GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: p3eps on 25 August 2008, 20:43
-
I bought a new stereo the other day and the guy offered me a great deal on a Kenwood CCD-2000 ex demo camera for £50 (retail was £160!) - so I took it.
I don't really need it, but I love gadgets and the price was too good to say no!
Anyway...
The dealer suggested fitting it to the inside of the car - at the top of the back window looking down. He said this prevents it getting dirty etc, and would give you a good view of whats behind. Personally I think this isn't the best idea! I tested it with the wireless mini cam from my old remote control helicopter - and the closest I could see to the car was about 4ft away (which kind of defeats the whole purpose), but I'm not really up for having my bumper drilled.
Can anyone with a camera share their wisdom and tell me where theirs is mounted?
-
have a look for Hurdy's thread - he posted it just under the rear bumper i believe :smiley:
-
Depending on how savvy you re, you could always do what I want - mount it into the rear badge and have the badge tilt to expose the camera: clicky (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.kabeleins.de/auto/abenteuer_auto/themen/artikel/02794/)
Have also seen people mount it underneath the car as an alternative to drilling and fitting to the bumper.
-
try using the rear window when reversing - saves me money
-
Depending on how savvy you re, you could always do what I want - mount it into the rear badge and have the badge tilt to expose the camera: clicky (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.kabeleins.de/auto/abenteuer_auto/themen/artikel/02794/)
Looks very :cool: but 950 euro's :shocked:
-
Depending on how savvy you re, you could always do what I want - mount it into the rear badge and have the badge tilt to expose the camera: clicky (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.kabeleins.de/auto/abenteuer_auto/themen/artikel/02794/)
Have also seen people mount it underneath the car as an alternative to drilling and fitting to the bumper.
I'm afraid I can't afford 950 euros - especially with the horrible exchange rate! Looks cool though! :drool:
Underneath the car? I guess it would have to go right at the edge of the bumper then - and would that not be visible / easy for someone to nick?
I was just waiting for someone to come out with a use the mirror / window comment! :laugh:
-
Here's an example view of a camera mounted high in the rear screen on the RNS-510 (linked from of vwnavi.com)
(http://vwnavi.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=544&d=1214940154)
I think the rear bumper location looks like the better option to me.
-
Hmmm... looks like its trying to get him to park on the roof of the house!
Perhaps thats not the best mounting point. Pretty pointless unless you can see about a cm from your bumper.
Its a shame no ones ever designed a tiny camera that looks like a screw head and you can put it on your number plate like a screw.
I've been looking around on the net, and even the smallest camera is 28mm - which is a big hole if drilling.
I noticed between my 2 number plate lights there is a black circle bit on my bumper that looks like it might pop out - whats that for?
Its looking like I might just not take the camera as unless I pay the 950 euros, there aren't much options. I'll maybe take a look under the car tomorrow to see what I could do there.
-
you could always take it and stick it on ebay if they go for more.
-
found a pic of Hurdy's camera :smiley:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=70579.msg558573;topicseen#msg558573
-
found a pic of Hurdy's camera :smiley:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=70579.msg558573;topicseen#msg558573
That's where I've seen it mounted underneath before. It's what I'd consider.
-
try using the rear window when reversing - saves me money
Have you thought of mounting it on Sharpie it will alway's work in the dry and alway's stay's hidden until your not looking and pop's up to help you not :grin: :evil:
-
The reverse camera is a relatively cheap mod to do and IMO is much better than relying on a sensor and those awful beep beep beep noises. I mounted mine on the underneath of the rear bumper and it is discrete and gives a good picture. It doesn't get dirt on it as much as I thought it would and apart from a wipe when cleaning the car, I haven't had to touch it. :cool:
-
The reverse camera is a relatively cheap mod to do and IMO is much better than relying on a sensor and those awful beep beep beep noises. I mounted mine on the underneath of the rear bumper and it is discrete and gives a good picture. It doesn't get dirt on it as much as I thought it would and apart from a wipe when cleaning the car, I haven't had to touch it. :cool:
Wanna do a how-to guide for all of us reverse-camera-wannabes?
