Reverse Camera Options W/O Nav

[bullsbmwx5]

The tiny monitor is mounted on that little snap-in microphone panel. This is fairly neat and it is nice to have the monitor up by the rear view mirror.

could you explain how you did this, is it an Easy Mod...

[us_matrix]

It would be great if you can post some picture to take a look...

Originally Posted by carlgo

I went through this. I am not happy that I had to, but this is what I did:

First, I got a Boyo VTC46lIR that mounts on the rear view mirror. A good idea, but on the X the overhead consol gets into the way. The Boyo is just too thick.

I returned it and got the Audiovox ACA450. This unit uses a conventional monitor that you can mount anywhere (depending on legalities and if you are willing to damage the dash). The video was terrible, unwatchable, and I had to return it.

Both of these systems use a wireless transmitter like a baby cam (or pervert cam). To be fair, the 450 was a refurb. Maybe it was defective.

Now I have an Audiovox CAMSBAR. It uses a cable that carries both power and the video. I ran the cable under the headliner and out through the overhead consol. The tiny monitor is mounted on that little snap-in microphone panel. This is fairly neat and it is nice to have the monitor up by the rear view mirror.

It also features a proximity beeper that is helps when you get used to it.

This is a $250 (at Crutchfield) solution for what BMW should have made standard. It works ok, not as nice as OEM units with bigger screens, better cameras, lines showing the path of the car and trailer hook-up guidance and such.

It does make me feel better, though. There are just too many local newspaper articles about people backing up over kids. And it helps in parallel parking because you can actually see out the back...

I will post photos if anyone is interested.

[MMAADD357]

I second that. Carlgo, could you please share a pic wit us. Thanks in advance.

[carlgo]

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Hi, here are the pics. The CAMSBAR is an inexpensive, small and somewhat limited device, but it does work. It looks bigger in these photos that it looks in place in the X.

The monitor is only 2.5"! They probably give these away at the screen factory. It does use a wire rather than a transmitter and that worked better for me.

Of course, you do have to run a wire from the rear to the front. I ran mine behind the headliner because of where I mounted the monitor. If you put the monitor below the windshield, then you would run the wire under the rugs, etc. like the Dice wires are routed.

Having the screen up by the rear view mirror is handy, of course, and it also places it closer to you. You can't see this little thing from too far away.

I practiced with a garbage pail to get an idea of how accurate the beeper system is. It is ok, but only if you are backing up real slow. Plastic pails are stealthy and metal ones give a better return, more like a car. I wouldn't want to practice on a Corvette.

The image is colorful and fairly sharp . It is sensitive enough that the backup lights illuminate it at night. The camera is not adjustable and that is not good. I tilted the license plate down as possible, but I liked the adjustable cameras much better. Mounting it under the bumper is a good option, maybe the best one.

But, like I said, it works and gives you a decent option at a lost cost, something important on older vehicles.

[bullsbmwx5]

Got an Error "Invalid Attachment specified. " when i tried to view the attachment.

could you please check the format of the images.

[carlgo]

Damn, I hate the attachment process. Here goes.

[cobra94563]

Link is not working..now it is!

I'm late to this thread, but I'm interested is what is a good solution. The back end of the x5 is too high for me to see, although now that my PDC is working, it helps.

Does anyone have experience with the nextar?
Nextar - Your Source for Portable Multimedia Entertainment Electronics

[bullsbmwx5]

How did you attach the Device to the Microphone panel? Glue or any screws used.

would the device take input from any camera or only the one by Mfrer?

[sna77]

My Toyota pickup truck has a reverse camera built into the rearview mirror. I wonder if something like this can be fit?

https://www.escortradar.com/store/Sm...tallation.html

[carlgo]

Some answers about my project:

1. That Escort mirror is very cool! Since they install it, they have to make it fit if they are going to charge you. I do wonder about how they run the power supply cable. You could tap a wire in the overhead console for a clean install.

2. Per my first post, yes I did end up using screws to attach the monitor to the mike panel. The supplied double-sided pad lost its grip in the heat.

3. Is it a hard install? That depends on your skill. You do have to drill a hole in the tailgate, remove the tailgate and pillar trim, locate and tap wires and grounds, remove some parts from the headliner and then pull down the headliner (that can be scary), fish the wire through the headliner, pry out console components and then mount the monitor in such a way that you don't drill a hole or run a screw through something expensive. It took me over two hours, but now I could do it in one or so.

What does make it easier is that the wire also provides power, so you don't have to find a suitable power source and run unsightly power and ground wires.

4. As for the connections, the monitor has a short length of cable built-in and that cable has a male four-pin connector, the round kind that can only plug in one way. I don't know how standard video connections are. Judging from the ads I see, there seems to be some uniformity because they say "just plug in your camera" or "attach the XYX camera to any video monitor..."

5. That Nextar unit certainly would work. I wish my older Garmin had a video input and had come with a camera. It also appears to use a power cable and while some wireless models probably do work, you know that a cable type will work for sure. The kit has a power adapter, so unfortunately it seems to require a separate power line (maybe it is only needed if you don't use the camera?).

Anyway, my diminutive Audiovox continues to work and for the price is a viable solution.