Pip-Boy Check Engine Display — Haltech CAN Warnings

Pip-Boy display for Haltech CAN warnings

The 135i track build runs a Haltech Rebel LS with the factory BMW dash still in place — speed, temps, and the usual cluster stuff all work fine. What it does not show are Haltech-side warnings: high oil temp, low oil pressure, and other fault states the ECU knows about but never forwards to the BMW cluster.

This is a small Pip-Boy-style display mounted in the driver-side vent as a second readout, fed from the Haltech CAN bus over WiFi. Same car, two dashes — factory cluster for driving, Pip-Boy for the stuff Haltech won’t put on the BMW screen.

How it works

A RaceCapture ESP32-CAN-X2 (Autosport Labs) sits on the Haltech CAN network, reads the channels I care about, and sends updates wirelessly to the display module. The screen is a separate Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.41 — 2.41″ square AMOLED at 600×450, capacitive touch, WiFi/BLE — running a Pip-Boy boot sequence and alert UI.

On track, if oil pressure or oil temp crosses a limit, the display flashes the warning immediately.

Boot sequence and normal operation — Pip-Boy aesthetic, real Haltech data behind it.

Display hardware

Pip-Boy display mounted in the driver-side vent Waveshare 2.41″ AMOLED in the vent gauge pod — USB power routed through the mount.

The dev board is a Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.41: RM690B0 AMOLED over QSPI, FT6336 capacitive touch on I2C, QMI8658 IMU and RTC on board. USB-C for power and programming.

Dash mount

Fusion 360 — vent gauge pod bracket Bracket modeled around the 2.41″ AMOLED module — replaces the vent louver section and keeps airflow slots.

Gauge pod bracket — printed part Square gauge pod bracket — snap-fit geometry for the E82 driver-side vent.

RAM mount adapter for the vent opening Separate RAM-ball adapter if you want an adjustable arm instead of the fixed pod.

Vent mount with gauge pod and RAM base installed Both mounts fit the E82/128i/135i driver-side top vent. RAM ball for phone or secondary gauge; pod bracket for the Pip-Boy screen.

Two 3D-printed parts, both PETG or ASA minimum for in-car heat:

Part Link Price
E82 vent gauge square gauge pod bracket (LCD mount) Cults3D — free STL Free
E82 driver left-side vent RAM mount Cults3D — RAM ball adapter Paid

The free bracket is sized for the Waveshare 2.41″ AMOLED module. The RAM mount is a vent insert with a standard RAM ball — useful on its own or combined with the pod above it.

Parts list

Item Notes
Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.41 2.41″ AMOLED 600×450, touch, ESP32-S3
RaceCapture ESP32-CAN-X2 Autosport Labs ESP32-CAN-X2 — dual CAN, automotive power, WiFi/BLE
Haltech Rebel LS Already in the 135i — CAN source for oil pressure, oil temp, fault flags
E82 vent gauge pod bracket Free STL on Cults3D — print PETG/ASA
E82 vent RAM mount (optional) Cults3D listing
RAM arm + phone holder (optional) Standard 1″ RAM components if using the RAM vent mount