[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Runner340

The install is not for everyone IMO. It does take a some automotive mechanical skills, electrical skills, tools and some courage to dive into this project. I did quite a bit of research and viewed several install videos from Bimmertech as well as from YouTube videos from individuals. Bimmertech provides access to a PDF install guide when you purchase the product as well. I wish there was a single front camera video with a start to finish install and usage so I had to get the info in bits and pieces at the time I did mine.

This video towards the end has some bread crumbs to your question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SksfQZnKILg

Yeah I don’t have the honeycomb on the lower grill, so i would have to drill directly into the bumper or retrofit that honeycomb if I wanted to use the bimmer-tech one.

I was able to find the original manufacturer for it, since they don’t sell the camera a la carte.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

That looks interesting. Will look into it.
Thanks man!

For that grill, I had to trim back the "BMW F34 3-series GT camera" sides to make it fit. If I remember correctly, the sides where the calipers are touching had larger ears. I used a little hobby saw that came in my x-acto kit to trim it back. I think the left side in the pic got cut flush to the body, the right as the ear from when I bought it that hangs on the grill front.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

https://bigamart.com/product/hd-720p...35i-2016-2017/

Was it this one?

It looked just like that. I had to cut one of those arc'd sides off so that it could sit flush to the grill. The other side sat next to a slat.

As a not, mine, like that listing IS NOT 720P as per the description:
Standard: standard NTSC
Effective pixels: NTSC: 720(H) x 576 (V)
Resolution: 720 TV lines

It's 720 wide, but only 576 vertical. I'm feeding it into a USB to VGA adapter as a "front grill dash cam". I'd be interesting in trying the actual CVGS into the HU directly though (that was the link the OP had).

[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Wires

It looked just like that. I had to cut one of those arc'd sides off so that it could sit flush to the grill. The other side sat next to a slat.

As a not, mine, like that listing IS NOT 720P as per the description:
Standard: standard NTSC
Effective pixels: NTSC: 720(H) x 576 (V)
Resolution: 720 TV lines

It's 720 wide, but only 576 vertical. I'm feeding it into a USB to VGA adapter as a "front grill dash cam". I'd be interesting in trying the actual CVGS into the HU directly though (that was the link the OP had).

Thanks for measuring for me!
I have the same grill, so I’m a tad concerned about the fitting.

I think I would need a similar approach to integrating into my MMI box. I believe the yellow plug would be VGA.

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

Thanks for measuring for me!
I have the same grill, so I’m a tad concerned about the fitting.

I think I would need a similar approach to integrating into my MMI box. I believe the yellow plug would be VGA.

Correct yellow is video input of component cables. No red and white since no audio. I believe the MMI has a component video input.

[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Wires

For that grill, I had to trim back the "BMW F34 3-series GT camera" sides to make it fit. If I remember correctly, the sides where the calipers are touching had larger ears. I used a little hobby saw that came in my x-acto kit to trim it back. I think the left side in the pic got cut flush to the body, the right as the ear from when I bought it that hangs on the grill front.

Attachment 3051599

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...13235199%21rec

this one looks like yours, I wonder if I can get away with 35 mm

[Wires]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...13235199%21rec

this one looks like yours, I wonder if I can get away with 35 mm

You'd just need to cut that one side ear off, but it would fit.

[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Wires

For that grill, I had to trim back the "BMW F34 3-series GT camera" sides to make it fit. If I remember correctly, the sides where the calipers are touching had larger ears. I used a little hobby saw that came in my x-acto kit to trim it back. I think the left side in the pic got cut flush to the body, the right as the ear from when I bought it that hangs on the grill front.

Attachment 3051599

So I got it today, but it doesn't fit like yours' its a bit too small.
Guess our grills' aren't completely alike.

How did you get the rear clips to fit in?

[Wires]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

So I got it today, but it doesn't fit like yours' its a bit too small.
Guess our grills' aren't completely alike.

How did you get the rear clips to fit in?

Mine loosely clipped in. I ended up making a shim to spread the clips that forced them apart to clamp them tight in the grill.

[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Wires

Mine loosely clipped in. I ended up making a shim to spread the clips that forced them apart to clamp them tight in the grill.

Maybe you had wider clips to begin with, I think mine are about 20-25 mm.

Which is really dumb, there’s nothing for it to hook onto.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by arsenal6

Maybe you had wider clips to begin with, I think mine are about 20-25 mm.

Which is really dumb, there’s nothing for it to hook onto.

Oh, mine were pretty close. They would clip on, but you could slide it around, so I 3D printed a shim to force it tight.

[arsenal6]

Originally Posted by Wires

Oh, mine were pretty close. They would clip on, but you could slide it around, so I 3D printed a shim to force it tight.

Yeah mine weren’t, he’s got a bigger version.
I am trying to have him confirm, communication problems 😫.

The rear clips are suppose to be 36 mm

[arsenal6]

The vendor sent me a new frame, still no good.

He measured the tips at 36, but when I tried and measured it, the areas that needed to fit were 32.

Too narrow.

[arsenal6]

Update. I finally got it working! but the clip is still a bit small...