I have the bumble bee camera also but so far no time to install it. There is a good thread here about the bosch relay wiring in conjunction with aftermarket video modules. I'll post the link when I find it if your interested.

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Kiwi,
Would you happen to know the part number? I went to real OEM and the only thing I see the Trunk lid switch but it does not have the camera as part of it.
Here is the bumble bee camera that I plan to use.

Ripp,
Just got off the phone with the BMW dude and he says 639 is for the X3 only. 083 is no longer available in the US either. Any reason the X3 module should not work in the X5? Will the wiring harness be a problem? Because this is an electrical component once I buy it I own it so I want to make sure I am getting the right item!

Thanks!

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Abster641

I just re-read your original post. Here is my advice and 0.02.

Since you already have a backup camera to install then take the other posters' advice and get an aftermarket solution. I don't see any huge advantage of using the BMW parts with an aftermarket camera. I'm sure the end result will be fine.

Having said that, I agree with rip222, I've heard good things about the E53 X5 backup camera. It's the E70 X5 backup camera that everyone complains about and that is a completely different animal.

If you do like the appearance of the Mini camera that you posted as a link then I suggest you buy the OE BMW camera kit and scrap the aftermarket camera. That is what rip222 did. See the link: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/e...amera-kit.html

The design of the camera has actually been updated to look like the one for the Mini (see the small posted drawing; it is the handle strip with the integrated camera; so you end up replacing the entire handle strip with this mod and it insures that the camera is pointed properly) and no longer looks like the one posted on that link (see the large photo of an actual camera), but I believe all the rest of the displayed parts are the same. You can buy it from the ebay seller roveractive. Yes it's more expensive, but you'll have an OE part with a super-clean install that will look and work great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-G...fAudioQ5fVideo

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Zerochief,
Yes please post the information when you find it!

Mgruber,
Thanks for the link to Roveractive but I am finding better prices with a BMW dealer. Do you know that part number for the BMW Camera? The camera kit which is just the video module and all associated wiring is $280. The camera part number listed in the posting is no longer in production. The bumble bee camera was fairly cheap so I can do without it.

Good luck!

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Abster641

Found:

BUMBLE BEE THREAD


BOSCH RELAY

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If you can get better prices with a BMW dealer then great, but this is usually a BMW euro part and lots of dealers don't want to or can't get it for whatever reason(s). (Nearly every BMW dealer I've ever spoken to has never heard of the front camera and it's in the ETK and Realoem! BTW, roveractive sells that one too!) As far as I know the 2 part numbers on Realoem are the same, IOW BMW just updated the camera and electronics in the kit and kept the p/n the same. If one or more of the part numbers is discontinued then I have no idea. I do know roveractive can get you the latest/current one (maybe he bought it before it was discontinuted?). Send him a note and maybe he can give you a few bucks off especially if you buy direct.

To answer an earlier question, the 639 kit should work for all I-Bus based vehicles (X3, X5, E38, E39, Z4, E46). That kit was paired w/ an aftermarket camera on an E38 in the write-up on bimmerboard.

If now you're considering going full OEM, just get the current kit that mgruber mentions: 66 21 0 397 648
It has the switchbox w/ multiple video inputs and the handle strip w/ integrated camera. Ask your BMW parts dept for the instructions from ASAP (AfterSales Assistance Portal). No reason they can't order it - is a US spec kit w/ the cheesy US warning label they want you to stick to your nav screen!

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2010 X5 3.5d: SOLD, but miss the torque...
2004 X5 4.4i: SOLD, but served us well

Thanks everyone. I have alot to think about. I will keep you posted about my final decision.
Thanks!

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Abster641

A few weeks ago I fitted an OEM camera to my E46 M3 with TV function, it is a very big job and literally took me all day to fit. There is a separate module for cars without TV and I think I have part of the loom left over for this.

I can't help you with an X5 installation but have you got the EBA instructions?