X5 E53 with TV tuner Reversing camera project

[andythegrouch]

If any one is interested I have xcarried a low effort reversing camera fit that cost all of £35 and will write it up. It uses a £30 reversing camera from Maplin that is fitted in the pull out section of the bumper that is where the towing bracket fits and a £5 relay from Halfords. Cabling is very easy as in this position there is a grommet from the bumper space into the spare wheel location, under which is the TV tuner.

[marksg]

Definitely interested - let's see some pictures!

Thanks, Gary

[Pewters]

PICS !!!

A good thread here
BMW X5 • View topic - Reverse Camera Install (E53)

[toadhall1248]

Hello Guys
I have just wired a reversing camera camera in, but have struck a dead end trying to get some pins (female) for the blue & white TV module connectors. TYCO have the part number for the connector as "restricted". i.e. BMW purchase only.
I can't seem to find on any of the threads where anyone else has had this problem.
Does anyone know where pins (or full connectors with pins) can be purchased from and the part numbers? there must be a compatible pin.

I hope you can help

thanks.

[toadhall1248]

I had to solve the issue of finding pins for the connectors the hard way, and thought I might share the information for anyone else attempting the reversing camera mod.
As mentioned in the previous post, BMW and TYCO have a commercial arrangement to keep details of the connectors secret so that you have to buy them from your friendly BMW $tealer. TYCO customer support will not even reply to enquiries.
What I have found is that while the BMW connector shells may be proprietary special production, the pins are not.
The BMW connectors are based on the TYCO Micro Quadlok Contact System, which is used in many other applications.
For the purposes of ordering pins for the reversing Camera mod, what you need is

TYCO ELECTRONICS - P/N 963715-1 - RECEPTACLE CRIMP, SNAP IN.

The Quadloc catalog can be downloaded from the TYCO website. Catalog 1307999 (simply Google TYCO 1307999).

In Australia I was able to order them from Farnell.

I hope this helps anyone doing this Mod, as it is well worth the effort. It makes backing the vehicle to hitch up a trailer Sooooo easy.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by andythegrouch

If any one is interested I have xcarried a low effort reversing camera fit that cost all of £35 and will write it up. It uses a £30 reversing camera from Maplin that is fitted in the pull out section of the bumper that is where the towing bracket fits and a £5 relay from Halfords. Cabling is very easy as in this position there is a grommet from the bumper space into the spare wheel location, under which is the TV tuner.

What video system is the camera you have?Pal or NTSC?Thanks

[yd_dc]

doesnt matter.... u can change tv system intv settings

[powers1]

Originally Posted by yd_dc

doesnt matter.... u can change tv system intv settings

Are you sure?Didnt know you could do that...I know that the wire out of the TV Tuner is only NTSC....I Have to look at the settings then..

[toadhall1248]

Hi
To be honest, I still don't know which system PAL/NTSC is being used. I understand as per the previous post that the format can be changed by programming (data).

This is the camera that I used, and it fits just nicely under the rear hatch to the left (or right) of the opening handle. eonon - High Definition Waterproof Color CMD Car CAMERA which are easily obtained from Ebay. I was prepared to do the data change if necessary but the camera just worked with the system out of the box, so no further effort required at this stage. I believe that the default system is NTSC and as the camera just worked, it is logical to assume that the one provided is NTSC. I believe the Eonon cameras can be ordered in either format.
My reasons for doing this mod are for connecting up a trailer. My previous car (Landcruiser) was a dream. Just back up until it goes "clunk" on the metal plate behind the tow ball. X5's are a little less forgiving to this technique.

I hope this helps.
toadhall1248

[powers1]

Thanks for the infprmation.Yes,the X5 uses the NTSC system.
Now that you mentioned Eonon ,they are the reason why I couldnt get my back up camera to work!A few years ago ,when they only had the Ebay shop ,I bought a lot of stuff from them including some back up cameras,which I specifically ordered to be NTSC,however they sent me Pal cams and then refused to exchange them.So ,I just connected the camera on my X5 to AV ,which is not ideal.....
I placed it on the left rear fog lamp.