vent grills just pop out. Following that, there were a couple more screws (left (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/TopCoverScrewLeft.jpg) & right (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/TopCoverScrewRight.jpg)) and the central top cover pops off. (upward) Since I don't have the Nav unit, there was plenty of space (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/opendash.jpg) there for the RF Mod (http://members.aol.com/jdaled/RX8pics/MusicKegInstall/RFUnitOnTop.jpg)."

Thanks jdaled.. That's a great shot of exactly how much room there is up there.. I'm brave but I'm still hesitant about chopping up my upper panel on my center console. I'd like to do it, and from your pictures, it's obvious that there's a lot of room to be able to do it, but I need to figure out if the motorized lcd unit can be purchased in pieces..

That assembly number give to me by a parts department supposedly includes the plastic molding, the lcd housing, the LCD screen, and the connector cable to plug into the head unit.. It's supposed to be a complete package, and sounds like it would be the most elegant way to upgrade to an LCD screen.


Can anyone with the actual NAV screen comment on the quality of the LCD screen that comes with the Nav? Is it worth having, or are there definately much better aftermarket units? and exactly what are the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the LCD screen?

I kind of doubt that I'll be able to order a bunch of piecemeal parts to slap together with a replacement LCD screen.. but this is looking to be an interesting project..

i'm very interested to see how far u take this OverLOAD...i'm kicking myself for not getting the nav...especially moving to san diego in a few weeks...woulda come in handy.

i was always thinking,"eh, it costs too much. i can read a map and use mapquest...no need for nav." the convenience factor didn't sink in until my friend got a new accord with nav and he hasn't stopped with the stories of how great it is to have.

anyway, i've been thinking about this a lot lately and feel going this route might end up being more flexible than having the facotry nav installed in the first place.

Well, to be honest.. The whole thing that started this was the picture of the mazdaspeed RX-8 with the LCD screen Gauge cluster.. My mind just screamed "I WANT!!!".. It's very slick, and I am capable of making an interface through the OBDII connector, through a computer which would be NAV & DVD equipped, and also give me smoking cool Mazdaspeed LCD digital gauges.. ;)

I'm working on figuring out how I will do it. I need to write some more software.

OverLOAD

Originally posted by ELX13
anyway, i've been thinking about this a lot lately and feel going this route might end up being more flexible than having the facotry nav installed in the first place.

Side note - check out www.garmin.com for the new iQue and StreetPilot 2610. Both portable nav systems with the same maps as the Mazda Nav, point to point live routing, and better route programmability.

Regards,
Gordon

gps is only a minor portion of what I'm looking for, I've got a handheld garmin gps which mostly serves that function..

OverLOAD

If anyone is trying to not pay $2000 and put in their own, I doubt you will save any money and certainly won't have as nice an install as the factory one. Don't forget you need the DVD unit, dual GPS antenna/receiver, and gyro which would come with any respectable nav unit. Has to tie into the sound system. It's quite a project for anyone willing to tackle it; I'd sure like to hear how it comes out. Don't compare it to Garmin or iQue; those are handheld units that you have to load the maps you want from your PC. With the Mazda factory install, you get the entire nation and Canada with you all the time; no map loading required. I hope one of you hobbiests does find a viable alternative to factory install, but I'll be surprised if you do.

Theres a thread in the electronics section as well where someone found some japanese instal pics a guy did with his own setup. I am probably gonna order the tray from canzoomer and start shopping for a nice LCD setup to put in.

Will be a hell of a project, especially when I start to cut into the dash :D

You can get a pioneer nav setup that looks exactly like that one, just look up the pioneer website under navigation.

I'm interested in this too!! Good luck you guys!!

I'd like to hook up a laptop to the LCD screen and hook up a webcam in the rear bumper somewhere so I can actually see where I'm backing up too :eek:

Originally posted by rabinabo
You can get a pioneer nav setup that looks exactly like that one, just look up the pioneer website under navigation. The Pioneer NAV ... (http://www.pioneer-america.com/pna/mec/category/0,,2076_3149,00.html)

Yeah. I am probably going to order the tray someone else found and install a motorized LCD screen so I can watch DVD's :D

Also come in handy as a display for a mini-PC to use as well for all the other stuff I want to have handy.

