Backup Camera Group Buy
 

I am going to get in on a group buy that is being organized by our friends over at Bimmerboard.com. The camera we are looking to buy is the Misumi MS-DC54. Details on this unit can be found in this thread - http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/173122

Post a reply here or at bimmerboard if you are interested in participating in the group buy!!

Jeff

If it's $80 plus shipping, I'm in!

JV

What a great deal!
One Q: What kind of output connection does the cam have? Since I won't be installing it in an OEM screen, this would be helpful to know. I'll click through Bimmerboard's... unique... display of threads, and track down the specs. If an answer is needed sooner rather than later, I'm in! If anything changes for me before the order is made, I'll edit here.
Thx for the heads up!
M

I got a camera off Ebay last week.The connections on the camera are 2 RCA plugs.One has the video out ,the other is RCA gives you power positive(+) and ground (-).
On the power connection the positive is always the inner tip.I found it easier to cut off the RCA plug to access the 2 wires and to connect to my reversing light positive and the other wire to ground.

I'm interested. That is very cheap.

Still not sure where I am going to mount it. I like the OEM location but would need to fabricate a bracket.

what else would you need aside from the camera to make it work? I am in

Before I say yes to this (and believe me I want to) what does one need besides the camera in order to connect it up? I.E is it as simple as connecting it into a jack at the back of my car and connecting the power?

I have a 2001 X5 with nav / DSP / Dension ICE I-Pod

To make this work you will also need to have the BMW video module installed.

Our VSM kit would work as well, as long as the camera has an RCA jack at the end of the wiring (hard to tell from the pictures).

Good point, Tom. Thanks for adding that info :thumbup:

Trying to remember if it was on this site or another that I saw an awesome rear-cam installation in the center of the rear logo emblem. It was totally stealth & he spec'd this type of cam (small radius, down-focused). That's my plan if the wiring maps out to get there! I'm definitely in, esp with Tom G's note above.

M

This image?

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2...roundel6he.jpg

This will require some drilling behind the emblem for the camera to fit through.

Anyone can retrofit an RCA jack onto the wire if not already equipped that way.

JV

yes. You can easily put the wiring DIRECTLY into the video module. The pin locations are on this page http://www.bimmernav.com/BMW_TV_Navg...tructions.html

Installation would be the same for any BMW using that video module.

Martin

Yep, that's the one- Tom G. NIIIIIICE! And the angle of the cam would make this install perfect. Thanks for finding it!

Here are the updated details. We recently got an invoice for 10 units although can boost it up to any number more if needed.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/175357

Martin

Bump -

There are a few cameras left. They are very small. Contact Martin asap if you are interested.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/182672

I received mine from the group buy today. Very nice little unit. I may do the install this weekend.

Just ordered mine.:thumbup:

Tom,

any plans on doing a VSM group buy?

We just completed one a few weeks ago in the M3 forum, not sure if we're doing another one soon. Contact me directly with what you need and we'll get you set up.

Tom, Count me in as well. I am also interested in VSM kit. I just bought this back-up camera.

Got the camera wired today... what a biyotch. However, it works well I am glad to say. Going to try to make time to get it mounted tomorrow.

PM replied!

Misumi MS-DC54 reverse cam
 

Cam works like a charm and it is small and stealthy... its a keeper. This is not the permanent location but this spot works for now. Angle is perfect. Eventually it is going up in the upper rear hatch door trim near the license plate lighting.

I have the 4:3 navscreen ... not the newer widescreen version. Will this still work for me?

Yes, as long as you have something like the BMW video module or the video module offered by EAS (Tom G.)

Excuse my ignorance ... but what is this video module, and how do I know whether I have it?

If you hit your "MENU" button and don't see "TELEVISION" as one of the options then you don't have the video module.

Sadly, I don't have the module either, but it's on the list. At this point, I thought the list would be smaller, but after more than a year with the X, it just keeps growing;)

Nice work, Kevin!

JV

Looks great, Kevin. I still have to install mine.

I feel ya on the mod list. And thanks.


Thanks. Let me know where you install yours. I am still thinking on the perfect spot. I think I know, just trying to figure out the mounting.

I just got my Ntsc camera today!My supplier sent me 2 Pal ones in error and 6 weeks after,I finally got the right one!
I spent all afternoon installing it and I am all set except I am having interferences if I connect it to the Reversing light Positive(+) and Negative(-).If I connect here ,I get lines in the picture!If I connect directly to the battery its fine!Havent had time to discover whether its the + or the - thats causing the interference!

Where did you connect yours to?Which colour wires?Thanks.

