Backup camera recomendations
- Thread starter paulo
- Start date
Japan
In Japan, the price of a backup camera varies greatly depending on whether it's displayed on the factory monitor or a separate monitor.
To replicate the factory setup, you'd need to purchase an Mr12V or similar and wire it between the CIC, which would be quite expensive, costing about JPY 200,000.
I personally use a cheap dashcam type that fits over the rearview mirror and allows you to see both the front and rear. It also records continuously, making it convenient and affordable.
To replicate the factory setup, you'd need to purchase an Mr12V or similar and wire it between the CIC, which would be quite expensive, costing about JPY 200,000.
I personally use a cheap dashcam type that fits over the rearview mirror and allows you to see both the front and rear. It also records continuously, making it convenient and affordable.
Depends what you currently have fitted. Do you have the iDrive screen?
If you do then you have a few options as add-ons to that system.
1) You could fit an mmi box that gives you Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (depending on your phone). This would have a reversing camera option built-in.
2) If you don't want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then you can have a similar box fitted. It is just a dedicated camera box.
No coding required for either of them.
3) An aftermarket camera emulator. This replicates the original camera input for the system, as used on other BMW's. You do need rear OEM PDC (parking sensors) for this though.
4) You could do a fully fledged OEM original camera option that uses all BMW parts. Again this requires OEM PDC, but there is a lot of OE integration and coding required, and is quite expensive.
If you don't have iDrive then you could fit an iDrive replica Android Touchscreen. This gives you a lot of extra features you don't currently have, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the rear camera input. No coding is required.
Or you can just fit a camera kit that comes with its own screen.
Obviously you need to add the actual rear camera to all of those options. I don't recommend the ones that replace the numberplate light, as these are off-centre and off square to the car, so the view is not correct. The one I'm currently running is from AutoVox, it sticks behind the numberplate and comes out over the top edge. Alas since buying mine they have stopped supplying them separately and they only come with a dedicated separate screen now. There are numberplate surround types and drill in types (there is enough space in the section between the numberplate lights to fit one there). There are loads and loads of cameras around on the market, most of which don't have a brand name so no real recommendation from me.
One quick recommendation though.......
Because these are at the rear of the car (obviously) in wet road conditions they get a lot of dirt sucked round and onto them while driving. A tip I've still not got around to trying myself is to cut a potato and smear it onto the lens of the camera, give it a wipe and (hopefully) you should no longer have these issues! Worth a try
I heard about the potato thing - basicly the starch just disrupts the stickyness of the water & dirt.
There are off the shelf products that do the same thing, I'm using a rain x product right now on mine (4 external cameras on the car).
It's ok - a bit better than before. Needs re-applying every month or so.
There are off the shelf products that do the same thing, I'm using a rain x product right now on mine (4 external cameras on the car).
It's ok - a bit better than before. Needs re-applying every month or so.
Ohio
Still waiting on Dave's OEM camera retrofit video... 
What size and model mirror is that. I would be interested in doing the same thing.