My best bet so far, for cohesiveness of the system is this plan:

1. buy OEM Mazda LCD screen & assembly ($1532 maybe 15%-25% discount)

2. Splice out a VGA connector from the NAV harness (or whatever the interface turns out to be).

3. get a very small, low power use Single Board Computer (SBC) that's up to running a heavily chopped up version of Windows 2000 (to reduce boot time, and slack) to run off a flash disk

4. Install the SBC in the space between the glove box opening and the right of the head unit. Wire up power to automatically come on with ignition, and be resistant to abrupt power-off from shut down.

5. Connect the OBDII harness to a high speed serial port in the SBC.. many of the SBC's feature a high speed 16c650 or better capable of serial communication above 1Mbit/s. This can easily saturate the 500 KBaud CAN bus the OBDII uses.

6. Interface the software readings with a visual software package that is pretty configurable on the display options. Thing like EGU, ECT, RPM, A/F ratio, timing advance, MAF readings, oil pressure, battery voltage, are accessable from the OBDII readings.

7. Add auxillary functions, as mentioned, NAV, DVD, MP3, Live Video Display, etc.


So, time for the budget to start hurting.. I can do development for the software on the OBDII to do a proof of concept inexpensively, and this will most likely take the longest. I'll keep you all posted on the results in the Audio & Electronics forum..


Cheers,

OverLOAD

sounds liek this would be so much fun BUT what about voiding the warranty. Someone else asked about making the fogs go on without the headlights, and i told them my story, i will copy and paste is for you as well because i am almost sure this is the kinda stuff they are talking about in the e-mail

Be very careful about your warranty. i put some neon foot well (lit up the floor for the passanger and driver's foot area, but real dim) lights, looked real classy despite what alot of people said on this site. well when i took my car in because they sold me a broken car i was told i voided my warranty, keep in mind no wires splices, i just had it plugged into the cigerette lighter. the service manager also told me that i voided my warranty by having a radar detector in my glove box, not plugged in (it died on me, but after 3.5 years of good use, i just put it there to remind myself, new car time to buy a new detector). now i know that its bullshit, and i got the sales rep to say it doesn't void my warranty, but only if i pull everything out of my car (all my time and energy putting in the lights gone to waste). The service manager handed me this e-mail all the mazda sales managers got, and here it is:

---------------------------------------------
Sales Managers


Please be advised:


New Mazda vehicles equipped with CAN engine management system (Mazda6, RX-8, Mazda3) may not function well when wires are spliced and other aftermarket accessories are tied into a vehicle. One vehicle recently in question would not start. The technician was faced with trying to get the vehicle running and had to do it with limited factory support. MNAO, MC, or FORD cannot tell a dealer what will happen when these parts are installed as tehy vary in operation from vendor to vendor. The technical hotline will only recommend the complete removal of the system in order to isolate the root cause. The operation will not be covered under warranty.

I reccomend that dealers curtail this type of installation whenever possible. Warranty will not cover any related repairs caused by there aftermarket parts.

-----------------------------------------------------

i cut out the names, because i'm sure the e-mail adresses shouldn't be revieled here. i really want to make it so the i can plug something into the usb of my laptop and i have a seperate keyboard mouse and everything shows up on my lcd screen (i did pay the 2 grand for the navi, and being in NYC i love having it, all those damn one ways now make a little bit more sense, and for those of you who think NYC is just a grid, you are very wrong, and a perfect example is tribeca which is an area downtown, and it stands for triangles below canal, so yes it can be rather confusing) Goodluck, if anyone can get proof that this doesn't void the warranty, and a good place to start would be the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act please get back to me.

Well, it sounds like your dealer was very over the top on that one. That email reads to me like Mazda is complaining about Bus-Based CAN dataloggers and similar things of the sort that may bypass the ECU or involve some very low level functions.