-
Hurdy... do you know what brand of camera / model number yours is? It looks tiny!
Most of the ones I can see are about 30mm square - yours looks smaller (or maybe its just the pic!)
-
Hurdy... do you know what brand of camera / model number yours is? It looks tiny!
Most of the ones I can see are about 30mm square - yours looks smaller (or maybe its just the pic!)
The camera is 15mm in diameter and under 3cm long, with a "fish eye" lens that helps give a wider view than you'd normally get. I can't remember what the make of it was and there aren't any markings on it that give the make away :embarassed:
I bought it from http://sourcecars.com/ (http://sourcecars.com/) In Sheffield for £125 and they fitted it for free when I had the head unit fitted. :cool:
-
Depending on how savvy you re, you could always do what I want - mount it into the rear badge and have the badge tilt to expose the camera: clicky (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.kabeleins.de/auto/abenteuer_auto/themen/artikel/02794/)
OK... I've decided to have a go at this myself. I've ordered up a new boot handle from eBay for 99p + postage (bargain as VW wanted £75!)... and when it arrives I'm going to try cutting into it and fitting the camera. Once I see how much I need the handle to open I'll order a 12V solenoid which will pull the handle when it gets a 12V signal from the reverse lamp. I'll have it pull the top half with a string or something rather than using an actuator to push it out... as this is cheaper and easier. It means I can put the solenoid anywhere inside the boot lid and have the string / wire connected - rather than actually fitting the thing in the boot handle. Hopefully excluding the camera, the bits to do this will cost me about £10 - but we'll see how it goes.
The ONLY thing I'm unsure of is that when making the handle tilt - it will open the boot. This normally isn't a problem as when I drive my doors/boot auto lock anyway. But when I set off in the morning to work, I reverse out of my space. Unless I press the lock button on the driver door, I guess my boot will open as soon as I put the car in reverse?! I need to find a way round this... perhaps putting a switch on the inside of the VW badge too which operates the boot instead of tilting the badge?
Hopefully my boot handle will arrive tomorrow and I can start fiddling!
-
I like a technical challenge but this looks like it's going to be a proper head scratcher of an install :shocked:
Good luck with this p3eps, keep us posted with your progress if you don't mind.
-
Yes - please take pictures and make a how-to-guide for us if it works.
-
I'm looking forward to getting the bits so I can try it as I like a challenge!
I want to see if I can do it and make it all work properly for under £20 (excluding the camera cost) - just to show that the 950 euro one is way OTT!
I don't want to hack apart my existing boot handle - hence why I've ordered another one to play with. If I wreck it, then I've only lost out on 99p + £5 postage - so its no big deal.
I'm going to see if theres a way I can adjust how much you need to tilt the boot handle so that it actually opens the boot. As standard its hardly anything - but I'm hoping I can make it so that I need it at pretty much full tilt before it releases the boot.
That way I can make it open about 60% for the camera without unlocking the boot.
I need to wait for the handle to arrive before I do anything, as I don't want to start pulling the internal boot panels off until I have to.
Once I get going I'll get some piccys taken as I go along so that anyone whos feeling brave can give it a go! It may take a while though as the electrical genius at work who is helping me with the solenoids etc left this morning for 2 weeks in Majorca!
-
Majorca!?! Lucky git!
*sneezes* I have the sniffles *sneezes again*
-
i know where i want mine
(http://www.tuningnews.net/news/080415/volkswagen-passat-cc-first-drive-05.jpg)
-
What car is that mounted on?
-
Looks like an EOS :undecided:
-
With all these replies on the forum so fast, is no one working today?
-
Not me :grin:
-
What car is that mounted on?
passat
-
Sooo....I need to find a passat..... :rolleyes:
-
i know where i want mine
Thats what I'm away to try!!!
Surely that doesn't come as standard on a Passat?
-
Not standard, but the rear camera is a £255 option on the new Passat CC.
