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c350 retrofit camera problems

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Old Sep 5, 2011 | 12:44 PM
  #1  
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mercedes c350
c350 retrofit camera problems

hello all new to this forum, I was installing my camera and at the end it does not work I did all the steps found on this forum and nothing when a shift to R nothing not even the camera screen nothing I don't now if I have to do something else on the hidden menu ( hung up+1+#) I don't know how to save the info a change and is there something I have todo to exit that menu



cheers
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Old Sep 5, 2011 | 01:45 PM
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2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
From my memory, someones previous post states during Engineering mode setup, close the door, and after all menu setup, exit the setup mode, remove the key, and waiting for at least one minute (important step). Then you can put key back in to try the camera function.

Please try the above and let us know.
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Old Sep 6, 2011 | 08:28 AM
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I changed the backup camera setting in 7.7 of the Engineering menu, went back to the radio and put the car in reverse and nothing happened. I tried again, same result. So I turned off the car and went back inside.

I was dissapointed it didn't work, I thought maybe I didn't have the right software installed but I wasn't too upset as I had not installed the camera, I just wanted to peform a system check.

Well, when I got in the next morning and put the car in reverse I had a black screen that said Check Entire Surroundings. So, it seems that turning the car off will do the trick, just not sure for how long since mine was overnight.
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Old Sep 6, 2011 | 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by mhass350
So, it seems that turning the car off will do the trick, just not sure for how long since mine was overnight.
Yes, to me it is just like a PC with some new installations that require reboot to take effect.
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Old Sep 6, 2011 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by mhass350
I changed the backup camera setting in 7.7 of the Engineering menu, went back to the radio and put the car in reverse and nothing happened. I tried again, same result. So I turned off the car and went back inside.

I was dissapointed it didn't work, I thought maybe I didn't have the right software installed but I wasn't too upset as I had not installed the camera, I just wanted to peform a system check.

Well, when I got in the next morning and put the car in reverse I had a black screen that said Check Entire Surroundings. So, it seems that turning the car off will do the trick, just not sure for how long since mine was overnight.
If you have a "black" screen, the camera is not getting 12V.
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Old Sep 6, 2011 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by RLE
If you have a "black" screen, the camera is not getting 12V.
My bad, perhaps I wasn't clear. I did not attempt to install the camera, I haven't purchased one yet. I simply changed the computers settings to ensure I had functionality.

I was letting the OP know that the car needs to be turned off for some amount of time in order for the change to take place, like a computer re-boot as another member mentioned.

But thanks for looking out! Now I'll know how to fix should I have a black screen when I attempt the job.
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Old Sep 6, 2011 | 11:41 PM
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mercedes c350
I`m getting nothing no black screen nothing when I shift in to R nothing, Ive done reboot everything and nothing
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by mbgt
I`m getting nothing no black screen nothing when I shift in to R nothing, Ive done reboot everything and nothing
Again, I have yet to try the actual camera install but I was able to get the reverse screen working very easily.

It could help if you were to list what you have done and even show some pictures. The more information you give the better the chances of the forum being able to help you fix it.

- What year is your C350?

- Do you have the iPod connection in your glovebox?

- When you entered the engineering menu you enabled the backup camera, left the menu and turned the car off. Then you returned to the car and now see nothing when in reverse. Since you have nothing in reverse did you check the engineering menu again to make sure the change was applied?

- You said you connected the camera, what power feed did you use? Are you sure it is an appropriate source, i.e. constant 12V?

- Which connector did you use for the video feed?

Just trying to list some areas where you might be hung up. My first thought is that when you see no change to your COMAND screen when shifting in reverse then the settings in your computer have not been saved.

Last edited by mhass350; Sep 7, 2011 at 01:32 PM.
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 10:35 AM
  #9  
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mercedes c350
ok thanks here is what I did

Car: mercedes c350 2008 US version with iPod interface in the glob box and Aux in the globe box to with gps command

1) bought a camera ntsc from ebay specially design for the c class w204.
2) bought a fakra to rca cable to connect the rca to the radio
3) did all the installing and I got the power from the rear light cable and ground from the brown cable from the tail light connector
4) after everything was install I went to the hidden menu in the command and selected reverse camera install and video aux install the switch of the car for a few minutes with the door closed and done
5) power up the car again and now I have the reverse camera option in system in my command and video aux on the video section
6) then shifted to R and nothing
7) switch the car into video aux and the camera works
8) did a full reset to the command and nothing
9) went back to the hidden menu and everything is instal
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 11:37 AM
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You can also let dealer set it up if your car is still under warranty.
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 02:07 PM
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Some quotes from the other install threads that may help...

