Rear view cam setups?

[chas3]

True, except there is a huge difference between $35 (ebay cam) and around $763 (retrofit cam).

[m5james]

Says who? There are people complaining on another thread about how their stock 2007 rearview camera completely sucks, and then someone notes that after that year, the only improvement they made is via software and added a contrast setting. Just because something is stock BMW, that doesn't guarantee it's the best of the best.

[chas3]

You probably got it wrong. I was comparing prices in my earlier post.

[m5james]

Prices are different, sure...quality is probably just the same using aftermarket setups that replace the license plate light, are built onto a license plate frame, etc. Your RealOEM post is irrelevant for two reasons...that link is for an E46/E90 and the prices on there aren't actual prices that anyone off the street can go and buy it for. Just like the guy on Armageddon said..."EVERYTHING, made in CHINA!"

[chas3]

My original RealOEM link: RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0d Retrofit backup camera
Step 1. Check the title of the page (of course, you probably won't notice the E53 written in nice big letters)
Step 2. Run a search on the part number RealOEM.com * Part Cross-reference (again, E53)

Some of the prices on RealOEM are outdated, some were wrong in the first place. However, being interested in mounting a camera and having checked with a local dealership, this is not the case and the price was roughly the same (roughly as in price was not quoted in USD and currency exchange may vary, and supplies in my area are by default slightly more expensive).

Now you can go back and watch Armageddon

[m5james]

Point is, why pay 10x as much that you're going to look at maybe for 30 seconds, when in the end it's going to give you the same result. For those BMW diehards who insist on BMW only parts on their prized possession, take a wild shot at home much "factory authorized" installation is going to be. Once again, all for the same result.

[fullmetaljacket]

Very sad news today about my rearview camera. If you remember I was previously complaining about the CLOUDY VIEW of the camera and wanted to find out which is the culprit - the camera or the head unit?

I unplugged the camera from the head unit and connected it to an external LCD screen (I used a DVD player with AUX in function). The results are THE SAME - STILL CLOUDY...

SCREEN SHOT from HEAD UNIT...



SCREEN SHOT from the EXGTERNAL LCD SCREEN...



I reconnected everything and didn't use the X yesterday.
Suddenly, this morning as I was backing up from the garage...NO MORE IMAGE AT ALL! There was a message on my screen saying "No Backup Device Connected". My China made Rearview Camera ceased to work The LED bulb integrated into the camera setup was lighting up, connection and cables were double checked. I even un-installed the headunit, checked the direct connection at the back and repeated my tests. Plugged the camera to an external LCD and still NO IMAGE at all

I am forced to either buy again (because I have an existing HOLE already on my License Plate Light receptackle or leave the non-functioning camera and mount something somewhere else.

I'm guessing it's the rain and washing that destroyed he camera. I could see small droplets of water when I look at the LED light lens of the assembly. Maybe I did not insulate the whole assembly properly hence water sipped in the housing receptacle and forced its way in!
My advise to everyone - when it's raining or washing your X... put a condom on these Chinese rearview cameras or seal the install with silicone sealers! Very disappointed!

[m5james]

Disppointed, but at least it's an easily affordable replacement. Lesson learned for others...a couple minutes of siliconing seams could prevent this for the next person.

I've installed countless sets of eBay headlights/taillights for people, and while they work great (most of them being better than stock BMW equipment in terms of light out, for far less), but I've learned from them as well that they're sometimes not sealed the best. The headlights seems to be the biggest culprit since the front lenses are removable for replacement, so I just run a small bead of clear silicone on every installation now. Even my stock headlights (pre-angel eyes) would get condensation inside them when I washed the engine bay, so I siliconed them when I reinstalled them post angel eyes.

[chas3]

Hm.. my ordered camera didn't even arrive yet and yours already died? It doesn't look very promising, but let's hope it was just an isolated case. I'll take a look at the camera case when it gets here and see if it needs some extra insulation. But anyway, like m5james said, it is a cheap replacement at least.

As about the clouds, looks like the guidance lines are generated and rendered properly, so it was obviously the CCD (or whatever that specific camera uses to get the outside view) that was screwed.

[fullmetaljacket]

The good news/part is I contacted the seller and she gave me a good deal: either to..

1. ship back item and they will change it in 20 days or so for FREE.
2. or, pay US$13.00 + US$15 DHL shipping and get it in 3-5 days.

Ofcourse I opted for #2! You know us boys, we want it no matter what - NOW! hahaha! I figured if I ship the item, it will cost me about US$15 as well so what's another US$13 without too much waiting right? This time I'll seal the dam thing with a glue gun or silicone glue - exactly what you guys suggested!

I will also take apart the non-working camera and figure out what went wrong. Will post the results...