I belive that dealers can sometimes go too far, but that does not give them the excuse to deny you warranty for putting a tape in the tape deck, or a cigarette in the ashtray, or an ODBII scantool in the OBDII diagnostics port. Each are all valid things to do, and have legitamate reasons and must be allowable. Now, hacking the ECU, or putting in an aftermarket AFM, etc might be understandable...

Warranty is always a question. Auto makers are going to hav to tie things down like the video console makers have if they want to curtail that, and that is pretty difficult, since any shop who does work on your car (even a non-dealer, or even yourself) can not be capable of voiding a warranty according to the same act you specified.

OverLOAD

If you want,I am ordering some of the dash trays tomorrow:

F151V 6535 Dashboard tray for NAV display
Selling for $95 US / $129 Canadian.

Canzoomer, I've PM'ed you,

OverLOAD

I just PM'd ya too :)

How is the stereo removed?

Hey guys! Just found this thread and thought I'd let you know what I was looking to do as it's right along the same lines as that Overload's looking at. I'm done specing it out and I'm now starting to assemble components.

I'm basically building a carputer.

The computer will have the following functionality:
- Nav
- MP3
- DVD
- Wireless Internet (www.rx8club.com on the ROAD!!! :) )
- Rear-view cam
- ODBII connection to the ECU
- Full Windows XP
- 7" touchscreen LCD

Now the best part, instead of paying $2000 for the nav, I'll have all of the above for under $1000. This, however, does not include installation.

My biggest problem right now looks like it will be installing the LDC screen. I have spoken to a few installers and I have a few options:

1. Buy the factory panel. How big is the stock DVD screen BTW?
2. Have a custom panel fabricated out of fiberglass or plastic, have it painted the same color as the exterior of the car (which I think would look sweet) and install the screen to "pop-up" straight out of the dash.
3. Pretty much the same as #2 but have the screen flip up like the stock nav does.

I've done a TON of research into what will be involved with successfully mounting the computer into the car and getting all the electrical working correctly. If anybody has any questions, I don't know much about cars, but I'm a DIY gadget freak like mad and I'll certainly help however I can.

My main focus here is on a clean, professional install, stealth, and mad functionality. I fully intend to custom build a VB application to replicate the MS gauges if I can figure out how to get the data from the ECU.

I'm going to be doing some heavy duty mods there too. I am planning on putting the PC in the trunk and if can manage it, a motorized concealed LCD touchsreen.

I still need to take off the dash and panels to see if it will work, but what I plan to do is to remove the factory LCD screen, mount in the top of the LCD and hide the LCD back there. This way when I want the neat-o stuff I hit a button and the LCD pushes forward and swings up. I figure when I have a bigass LCD showing me anything I want, I dont need the other LCD to be visible. Then just wire it up so that the computer starts up/hibernates with the ignition or something similar.

If i cant manage the LCD there, I plan to get one of those jap trays that canzoomer is getting and figure out a way to conceal the LCD there. I'm just drawing up rought sketches of it so far, but it should be quite the bomb when I get done :D

RotorMotor:

Well, the Factory NAV is a 7.8" unit. It's actually pretty nice. Automatically opening when you start, and closing on it's own when you shut down.

The factory NAV LCD is not a touchscreen, but does have a little joystick thing by the gear shift. It's really too far to reach the screen in the factory position.

I've looking into buying the OEM screen, and at $1532 MSRP with the Dash components, motors, dash panel and LCD, it's kind of expensive.

The ODB guages will be difficult. it will take a specialized CAN communication device just to be able to get the data you need. Some of them cost as little as $150, but the ones that are good cost more than $1000.

Good luck with your project,


OverLOAD

Thanks for the info OverLOAD.

The touchscreens I'm looking at are only 7" so I don't think that it will be as easy as purchasing the dash and then swapping out the screens (darn). Actually, I kind of like the custom idea and I can get a panel fabricated and the motors installed for less than $1000 anyway. The only thing that I would be concerned about using the stock nav's LCD is the input. If you're going for a full computer, you'll ideally have a VGA input.

