RichardP

There is a trick to fitting the camera flush!

The two critical parts are the plastic mounting plate and the camera itself. There are 4 screws the fasten one to the other. The temptation is to pre-assemble these two parts and tighten up the screws, if you do this then you won't get the camera flush.

Fasten the two parts together loosely, leaving a 1/4 inch or more slack, then fit then into the hole. Next, tighten the 4 screws that fasten the plate to the boot lid (they actually just spread some plastic lugs and sort of grip into the old handle opening). You will need a screwdriver with a flexible shaft to do this, there is not enough space to use a normal screwdriver. Now gradually tighten the screws from the plate to the camera, there is a point at which the camera will go one of two ways, one is pointing down slightly and will prevent the plate from tightening flat but will lock the camera solid. The other is pointing up slightly, this position will allow the plate to be tightened flush but it will be very slightly wobbly.

gregh86

When I did mine it wouldn't sit flush, I found that tightening the screws bowed the plate so I used a thicker gasket and tightened the screws just enough to hold it in.
If anyone is stuck with the fitting or wiring I live in Littlestone Kent and I'm happy to give someone a hand.

mtbtweety

details, please?

Slippery

Does anyone know where i can buy one of these kits at a reasonable price ? Searched E-bay and 1 kit for sale in Germany for £472 !!!

Thanks
Simon.

__________________
2001 E39 M5, V70 D5 Sport R-Design.

RichardP

They are not cheap, but this one is less than half of that.

back up / rear camera for BMW E38 , E39 , E46 , X5 E53 | eBay

gregh86

This is where I bought mine from, very good seller and they have a lot of nice BMW goodies for sale.

kevin300z

Here is the product's info:

SoundGate's VIDBMW1V4 allows you to add up to 2 video signals (DVD, VCR, rear-view camera, game console, etc.) to the factory navigation systems on the BMW vehicles.

Here is a 5 star review:

I've been searching a backup camera solution for my BMW 2001 740i for a while. I didn't want to spend a lot of money buying the OEM video module plus harness and one day I found this module. There were no reviews about it, but I gave it a try. It was a plug-n-play installation. The quality in the beginning was OK, but after spending 10 minutes and adjusting the colors is became great. The camera worked fine, but after a couple days the screen started flicker, I emailed the Soundgate tech support and was suggested to use auto relay with a diode. Spent $5.00 more for the parts, solved the problem. The product works great and I'm very happy with the choice.

This is a pic of the unit:



I wanted to hook up my Iphone 3G a few years back and bought this unit. I got 1 unit that didn't work and emailed Soundgate. First off the factory was putting Honda units in the BMW packaging. Strike one for Soundgate. They sent me a second unit. I attempted to hook it up following the horrible directions. This unit did not work. I started to research how the product worked and found out that the cabling for the video input from the factory was reversed. After fixing this manufacturing error I got it to work. Strike two Soundgate. I think this is a few reasons why they no longer make this product. I have two units I found for video and two that allow two separate audio inputs into our I have to test them to make sure they both are still in 100% working order as I had a third which didn't work at all. This project was a bit of a headache at the time but I gave up on it as I was going to have to mount a toggle switch to switch over from the NAV display to change to the Iphone display and didn't know where I wanted it. I am almost positive it has an auto video input switch for the rear cam input so when you put your car in reverse it changes the display to the cam automatically and when you take it our of reverse it goes back to the standard Nav display.

blueaudis4

I too have this kit. Works great and makes everyone ahhh when they are in the car. I was trying to figure the back plate too. Never seems to sit too flush. Would like to find a fix for this if anyone has one.

__________________
"Built For Dreamers by Dreamers!"

1998 M3 Techno Violet (in heaven)
1998 M3 Cosmos Black
2000 M5 Carbon Black
2000 E320 4matic-wifey
2001 R1100SA Black/Yellow
2005 K1200S Blue/White

M5 Russ

I also got mine from there.

I would be very grateful if you Greg or indeed Wane could spare some time next week or whenever to help fit my camera. I am free pretty much all of next week. Not sure where Wane lives but Littlestone is not far from me.

Russ

__________________
BMW E39 M5 - 2001 Le Mans Blue
Evolve equal length headers
Evolve high flow 100-cell cats
Evolve centre H pipes
Evolve GT rear exhausts with burnt titanium tips
Evolve AlphaN tune
AP Racing Brakes
Bilstein PSS9 coilovers
Uprated front and rear sway bars
Dinan strut brace
19" LM Reps
Intravee 2
Bluetooth upgrade
Mk 4 DVD sat nav

Slippery

I might take you up on that Greg, i live near Canterbury so not far away. Many years ago i used to work at Newmans BMW and left just before it became Broadoak BMW so i know most of the guys at Broadoak.

Richard thanks for that link its exactly what i'm looking for.

Russ can't believe you've had that camera kit sitting in the box for over 2yrs !

Thanks
Simon.