Reverse Camera Install (E53)

[Sanj]

If you have the comms pack with a screen up front it is possible to add a reverse camera. I tried 3 different cameras over the past couple of years and two different locations. I found having the camera mounted in the tow bar cover just wasn’t good to gauge distances. Besides it didn’t look OEM enough. I wanted to see my raer bumper in the reverse angle.

So this is what you’ll need:

1. The camera, my preference is this one



2. Some wiring cable and the wiring diagram ***Use this one***



I removed the rear boot release, 4 screws and then a connector inside to get access to where I wanted it mounted. Just above the rear number plate.

Here is the piece with the colour coded plastic cover removed and the cut outs I made to house the camera.







Once complete you should get something like this.





And the view that comes out on the screen when you select reverse (some cameras will give you the guidelines – they’re not particularly accurate, more a gimmick).



Here’s mine removed and then colour coded recently to match.





Total cost should be no more than £40. Not bad I reckon...

[fenj66]

hi there,
i'm thinking of having a go at this mod soon....nice write up sanj!!
but ive a couple of questions:
do i need a pal or ntsc camera?
also on the ebay part;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Reverse-Rear- ... 447wt_1014

the fitting instruction make no mention of needing a relay. does their fitting instructions seam correct?

cheers all..

[Sanj]

Hahaa! I was wondering when this would get you!

You need the relay to switch the power so at £3.49 or £5 at best do it. Be sure...

And that camera seems a little deep in the back where it would recess into the light holder - check that first, sorry I can't remember.

Does say 3 or 5 series so not specific to an X5 install - mine works with the instructions I posted...

If you can source the same or similar camera I would go with that. Good luck and keep me posted, will help where I can.

[otas]

[quote=""Sanj""]Hahaa! I was wondering when this would get you!

You need the relay to switch the power so at £3.49 or £5 at best do it. Be sure...

And that camera seems a little deep in the back where it would recess into the light holder - check that first, sorry I can't remember.

Does say 3 or 5 series so not specific to an X5 install - mine works with the instructions I posted...

If you can source the same or similar camera I would go with that. Good luck and keep me posted, will help where I can. [/quote]

Hi Guys, great mod. Can you tell if the camera from factorykiss-uk fits? What is its viewing angle?
I have barrell type camera from another project with LED to provide light a night. It is 35mm dia. I was thinking about drilling the BMW badge in the middle of blue and white and mounting the camera there. Any comments? If it did not work, I could buy a new badge and cover up the hole.
I hope that you will laugh now, please do so. Where do I look for the TV module??? I am new to this car and there are so many comparments with boxes...
thanks
otto

[lezmtaylor]

I drilled the bmw badge and fitted a barrel camera, don't look too bad , as has been seen at the Bristol meets.
No photos,can't do them.
Lez

[Sanj]

Just remember you get no view of 'where' your car is in proximity to what your camera is looking at. So no idea of the distance.

Personal choice - I just didn't like it... (I went for the tow bar plastic cover - easier to replace than the badge - and route the wiring).

[otas]

Hi Sanj, thanks for your comment. I am thinking about the camera postion, if it is higher and angled down to see the bumper. I have some spacers cut at an angle for the camera to look down. Where is the damn TV box?
thanks.

[chas3]

[quote=""otas""]Where is the damn TV box?
thanks.[/quote]
It is down in the trunk, next to the battery, to the right hand side. You will have to take off the dome sitting over the battery and that black L shaped plastic cover that has "BMW" written over it.

[Sanj]

[otas]

Thank you very much Sanj for the guidance AND picture, you rock!
otto

[Nat]

Hi,

I bought an approved used X5 4.8 iS and it has a reversing camera.
However....................ive had an issue with the radio, where some of the stations dont play and the station name is pixelated .
Car went in on friday , to have a routine service and have the radio issue attended to.
The dealer has returned the car with the remarks that ............" the reversing camera has corrupted the nav unit " and because the camera is not a BMW camera, they are refusing to touch it.
Thats left me with a massive problem. I have a broken nav/radio unit, car is not repaireable under warranty even though I was sold it by a BMW main dealer with a BMW AUC with the camera fitted at the time of sale.

Basically if you have a BMW warranty or perhaps any aftermarket warranty and your nav/radio unit fails, they may well use the fact that you have a non BMW part fitted as an excuse not to pay for repair.

That said, i like the reversing camera and its a very useful adddition.

Regards

Nat.

[lezmtaylor]

They sold it 'as is' so it is their problem big time, go and screw them !!!
Gosh I'm really feeling Bolshie today.
Lez

[lezmtaylor]

[quote=""lezmtaylor""]I drilled the bmw badge and fitted a barrel camera, don't look too bad , as has been seen at the Bristol meets.
No photos,can't do them.
Lez[/quote]

You can easily get a reference point of the bumper by adjusting the angle of the camera body in the hole.
Lez

[x555]

[quote=""Nat""]Hi,

I bought an approved used X5 4.8 iS and it has a reversing camera.
However....................ive had an issue with the radio, where some of the stations dont play and the station name is pixelated .
Car went in on friday , to have a routine service and have the radio issue attended to.
The dealer has returned the car with the remarks that ............" the reversing camera has corrupted the nav unit " and because the camera is not a BMW camera, they are refusing to touch it.
Thats left me with a massive problem. I have a broken nav/radio unit, car is not repaireable under warranty even though I was sold it by a BMW main dealer with a BMW AUC with the camera fitted at the time of sale.

Basically if you have a BMW warranty or perhaps any aftermarket warranty and your nav/radio unit fails, they may well use the fact that you have a non BMW part fitted as an excuse not to pay for repair.

That said, i like the reversing camera and its a very useful adddition.

Regards

Nat.[/quote]

Unless they stated any of that bs at the time of purchase i would take the car sraight back and tell them that they didn't sell you a car with proper bmw parts so it's there fault and there problem to sort.
If they don't i would ask them to take the car back and see what they say then.
That is unbelievable customer service that
Out of interest where was it bought from so no one else here gives them the buisness they don't deserve.

[Sanj]

Hi Nat,

Hope you get this sorted but you're dealer is the first to suggest the camera is causing your SatNav fault??? No one else in the last 3 years has had any reason otherwise...

Wiring is an obvious issue to look at but I wouldn't hold much hope for the $tealer to figure this out.

I have the OEM camera docs somewhere, if you can post up a pic of your camera install I can see if it is OEM or not. If OEM at least you can go back to the dealer with that - they did do an OEM kit is the US...

Use x555's angle here - they are wrong not to help. Use the warranty to your advantage and fight it out - give them hell! They sold it to you as seen - they have to cover it all!

Feedback and I'll try to help (if I can)....