Backup Camera Idea
 

I have been doing a little research, while waiting to take delivery of our X5 in a few weeks.

The backup bulbs in the E70 appear to be 921 (W16W). Now what do you guys think about a putting in a brighter bulb?

Wouldn't more light back there help?

I am trying to find some brighter bulbs to order but am not even sure if this would help.

Discuss... :popcorn:

possibly, The main problem is the camera though. The quality is very poor even in bright sunlight. I would be interested in trying brighter bulbs

I agree, the quality is not good during the day, but it's worthless at night (or even in parking garages if not well lit). The light might help at least to be useful at night, not good, but somewhat useful.

It's pathetic. The camera in my $54k FX45 worked very well, day and night, and my 74k E70 works like garbage. Nighttime is when the camera was most useful in that car.

:iagree:

my older and cheaper lexus had a camera that looked great anytime especially at night when you need it most.

makes you wonder what is so difficult.. I'm sure BMW isn't producing cameras, so why are the vendors they use so much worse with some of these things than Infiniti and Lexus are?

Why doesn't someone buy an OEM Lexus or Infinity camera and replace the camera currently in place to see if that will help?

The camara is an absolute ripoff and we should all get refunds :rofl: Even on its brightest at night you can barely see a thing. During the day its just OK. The brighter light idea sounds good.

I don't even use the camera since it is so bad....use the PDC display.

On my last service visit to the dealer, I listed the poor camera quality on the service ticket and specified at night the image was black.

When I picked up the vehicle I had the standard "could not reproduce problem" on my receipt and was told by the advisor that I simply needed to turn up the brightness in the menu, and he proceeded to show me how....these guys are trained monkeys!

next time sit with the monkey, let him turn it up, and let him describe how the darkness you see is actually light.

Did I miss the memo that black is "the new white?"

next time I'll bring bananas

I sell reverse camera's in Australia and for some strange reason the quality of some cameras used by the car manufacturers is terrible. From a cost perspective a good quality unit would cost tripple that of a cheaper unit. The price BMW ask for a camera option they really shouldnt embarrass themselves with the cheap crap they use.

;)I've got a great solution...

Lets send out a mass email requesting all E70 owners not use their back-up camera on July 25th...this will send a message to the manufacture that we mean business...kinda like the mass email telling everyone not to buy gas on a certain day. Yea, this will work!;)

I know a few mentioned switching out the factory unit for a better one. Are these rear cameras interchangable with other manufactuers units? If so, I'd gladly go buy a better one if that means better quality.

My S550 has a way better picture than the X5. Looking at the S class rear camera, it looks like the reverse lights do most of the illumination and gives a great night picture. Has anyone looked at other BMW models with reverse camera and is it any better than the x5?

Chris