Dave's Astra G with Car PC

Dave One

Regular Member
Rear Disc Conversion
My rear brakes (drums and shoes) haven't been changed in the last five years since I had the car and the last MOT suggested the braking efficiency isn't too clever either. As a result I decided to opt for 240mm disc and pads, a little harder to find as mine is a 4 stud set-up. I managed to hold of a set (thanks sparke) and got some help (thanks Jason) to fit them. The calipers were fully checked prior to fitment as I know the Bosch are prone to seizing - but these seem in good working order.
In the garage ready for work...
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Stripped down...
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Wishing I'd painted the mounts too :(...
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Wheels back on...
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I've been really pleased with the performance so far. So much so that I'm thinking of doing a 280mm or 308mm 4 stud upgrade on the fronts when I source some parts :).
 

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Dave One

Regular Member
Car Logo'd
A massive thanks to Briggz for my window and boot stickers, grill resin domed badge and ashtray resin domed badge. Greeny91 had done the window and boot stickers prior but I decided I'd been over zealous with the size and wanted something a little more discrete...
I have changed my username from DCDave to Dave One (thanks Mixman :)) in honour of the nickname my car was given by the lads at work :p. The name has stuck and the Car PC has had the logo for a while now :).
Anyway, pics... and I know she needs a clean
Front grill resin domed badge
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Drivers door window sticker
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Passenger door window sticker
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Ashtray resin domed badge
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Boot sticker
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I know its sad but I love it, lol
 

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Dave One

Regular Member
Gear and Handbrake Gaiters
Small update :p.
I noticed my gear stick and handbrake gaiters were getting a little tired, so I replaced them this morning.......
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I've got a few ideas lined up too ;)
 

Dave One

Regular Member
ICE install started....
The dishwasher was supposed to turn up between 0700 and 1000hrs but I got a phone call at 0910hrs to let me know there was a problem and they would not show that day :(. I was keen to not let the day go to waste, so I set about my ICE upgrade. I quickly removed the door cards and cubby hole in front of the fuse box to 'beef up' the 10 awg cable used for the Car PC to 4 awg for the Amp and Car PC. The pic shows the ICE ready to go, how hard could it be, lol....
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My preference is to run the cables in the OEM cable runs so the kick panel and internal side trims were removed.
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And the cables routed. I had various minor set backs like refitting the engine bay grommet and needing to remove the seat for adequate access, as a result I didn't manage to get anything in - but the foundations have been laid :).
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I also picked up some 18mm MDF this weekend for the boot build.
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Dave One

Regular Member
Boot build continues.....
I have made time in breaks at work to cut the MDF on my boot build.
Template...
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Car PC side...
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Sub and Amp side
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The carpet arrived thursday but I still need to create the edging of the boot walls. It's getting there though :).
Goodridge Braided Brake Lines
I've also acquired these to be fitted at the same time as my 280mm front brake conversion :).
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More stickers
The 'twor' of 'Network' didn't want to stick, probably because of the writing on the glass - but hey, I can live with it :)
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Dave One

Regular Member
The Car PC's New Home
I've been working on a false boot wall for either side of the boot - one side for the Car PC, and the other side for a subwoofer/amplifier/external soundcard :).
The Car PC has been living under this for years, not pretty but functional.
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I'm really pleased with the results despite my carpetting skills lacking a little.
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Dave One

Regular Member
Planned Projects



The projects I'm currently actively working on include:

Amp/Subwoofer install
Door speakers
Xenon auto-leveller
Heater Control Panel
Indicators
Speedo
Other projects on the backburner awaiting warmer weather/funds include:

Front brake upgrade to 280mm with braided lines
SRi-T Prodrive rear splitter
Roof spoiler
USB DAB radio solution for the Car PC
Steering wheel upgrade to Mk5 or Mk6 (Searching for an Opel airbag)
Split charge relay and small boot battery for Car PC (effectively an UPS to prevent crank crash although the PSU goes a long way towards this...)
There are some other projects in the 'embryonic' stage but not worth shouting about yet :).
 

