How do I access the X5's reverse light circuit and ground wire?
 

I'm looking to install a VR3 Wireless Rear View Camera on my X5, but it requires me to connect the camera to the car’s reverse light circuit and ground wire.

Can anyone guide me on how to access these wires?

It has been a while since I've looked in that area but as I recall, you need to remove the inner panel on the lower tailgate. Pop out the middle piece carefully and unscrew the other piece. You should be able to locate a brown wire, which I think is the reverse light wire. (As I said, it's been a while.)

I'm guessing that you want to tap into the reverse lights so that your reverse camera will know when to be activated. That brown wire, or whatever color it actually is, should do it.

Good luck!

hmm...
i always the reverse light was part of the side lamps, not on the tailgate one...

try this post - http://www.xoutpost.com/38007-post4.html

Thx UcrewX5, but this assumes that he has a TV module or Nav, but what if he doesn't ? or in my case, I don't, so which wire do you tap into? what is the purpose of the relay in the referenced article? Thx much

wow, that's a lot of wires...

all i need to know is where the ground wire and the reverse wires are

I tried to install a VR3 camera in my x5 about a month ago. I had it completely installed and when I went to try it I found that the transmitter and receiver where to weak and the image was unusable. The wireless system also affected my vehicles Bluetooth system. I would recommend a hardwire backup camera since the VR3 was a disappointment. I eventual discovered pin 17 on the video module and tapped a hardwire backup camera into the RCA camera input. I also did the camera on demand trick by running a wire and installing a switch up front to ground out pin 17. If you don't have the nav or the video module. Your best bet is a hardwired camera and monitor system off eBay. Just trying to save you some time. If you get the VR3 to work then I would love to see pictures.

Good luck

i have the same camera installed on a ford expedition, which is quite a bit larger than a x5, and it works flawlessly... image is actually quite clear
i also do not use bluetooth...

WRONG connections
 

I had already informed admin amd King a while ago that King's article was misleading and could create a short circuit on the X5s electrics.Although he changed it ,its still wrong!

Both the Yellow/ white and the purple/ white connections are positive(+) going into pins 85 and 86 on the relay!There is no GROUND(-) GOING to the relay ,so how does the camera work?

He should have a brown wire(-) going to pin 85 and the Yellow/white (+) to
pin 86 .The purple/white wire should not be used at all!!!!
Both the brown wire and the yellow/white wire are on the plug connecting to your reversing light.

Forget the article here!I have installed dozens of rear cams on my own X5 and customers cars and its straight forward!Well,its simple because of the cummulative advice I was kindly given here by Drex,Jeff,Kevin and a few others...

I Assume you dont have a Video module!The wires you need are the BROWN(-) and the YELLOW/WHITE(+) and you will find these on the wiring harness going to the liftgate and the reversing lights .