What do you guys think about this Android HU?

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by Overboost

I have started the reading, researching and planning stage of my install next month. One of the most common features people add is the reverse camera and I want to know more about the wiring and activation of the cameras. If you do a few searches for E53 backup cam you will come up with plethora of old posts dating back to 2006 for the addition of backup cams to OEM navigation systems with the TV tuner.

And then the ones that have posted videos of installs of cameras on the android systems are just plain hacks. Wires running everywhere, not securing of wiring, wires not properly routed, etc. It is just painful to watch.

Any of the threads you read are outdated to the point where the iBus adapter may or not have been perfected yet so my question is does the iBus app determine reverse gear now or is the wiring of the camera trigger to the reverse lights still necessary?

I want to learn more about the latest android systems and how the installers provide the connections for the reverse cameras and/or dash cameras.

The Seicane has an ibus interface box for the steering wheel controls and such. This has to be whats triggering the reverse lights since I cant find any factory harness wire that is for the trans being shifted to reverse. Since the radio goes into backup camera mode with no extra wiring done by me and the factory harness plug not having a dedicated "reverse" signal wire it has to be decoding it from the bus with the provided box. If the car was here I could test this by unplugging the ibus box that came with the radio but the wife is at work right now.

[Overboost]

Found a little more info from autopumpkin.com. Here is a basic layout of one camera harness like I think I have ordered. It also shows power from the reverse light 12V but on our BMW's this causes issues. So with a relay it should work but still, this only has camera powered up when reverse is engaged. I want the camera powered up always when key is on for recording purposes, not for viewing on monitor.



Another wiring schematic for some different camera systems that have a dedicated analog reverse light signal sent to the HU if you don't have the help of IBus messages to indicate the reverse signal.



And finally, the message at the bottom:

BE NOTED:
If your headunit is using the CAN BUS decoder box to control the reverse signal, then the reverse detective wire should be already connect between the CAN BUS box and the headunit, then you no need to care about this wire, just connect the RCA jacket to the camera input port from the radio.

[80stech]

If you guys just need a reverse signal, why not just use a small diode and capacitor(may a resistor to drain the capacitor) to convert the PWM signal to the reverse lights?

[Overboost]

So my current plan or logic would be to wire the power of the rear camera to the rear fuse box. There are several choices and that becomes my next research, I need power when key is in position 1 or 2 (still open to suggestions)

Fuse 72 Audio/Nav
Fuse 73 Ignition
Fuse 75 Audio/Nav
Fuse 76/82 Open (my choice if I can figure out the supply side of the fuse is ignition switch position 1/2. Just add the wire to the open load slot on that fuse)
Fuse 80 Ignition
Fuse 83 Rear charge sockets (Sleep mode enabled?)

[crystalworks]

Ob, in the case where you want it powered all the time, just use a switched 12v on ignition to trigger a relay to power the camera. You will have to determine if your head unit switches to reverse automatically using the bus as crowz mentioned. If it does, great. The camera will be feeding it a picture all the time whether in reverse or not so your wiring would be done.

Edit: I see you are already on that course. Not sure what at the fuse box is pos 1 energized but some testing with a multimeter should determine that quickly enough.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by 80stech

If you guys just need a reverse signal, why not just use a small diode and capacitor(may a resistor to drain the capacitor) to convert the PWM signal to the reverse lights?

Still in debate if that is actually needed with the IBus interface. The relay is also a path but I just don't think it is needed with the IBus interface.

Pin 30 12V
Pin 85 GND
Pin 86 Reverse light PWM bulb signal from X5
Pin 87 Camera power out

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Ob, in the case where you want it powered all the time, just use a switched 12v on ignition to trigger a relay to power the camera. You will have to determine if your head unit switches to reverse automatically using the bus as crowz mentioned. If it does, great. The camera will be feeding it a picture all the time whether in reverse or not so your wiring would be done.

Camera load is minimal enough that a relay should not be needed. I think the one Crowz and I are using draws less than 250mA. A fuse for sure to protect the wiring in case of a short in the camera itself or on the wiring running through the tailgate.

[crystalworks]

^True. Sounds like it should be relatively painless to install provided the camera housing itself fits where it's intended to.

[mr_robot]

Show me installed pics~~

Does your HU follow the curves of the dashboard?

[bcredliner]

Are you trying to install a reverse camera that activates and shows on the screen when the vehicle is in reverse as well as records what is going on behind you as well as displays that view when driving? Why not just use an independent recording camera that you could mount facing one direction or the other depending on the circumstances.