Dave One

Regular Member
Dave One Car PC Video
I have finally got around to making a video of my Car PC in action. The purpose is to demonstrate the touchscreen, steering and voice control functions. You'll have to excuse the recording that makes me sound like a scared robot, lol.
Touchscreen demonstration
This is self-explanatory really, just demonstrating how reactive the touchscreen is and a selection of menus.
Steering Wheel demonstration
The steering wheel interface can be programmed for specific menu and default to a standard. I also demonstrate short press functions such as next/previous track, volume up/down, play/pause; and long press (2 seconds) functions such as Audio Player, GPS, Main Menu and Microphone.
Voice demonstration
Although self-explanatory I should mention that pressing the steering wheel button activates the microphone and mutes the music. I have found this to be very accurate, even when driving on motorways with reasonably loud road noise or passenger (kids) messing about. This is largely due to its location just in front of me on the steering wheel cowling.
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Please feel free to PM or post on my comments thread with any queries at all, especially if you what a part of the demo explained more clearly :).
Thanks
 

Dave One

Regular Member
Rear View Auto Dimming Mirror Decal
A massive thanks to Briggz (Liam) for doing a great job again! I planned to fit these before the snow but the weather stalled things, the wing mirror came off and other things got in the way. However, I'm really please with the subtle personalisation :).
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Wing Mirror Decals
The frosted look keeps it nice and subtle from a distance.
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What else has been happening?
I've been cleaning up the 280mm 4 stud conversion brake set that I'm putting on the front. I have brand new Disc and Pads but the Calipers, Caliper carriers and Hub carriers are all getting a good clean and paint.
A heated seat switch is being adapted to act as a Car PC screen quick select i.e. slect 1 for GPS, 2 for Audio Player, 3 for Audio Browser, 4 for Engine Data and 5 for Wifi Synchronisation. Testing has gone well - just need to fit into the car.
There are a couple of other projects including the boot build completion on the go ;)......
 

Dave One

Regular Member
Very nice work there Dave, some nice extra things added (y)

Thanks Matt :D.

Plenty more to come too. Auto headlights and Omega Wiper Stalk are first up, brake conversion to 280mm soon after, then Prodrive rear splitter and some other bits when it warms up :).

Cheers,
Dave
 

evocarlos

Stupid Bollocks
Staff
dave my man i been to the scrappy today and got you something :)
its a rear auto level sender plug to make a loom with :)

also while i was there i found an omega but theres some bad news
omegas dont have a rear wiper same as the astra coupe!
but where there is bad news theres good news :) (click me)
 
Last edited:

Daz

Former Staff
Senior Member
I hadnt clicked ure link until after i posted lol.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 

Dave One

Regular Member
Thanks Carl. Much appreciated.

I got hold of a stalk and relay from NI - £20 posted :). It has rear wipe too.

I feel an update coming on this weekend :)
 

Dave One

Regular Member
Glove Box Locking Mechanism

Thanks to Measorpaul for generously providing this Glove Box Locking Mechanism at a substantially reduced price in return for help provided on recent electrical work :).

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Before

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After :D

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Omega Variable Wiper Stalk

I've had the VW Programmable Relay for years now, probably one of my first mods, but decided it was time for a change. After speaking to Measorpaul and P200MSD I decided on the Omega Variable Wiper Stalk. I obviously needed to source one with a rear wiper too, which wasn't easy as many Omega are saloon. I managed to locate a relay on eBay so contacted the seller - Gareth from omegapartsni. He said he could source the parts I required and charged me £20 including for the Omega wiper stalk and relay (Thanks Gareth :)).

The first job was to remove the 6 pin connector used by the Omega and replace it with two 4 pin connectors (one for the MID and the other for the wiper control).

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I also retained the other side of a 4 pin connector to intercept the wiper comand line (Black/Yellow and Black/White for those that have done it ;)).

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Dave One

Regular Member
Auto Headlights fitted

Measorpaul provided the information for this one, and his recommendation. As you'll know by now, I love the leccy mods so this became a must :).

First thing was to gain access to the area I was to be working. Headlight switch removed...

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The Auto Headlights module wired ready for use

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Adjustment made to when the ambient light level should trigger the headlights to come on automatically.

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Wiring diagram

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I need to adhere the sensor to the windscreen and connect the handbrake switch (this forces the headlights to sidelights when the handbrake is on).

Importantly, the sensor has a switch to immobilise the system and allow manual override from the headlight switch.
 
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