Anyone interested in an iDrive Arduino project I'm working on?

IAmOrion

Senior member
 Cambridge, UK
As per title, anyone interested in an iDrive Arduino project I'm working on? (By interested, I mean, has an interest in it, would like to share info or learn - not a sales pitch to sell anything lol) Long story short, I'm thinking of different things I can have in my Z4, or potentially other vehicle. I started the project more out of curiosity but am now thinking how I could incorporate it into my E85. Although at the same time, I may not use it in the Z because no idea where it would go (Plus I'd need to design and 3D Print a frame/surround for it)

Anyways, currently I have it working as Bluetooth HID module, by combining an Adafruit Feather Bluefruit 32u4, and a custom Can-Bus shield

IMG_0086.jpg

IMG_0087.jpg

The can-bus shield uses a TJA1055 SOIC (currently on a SOIC 14 to 2.54mm Adapter) and an MCP2515 I/P

I still have some work left to do on it - the iDrive that only goes left/right (Only has 5 buttons) works PERFECTLY.

The other 2 I'm still working on... they *almost* work perfectly. The non-touch one doesn't recognise rotation yet but everything else works. I do however have my suspicions atm that something is broken and that's why the rotary isn't working.

The touch controller also *almost* works perfectly. All buttons and joystick movements work. I haven't decoded touch can ids etc yet, and also rotary doesn't work - but some inits changed I think...I'm still looking into it.

5 button version uses 100KBPS Can
The other 2 use 500KBPS

There's no section really for this kind of projects on this forum (although it's pretty niche I guess)
 
I have no idea what your on about, but it's great that we have people like you on the forum who tinker with bits and bobs. Good on you and I hope it works out...what ever it is that your trying to do :wink:
 
firebobby said:
I have no idea what your on about, but it's great that we have people like you on the forum who tinker with bits and bobs. Good on you and I hope it works out...what ever it is that your trying to do :wink:

haha, thanks :)

I'll make a little video at some point so it makes sense. But basically, it's using an iDrive controller as seen on the pic, as a bluetooth keyboard / mouse for Android/iPhone etc etc :)
 
IAmOrion said:
firebobby said:
I have no idea what your on about, but it's great that we have people like you on the forum who tinker with bits and bobs. Good on you and I hope it works out...what ever it is that your trying to do :wink:

haha, thanks :)

I'll make a little video at some point so it makes sense. But basically, it's using an iDrive controller as seen on the pic, as a bluetooth keyboard / mouse for Android/iPhone etc etc :)

Nah, still none the wiser :rofl:
 
firebobby said:
I have no idea what your on about, but it's great that we have people like you on the forum who tinker with bits and bobs. Good on you and I hope it works out...what ever it is that your trying to do :wink:

I’m with you Fred, he may as well write in Japanese..... :oops:
 
Hi, I am working on s similar project with the same idrive knob unit,

I have all accept the rotary working , would you mind sharing the code you wrote that you used?

Much thanks in advance
 
dazq said:
Hi, I am working on s similar project with the same idrive knob unit,

I have all accept the rotary working , would you mind sharing the code you wrote that you used?

Much thanks in advance

You need to send a 0x273 command to Init the rotary. It should respond with 0x277

What are you using with yours? What’s your hardware setup out of curiosity?
 
I am interested - just starting a project on BMW communications and came over your tread while googling for shields using the 1055 or 1054 chips since there are too many pins to close to each other to solder by hand :o .... I need to improve my KCAN reading capability as I am just playing on the PT-CAN and FCAN at this time.....
I have a question ... who - module - sends 0x273? and as a result of what preceding action?
And, is there anything I can help with ?
 
Z35is said:
I have a question ... who - module - sends 0x273? and as a result of what preceding action?
And, is there anything I can help with ?

Help with.... no, I've completed my project now :lol: I made my own CANBus shield for the Adafruit Feather M0 BLE

IMG_0162.jpeg

IMG_0215.jpeg

The TJA1050 is no good as you need the circuit to be fault tolerant, and like you say the TJA1054/1055 are TSOP only, but you can actually do what you need with MCP2515 and MCP2551. You can see from my PCB that I designed it to use THT (Through Hole) instead of SMD mainly because it's so much easier to solder and there was enough room to do so anyways.

My reference regarding 0x273 is for the can controller to send that CAN ID to the iDrive unit to initialise the rotary. The unit will respond with 0x277
 
Thanks - interesting... One only makes a PCB when one has is a product on the go so hopefully you are on a good path :)
MPC2551 only does ISO 11898-2 High Speed ... that's PT and F-CAN in the E89 series cars. I am after the K-CAN and that's ISO 11898-3 Low Speed. Dominant and Recessive voltages don't quite align between the standards....slowly I am getting there ! Today at least I was able to find some of those ARIES TSOP to DIP adapters like you used.
 
So can we now buy it, rip out the shitty screen and install a proper LED screen with full control? :D
 
Hey IAMOrion,
I'd be interested in speaking with you further about your project and the shield you've made. I'm currently looking at doing the exact same thing for my BMW E91 so i can use the controller as an interface to a Raspberry Pi with LED screen.

I would really appreaciate it if you could contact me regarding the work you've done and if you are now selling the shields etc or offering the schematics and code?



Thanks in advance
Kristiaan.
 
kristiaanb said:
Hey IAMOrion,
I'd be interested in speaking with you further about your project and the shield you've made. I'm currently looking at doing the exact same thing for my BMW E91 so i can use the controller as an interface to a Raspberry Pi with LED screen.

I would really appreaciate it if you could contact me regarding the work you've done and if you are now selling the shields etc or offering the schematics and code?



Thanks in advance
Kristiaan.

Do you have facebook? You need 3 or more posts I believe in order to use PMs so without any contact info, I can't contact you
 
warmasice said:
Does anyone have a clue what's going on? :rofl:

:lol: They could be building a bomb big enough to blow a hole the size of Russia out of the world right under our noses and no one’s got a bloody clue it’s happening..... :rofl:



Seriously though it’s impressive stuff.
 
john-e89 said:
:lol: They could be building a bomb big enough to blow a hole the size of Russia out of the world right under our noses and no one’s got a bloody clue it’s happening..... :rofl:
Seriously though it’s impressive stuff.

Certainly not a bomb... but it is somewhat complicated stuff. Some guy recently donated $1000 (yes one thousand dollars) just for a copy of my code 8)

Now I just have to be patient and let it sit for like 2 months to play it safe (I fear the "if it seems to good to be true....")

kristiaanb said:
Yes you can find me as Kristiaan Bennett on facebook mate, failing that we might get over the post count shortly :)

I've sent you a facebook message AND a PM - neither of which you appear to have received / read
 
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