About a week. Worked between 4-8 hours a day. My installs typically take quite awhile. The OCD is real for me when it comes to wiring... for better or worse.

I used to do installations as a side gig. I've always thought the best wire runs followed (and were integrated into when possible) the factory harnesses. I typically even wrap all my wires in the BMW Tesa tape to keep with the OEM look/fitment. It takes an insane amount of time... but that's how it goes.

Exactly. Plus, it really helps me clean the interior of a car. I usually lay the interior out in the living room and my wife steam cleans and then conditions everything that got pulled. :D

this is the camera I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I tried these, but they would not fit (long one) or the mount was too large in diameter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Any of you guys tries this one? https://www.amazon.com/Canying-Rever...+backup+camera

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife...

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife...

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife....

:eeps:

I was gonna say...........

:iagree: I have the blow by blow manual of that install crystalworks shared graciously

The issue is the existing lens assembly is part of the trim piece. It can be hacked, removed, and installed, just a lot of work. I believe Crowz ran stated the same in his thread.

The one I linked is a replacement for the trunk latch, NOT the license plate light.

:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup

Yesterday was our 12th anniversary. I think we're both in it for the long haul... sorry boys. ;) Here's a shot to tease you... E46 M3 interior in the cleaning process.

https://s6.postimg.org/ew43ibfrl/IMG_0812.jpg

Doing that manual added quite a bit of time to the install as well.

BTW in that manual for anyone interested is a step by step for how to modify one of the e39 cameras to fit the e53. It looks good if done right... but it's not easy. Not easy at all.

https://s6.postimg.org/n07m9bcsx/DSC_0120.jpg

Ahh, gotcha, still....I do not see how it would mount. The E53 does not have a handle where this would mount. The latch on the E53 is two buttons covered by nub, then covered with a rubber pad. The buttons are spread out so it would take a lot of fabricating to fit this and still allow the latch to work properly. Definitely not a bolt on solution. So many sellers advertise E53 compatibility without actually checking. :dunno: