Happy New Year to you TOO: Well I just finished installing a Back-Up camera to my MCSc... The VR3 wireless back-up camera system with color monitor I bought from COSTCO is really nice.. I still have to get used to it a bit. The cost was about $90 and I had a friend help me install it... We didn't need to drill any holes and instead of hooking into the back-up lights system ,we hooked it to the extra continuous source with the outlet(cigarette lighter-like) in the boot... That gives me a continuous picture if I want to see the rear while driving The monitor plugs into the 12V receptacle of the inside cigarette lighter ... So if I don't want the monitor on, I just put the monitor away or don't plug it to the receptacle... We had a some setbacks ,,, 1. the camera lens when mounted sort of block the boot opening handle so I have to go under the camera and push the devise to open the boot... I didn't want to mount the camera on the lower part of the license plate frame. Mounting it on top gives a bit of protection to the camera... 2. We had to solder the wires better because the first time just hooking it up to the outlet blew a fuse because the wires rubbed against one another...3. Running the camera wire to the weather protected rubber was a tight fit and we couldn't make the extra wire turn a 90* corner of the rubber protector so we just decided to puncture the rubber...it's inside the boot so water really cannot get trap there...
It was worth the couple hours of trail and error to see the monitor work so nicely... km

 

Pics please

 

+1

 

Yeah, Pics please.
I wondered why the backup camera wasn't standard with the convertible (at least) instead of the backup warning beeper.
Anyone want to wager it's an option in the new converts?

 

if bmw does decide to put in a camera, it is going to be a lot more expensive than the beeper!

 

is the "continuous" rear power outlet 'switched'? just wondering as it
might drain your battery if not.

yes, picts please.

 

From the title I was thinking, Wink Mirror
That camera is cool though.

 

actually i was thinking someone put this ugly thing in their car and
was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!!!

 

I think that turns on when the ignition is turned ,so right now I'm just hoping that is not going to drain my battery.... km

 

I'll try to put up some pics,I'm not too good with the digital world... km

 

At $90 and including its own screen, this could be a useful mod for many convertible owners. My OEM back-up camera requires the OEM Nav and costs over $700. It has been very valuable and I make use of it at some point almost every time I drive the car.

Backing up is only part of the convertible's rear visibility problem. The other part is the large blind spot when the roof is up. This can be remedied with a Multivex mirror on the passenger side. The combination of the Multivex and back-up camera now give me better rear visibility than in previous cars I've owned.

 

how about you hook up your celphone charger to it or your radar
detector and see if it powers up while your car's off? if it doesn't
then the outlet is switched and you are good to go.

 

I really hope you will keep us posted on how this works out. I would be interested. But, wants to know what keeps someone from taking the camera?

 

Here is a product link

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4744711

 

And here's one w/ a video

http://sewelldirect.com/VRBCS300W-wi...kup-camera.asp

Prices for this thing are all over the map, but nothing lower than your Costco, none around here and not available from them online, apparently.. <closes in on 500, with evil gleam in eye>

 

Watch it, oh fashionable one, I put one of those ugly things in my car...

... for about a week. Then I ripped it out and added a second Multivex on the driver's side - twin Multivexes (Multivexi?) are fabulous once you get used to them...

 

^^ you got a cabrio. just turn your head.

 

I had a similar concern with boot access when installing the back-up cam but an actuator did the trick. It's programmed to the after market alarm remote and pops the door open without pushing on the camera.

 

are you able to see anything at night?

 

I had Wink mirrors installed in all of my past project cars including the Triumphs and Turbo REX...got one in the garage and am about to install it into Msfitoy

Zero blind spots and 180 degrees rear vision...

 

very hard to get night shot with just the back up light... but it give me picture of lights from rear view..

 

I have one on the passenger side, does the addition of the driver side really make a big difference?

 

Cool product and amazingly low price.

 

The Multivex does make a difference on the drivers side and you can see two lanes over without turning your head. However, for me it was too much of a difference and I went back to the original mirror after I spent a couple of weeks trying to get used to it. I had trouble judging distance of cars that are moving relative to me. For example when changing lanes into a faster moving lane to the left and there is a car coming up the lane, you have to decide whether to go ahead and merge or let the car pass first. I had trouble making that judgment with the Multivex because its curvature changes across the width of the mirror and affects the depth perception. On the passenger side I adjusted easily, probably because I'm already used to convex mirrors on that side and the Multivex is just a variation. On the drivers side I've never really had an issue with blind spots and I don't mind using the original mirror.

 

If i put such a mirror in my mini, i couldnt see out the windshield. I am 6'4" and even with the seat at its lowest, my viewing angle out the car is at the level of the rear view mirror. Sometimes cars come out of the "blind spot" behind the rear view mirror, so im in the habit of ducking alot to look under the mirror.

On a related note, has anyone tried to mount the origional mirror onto the dash instead of the windshield?