-
Not standard, but the rear camera is a £255 option on the new Passat CC.
and thats where they put it for your £255?
-
^^^ I believe so, a quick google search says the rear camera is bulit-in to the rear VW badge.
I am going to check with my dealer in the morning when mine goes in for it's service.
-
Not standard, but the rear camera is a £255 option on the new Passat CC.
I'd happily pay that much to get it retrofitted to my car.
-
Thats what I was just thinking.
I wonder if you can buy the badge from VW with the camera / tilt mechanism all built in?! I'm assuming the VW badge on the back of the Passat is the same one as the Golf?
-
Thats what I was just thinking.
I wonder if you can buy the badge from VW with the camera / tilt mechanism all built in?! I'm assuming the VW badge on the back of the Passat is the same one as the Golf?
One thing to remember is the £255 is the factory fitted option price, so anything retrofitted will undoubtedly cost more.
I know my dealer has a Passat CC demo car, it would be great if it's got the reverse camera but at least I can measure it to see if the badge is the same size.
The parts guy there is also very helpful with stuff like this so will find as much as possible on parts/prices etc.
Also p3eps I have had a idea on how you might be able to disable the boot opening, it seams the badge is effectively an electrical switch to fire the lock mech the the badge is moved, so if you put a relay on the negative connection to the lock motor which opens/breaks the connection when the car is in reverse then the boot wouldn't open.
-
One thing to remember is the £255 is the factory fitted option price, so anything retrofitted will undoubtedly cost more.
If I got VW to retrofit it, it would. But I was hoping it'd be around that much for badge+camera fixture.
The parts guy there is also very helpful with stuff like this so will find as much as possible on parts/prices etc.
Please find out asap.
-
Also p3eps I have had a idea on how you might be able to disable the boot opening, it seams the badge is effectively an electrical switch to fire the lock mech the the badge is moved, so if you put a relay on the negative connection to the lock motor which opens/breaks the connection when the car is in reverse then the boot wouldn't open.
I was wondering if theres simply a way to adjust something on the switch to make it open further up its tilt. It seems to open as soon as you push it a little. I'd like to make it open only if I push it almost fully in. There must be some sort of swicthing mechanism that controls this - so hopefully I can just move it a bit. Otherwise the relay may be a good idea. I don't really fancy having to get in and lock the doors every time before I reverse!
If the badge was the same size - it would probably be a simple straight swap... then a case of wiring up the camera. I'm hoping my method will just be a £6 relay and then a camera... but then for a decent camera its probably about £120 (although mine is only £50). I suppose you can get cheapies off eBay for £15inc postage though, but I wouldnt like to guess what the quality would be like?!
-
There could be an alternative, but only if you forgo the rear windscreen wiper :wink:
-
There could be an alternative, but only if you forgo the rear windscreen wiper :wink:
I did think about that - but to be honest the reverse cam is just another gimmick / gadget for me... and not worth loosing the wiper over! It would be the ideal spot though!
-
Right, spoke to VW dealer today about the Passat CC Camera, typically neither of the two running demo cars or the showroom car had the reverse camera option.
Now are you sitting down for this :shocked:
The key components from the diagram on ETKA are: -
Camera @ £158.27
Boot Mech @ £211.94
Control Unit @ £181.50
This excludes any additional looms or connectors that could also be required, plus if trying to truly integrate this with the VW RNS or RCD screens it is likely to require one of the latest gen CAN gateways.
Also while the rear badge/lock mech are very similar diameter (forgot to take a tape measure to confirm exactly) the Passat CC version appears to be deeper and is a slightly different shape underneath.
HTH
-
Camera @ £158.27
Boot Mech @ £211.94
Control Unit @ £181.50
Cheers for the update :shocked:
Looks like my homemade project will go ahead as I refuse to pay £550+ for a gimmick!
-
£125 and two screws under the bottom of the bumper sounds like the best bet then. Glad I didn't go for the boot release location now.
-
P3eps have you thought about square cut-out for towing as the location for the camera :smiley:
-
P3eps have you thought about square cut-out for towing as the location for the camera :smiley:
you mean the wee flap that pops out for the tow hook?
