Around near where I live & hang out (OC) and work (West LA), parallel parking is a must. Unfortunately, parking slot are tight, not to mention people really park close to the line, so you can't fit in between (or so they thought). Not to mention the type of car that if you bump into are often expensive to repair/fix.

Well, I got the problem resolved: back-up camera. It works wonder. I use the Kenwood CCD-900, with ultra-wide angle (120 degree). I aim it at angle just as the one in Lexus car, with bumper line for reference. The camera works really well in all condition, even low light. I custom make a control switch for power, so it could be on at both reserve/forward.

Since I have to open things apart, I also make a custom aux port, helpful for my iPod and digital voice memo.

Best part of all: the camera allow me to park into space that I could never though possible. No wonder the Lexus and Infinity owner love that option in their car.

I post along a pix of the LS430 rear-view camera, which I used as a reference for aiming mine. The Kenwood is even wider compared to the one used in the LS (Eclipse E40)

















Lexus LS430 Rear view camera

 

i want ur set up...

nice

 

Very nice!

 

Nice ,Zam m(as usual),total price???

 

I applaud your ingenuity, Z-man. Great job and write up. Now just tell your
wife that you're going on the road with these skills....like Steve. I'll bet folks
would pay you to accessorize their rides in similar fashion.

 

- Kenwood CCD-900: $150 (from eBay. Best-offer: $130 + $20 shipping)
- LED light (power indicator, from RadioShack): $2
- Switch (power control, from RadioShack): $3
- Wire & connector: $5
- Aux port (for iPod, from RadioShack): $1
- Silicon: $4
- Clarion TVX5653 (TV & Monitor, bought years back on eBay): $250

To parallel park with perfect precision: priceless.

Thanks Ray. My wife already have enough problem w/ my business travel, so additional travel might not fare well. Agree with you in getting side job though. Look like no amount of money is enough nowaday to pay bill, especially for living in this crazy OC.

 

every once in a while i see the clarion on Ebay. woukd you recommend this model for my fiber compliant E320? i would like Ipod Aux In...the rear view would be neat, and DVD movies a nice value added attraction. but i'm unsure how this all blends in with my model.....given the orange cable thang...which sometimes seem more of a curse than the benefits it provides.

 

Looks the goods Zamm. Just a quick question, where did you drill the hole for the lead to pass through the trunk lid? Did you drill behind the handle and mounted the camera to the handle?

I'm just being curious. Great job by the way

 

I removed one of the license plate light, and use that housing to house the camera. I run the LED on the old wire into the other light, no lamp message and plate still get lit well.

The Clarion TVX5653 came with built in TV tuner and FM modulator, you simply set one of the FM band to it, and that's all (I use 1 button in radio memory for TV, one other for Sat radio). For the aux, I open up the unit, run the cassette adaptor through behind & down to the ash-tray, and connect through a female-female aux, then I get an aux port (when I switch the head unit to cassette mode).

The Optical line is used for phone & CD-changer, not touch nor affect at all here.