Like Genom, I plan on mounting the PC in the trunk.
It's a 1GHz EPIA m10000 motherboard/processor in a mini-ITX case. This is ideal for it's small size (12.7" x 2.7" x 10") and it's ultra-low power consumption. I've also found a DC-DC power supply that specficially designed for automotive purposes that boot and shuts down the computer with the car, monitors battery power and shuts the computer down if necessary and is designed to handle power spikes from the cars battery (extremely important).

The ODB gauges will happen eventually, I'm just not sure how soon. I realize the CAN devices aren't necessarily cheap, but that's the only piece of the puzzle that's not really locked down yet.

Most of the computer info is available at www.mp3car.com although they're really nasty about answering questions over there. Even after you've searched and searched and found the answers to all the basic questions, 90% of them will tell you to search more even when asking something really specific.

Hey rotor, sounds like we are going for similar aproaches. If you have places already specced out for some of the parts let me know. I am still undecided on a actual motorized VGA screen, or a LCD with regular video inputs. I dont really need the higher VGA res sicne it's gonna be running a simplified interface, and it's a good 3-400 savings, but I dont know if there's any better pricing out there.

Genom,

Of course dude. Always willing to share!

Already have:
Motherboard (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110606)
Case (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=100319)
RAM
140GB Hard drive

On it's way:
Power Supply (http://www.opussolutions.com/150watt.html)

Yet to order:
Screen (this one's from eBay) (http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=electronicar&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25)
External USB DVD/CD-RW Drive (to be mounted in glove compartment) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008OOYI/102-3795140-5240965?v=glance)

The motor and motor mounts to move the screen will be custom built witht the fabricated dash if I decide to go that route (which I probably will). There are other, minor things like a laptop-like touchpad I plan to mount in the ash tray so my fingerprints aren't all over the screen constantly and a wireless keyboard, but this is the meat of the components.

I didnt want to build a whole new front so I will probably stick with the motorized LCD as I have no diea what the custom building will cost. I'm also going for a shuttle computer since I can get those for peanuts and have extra hardware laying around that I can build it up with.

Decisions decisions decisions :D Although I had already decided on that Opus PSU.Fits the mill nicely, I saw that addon they sell on that mp3car website for turning on and off. Might go that route sicne I can build an inverter without too much hassle. Dunno yet. Prolly end up just buying the Opus for overall neatness and ease.

Yeah, the Opus has A LOT of benefits over building your own inverter. And just to clarify, you don't need any add-ons for the power on/off, it comes built in the PSU.

I know. Meant the addon for using the native PSU in the shuttle case.

I sure hope you two knock-out a final report on this when you're done! You know, all the info - parts list with prices & sources, custom work details, wiring schematic... Geez, that would be great!

If not for public bragging rights why would I go through all this??

:D Just kidding. I do plan to document everything of course. Hell, I did that when I built my arcade cabinet and that was a lot more complex overall than this will be in the end.

If I can find a motorized VGA screen for under 500 I will be happy, but it aint looking likely. We shall see. At worst I put it off for a couple weeks and do go out to dinner a couple times and spend the 700 :D

What about this one guys?

http://www.digitalww.com/DWW-7VGA.htm

It's not motorized, but it does fit in a 1-DIN slot and it looks like it has a beautiful picture. VGA connectivity and USB touch included.

The only question is if there is enough space for a 1-DIN unit up top there. I know some kind of custom fabrication would be required for the dash...

Thoughts?

Originally posted by OverLOAD
...supposedly includes the plastic molding, the lcd housing, the LCD screen, and the connector cable to plug into the head unit.. It's supposed to be a complete package, and sounds like it would be the most elegant way to upgrade to an LCD screen.[/B]
OverLOAD, you don't happen to know if the parts are availabe without the plugs for the HU and the screen itself do you? Can I get just the panel and the motorized screen mount without the screen?

