Wireless rear view camera

Like so many others, I find the standard rear view camera fitted has its limitations. Firstly, it does not show the area immediately behind the vehicle and secondly, the glare on the combined rear view mirror often requires the mirror to be tilted to be able to view the (poor quality) image properly.

I am considering the fitting of a Garmin BC50 wireless camera. It would be connected wirelessly to the Garmin Sat Nav. 

I have three questions. 

1) Is this type of camera too much of a compromise to avoid all the extra wiring and yet another monitor?

2) Has anyone fitted a BC50? If so, has it been successful?

3) Can anyone tell me how I find and correctly identify the reversing light wiring at the rear to provide power for the camera?

What is really annoying, is that the Mercedes MBUX system has the option of connecting an HD camera. With the Sprinter van conversions there is a kit which replaces the high level break light. On the coachbuilts, like my Bourton, it would be a major project. Even the specialist companies are not keen to take it on.

We use the Garmin wireless camera mounted at high level, once you have set up the guide lines as per instuctions it gives a great veiw down the reaf of the van and the towball

The beauty of these cameras is that they can be voice activated as well as by the touch screen button on the sat nav, you just say 'show video' or 'hide video' at the sat nav

Thank you Ralph.

It really would be a godsend to be able to see the ground at rear of the vehicle - before I hit something! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] 

I just hope someone else has figured out the best way to access the wiring for the reversing light. I then know where to obtain the necessary power.

No experience of this but I wonder if the VLM5 unit will give you a reversing light feed?


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I also agree the standard reversing camera is almost useless especially as fitted to our burford as you cannot see anything if you touch the brake plus most wireless camera have a delay so I fitted a wired four pin twin camera system to the rear panel which is easy to feed the cable down ,and the four pin (power and video cables ) make wiring easy and neat, runnigng them down inside the back panel and under the van and up in the engine bay and then through the bulkhead (through the large wiring grommet ) to the rear of the glovebox where I picked up  a +&- feed . I have then mounted a large 7” screen to the rear view mirror with cable ties and fed the cable across under headlining a down screen pillar  I did not bother with the reverse wire feed as I use the monitor continuously switching between the cameras one directly down to view tow bar or bikes and one down the road to watch oncoming traffic  or view together using split screen mode 
Imo this works well and doesn’t affect using the screen blind and can be switched off if you find the light in cab annoying when driving at night but reversing in the dark is no trouble as the cameras have shades so not effected by high level brake light This look like it would be easier on the newer models  with the new style rear panel especially if the black section where the factory camera is removable 
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Thank you Caraman, that's very helpful.

Also thank you to Redboy. You are confirming the doubts I was having about a wireless system being a compromise. It is the ability to connect the camera to the Sat Nav which is attractive, thus eliminating the need for another monitor.  

If I went for a wired installation, I would connect it to the existing Mercedes MBUX HD monitor, but this might be beyond my capabilities and so far I cannot find a professional to fit it.

I had my camera and monitor changed when I bought my new van and had a twin lens camera fitted.

I was disappointed that I felt the need to do this and the new camera dose not look as neat as the old one but, it works
Pete

You don't need external power for the Garmin unit, just good quality Lithium batteries and they last for ages, the unit switches itself off after a period of non use, our batteries have been in for 6 months now and still fine

Thank you Ralph.

I was considering the Garmin BC50 for the better quality image, but you're right, I could fit the BC40 and be completely wireless.

Further to last message, I had wrongly assumed the later BC50 was a higher definition image, but the 40 and 50 are the same.

Ralph, where did you fit yours. Is it on the number plate, or higher up? When you are next in the van, I would be interested to see a picture of the image showing the area covered.

Hi
We bouht the sat nav and camera as a package which came with a number plate mout, I also bought the seperate camers mount and fitted both
The camera is in the high level mount but it's an easy job to relocate it to the number plate mount if needed, (easier to pinch though)

Our van is in for service at he moment but it's mounted just under the Auto Sleeper wording in the sight recess that is there, a bit more protection from the weather
The photo is before the camera was mounted
(Don't know how I did this)


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Thanks Ralph

I have a Bourton with the standard rear view setup. Yesterday I parked next to the pavement outside some shops. When we came back to the van I saw there was a gap behind the camper. While we were buckling up and the Bourton was deciding if it the key was in the designated area (it always is, but it's a job to persuade The Computer That Must Be Obeyed), and if so how long after pressing the 'go' button it would turn the engine over, a car pulled in behind us. I very slowly reversed, peering into the reversing mirror and seeing nothing. Crunch. So I got out and fortunately as I had been doing about 1mph no damage was done. But it could have been a Cornish Hedge in which case I would have an expensive repair on my hands.
I  must do something to improve the reversing display. Previously the monitors I have had, had remotes, or a touch screen where you could select a settings button and increase the brilliance, but this doesn't.