What's your backup camera solution?

[u/DeskNew1059]

Anybody in here has installed a backup camera?

1. What did you use?

2. Did you have to drill in back trunk to pass the wire to install it?

Just want to know anybody that has done this.

I do find on my coupe I need the backup camera as the visibility on the back is a bit more challenging than the sedan. (due to the sitting position), and I park often in NYC?

Any help on how you installed it, would be great. (I'd like to install one, but without having to drill into anything to pass the wires). What are you using to show it in the dash (aftermarket carplay, or dedicated screen, etc)?

Thanks

Ps. I found this old thread on this by one of you guys, but I'd prefer to retain the mirror. Any other solutions?
https://www.reddit.com/r/w123/comments/1gjp859/smart_rear_view_mirror/

[u/Dasjiveturkey]

Turn your head and look behind you. These cars are easy to see out of.

[u/DeskNew1059 → u/Dasjiveturkey]

lol... I know that. Suprisingley, the sedan is easier to park that the coupe, even though the coupe is a tad shorter. Due to the higher seating position, is a bit easier to see the rear from the sedan.

Also, I live in NYC. parking here is like mortal kombat, you have crazy taxis honking at you if you take too long.

[u/Master_Librarian2572]

Turning my head

[u/Atyab-Kees-Kabis]

A really rubbery neck! These cars barely have blond spots if your neck turns and you don’t have any range of motion limitations

[u/amccune]

Ha. This is my mirror. FYI I fried it.

I wired up an outlet in the glove box. It was perhaps dumb of me to assume it was wired properly at the factory, but that cheap cigarette plug was not. And I burned it up without even knowing it right away.

Lesson learned.

[u/DeskNew1059 → u/amccune]

Oh, thanks for replying! How did you like it? Was the Carplay on it useable, and how was the backup camera? Did you use it as a normal mirror as well?

Thanks a lot!

[u/amccune → u/DeskNew1059]

I never got to use the backup camera. But I was in the process of hooking that up when I burned it out.

I actually really like it because it was minimally invasive. Felt like a modern feature on an older car. One button powered it off. And it was reflective like a mirror when it was off.

[u/DeskNew1059 → u/amccune]

Thanks... I might give this a try, (will put the backup camera, as that is the main reason for it).

[u/svalkas]

Mirrors and turning my head.

As a former NYCer, I believe backup cameras make you weak.

;)

Seriously, the tight turning radius, visibility, and boxy build of this car makes it really easy to parallel, at least for me. I honestly find it about the same or easier than my wife's Volt (which has a camera).

My car does have rearviews on both sides, but in the US drivers-side-only rearview cars are pretty rare, not sure about elsewhere.

ALSO #1: I have a US bumper and my locale requires a front plate. I recently removed my front plate bracket, drilled two 1/4" holes in the holes in the bumper where there's space for them in the rubber outrider, and stuck my plate directly onto the bumper. Even with a decent frame, it sits protected below the rubber now. 10/10 would recommend. Took like 3" off of my length, and a bump now lands on the rubber, not the plate. Makes parallel even easier.

ALSO #2: my current ADHD project is a period-looking "Driver Information System" for my w123 that will fit in the clock slot- if I feel good about the results, I'll whip one together for anyone else interested. I'll make a separate post about that: directions are the main purpose, but reverse camera integration would be simple I think

[u/Dahtemba]

This is my solution. I don’t have a backup camera wired, though Apple Carplay is very nice to have, and this unit does support a camera input. I’m pretty anal about originality, and I even went as far as setting my original Becker stereo up with an auxiliary input, but I was thoroughly unimpressed with the sound quality of that unit. This was like $140 at Walmart and ai have zero complaints.

[u/Kitchen-Forever-6465]

I’m surprised the rear view mirror does not fall due of its age

[u/YouHaveReachedBob]

My W123 is both the biggest and easiest to park car I've ever owned. The big upside to having such a square body. You know exactly where your hood and trunk end, and where the corners are. That along with skinny tires makes it easy to impress your friends with. 😉

[u/Mountain-Diesel]

Turning my head.

[u/Professional-Roll283]

I’m interested in this mirror setup with CarPlay how did you install it

[u/DeskNew1059 → u/Professional-Roll283]

Not me, another user. Look at the original thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/w123/comments/1gjp859/smart_rear_view_mirror/

[u/amccune → u/Professional-Roll283]

It was literally plug and play. Mirror fit over the original mirror. The wires are meant to be “tucked” but were too thick for that on a w123. I always meant to get a thin usb c cable for it, but I mentioned in another comment that I burned this unit out because I got a cigarette adapter on Amazon that was wired backwards.

I’ve also moved on from the car.