I've done a little research along these lines recently. Very preliminary, though - I don't even have the RX-8 to put it in (yet). The cheapest options I found for the CAN interface were:

mBus Parallel/CAN Interface (http://mbus.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=PCI-100&Category_Code=), $79
Multiplex Engineering T16-010 (http://www.multiplex-engineering.com/interfaces.htm), $70
Grid Connect Parallel CAN Adaptor (http://www.gridenabled.com/cantopadofor.html), $209
Intrepid ValueCAN (http://valuecan.com/), $249
SeaFire Micros SF-1002 Dev Kit (http://www.seafiremicros.com/develkit_sf102.html), $139

Of course, quality and usability could be more important than saving a few bucks. I don't know anything about the above hardware that's not on the linked webpages.

Originally posted by bluesnowmonkey
I've done a little research along these lines recently. Very preliminary, though - I don't even have the RX-8 to put it in (yet). The cheapest options I found for the CAN interface were:

mBus Parallel/CAN Interface (http://mbus.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=PCI-100&Category_Code=), $79
Multiplex Engineering T16-010 (http://www.multiplex-engineering.com/interfaces.htm), $70
Grid Connect Parallel CAN Adaptor (http://www.gridenabled.com/cantopadofor.html), $209
Intrepid ValueCAN (http://valuecan.com/), $249
SeaFire Micros SF-1002 Dev Kit (http://www.seafiremicros.com/develkit_sf102.html), $139

Of course, quality and usability could be more important than saving a few bucks. I don't know anything about the above hardware that's not on the linked webpages.

Great info snowmonkey. Does anybody have any experience with any of these products? Canzoomer gave me a little tip to look for what people use with Fords, but I haven't quite deciphered that one yet. ;) I need something that will be easy to use, has as many of the diagnostics for the RX-8 as possible and is safe and reliable.

Originally posted by RotorMotor
OverLOAD, you don't happen to know if the parts are availabe without the plugs for the HU and the screen itself do you? Can I get just the panel and the motorized screen mount without the screen?

Nope, I didn't ask. I think it would be a big job to put just any LCD screen in the factory housing. I'm I'm going to go factory screen assembly , then I'm going factory LCD too..

OverLOAD

Have any of you seen www.sigalert.com? Although it's currently only available in California, it provides realtime lane speeds at offramp intervals. (www.traffic411.com is more practical for "fixed" use, but not as usable for "rolling" applications, like sigalert could.)

This could make it feasible, given an Internet connection, to have an interface that keys off the GPS and the current Nav route. That information could be fed to the voice interface to read out the actual lane speeds of say, the next offramp 1-5 miles (user selectable) up the road.

I was skeptical that my Nav would be worth the $2k, but now I'd be hard pressed to live without it. I would think myself not alone of those willing to shell out some good cash for a feature that would alert you to a slowdown in time for you to (automagically?) hit the Nav for detour alternatives. Especially if it came bundled with some of the other goodies being posted here.

You all ever discuss putting a company together with all your expertise? Thanks for your hard work.

P.S. Right now I'd settle for a mod that replaced the Nav warning screen with something less annoying, like a '91 787b jpg or wav!
:)

Any of you guys that have removed the factory dash cover to install the new "tray" cover or NAV please PM me. I'm interested in the plain old factory cover at a reasonable price. Why? Like an idiot I drilled a hole in mine to install a satellite radio but then decided to move it a month later. Now the hole doesn't look so good... :(

Also where would I find instructions on removing this piece of the dash without breaking anything? Thanks!

Talk to Canzoomer, I'm pretty sure he sells the Nav Tray.

Im kind of confused about this topic, I am looking to build a carputer, and would like to have the motorized navigation housing but would like to have my own screen in it.... What part # is the motorized housing alone?

Also for those who are looking to go ahead and install the factory nav (overload) are you getting the GPS as well as the factory joystick etc...?

Do you think he sells the plain regular factory dash cover piece? I was really aiming this at anyone that has the piece just laying around since they removed it to install their after market tray or NAV screen. I can Paypal the $ ASAP...

Right now, I have a rubber grommet in the hole but it still bothers me. I am also tired of people asking, "Hey, what's this?". I feel like I've tainted my 8 and want to get it back to factory condition.


Thanks!

