Please post if anyone has picture of the rear view camera's mounting position. I am getting a quote from the local audio xpress shop (www.audioxpressinc.com) to install a rear view camera and wanted to know where the factory camera is mounted. The guy at shop suggested couple locations a) rear bumper, b) on the rear license plate bracket or C) drill through the license plate by removing the O from CALIFORNIA to mount the camera. I don't want the camera to look directly down onto the ground behind the vehicle but more of wide angle and longer back view. I am also concerned about movement of camera by the vibration over time. Provide some mounting positions suggestions.

Thanks for participation.

It's mounted under the lip on the tailgate, to the left of the tailgate release. It points down and back, so you see almost the full width of the bumper. I don't know how far back the view extends, but it is very wide angle - almost fisheye.

Here ya go. And, aroby's description is accurate. I did see one aftermarket camera mounted on the bumper. Look for Love My Gel (Mel's) pics to see details. His looked pretty sharp too and it was available on demand so he could switch it on when he wanted to and didn't have to be in reverse.

I see oknish beat me to it, but here's another.

If you are looking for a good aftermarket cam use the kenwood backup camera: it fits in the same location as the factory camera and can be adjusted up/down (see pic). if you want it to look more rearward than down and do not have keyless go then have the shop mount the camera to the right of the liftgate handle. there is a blank panel there that the camera bracket can mount to which will give a steath install that allows the camera to look straight back.

do not accept a bumper mount or plate mount. The install shops love to put cameras there because its much easier than running the wires through the liftgate and into the car (and it is a PITA) but the results of a gate mounted cam have a professional factory look.

Does Kenwood or factory rear view camera have night vision modes?

You're going to be reversing in complete darkness ? The factory camera works fine when the reversing and tail lights are on.

Anthony

+1. The factory does a great job in almost all situations.

I've replaced my front headlamp and high beam bulbs with some PIAA white bulbs. Should I replace my backup lamps with mercury arc lamps for backup safety? (I'd actually like to mount a couple for tailgaters - I could melt their tires.)

How about a roof mounted light rack facing backwards and down, STP? That would be *****en and be handy when you take your 320 rock climbing

+1. I am really not sure how useful night vision mode will be in a backup camera.

I'm locking it up even in the garage now. I have some feeling that if I don't, Nish is going to 'borrow' it for a trip to Moab one day.

I'd love to do just that!

With a push=on, release=off button so I can jacklight pesky high-beam tailgaters.

If you figure it out, please let us know!

I wish there was tiny little windshield wiper for the lens for rainy days. Little droplets can distort the view pretty badly. Ok, maybe not a tiny wiper, just a little blower. Still very happy with the rear view lens. It's saved me from looking like an idiot backing out in tight spaces many times.

Now, why didn't I think of that????

Ours gets filthy nearly after every trip out of the garage, so here's a little solution... Before you get into your GL, walk around to the camera, wet your thumb and wipe once. It'll be clean just like that and doesn't cost a dime.

He could also move to Las Vegas where it only rains about 4 days a year and the camera lens is always clean...but it will cost him more than a dime...:-)

Or to LA where it never rains and whole car is always clean. It will cost way more than a dime for sure

In Las Vegas, not is the whole car always clean, but so is your wallet...:-)

At least, you can afford a wallet in Vegas. In LA, you can't even afford a wallet

Dueling banjos, tit for tat.

+1. I just wipe it with my finger but not wet

How about some sort of semi circle visor that will prevent water from getting onto the lense. This would partially block the view of camera. Just a thought.

Here's what I was thinking; I used to work on a cargo ship in Alaska. What we had for the wheelhouse was part of a forward window had a central disk which could be spun at very high RPMs. This kept moisture and dirt off of that particular area in even the heaviest storms.

Another option is to have something like they use on Formula One car cameras. Of course they're going to hit bugs and dirt and oil, and while the driver can peel off layers of protective plastic quickly to clear his visor nobody can do it for that camera. So they have like a roll of clear film in front of the lens. On command, a small motor pulls fresh film across the view of the lens and voila, a clear view. So we shrink that down to the size of the backup camera and bolt it on, and then hook the motor up to the headlamp washer so that it doesn't go every time you clean your windsheild but every whatever the interval is for headlamp washers - is it 15 times? That way you don't use up the film too quickly.

I'm tellin' you, someone comes up with something like this to keep the camera clear and you'll be able to sell it to ... well, if not Mercedes, at least Kenwood. Yeah?

STP

The TV camera lenses now used on open wheel cars and the NASCAR roof cams are not much larger than an MB backup cam. Next month in Daytona, I'll ask our supplier about the feasability of this for street use, and if they have any other ideas.

How about a short lens hood?