DIY: Backup camera for 25$ (with pictures)
I bought two of these same cameras from the guy in China before I traded my 08 for a new 12. The new 12 has a camera so I won't be installing them obviously.
If anyone is interested, I will sell them shipped for $21.00 each. They are complete in thier original packaging. Each comes with Camera, Long Video Cable and power cable.
Let me know.
If anyone is interested, I will sell them shipped for $21.00 each. They are complete in thier original packaging. Each comes with Camera, Long Video Cable and power cable.
Let me know.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 338
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From: USA/Virginia/Fairfax Station
2012 Mercedes c250
I have a question i installed the backup cam as well and everytime that i start the engine and kick it to reverse the image on the screen will start becoming fuzzy/staticy?? i have a thread that you can see "30$ ebay camera and 20$ fahkra video cable".. i dont know if i connected the wires diff or idk??! so if you guys can help that you be shwelll!
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
I have a question i installed the backup cam as well and everytime that i start the engine and kick it to reverse the image on the screen will start becoming fuzzy/staticy?? i have a thread that you can see "30$ ebay camera and 20$ fahkra video cable".. i dont know if i connected the wires diff or idk??! so if you guys can help that you be shwelll!
As my pdf attachment says, I used fuse 71 power, I remember it's for front accessory socket.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 338
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From: USA/Virginia/Fairfax Station
2012 Mercedes c250
if you can help me, where did you install the fuse (location) and would you think thats the reason why that its causing that?
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
Hope I answered your question.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: USA/Virginia/Fairfax Station
2012 Mercedes c250
this might sound like a stupid question but how did you connect it? did you just connect the wire into the socket or is there like a wire the is connected to 71 that you spliced?
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta
05 CL65 AMG, 07 Ferrari F430, 03 Range Rover HSE
07 E Class needs the VIM/Backup camera kit. You can see it on our website cartronics.com - The E Class COMAND is not anything like the C Class, so none of this applies to you. However, you can easily get backup camera on your car if you want.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: USA/Virginia/Fairfax Station
2012 Mercedes c250
this might sound like a stupid question but how did you connect it? did you just connect the wire into the socket or is there like a wire the is connected to 71 that you spliced?
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
I removed some wire insilation (or called sleeve?) so that I could solder. Then used electrical tape to wrap around the solder joint. If you don't not solder, you can expose bare wire more and twist the camera wire onto the fuse wire tightly then tape it. I don't recommed that as reliability is not good. I always soder.
Any further questions are welcome.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: USA/Virginia/Fairfax Station
2012 Mercedes c250
My pdf picture shows that my camera power wire does not connect to the fuse socket but to the fuse wire outside the fuse socket.
I removed some wire insilation (or called sleeve?) so that I could solder. Then used electrical tape to wrap around the solder joint. If you don't not solder, you can expose bare wire more and twist the camera wire onto the fuse wire tightly then tape it. I don't recommed that as reliability is not good. I always soder.
Any further questions are welcome.
I removed some wire insilation (or called sleeve?) so that I could solder. Then used electrical tape to wrap around the solder joint. If you don't not solder, you can expose bare wire more and twist the camera wire onto the fuse wire tightly then tape it. I don't recommed that as reliability is not good. I always soder.
Any further questions are welcome.
hey bro thanks for the information i got the camera to work... GREAT HELP!
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta
05 CL65 AMG, 07 Ferrari F430, 03 Range Rover HSE
If it is a good quality camera, with sufficient video (1v peak to peak), sufficient sync, and prepowered before reverse is selected, video should be near instant on reverse. From your post, it looks like you are prepowered....
Good cameras are really worth it folks, for this and many many reasons reviewed elsewhere. I fail to see why one would by a Mercedes Benz and be very happy to put a Yugo (remember those?) quality camera in it.
Good cameras are really worth it folks, for this and many many reasons reviewed elsewhere. I fail to see why one would by a Mercedes Benz and be very happy to put a Yugo (remember those?) quality camera in it.
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
When shopping, I decided NOT to buy the camera option, as I don't want my daughter the futher driver to rely on camera only. It was after the purchase I learned I could add camera. I don't actually need it; it is just for my practice. If I spend more money on the camera, I should have bought it factory option in the first place.
I can always replace it with a good one. Thing is my cheap camera has 48 dB S/N. I don't see other cameras with S/N specs. Normally more expensive cameras should have better specs but I still want to see those numbers.
I can always replace it with a good one. Thing is my cheap camera has 48 dB S/N. I don't see other cameras with S/N specs. Normally more expensive cameras should have better specs but I still want to see those numbers.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta
05 CL65 AMG, 07 Ferrari F430, 03 Range Rover HSE
Our OEM MiniCAM is as follows:
165° Wide Viewing Angle
Forward and Reverse Image possible
0.2 Lux Night Visibility
5 ~ 13Volts DC @ 80mA
380TVL High Resolution
70db S/N Ratio
Glass Lens
Waterproof
All Electronics in Camera
165° Wide Viewing Angle
Forward and Reverse Image possible
0.2 Lux Night Visibility
5 ~ 13Volts DC @ 80mA
380TVL High Resolution
70db S/N Ratio
Glass Lens
Waterproof
All Electronics in Camera
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
That is not the clean 12V to use. People are talking about avoiding that 12V. I tried the backup 12V and verified it is not a good power.
Super Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
I use Fuse 71 (for front 12V outlet I remember), never a problem. Its location is easy to access too. No resistor no capacitor needed.