Don't connect it directly to the backup light wires. Rather, use a relay with the backup light as the trigger.

I agree, use a relay. I got mine from Partsexpress for $2. Link

You can connect to the reverse lights in several different places along the spare well wall near the tailgate side. See this article for some pointers.

I made my reverse connections near where the tailgate wiring enters the grommet for the tailgate. That was the closest point to my relay and to the video module. I connected to yellow/white + and brown - reverse wiring. I have tons of pictures so if you need anything just let me know.

Sorry Jeff,I should have made myself clearer!I had also done all the connections with a relay exactly like the TvOnnav diagram that NCX has kindly posted!However,I am still getting interference!

I am going to find out today which of the connections(+ or - )is causing the interference.

Thanks a lot NCX.I should have said that I am using a relay.
I have made all connections exactly as per your TVonNav wiring diagram.Like you ,I also connected to yellow/white + and brown -reverse wiring by the grommet for the tailgate. I am still getting interference???I know that the problem is in these connections ,because if I connect the relay directly to the battery I get a perfect picture, so I will have to get the reverse wiring somewhere else!
This mod has been going on for over a month now because they kept sending me Pal cams!Jeff ,and especially Drex, gave me all the necessary instructions and data for the wiring connections ,plus I have an auto electrician here,so I
know all wiring is A1!
Prior to PMing Drex and Jeff I had a look at Kings cam article and couldnt understand the wiring!Not surprisingly,since he was connecting a( +) and a(-) to the same pin on the relay?He has since changed that ,but the wiring is still not correct........!Check it yourself?He has no GROUND(-) on the relay!On pin 86 he is connecting a permanent positive(+) and reverse positive on branched pins 85 and 87?

I am fitting the cam on the left rear fog light!Looks neat.An idea I got from Tom G.

Looking forward to seeing your install in the fog light.

I'll go look at my connections again this morning but I wired it exactly as the diagram above from the TvonNav pdf above and it worked perfectly. The camera ground and reverse light ground should connect to both pins 85 and 87. Did you try the Bosch relay or some other kind/amperage? Could you try another to be sure it is functioning properly? Just trying to eliminate possibilities.

Would like to know this: When you connect direclty to the battery, where are you getting the ground from for pins 85+87? From the battery or from the same reverse light ground?

Also, have you tried any of the other brown negative wires coming from the tailgate? They are all together in the wire bundle. I used a 12v tester to identify the proper + and - from one reverse light. Could you be using the brake ground instead of the reverse light ground? (not sure if the X5's 'brake force' brake intensity current difference would matter, I am not a 12v pro!). I used the reverse ground not the brake ground, and didn't try to test with a brake ground.

If there is any way I can help let me know.

Thanks a lot Ncx,for the feedback.
I am going to try other ground points and discover where the problem is!Will let you know my findings.
Thanks again..
Rgds Fernando

Hi Kevin,
Thought I just post you some pics of where I installed the camera!Unfortunately,I am still getting interference when I connect the cameras positive and the reverse positive to the same pin on the relay.I strongly suspect that its the cameras that I have been supplied that are not internally isolated and are therefore creating this electromagnetic interference.

I like the install on the rear light ,you just got to ensure that you waterproof it with a rubber "o" ring.I am now limited to getting a camera with 25mm diametre because I drilled the light!

:wow: I like the looks of that camera location! Great job! Was it hard to run the wire out the taillight wire grommet? That is very custom and very nice. I will have to think about that for my permanent location if I can get up the nerve to drill my taillight. Thanks for posting those pics.

I hope you get the interference thing worked out. Let us know what happens when you try another brand of camera.

Again, great job!

We perform the same mod, only with the infared cameras:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/fo...V/CIMG1634.JPG

With a bit of patience and some lubricating oil ,(you clean the wire after you pulled it thru),it is rather easy to run the wire thru the grommet.The most difficult is to run the video wire with the RCA plug.We cut the grommet a little to facilitate but then taped it back again .
If you do decide to go this way,the most important factor here is to ensure that you have a tight waterproof fit.We used a a very thin conical rubber "o" ring that fills the hole we made on the foglight perfectly.Before we installed the rear light on the car we did a garden water hose test for leaks.

I wish to thank you for giving me Martins contact at BimmerNav.He has been very helpful and I am discussing my interference issue with him!

Other places where you can mount your camera are the oblvious Roundel(still my favorite and if I get a small cam I may decide to alter my cam location.The other is buy a PDC support and fit your cam there and place
it between your existing PDC sensors and it will look like you have a third one!

Be in touch
Rgds
Fernando

I always give credit when its due,just look at my post #37 here!
I thank you again for the idea.

