Installed back up camera

[Petlizard]

I ordered the backup camera from bpm Sports last week and it arrived a few days later.
http://www.bpmsport.com/products/ret...a-package.html
Had a friend of mine, who does car electronics installations, come out for the installation. The parts came very well packaged and looked clean except for one catch, no instructions. Confident in his abilities, my friend went ahead and begins the installation. Everything went well with running the wires and connecting the unit until we turned the car on and put it in reverse to see only a large red screen. We spent the next hour searching online to see the cause but nothing worked. As a last effort I called and left a message for Mike Benvo. Since it was Saturday, I didn't expect to hear from him at all this weekend. To my surprise, he called back in about 30 minutes and helped us figured out what we did wrong. The camera now work and looks great with no coding required. Well worth the money. More impressive to me was Mike’s professionalism and patience in guiding us through the process.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Looks great!

[jphughan]

Interesting, the parking lines in the pics on the BPM site look exactly like my ModMyNav camera, which does not have dynamic lines. But the pics you posted look completely different.

[X5-User]

I am debating having this mod done. I have the OEM PDC already..is there any added benefit other than seeing what is behind you?

[STooK]

Looks great and should have came this way from the factory. Usually PDC and tilt down mirror is more than enough for me to parallel park my car but it still doesn't beat having an actual camera. How is it at night when it's dark out?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

I am debating having this mod done. I have the OEM PDC already..is there any added benefit other than seeing what is behind you?

No, but don't underestimate the value of seeing what's behind you. It tells you whether PDC's warning is legitimate and provides that added confidence when getting into tight parking spaces.

[GVIFlyer]

Looks good. What does the camera at the back of the car look like. How did you run the wires?

[buddalun]

Thanks OP. I too am curious if this mod is worthwhile on a car equipped with PDC? TIA

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

I am debating having this mod done. I have the OEM PDC already..is there any added benefit other than seeing what is behind you?

It makes a huge deal when trying to back into a small parking space.

I have it on my X5. Parallel parking and backing into my drive way is now a one shot deal, especially with the guidelines.. It also prevents crub rash as you can judge how close you are to the curb

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

It makes a huge deal when trying to back into a small parking space.

I have it on my X5. Parallel parking and backing into my drive way is now a one shot deal, especially with the guidelines.. It also prevents crub rash as you can judge how close you are to the curb

have you add this mod to your M3?

[Petlizard]

Originally Posted by GVFlyer

Looks good. What does the camera at the back of the car look like. How did you run the wires?

The wires were run through the trunk lid down to the back of the car (yellow marker) then into the back seat. It then continued under the passenger's side of the door sill before coming up underneath the foot well and into the center console. The camera's box fits perfectly into the open space behind the AC unit.

The trunk opener's door handle (with camera) fits right into the original opening.

[mxa121]

Looks good!

I had PDC on my previous E92. Now I have Rear Camera on the M3 (w/out PDC).
The Rear Camera is a great addition!

Honestly, I think PDC is a better system if you only have one.

[mjposner]

As an alternative I use a wireless camera and a $50 pre-paid android phone as my screen. Not as slick but total cost is less than $200 and no pulling wires or taking dash apart.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

have you add this mod to your M3?

No I have a CCC idrive M3.

I have the OEM rearcam feature on my CIC X5, which is very useful

[Petlizard]

Originally Posted by STooK

Looks great and should have came this way from the factory. Usually PDC and tilt down mirror is more than enough for me to parallel park my car but it still doesn't beat having an actual camera. How is it at night when it's dark out?

Here's a pic from night time. While it looks grainy here on my iphone pic, the resolution is quite clear in person. It's better than the ones in my F-type or Durango.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Petlizard

The wires were run through the trunk lid down to the back of the car (yellow marker) then into the back seat. It then continued under the passenger's side of the door sill before coming up underneath the foot well and into the center console. The camera's box fits perfectly into the open space behind the AC unit.

The trunk opener's door handle (with camera) fits right into the original opening.

Do you mind sharing where did you buy the orange cable on your trunk? I am trying to find a solution for the moving boxes in my trunk lol

[GVIFlyer]

Originally Posted by Petlizard

The wires were run through the trunk lid down to the back of the car (yellow marker) then into the back seat. It then continued under the passenger's side of the door sill before coming up underneath the foot well and into the center console. The camera's box fits perfectly into the open space behind the AC unit.

The trunk opener's door handle (with camera) fits right into the original opening.

Thanks! Very sanitary installation.

[ksa]

Very nice, like the idea of a backup camera. One of the things I miss from my C63 AMG!

[Lunker325]

Looks good OP, thanks for sharing.

Do the lines move when you move the steering wheel?

[Petlizard]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

Do you mind sharing where did you buy the orange cable on your trunk? I am trying to find a solution for the moving boxes in my trunk lol

Sure. I bought these bungee cords from HomeDepot. The two 32" are used for the sides and the 18" is used in the center. I then placed a plastic bin in the center to keep my daily items in.

[Petlizard]

Originally Posted by Lunker325

Do the lines move when you move the steering wheel?

Yes the lines move in accordance with the steering wheel.

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by Petlizard

Sure. I bought these bungee cords from HomeDepot. The two 32" are used for the sides and the 18" is used in the center. I then placed a plastic bin in the center to keep my daily items in.

Smart