Originally posted by Racer X-8
The Pioneer NAV ... (http://www.pioneer-america.com/pna/mec/category/0,,2076_3149,00.html)

The popup 1DIN LCD like this one are ugly, IMHO. I want the new 2DIN unit they released in Japan... 2 removable 40G HDD... one nav and one for MP3, etc. The LCD touchscreen fits on the front of the 2DIN unit....

RotorMotor, Are you sure that case is ok? I thought that most of the cases by Travela (the maker of that case) come with a DC-DC board built in so that it uses an external "brick" power supply like a laptop. Either way... I like the dimensions of this case.... http://www.travla.com/Products/c150/c150.html Although I need it in 2x size with 1, if not 2 PCI slots... like this... http://www.travla.com/Products/C138/c138.html

As I have not bought an 8 yet, and am still living in japan (although hoping to move this year)... I really haven't done much more than research in building something with simliar specs to RotorMotor's. What I'd like is hard to do... I want 6.5-7" touchscreen LCD as the front panel on my 2DIN sized case. It needs to be able to move down to eject CD's/DVD's. Adding in the stock NAV controller as a mouse would be interesting... so as RotorMotor said... you don't have to touch the screen all the time. Adding in the steering controls to control only stereo functions would be cool too.

DVD based navigation systems are passe. Go with a HDD setup. And while doing so... use two separate disks just in case. If you nav goes, then you don't lose all your mail and MP3.

The whole startup/shutdown, crashing, reboot, etc. etc. with using Embedded XP looks like a real biatch to me. CE.NET seems like ultimate solution, however... obtaining a copy and putting it all together could be a bigger biatch... such as having to get an SDK of existing PDA nav software and recompile it to run on x86 as I'm looking at the mini-ITX board with the C3 chip too... My programmer friend in the DoD contractor industry prefers Linux... but it looks like CE... too much programming. IF (the big if) things are proven to work fairly well with that power supply RotorMotor posted then embedded XP could be a very viable solution.

For the DVD drive... I have at long last sourced a slot-in drive in the slim media format. I much much prefer this for an in-dash solution than a standard tray-type.

If you plan to remove the stock HU (as I would like to) then you need a AM/FM tuner card AND... an audio amp. The last one I can't find.... other than the big boys (Kenwood, Kicker, Soundstream, etc.). What I am trying to find is a small low output unit that can work like a stock HU's amp... particular in form-factor and power consumption.

Unlike some solutions, I'd want it all pretty much self-contained. I know that some are jus tplanning on patching things into the HU for audio... but it just gets messy and makes for more work IMHO. Self-contained Makes for an easy install... just get a wire harness (if the stock wiring can handle it power-wise) and wire up the power and speakers... put up the GPS antenna and you are basically ready to go... no trunk mounting, no running cables back and forth, no finding some nook or cranny to mount the CPU...

Here is another question for everyone... what GPS receiver and antenna or combo unit are you looking at? What Navigation software have you found to be fairly comparable to the NavTech system used by Mazda/Ford? POI DB, giving voice directions, etc.

For your touch screen LCD, I have found a few places to source it from... let me know if you need the info.

Something similiar to this is what I had in mind...

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/product.jsp?productTypeId=37&sortBy=price&productLineId=1&productId=2557

Here's something of interest from Clarion Japan.... Car PC... http://www.cadias.addzest.com/
And it looks like it has everything and more... but 338,000 JPY

Here is the unit that inspired my ideas for form factor... http://www.addzest.com/ and look at Car Navigation

Yup. We do.

That is one solution. Put in the NAV tray, and eliminate the hole, assuming the unit is where the hole is, of course.
It is on page 1 of our pricelist at:
http://www.canzoomer.com/Price%20List/PRICELIST.pdf

Part # F151-V6-535

Here's a pic:
Screen is NOT included !!

Grrr... a day of reseaching on Mp3car and related sites, but no solution to the LCD mounting problem I'll encounter (not only in an 8, but in a P5 or M3)... namely how to access the slot-in DVD drive if it mounts in the case BEHIND the LCD touchscreen... The ones I posted are motorized, but I don't know how it all goes together to try and rip a copy of it, and I haven't found a second hand one... working or dead to look it yet.

Oh well... keep hunting...