Alex.currie44

So after a 14 month adventure with a 2015 CLA45 AMG I am back in a real MB in the form of a 2013 C63 sedan (older farts need narrower doors, what can I say) with the performance package, lots of other options Obsidian Black over Red and Black Nappa. #11 MB since 1987.
One thing the CLA and my 2014 SLK had was a better rear camera system. The wide angle camera and dynamic backup lines were far superior to the one on the car which is the same as my 2011 E350 wagon.
I know there are kits out there to upgrade the system with a wider view and dynamic lines but before I jump in there is no need to reinvent the wheel.
Any and all suggestions, what to look out for, ease of installation, best systems etc. would be welcome.
Thanks.

Phil Chow

There are kits to upgrade the system with a better view and everything?

Alex.currie44

Any specific ones which you have experience with?

Ambystom01

He was asking a question.

computertom

I'd also be interest in this. While the view is better that nothing, in spoiled by my wife's new Pacifica.

Alex.currie44

You could interpret it that way I guess.
One kit I have found today is NAV_TV W204-12 Dynamic Kit http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...TV-KIT461.html

https://navtv.com/products/NTV-KIT46...2-dynamic.html

Their price including a camera is very competitive against the manufacturer who want $850 US for the kit recognizing it is the last one in stock at the moment. The head unit has to come out and there are 4 wires that have to be solder spliced into the car's wiring harness.

Ambystom01

Well the question mark at the end is a dead giveaway...

marcadelic

I've been very interested in this too, the camera in my girlfriends g37 blows ours out of the water and it's only a year newer.

Alex.currie44

There is always one

Ambystom01

One guy who calls a spade a spade?

BLKROKT

Dumb question coming.... Can't you simply replace the existing OE camera with a higher resolution one? I'd think they are all generally the same size and have the same connecters etc, and you can just splice it in back at the license plate area? Plug it in and go. No?

Alex.currie44

It isn't just the camera that is at issue for me. I got used to the dynamic parking lines and depth measures on my 2014 SLK350 and the recently departed CLA45 AMG which had two camera angles, regular and wide angle.
I am blocked on the driver's side as I back out for about 4 of the 5 ft from my garage door to the site road and as soon as that camera clears the blockage I can see all the way done the road to my left as well as to my right.

GRP

Now that I would do assuming the screen is capable of displaying a higher res image.

I do not need a nanny guidance system.

BamaAMGRama

Interested also. I have a '14 C63 coupe without the parking lines-- so they are not available without an upgrade?

Thanks

Alex.currie44

To each his own. I don't "need" it. I just liked it on my 2014 SLK350 and my 2015 CLA45 AMG and I will tell you, in a parking lot with the yahoos we have driving through them at 60 kph seeing them as soon as the camera clears the car beside you on both sides is a great help.
The dynamic steering lines as you back up are just a reference. If I wanted to get really lazy I would use Parktronic but I don't.

Alex.currie44

Not by MB as far as I know. There is a kit. See above.

604 C63

I have installed aftermarket cameras in two C63s that did not come from the factory with one from factory. One a sony, one a monoprice. The camera is the source of the parking guidelines and both had the lines, but they were static. They do not curve and bend ala the CLA45. The CLA is able to do this as it has electronic steering instead of hydraulic, and that makes it a LOT easier to integrate.

So in other words, you could move to a higher definition camera, and should be able to do so by just replacing the camera itself, but not sure if you would see a difference on the display (cos I am unsure of display resolution, not that high tho). You may get better peripheral vision - my Sony was much better than factory. You will NOT get dynamic lines short of spending at least 2k canadian on this type of package and a quality install. I still would not expect to be as polished as what you had in the CLA.

But now you have real torque You are seeing fewer people in your rear camera, and more people in your rear view mirror.

Alex.currie44

The Nav-tv kit does provide the dynamic lines and with a camera change it might be possible. The kit is about $600 and maybe $150 for a camera?
Ya.! Size matters. 481 hp and gobs of torque beats the boy racer CLA45 AMG hands down,

604 C63

Looking at that on the NAV-TV site, and looking at the manual, I think there is a world of of difference between saying that unit is compatible with our cars and capable of having dynamic parking lines and saying that it WILL have dynamic parking lines.

I just dont see where the system would get that info from to display it on the screen. It has to be receiving steering angles etc from somewhere, and it wouldnt be.

I see on the list several vehicles that it is compatible with, and I see some that I think it is capable of doing that with (ie the aforementioned CLA 2014-2016) but I dont think that pony will do that trick in our car. I would want to contact them directly and get specific info in writing from them stating "this will provide dynamic lines in a 2013 C63" and if so, any additional equipment it may require.

Alex.currie44

Your got that right. That is why I sent them an email last night. I will let you know. Keep in mind the 2014 SLK350 had dynamic lines too but I don't know what the steering hardware was.

604 C63

But that also means the SLK had that baked right into the system, and I actually think most of the MBs on that compatibility list (and the SLK is one of them) do as well. The dynamic lines came stock. We have none stock. We can add them by introducing them via the eyeball (the camera) but there is no capability to do anything with them in terms of processing in the brain.

Pls do update as to what they say. I would put $20 on "oh it will work with your car but the lines won't move", but there could easily be something Im missing here. Probability high lol.

604 C63

That makes ONE thing it does better than our car lol.

604 C63

By the way Alex, you get that car in Nanaimo? I had seen a similar one at the dealer there. Thought the red and black interior quite sharp.

Alex.currie44

Well you were right although I am still somewhat confused. I may have to call. The guy on the chat said the W204-12 kit is not compatable with the factory system but if you didn't have a factory system it would work. No sure how that squares with the install manual. To your point they have to pick up steering angles from some where.
I got my car in Richmond 10 days ago. My CLA45 AMG and $1000 and I have to get a second key. I think I did ok.
It has the performance package, 19" wheels, two tone red/black Designo leather and a whole bunch of stuff over 3 pages. Very cool.

604 C63

Car looks great. Congrats!

As for the kit, that is pretty bizarre really. Its compatible with the car, but not if you have the factory system? "It works with that, but only if you don't actually have that, but have something else". Odd.