Could be a good idea if it was a surface mount camera - depending how wide the lens was.
I've already ordered this boot handle from eBay - so I'll wait until that arrives and I see how feasible a project it will be before I make my mind up. Hopefully it will arrive at the beginning of the week and I can see whats what.
-
P3eps have you thought about square cut-out for towing as the location for the camera :smiley:
you mean the wee flap that pops out for the tow hook?
Could be a good idea if it was a surface mount camera - depending how wide the lens was.
I've already ordered this boot handle from eBay - so I'll wait until that arrives and I see how feasible a project it will be before I make my mind up. Hopefully it will arrive at the beginning of the week and I can see whats what.
Then what would happen if the car needed towing? Would you be prepared to rip out the camera when it wants towing? :undecided:
-
Then what would happen if the car needed towing? Would you be prepared to rip out the camera when it wants towing? :undecided:
very true...
Hopefully my Golf will never need towing though :tongue:
-
I thought the rear towing hook was for if the car was towing something?
It's a bit difficult being towed backwards by another car!!!
-
I thought the rear towing hook was for if the car was towing something?
It's a bit difficult being towed backwards by another car!!!
can be used to tow the vehicle onto a low loader though
-
Have you seen this,
http://www.kufatec.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p1144_Rear-view-cam---bundle-universal-Audi---Volkswagen.html
Don't know anything about it but was browsing and stumbled upon it.
-
That's a helluva lot cheaper than the badge cam but it's too obvious - the badgecam was hidden so no one knew it was there unless they looked whilst the car was reversing.
-
Nice idea - but unfortunately in the real world some tea leafing gypo will see that numberplate cam and rob it!
I got my new boot switch yesterday - which I didnt realise was metal!
I have taken all the insides off my boot (without breaking a single clip :smiley: ) and had a good look at how much space I have to play with (heaps!).
I've ordered a flush fit camera - so once that arrives I'll drill into my boot switch and mount the camera.
I've measured that it needs to open about 40mm and that it needs about 3 pounds of force to open it - so I need to get a solenoid powerful enough to do this. I can't see any 40mm solenoids, but can get a 15-20mm one and hinge it so that it opens.
I'll keep you updated with my progress and take piccys as I go along!
-
Good luck p3eps :smiley:
Did you see if it's possible to adjust the point at which the boot opens on the switch or is this pre-set?
Also did you get a VW badge with the lock, if so do you want to sell it?
-
Good luck p3eps :smiley:
Did you see if it's possible to adjust the point at which the boot opens on the switch or is this pre-set?
Also did you get a VW badge with the lock, if so do you want to sell it?
It may be possible to adjust it - but I think it would be down to shaving bits of plastic off the mechanism. I think I'll just stick with you're relay idea as it seems much simpler.
I did get another VW badge - but I'm going to keep it as I'm gonna try doing it black! (which is what I guess you want it for?)
It looks like it'll be a bit of a pain to get the badge off though as it has multiple clips.
I can't believe what a bargain I got with that boot handle - 99p + £5 postage. I'd put in a max bid of £31 and no-one else bid :laugh:
-
Thats a bargin at that price. :shocked:
I have already painted mine black and will be getting the C/F ones on the groupbuy but was on the look out for a spare for the future.
The badge does come off quite easily, I used an old plastic card to slowly work it open all the way around. :smiley:
-
Today a guy at work brought me in a solenoid he had lying about.
Its a 12V central locking mechanism from an old BMW 318 - which has never been used. I noticed you can pick up similar non-branded ones on eBay for about £7 inc postage. I tested it with a 12V supply and it seemed pretty powerful. It goes about 22mm - which will hopefully be enough... but I can always hinge it if not.
Now I just need to wait for my camera to arrive and I can get it mounted into my boot handle and try experimenting a bit.
I still need to order a decent 12V relay for turning off the boot switch though - but this should only cost a couple of £'s.
So far so good :smiley: