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5 Series Beamer

Diary of a Second Hand 15 year old Beamer (Maintenance - Battery Drain included...,
BMW E39 520i year 2000 Engine 1995cc)
M Series.

 

fig. Boot - Rear Fuse Cluster

Fitting A Reverse Camera  Note; Safety -Before commencing with Electrical Work, Disconnect Battery)
Even though there are factory fitted sensors for reversing, (when they work). I decided to add a reverse camera. Since I had a Head Unit to accomodate it I wanted to use both the reverse sensors and camera. (A seperate monitor can be purchased if a head unit is not available). I had previously disconnected the factory sensors to trace the battery drain as it seemed to be on the fuse 4 circuit, when fuse 4 was replaced the sensors indicated a fault with a long bleep, suggesting the sensor or sensors were not working.

Reverse Camera was purchased for £12.88 from eBay (easy-to-buy2008). This camera is designed to fit into an existing number plate light socket after the factory fitted number plate light has been removed. The camera does have a light built into it, however this is normally wired up to a live feed wire of the reverse light situated in the boot (trunk). In other words we lose a number plate light. I considered wiring the camera light up to the driving lights(to retain the numberplate light), this would mean wiring up a relay to switch between driving lights and reverse light. For simplicity, I decided to install two LED pillar lights instead, to meet with the legal requirements of having the two plate lights. Pillar lights per pair, average around £4 on ebay. There is another wire (Yellow Reverse In) this goes from the camera and routes through to the front of the vehicle to the monitor or head unit, for visual dispaly.

Reverse Camera

Reverse Camera

fig.

fig.

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Contents Page

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Workshop

When placing the manual gear shift into reverse, the camera light illuminates as does the reverse lights, the head unit provides visual display of what is behind the vehicle. If the sensors are working, the audio bleep is also present. (More on Pillar Lights page 47).

Black Plugs into red Socket of Camera

Extension lead to Head Unit or Monitor and Camera

Yellow
Extension
Lead Socket

fig.     Reverse Camera                                                     fig. Contents

   Note; Safety - Before commencing with Electrical Work, Disconnect Battery)

Workshop/Diary - Reverse Camera

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