Aftermarket back up (rear view) camera solutions?

[Franzino]

Hi,

For one year now I have a Z4M. The car is perfect, sometimes I’m having a little trouble getting used to the rear when parking in small areas in the city… Not a big problem, but it would be nice to have something that makes it a little easier. I’m used to driving my other BMW which has rear PDC, my Z4M has no PDC. My first idea was to let my dealer fit the factory rear PDC (it looks ok in the bumper). The price of this unit is £950. A little expensive for something that’s only an aid… Then I was thinking of fitting the oem Z4 backing up camera. But that is even more expensive

Every aftermarket PDC look like crap, so I’m now looking at some aftermarket rear view camera solutions for the Z4. I want to fit a video module together with a rear view camera. My car has build in sat-nav (no TV function)… Any ideas what the options are?

So far I have found this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380306750035&item=380306750035#vi-desc
http://www.navtool.com/bmwz4.aspx
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447341 (Not Available)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRnTtG9PLYE (Not Available)
http://www.lcdgps.com/mini-butterfly-bumper-mount-car-reversing-camera

http://www.navvideo.com/navvideo-models-nv_rgb_bmw.asp?Car=BMW%20Z4#OPTIONS (I'm thinking of buying this one with camera nr 5)

 

[peddy]

Franzino, check these guys out... http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322002

 

[Franzino]

Franzino, check these guys out... http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322002

Thanks, but I have already contacted EuropeanAutoSource.com on their website and on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRnTtG9PLYE)... 3 times no answer . I don't know if they are still in business? Their website is still online...

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

all aftermarket PDC's do not look like crap. Some of them go behind the bumper so it's not even visible from the outside. On the e36 I drilled a hole in the middle of my BMW emblem and mounted a camera w/ IR lights. Works great. Not sure where you'd mount one of the Z4 without it looking ugly though. Perhaps above the license plate?

 

[mmm-five]

I got my dad THIS ONE for his MPV as he was complaining about his neck hurting when he turned around to reverse.

It's supposed to go above the number plate, but he's not fitted it yet - after more than a year - so I don't know how good/bad it is.

 

[Franzino]

I got my dad THIS ONE for his MPV as he was complaining about his neck hurting when he turned around to reverse.

It's supposed to go above the number plate, but he's not fitted it yet - after more than a year - so I don't know how good/bad it is.

I don't want something with an extra screen... I want to fit a rear view camera that can be used with a aftermarket converter on the BMW GPS screen (I don't have TV function)

 

[pvr]

There is an OEM version as well, Ron Styger got that Let me find the link on his installation on bimmerfest.

Link here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194687

 

[Franzino]

There is an OEM version as well, Ron Styger got that Let me find the link on his installation on bimmerfest.

Link here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194687

I know.... :wink:

My first idea was to let my dealer fit the factory rear PDC (it looks ok in the bumper). The price of this unit is £950. A little expensive for something that’s only an aid… Then I was thinking of fitting the oem Z4 backing up camera. But that is even more expensive

 

[Franzino]

all aftermarket PDC's do not look like crap. Some of them go behind the bumper so it's not even visible from the outside.

The problem with visible aftermarket PDC are; that most of the sensors don't fit nice in to the rear bumper. The oem PDC sensors fit nicely into the rear bumper. I'm maybe ordering these invisible sensors (http://www.parkingdynamics.co.uk/shopping_cart.php?action=added). The rear kit only costs £79.97... Some people say it works okay, other say it not that great. It's not that expensive and for that kind of money I will do the test myself. If its crap, then I will buy an aftermarket camera.

On the e36 I drilled a hole in the middle of my BMW emblem and mounted a camera w/ IR lights. Works great. Not sure where you'd mount one of the Z4 without it looking ugly though. Perhaps above the license plate?

I think these aftermarket camera set-ups look ok

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

The last one looks good, but if it's anything like the rear camera install on my car then the thing gets dirty all winter long and requires constant cleaning, especially if it's raining hard. I found putting some RainX on it helped a bit in the rain. On the Z4M if you can paint the camera housing the same color as your car, then putting it in the tow-hook hole wouldn't look too bad either. Just have to make sure it's a flush mount.

The new 6 series is nice. The BMW roundel flips down to reveal the reverse camera. Keeps it nice and clean when not in use.

 

[Franzino]

The camera system from EAS is not available anymore

 

[cjp2k]

you can get them that replace a rear number plate bulb you can see it but it's not too bad

 

[Franzino]

you can get them that replace a rear number plate bulb you can see it but it's not too bad

Do you have an URL where the sell a system for the Z4?