HOW TO CONNECT eBay BACKUP CAMERA TO NAVI

[SlickGT1]

Good stuff. Going to try and do same. Thanks.

[TerminatorX5]

Пожалуйста... you are welcome

[SlickGT1]

Спасибо Огромное.

[TerminatorX5]

I just started working on the wireless license plate camera, that I got recently off ebay. before plunging into the full install, i was going to test wireless range, so i connected the whole getup to the power to see what happens. unfortunately, it seems that the wireless module, that supposed to take power and pass it on to the camera, does not pass the power. I tested the camera, it works, but i can't test the wireless tranmission as the transmitter seems not to function. i already contacted the seller to see what the resolution might be.

Separate from that issue, as was noted in the forums, the license plate camera does not fit into the light openning of the car, as the E53 has only a clear lid for the light opening, and the light bulb is sitting on a component board, that is an integral part of the hatch handle and the other light. Also, it might be problematic to fish the camera cables through the tiny openning for the plug for the license plate lights, the one that is going inside the hatch.

So, as of this moment, the license plate light camera is still an unresolved issue.

[Tymatk]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

i used the pin 6 on the middle plug in the PDC controller - I forgot what official number for that plug is. I did my research back in 2007, when I connected it - so, my memory fails me now as to, why I chose that particular pin...

however, that pin supplies i think (+) signal, enough to feed a small, tiny Radio shack relay that throws a (-) to the trigger wire. If you have the PDC and a Voltmeter, get to the pin 6 of the middle plug (there are 3 plugs on the PDC), measure voltage, then turn on the PDC button on the console, and see if you are picking up (+) or (-)... I think it is (+). Then, get yourself a relay (I will have to dig it up and see what model it is), and wire the (+) from pin 6 to the coil of the relay, which will trigger the (-) to the camera trigger wire - as a result, you will have the rear camera come on everytime the PDC is activated. I had my camera ON at all the times (ignition hot), so, there was no delay when I threw reverse gear on. The drawback is that when the speed signal shuts off the PDC, you can not have the reverse camera on at 60 MPH!!!

As I am in the process of wiring the 4.8iS (the new ride), I got myself a license plate light camera with a wireless sender/receiver unit - maybe that will save me on ripping the trim to run a wire to the battery compartment. I was also hoping to avoid splicing into the wire for pin 6 by getting a custom made harness (get a pin terminal and a pin socket) but I found the pin socket plug and can't find the pin terminal plug... So, maybe I will have to splice again (4.6iS has it spliced)

I too hot-wired the CAM to ignition wire. PCD is standard on my car and front as well, i don't really want to have my cam turn on when front PCD is active.

[Tymatk]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

Separate from that issue, as was noted in the forums, the license plate camera does not fit into the light openning of the car, as the E53 has only a clear lid for the light opening, and the light bulb is sitting on a component board, that is an integral part of the hatch handle and the other light. Also, it might be problematic to fish the camera cables through the tiny openning for the plug for the license plate lights, the one that is going inside the hatch.

So, as of this moment, the license plate light camera is still an unresolved issue.

I have license plate Cam and no it's not a direct fit. Don't even bother with the Ebay one.
Got mine from a company call Connect2. Very close to standard YET still required some trimming. You'll need to drill a hole to feed AV cables through, wire the light to the license plate light.

[SlickGT1]

I read of this cam issue not fitting. I either going to mount it to the plate frame, or right above it somehow.

I also read that the wireless cams suck insanely, and the transmission doesn seem to pass through the car.

[TerminatorX5]

Ty, I am not sure if I am following your chain of thought - if your car is equipped with the PDC, the PDC can be activated either by pushing the button on the console manually, or by putting the gear in reverse, automatically. When the gear is in reverse, the reverse lights are activating, more to let other people know that you are backing up then to shine light onto your backup path. The reverse llights only activate when the gear is in reverse (also, for the "follow-me-home" mode), so if the camera is wired to the reverse lights, it will only activate when the gear is in reverse. Same goes for the PDC, it is activated when the gear is in reverse... So, logically, the camera is active when the gear is in reverse, either via the reverse lights or the PDC...
this is my logical view on camera actication - but I would like to hear other views, maybe my view is not the best...

Instead of drilling the car and risking rust in the future, I will rather cut and redo the camera wires to feed the wires through existing opening and will figure out the placement into the license lilght opening... In my previous install, I cut a small hole in the plastic next to the license plate light and camera was there with no problems for several years - I will take a pic and post it later. The llicense light camera looks much cleaner and more stock then the one I had on my 4.6is.

I haven't tested the wireless camera, so I have no say on that, but worse case scenario, I'll just run the video feed to the battery compartment - done that before, no biggy deal.
there was a point, when I was thinking about rigging the car with multiple cameras, one for inside view, several for outside views, and run those cameras through a "DVR"-like setup via a carPC - after seeing a few videos on youtube about the cops being less than nice to motoring public. I even got an 8-channel USB converter but never got anywhere with project. CarPC is still on the back burner, even though I got the PC, the CIS-IBUS unit - but then life got in the way, and I had to trade the 528i for the new 4.8is... lol...

[TerminatorX5]

here is a pic of the camera on the E53 X5 4.6iS. It is a bit rusty, as that camera has been on the car since 2008, and endured tropical rains of Latin America and harsh winter of Russia...

[Tymatk]

Hi

I see what you meant. My car has front PCD as well, i was thinking that if front PCD active, this might trigger the CAM as well but since running the trigger wire to reverse light, this should be fine.

Also if you notice, according to BMW motorsport pdf guide of how to install their reverse cam, they also recommend to drill a hole. If you guys want, i can take picture of the whole process once i get hold of a relay.

Thanks