Do you still doing the group buy camera?

This group buy is over; however, you may want to contact Martin and see if he has any more of these cameras. If not, you can order one on your own and it won't cost too much more.

Misumi MS-DC54 Group Buy
 

I know this was posted a while ago if it is still going on let me know, looking for camera...

X5Strap

Did anyone find another source for these cameras? I emailed Martin but he doesn't have any, and I emailed the company but received no response...

I have one. Its in the box. PM if interested.

Mine is also still in box. Need to buy the video module/VSM kit and DVD player/changer.

We're ready when you are. :thumbup:

camera group buy still open?
 

Hi all. Newbie here .. joined today. What do I need to do to get in on the camera group buy? Thanks.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Sorry, this group buy has been over for a long time. There are hundreds of cameras that will work so I am sure you can find a good deal.

Post a thread in the Lounge and say hello to the gang, post a pic of your X5 too. :thumbup:

Send a PM to Drex to see if his is still available.

:xoutpost:

Anyone know what camera x5monkey used on his roundel install and where to get it (or a similiar one)??
That thing is nice and small!!

Thanks!
-Ray

I am going to try one of the roundel camera instals tonight anyone give any advise on cutting do you cut through the whole thing or just mount inside ir press up against the perspex ?

Thanks in advance

His was installed at Mobile Innovations in New Jersey. Camera was provided by the installer.

The amount you need to cut is in direct relationship to the diameter and depth of the camera itself. Different manufacturers have different physical dimensions, so you are going to have to judge for yourself how much to cut based on the characteristics of the camera you have.

:goodluck: and post pics when you are done.

I'm not a fan of the roundel mount - this requires drilling into the vehicle and breaks the seal on the roundel, only to have the clearcoat flake off after about a year.

We now offer the Misumi cameras on the site for the X5 and other vehicles that do not have the keyhole for our other camera:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/im...iscam_main.jpg

Reverse "Bumblebee" camera
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=439

I went to fit the camera tonight and will have to cut the tail gate behind the badge I really dont want to do this ! Any other ideas ? I have seen a rear tail light cut out and installed this way on a 3series but will this work on a X5 ? Has anyone tried leaving the camera inside the rear lens so total stealth install ?

This is a large reason why I don't care for the camera mounted in the roundel.

You can mount the camera in the rear taillight if you wish, but I'm not sure what you mean by mounting the camera inside the lens. If you do this, the image will be completely red.

Does the NavTV (BMW TV Module) automatically switch to the camera when you put the car in reverse when a camera is connected?

Yes. The OEM TV module's camera video input, when activated, will override whatever is on the nav screen at that time.

Thanks!

Now does anyone have a camera from the group buy they decided not to use?

No need to wait for another GB, we have them in stock:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/im...iscam_main.jpg

Reverse "Bumblebee" camera
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=439[/QUOTE]

What else do you need to connect this camera?
I have the 16:9 with the TV option.
Is it a PAL or NTSC version.

Nothing - this will connect directly to your OEM TV tuner. The camera is in NTSC format.

Would I need PAL as the car was bought in Germany (and I live in France)?
Is there a "howto connect" it for the X5 somewhere on this forum?
Only found 1 for the 7 series.
There they say that the TV tuner's blue connector, pin #17 is to be grounded to activate the external video source input.
Elsewhere I read that pin #6 and pin #15 of the white X18806 plug from the TV module are to be used for the video signal and video ground.
Could you confirm this?

Here are some instructions on the OEM pieces on the front page: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/e...amera-kit.html

Would I need PAL or NTSC?

People have been using the NTSC versions, I would confirm with someone with a working system to be 100% sure.

If anyone still wants one of those backup cameras I ended up not using one of the units I bought in this group buy $100 plus $7.50 shipping takes it

does it have composite video output? with rca inputs or 3.5mm?

RCA composite. The same one from this group buy. pictures are on teh first post in the thread

It's the same one we offer on the site, you can check the info there:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/im...iscam_main.jpg

Reverse "Bumblebee" camera
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=439

For $100 + shipping, he's offering a great deal. I would jump on it. ;)

so the cable is like the ones on tvs? the yellow, red, and white jacks...

i just want to make sure...

I want to hook it up to my Garmin...anyone knows if they're compatible? it takes 3.5mm composite video, and i have a RCA-RCA switch

can you do a group buy on these? do you have any pictures of this unit installed?

thanks!!

Check with Tom, he can get you one of these cameras much faster than waiting for another group buy. http://www.xoutpost.com/members/1583/tom-g.html