Why is backup camera such a hassle on BMWs?

car_driver · 11-12-2018, 05:11 PM

I'm reading up on this retrofit, what a hassle!

obert · 11-12-2018, 06:30 PM

You can get a great OEM style kit for 600 from bimmertech. Put in your vin to see if it’s compatible. Install is a little more then 10 minutes but there is a diy video on YouTube and it’s pretty straight forward.

obert · 11-12-2018, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

OEM integration (not OEM style) is $699

OEM style is $1229 and would require PDC which actually means the total would be more like $2200.

This car was designed from the beginning to have a backup camera but the infotainment system can't display a low res camera feed without extra modules and wiring harnesses?

Not sure what you mean it was designed to have one? All I am saying is it’s possible to add a backup camera with out PDC if you car is comparable with the bimmertech for less then 2g.

Unfortunately we have to settle for less then OEM if we want to retro a backup camera. Also anything BMW is going to be expensive, it’s just how it is.

Jhnblckwood · 11-12-2018, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obert

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

OEM integration (not OEM style) is $699

OEM style is $1229 and would require PDC which actually means the total would be more like $2200.

This car was designed from the beginning to have a backup camera but the infotainment system can't display a low res camera feed without extra modules and wiring harnesses?

Not sure what you mean it was designed to have one? All I am saying is it’s possible to add a backup camera with out PDC if you car is comparable with the bimmertech for less then 2g.

Unfortunately we have to settle for less then OEM if we want to retro a backup camera. Also anything BMW is going to be expensive, it’s just how it is.

Look to buy parts from wrecked vehicles. I installed nbt, pdc an rear camera for way less than 2g's n everything oem. . As long as ur patient n can do the work urself

rak299 · 11-13-2018, 12:22 AM

I believe you need to have a different rear electronics unit to support PDC. On my 2017 model, my REM didn't have the connectors installed. I ended up installing an aftermarket camera without PDC. Than needed no connections to the REM and no drilling.

Jhnblckwood · 11-13-2018, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhnblckwood

Look to buy parts from wrecked vehicles. I installed nbt, pdc an rear camera for way less than 2g's n everything oem. . As long as ur patient n can do the work urself

The more I look into it the more feasible it seems. Thanks for the suggestion!

Going off of ebay used and new parts prices
Rear PDC will be $270-400 depending on the source of the sensors
Rear view camera will be about $300

No problem. U can find things even cheaper on craigslist or Facebook market for ppl parting out wrecked vehicles. I actually didn't buy anything off ebay. Found one wrecked vehicle and stripped it bare basically lol Goodluck!!

Jhnblckwood · 11-13-2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhnblckwood

Look to buy parts from wrecked vehicles. I installed nbt, pdc an rear camera for way less than 2g's n everything oem. . As long as ur patient n can do the work urself

The more I look into it the more feasible it seems. Thanks for the suggestion!

Going off of ebay used and new parts prices
Rear PDC will be $270-400 depending on the source of the sensors
Rear view camera will be about $300

Be careful getting the sensors off ebay tho. They may be cheap Chinese knock offs. I would double check with seller that they are oem.

cneda105 · 11-16-2018, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

I'm reading up on this retrofit, what a hassle!

Is there any engineering reason why this is so convoluted on a BMW? Some feature I'm missing? On my $25k Tacoma it was prewired to the camera location and immediately worked with the 10 minute installation of a $50 camera. On my $50k BMW it seems to have no infrastructure for the installation and to go OEM style would be like $1500 or more.

Unfortunately that's just the way BMW rolls

You would think it would cost less to just have one version of the FEM/REM and the same harnesses throughout the car and just tuck away the extra wires.

It seems BMW has the means to adapt the cars to make retrofits like this more difficult. I remember in my E46 installing the OEM alarm was just a matter of buying the sensors and horn and plugging them into wires that already existed. BMW wants you to buy these features from factory so they can charge you 2-3k for them.

Bryan_KiesMotorsports · 11-17-2018, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3A53

I'm reading up on this retrofit, what a hassle!

Is there any engineering reason why this is so convoluted on a BMW? Some feature I'm missing? On my $25k Tacoma it was prewired to the camera location and immediately worked with the 10 minute installation of a $50 camera. On my $50k BMW it seems to have no infrastructure for the installation and to go OEM style would be like $1500 or more.

I can help you with a BimmerTech one, if you want. We install them all the time, since it's extremely common that they don't have them. We installed one on a brand new F80 M3 last year and the guy's daughter's Civic had one, lol.

anking · 04-23-2020, 02:09 PM

I have the issue with my 2016 428i camera just shows black screen, wo errors or wornings, nothing. just a black screen it shows

pongkin · 04-23-2020, 07:21 PM

check the cables

obert · 04-23-2020, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anking

I have the issue with my 2016 428i camera just shows black screen, wo errors or wornings, nothing. just a black screen it shows

Sounds like a camera issue. Not the system.

IK6SPEED · 04-23-2020, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anking

I have the issue with my 2016 428i camera just shows black screen, wo errors or wornings, nothing. just a black screen it shows

What error codes are you getting from a diagnostic device?

Billfitz · 04-23-2020, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anking

I have the issue with my 2016 428i camera just shows black screen, wo errors or wornings, nothing. just a black screen it shows

You'll get more responses if you start a new thread with the problem in the title rather than jumping on a zombie thread.

11-12-2018, 05:11 PM	#1
car_driver Enlisted Member 146 Rep 36 Posts Drives: a car Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: out there iTrader: (0)	Why is backup camera such a hassle on BMWs? I'm reading up on this retrofit, what a hassle! Last edited by car_driver; 01-11-2019 at 04:47 PM..
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11-12-2018, 06:30 PM	#2
obert Brigadier General 1781 Rep 4,456 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Seattle Wa iTrader: (49)	You can get a great OEM style kit for 600 from bimmertech. Put in your vin to see if it’s compatible. Install is a little more then 10 minutes but there is a diy video on YouTube and it’s pretty straight forward.
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11-13-2018, 12:22 AM	#5
rak299 Major 601 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: 2021 M3 6MT Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: san francisco iTrader: (0)	I believe you need to have a different rear electronics unit to support PDC. On my 2017 model, my REM didn't have the connectors installed. I ended up installing an aftermarket camera without PDC. Than needed no connections to the REM and no drilling.
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04-23-2020, 02:09 PM	#10
anking Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 428i Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	I have the issue with my 2016 428i camera just shows black screen, wo errors or wornings, nothing. just a black screen it shows
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04-23-2020, 07:21 PM	#11
pongkin Second Lieutenant 88 Rep 279 Posts Drives: f30 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: mia iTrader: (1)	check the cables
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