2008/2009 Back-up Camera Enabled!
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 48
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From: Phoenix-AZ
2008 C350 Sport-Arctic White
2008/2009 Back-up Camera Enabled!
If there is anyone out there that is thinking of using or has used the "Secret Engineering Menu" to enable your back up camera and was afraid to get the updates from the dealer or have a 2009 model. I have a story for you. I enabled the back-up camera from the Hidden Engineering Menu, purchased the Kenwood back-up camera and installed it! Everything was working great until my visit to the dealership for an oil change. I told them not to do any updates, but they did...by by back-up camera!
Now the good news, the update for the 2008 is the same software as the 2009...after the dealer deleted my back-up camera I went back in to the Engineering Menu (which has a lot more options now) and there are 4 selections under back-up camera. Choose the first selection "SRVC" and you will now have your back-up camera installed again. Also you will now have a "back-up camera options" field in your system to disable the camera for any reason without playing around with secret menus.
Now the good news, the update for the 2008 is the same software as the 2009...after the dealer deleted my back-up camera I went back in to the Engineering Menu (which has a lot more options now) and there are 4 selections under back-up camera. Choose the first selection "SRVC" and you will now have your back-up camera installed again. Also you will now have a "back-up camera options" field in your system to disable the camera for any reason without playing around with secret menus.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Brooklyn, NY
2021 GLB35, 2007 E350, 2014 ML350 4Matic, 2008 C350 Sport
Does enabling the backup camera from the engineering menu make installing a backup camera a plug & play? Seems too simple for some reason. I seem to remember some sort of a Backup Camera Enable kit being available from Mid City Engineering.
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: Phoenix-AZ
2008 C350 Sport-Arctic White
Actually...I hate to say it cause the guys at Mid City are very cool and I hate to step on their business, but it is plug & play! Mid City does sell a part that is needed the RCA to FAKRA cable ($21+shipping). You don't need the kit unless you want VIM as well.
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From: New York
C350
Take a look at this thread.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/266988-diy-rear-view-camera-under-200-a.html
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From: Brooklyn, NY
2021 GLB35, 2007 E350, 2014 ML350 4Matic, 2008 C350 Sport
Senior Member
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From: New York
C350
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Long Island, New York
2013 C300 Sport Black Darth V3.0
Installing mine this weekend weather permiting. Camera came in on Tuesday and I picked up the FAKRA cable at a local car stereo place. Just have to pick up an RCA jack at Radio Shack.
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From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C180K 2011 COMAND, AMG, Dynamic Xenon, Business Pack, H&K Audio and +
There are different stories about it. The dealer I spoke to said that you can order the backup camera when you purchase the car. It has to come factory fitted. Also they do not sell the camera as an accessory (Europe). I will get it done myself once I get the time and the camera.
PREMIUM SPONSOR
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Chicago, IL
ML350, Lotus Elise
There are different stories about it. The dealer I spoke to said that you can order the backup camera when you purchase the car. It has to come factory fitted. Also they do not sell the camera as an accessory (Europe). I will get it done myself once I get the time and the camera.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Chicago, IL
ML350, Lotus Elise
In the meantime if you dont need the other features then its a pretty cool way to have the camera function on a budget and I'll be happy to sell just the adapter if anyone needs it. The only thing to remember is that MB is disabling the menu going forward and any update past #259 will have it removed so be sure to let the service writer know that you dont want them to run updates... The only issues I can see with this is that there are a number of sirius updates that are due over the next few months that require the entire telematics system be updates (e.g. everything gets updated at once) so you might not have much of a choice if you listen to sirius.
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From: Chicago, IL
ML350, Lotus Elise
One more thing...
Be *very* careful with any other changes you make in the engineering menu: some of the settings have hard limit to the number of changes you can make and how many times you can change them. I have had three cases in the past month alone where I have gotten calls from people who have unintentionally locked their command to a particular setting and cannot change it back. In these cases even the dealer cannot change the settings: the radio has to go back to the manufacturer for reprogramming.
(I have one guy that is stuck playing only region 3 DVD's on his 2 week old C and all MB will do is sell him a new command.
)
so please be careful guys if you decide to go play with any of the other settings...
Be *very* careful with any other changes you make in the engineering menu: some of the settings have hard limit to the number of changes you can make and how many times you can change them. I have had three cases in the past month alone where I have gotten calls from people who have unintentionally locked their command to a particular setting and cannot change it back. In these cases even the dealer cannot change the settings: the radio has to go back to the manufacturer for reprogramming.
(I have one guy that is stuck playing only region 3 DVD's on his 2 week old C and all MB will do is sell him a new command.
)so please be careful guys if you decide to go play with any of the other settings...
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LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
can anybody provide a link to purchasing the fakra connector online?
also, if you have the dealer do the free bluetooth fix by updating command to version 46/07, will it permanently disable the ability to use the backup cam???
if it becomes disabled, is there anyway midcity engineering can fix this???
also, is midcity ever going to drop the price on the VIM module???
thanks,
rb
also, if you have the dealer do the free bluetooth fix by updating command to version 46/07, will it permanently disable the ability to use the backup cam???
if it becomes disabled, is there anyway midcity engineering can fix this???
also, is midcity ever going to drop the price on the VIM module???
thanks,
rb
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08-C350 black/black
im also tryin to find out exactly where in the menu this option is located....i dont want to go around clicking on everything...someone had posted you can only make so many hard changes to the unit before it gets locked...my luck i'll prolly jack it up...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 48
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From: Phoenix-AZ
2008 C350 Sport-Arctic White
No the dealer updates will NOT permanently disable the menu, if you have a 2008 the menu options will change to the same options the folks with a 2009 have. This menu options are almost the same, only difference in the "unlock" directions are as follows: under the last direction "sub menu 7, HU parameter" you won't see the menu "enable backup camera". Instead you will see 3 choices, (sorry I don't remember the names) just choose the first selection. Turn off the car, take the key out of the ignition for 5 min and your camera will work.
At center command, press and hold 3 buttons, " hang up , 1 and #. You will see Eng menu in LCD. Go to (option 7, sub menu 7) HU parameter and enable backup camera install.
Hope that helps
At center command, press and hold 3 buttons, " hang up , 1 and #. You will see Eng menu in LCD. Go to (option 7, sub menu 7) HU parameter and enable backup camera install.
Hope that helps
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Joined: Jan 2009
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ML350
Rearview camera install 08 ML350
Hi,
Does anyone know of a dealer/installer in the Dallas area that knows how to retrofit a rearview camera into an ML350 (08)? Thanks so much for your help. YOu can email me directly at milind_shah@Hotmail.com if you do.
Mil.
Does anyone know of a dealer/installer in the Dallas area that knows how to retrofit a rearview camera into an ML350 (08)? Thanks so much for your help. YOu can email me directly at milind_shah@Hotmail.com if you do.
Mil.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
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From: Miami, Florida
Mercedes Benz C350 W204 - Mars Red with Command system and AMG Wheel Upgrade
How much will a complete system cost for a 2008 C350 W204? I am interested in rear cam, VIM with the Nav unlocked. What exactly comes with the complete kit?