Originally Posted by Rogwp
The existing cable in the video input at the head unit goes to the adapter in the glove box, and is for ipod videos, etc. You cannot have both working; you need to select video camera in the software, and remove the existing cable. I guess you could connect your camera cable to the glove box connector if you did not use an ipod.
Originally Posted by C300CA
Thank you Nuru for the information. However, a fully optioned C300 should have both rear view camera and iPod video. I wonder how it is configured.

In Video in Motion Installation, the installer added a box which does not connect to the green video input, but to another dual cable connector. Someone knows what that added box does? Does it have anything to do with keeping both rear view camera and iPod video?

I wish the installer slows down and add description to each connector.
Originally Posted by C300CA
My cable is done. I tried the engineer menu and found there are three types of cameras: SRVC, DRVM and DRVM-PSC. Which one should I choose? Actually I tried all of them. When I shifted to R, screen didn't change to rear view.

I think I missed some major steps.

Originally Posted by GateKeeper
Set the SRVC option on and video aux off. Next exit from the Engineering Mode, remove your key and close the door. Wait about one minute (it is important) and than your camera should work

Originally Posted by id64
Found how to activate rearview camera! From this source. Also has handy instructions of how to remove factory unit. http://www.navtv.com/manuals/W204/W204MUSB.pdf

Originally Posted by dacatz
just finish install the backup camera last week....all the instruction are
helpful...but i need to comment some more info because i have some area which i have trouble......Spec for my c63: APP (Canadian Version P30 w/lsd) Premium Package, Carbon Trim, Sat. radio, Keyless Go

1. My kenwood backup camera require Accessories wire (red) to hook up, and i spliced to a wire going to cig ligther fuse (Pink wire) (pics will provide later)

2. for the steering wheel control to activate the backup camera funtion for my Command system, it didn't work for me, therefore i access the engineering manual by pressing 1 , # and hang up key...then i goto menu 7.7.17 to turn the backup camera funtion on. But i don't know why there is 3 option to choose, so i try each one...none of them work,everytime when i put in reverse ,also even if i turn off the car and turn on right away, it still doesn't work. At last, I have figure it out!

To Turn on the backup camera function for the my kenwood camera, first go engineering menu 7.7.17 , then choose SRVC, next turn off the car, not sure if require to lock the door or not...but i locked the door....leave the car for 5 mins....then start the car, put in "R", the backup camera screen will be turn on.
Originally Posted by tunafish
I only selected the backup camera option, and not the "play video in Aux", so maybe that is the problem. I also couldn't figure out how to get the engineering screen to close, so I also turned off the engine. (I later read somewhere that you can close the engineering screen by moving the command knob forward or backward ((I forget)).

My earlier comment may have been a bit misleading. When I immediatedly turned turned the ignition back on, I didn't see the "check entire surroundings" screen right away. But later, after letting the car sit for a while, I drove to the store, and when backing out of the parking space, the "check entire surroundings" screen appeared when I selected reverse.

Long story short, if I were you, i would disable the "play video in Aux", but leave the "backup camera" enabled. Then, in the regular COMAND screen, go to System, and you should see a check box option to activate the backup camera in reverse. if it is not checked, just check it. Good luck!
Originally Posted by tunafish
1. Did you go to the COMAND Engineering screen and mark the backup camera as "installed"?
2. After doing so, does the screen go dark except for "Check Entire Surroundings" and the word "BACK" near the bottom? If not, go to the regular Systems menu and check the box indicating the camera should turn on when in Reverse.
3. There is no point in going further until you see the "Check Entire Surroundings" screen.
4. Assuming that you do see it, I am not 100% sure that hooking up a VCR is a good test. Find a video camera (they are pretty cheap).
5. If you still have trouble, all things being equal, I would suspect the cable. A lot of electronic problems are due to shaky hardware connections.
6. I was able to hook up a camera on my 2008 C350 (US spec) with no problems.
Good luck.
Sorry for simply regurgitating quotes from other threads. Hopefully they help.

Last edited by mhass350; Sep 7, 2011 at 02:10 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 09:30 PM
  #12  
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did you make sure that the AUX video is turned off?
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 11:37 AM
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yes it is maybe my command has a problem
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 01:56 PM
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C350
I forget which setting you had to change, but did you enable everything that was needed on the engineering menu? For example, there was something that had to be enabled by moving the silver rotary "up" instead of rotating up.

For the longest time, I was unable to find the setting that everyone was talking about by rotating up, then finally read one thread that said to push the knob forward toward your shifter, which allowed me to see more options.
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