When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am very impressed with your capabilities and your innovation. I notice that you changed out the original display unit for one of the aftermarket 10.25 inch Android units.
Would you mind sharing with us which brand and model number you used. There seems to be a pretty wide choice of brands and models on the market ??
So, W222 controller integration is complete. Here's a pic of the final product. Video of it working coming soon. If you're interested in reading up on details, check it out here: Mercedes Touch Controller Integration – Part 3 – Absolute Car Mods. If you want this in your W216 or possibly W221, PM me.
So I think my interior is finally complete. Software development is ongoing though
Latest development is finalizing the ECM that can turn devices on/off/set startup options, lower/raise ABC, disable ESP, parktronic, set parktronic startup mode etc etc. This is the final version of the prototype I built a while back in a fuse box...hehehe. Don't remember if I posted any pics of it.
Finalized ModuleSettings ECM
- Retrofitted W222 COMAND controller with custom LED setup that works with the rest of the ambient illumination. This one you could write a dissertation on...probably.
- COMAND controller touchpad doubles as a mouse on Android and can do multitouch gestures to skip songs etc.
- COMAND controller can now also control the HUD via BLE. You can switch modes from OEM to HUD by pressing a button.
- Retrofitted fridge aka cool box in the back. Works great btw.
- Retrofitted air balance atomizer. This was a pain to install and required some creativity with some of the air vents and removing the center console. The app can easily control it though.
- Custom modded rear view dashcam/display mirror thingy. Has 1 camera in the back that you use as a rear view mirror and a camera in the front that is a dashcam. This was a fun little project. Included some 3D printing which is always fun.
Next up developing a custom instrument cluster and possibly an Android launcher that will integrate the ambient illumination and module apps. Hope you enjoy the pics.
So, it doesn't look like anyone is in a big hurry to make an all digital instrument cluster for the W221/W216...except for me. I actually kinda like the AMG cluster in my car but...it would look even better with overlayed navigation, my custom software and graphics and additional video inputs. Thankfully, technology has advanced enough to make this happen.
So what's the gameplan...Hmmm.
1. source automotive displays (high brightness, anti glare, high temp range)
2. source Linux based SBC...I do have a Jetson around here somewhere
3. modify exiting cluster with 3D printed parts to take the new displays
4. make a new bezel that fits the OEM cluster and new displays
5. design and 3D print all necessary parts to mount the displays and make everything easily removable/replaceable (should take a month or 2 )
6. extract video from the OEM cluster, so you can switch to it just like the Android headunits floating around
7. design and produce custom PCBs that can handle the video switching to OEM (FPGA based most likely) and deserializing from other video sources
7.1 use multiple microcontrollers to handle the 2 outer displays and all CAN comms with the car and SBC. Incorporate them into the PCB design
8. decode all OEM can messages that go to the instrument cluster.
9. remove all unnecessary components from the OEM cluster board (needles, display, etc).
10. mesh finalized PCB and SBC with OEM board. The oem cluster will still be there for various reasons, just in a single board configuration.
11. start software design, once all hardware is finalized.
Right now, we're on step 5. I'm taking advantage of the crazy hot and sunny weather to test how reflective the finalized display/cluster combo is. Results are great. The displays along with the gritty/flat paintjob on the bezel barely reflect any light at all.
Now back to 3D printing.
So, it doesn't look like anyone is in a big hurry to make an all digital instrument cluster for the W221/W216...except for me. I actually kinda like the AMG cluster in my car but...it would look even better with overlayed navigation, my custom software and graphics and additional video inputs. Thankfully, technology has advanced enough to make this happen.
So what's the gameplan...Hmmm.
1. source automotive displays (high brightness, anti glare, high temp range)
2. source Linux based SBC...I do have a Jetson around here somewhere
3. modify exiting cluster with 3D printed parts to take the new displays
4. make a new bezel that fits the OEM cluster and new displays
5. design and 3D print all necessary parts to mount the displays and make everything easily removable/replaceable (should take a month or 2 )
6. extract video from the OEM cluster, so you can switch to it just like the Android headunits floating around
7. design and produce custom PCBs that can handle the video switching to OEM (FPGA based most likely) and deserializing from other video sources
7.1 use multiple microcontrollers to handle the 2 outer displays and all CAN comms with the car and SBC. Incorporate them into the PCB design
8. decode all OEM can messages that go to the instrument cluster.
9. remove all unnecessary components from the OEM cluster board (needles, display, etc).
10. mesh finalized PCB and SBC with OEM board. The oem cluster will still be there for various reasons, just in a single board configuration.
11. start software design, once all hardware is finalized.
Right now, we're on step 5. I'm taking advantage of the crazy hot and sunny weather to test how reflective the finalized display/cluster combo is. Results are great. The displays along with the gritty/flat paintjob on the bezel barely reflect any light at all.
Now back to 3D printing.
More details of the build will be posted here: Making Your Own Instrument Cluster – Absolute Car Mods
love your ideas !
can't wait to work with you on one of my projects soon
love your ideas !
can't wait to work with you on one of my projects soon
Glad you enjoyed! I will actually reach out to you shortly about some instrument cluster specifics. I have some boards that I would like swapped over to the AMG version and need to know what the options are
I know they sell plug in touchscreen comand displays, but you are on another level. And i respect people that are creative and have the passion to put in all that effort. Please put me on the list for that retrofit display. The other stuff is a bit out of my league but an updated unit will bring my car up-to date.
Last edited by Vahebaldemian; 08-15-2021 at 04:54 AM.
Graphics are coming along slowly. I've had enough experience with digital instrument clusters at this point to know what works and what sucks. My version will have lots of animations and make sense logically...unlike some of the stuff I've seen. It'll also look like the other apps for the android headunit. Some parts are Audi inspired
Graphics are finalized. Thought you guys might enjoy a behind the scenes screenshot of development. Doing this in QT and will be running on Linux...full hardware acceleration, so it should be snappy. Current status is assembling all the different UI components and coding their functionalities.
I just stumbled onto this thread. I have been working on a similar, albeit much simpler instrument cluster arrangement for my M113K swapped R170 (Chrysler Crossfire). I was taking the approach of using RealDash, using Arduino (Teensy 4.0) on a custom design PCB to interface to the discrete signals (not everything is on the bus, like the later cars), and to external sensors, like fuel pressure, oil pressure and wideband O2. I have it working on the bench, and have most of the CAN messages decoded. Are you using a similar package, or are you hand coding the app? How are you handling processor sleep cycles, to keep power consumption down when the car is shut down?
This project is very different. I am using a Linux SBC and coding the app in QT, just like the OEM setup basically. Just like the OEM setup, it will be off unless it gets a wakeup message, in which case it will boot to QT/Linux in a couple of seconds. What are you using? Android?
I'm using Android to run Realdash on a Khadas VIM3 SBC. My Arduino board takes in the discrete analog and digital signals that are not on the CAN bus, and puts them on a separate serial feed to the VIM3. Your project has me quite intrigued.
That's not a bad setup. You'll be stuck with the long boot times in Android though...unless you get Real Dash in Linux, or build your own software. RealDash is too limited for what I am doing, especially in the graphics department.
That's not a bad setup. You'll be stuck with the long boot times in Android though...unless you get Real Dash in Linux, or build your own software. RealDash is too limited for what I am doing, especially in the graphics department.
03-11-2021, 09:36 AM
)
