Who has installed reverse camera themselves?

[ants_oz]

As per the title, who has installed a reverse camera into an E53 themselves?

My vehicle is equipped with the 602 option (widescreen monitor and TV tuner (digital)), and my wife would like a reverse camera fitted.

So who's done one themselves - using BMW or equivalent parts? Would you do it again? Or was it a shit of a job for which you needed double jointed elbows and hands the size of a 5 year old?

[TerminatorX5]

Hello anthony...

I have done it and i love it... you already have majority of work pre-done for you...

now is a good time to select a camera to your likening and install it... not OE BMW camera, they suck from the 1999-2006 era, to be honest, any chinese camera will do... If you go for a camera that is sold as "fits in license plate light on E53" - beware!!! they do not fit - you need either modify the car or the camera... these cameras are OK - I would suggest, modify the camera... Those cameras in the license plate light look very OE and are very nice...

you need to power the camera - I suggest using the power from the rear window wiper, it is on with ignition hot.

you need to trigger the camera activation - this brings up a question... do you have a PDC (park distance control) installed in your car?

I would say, with all the parts available, the actual install will take about 1 hour to install camera, and about 1-3 hours to get the triggering sorted out...

[bjo]

I installed one on my aftermarket Pioneer DVD radio. However, mine is a plate mount cam. Looks out of place but better than backing over something or one of my kids.

[ants_oz]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

Hello anthony...

I have done it and i love it... you already have majority of work pre-done for you...

now is a good time to select a camera to your likening and install it... not OE BMW camera, they suck from the 1999-2006 era, to be honest, any chinese camera will do... If you go for a camera that is sold as "fits in license plate light on E53" - beware!!! they do not fit - you need either modify the car or the camera... these cameras are OK - I would suggest, modify the camera... Those cameras in the license plate light look very OE and are very nice...

you need to power the camera - I suggest using the power from the rear window wiper, it is on with ignition hot.

you need to trigger the camera activation - this brings up a question... do you have a PDC (park distance control) installed in your car?

I would say, with all the parts available, the actual install will take about 1 hour to install camera, and about 1-3 hours to get the triggering sorted out...

Hey mate, thanks for the info - it's appreciated

I was looking at those chinese cams that "fit the plate light", but figured - like most cheap things - it would take some fettling to get right. That's no big deal.

Yes, I have the PDC fitted so that should give a trigger point.

[TerminatorX5]

if you got an email, i can send you a PDF with some basic info on my particular install...

[ants_oz]

Thanks mate, PM'd you. Appreciated!

[TerminatorX5]

file sent... let me know if you have any questions... in your case, the install is much simplified already... i do not know how the leads look like on the factory installed TV, but the TV install is pivotal for the reverse camera (also, it is pivotal for getting an android (or iphone) onto the main screen), and you just have to make the contacts for the camera (+) and (-), and the trigger wire via a relay to the PDC and - voila!!! you are all set...

speaking of android - have you heard of a company down under that makes MimicX2?

[ants_oz]

No, i haven't. I'm an apple clone.

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by ants_oz

No, i haven't. I'm an apple clone.

well, it seems that the company also makes it work with apples...

customgadz . com - they are in Melbourne... i was hoping to hear it from somebody who is much closer to them than myself... lol... no biggy deal, not that i am buying their product as of yet, i am just checking them out...