Rear view camera

Description - Rear View Camera Installation

Installing a rear view camera is a nice feature, especially if the rear window is tinted. This section covers rear view camera installation on a W220 and various rear view cameras.

To see the picture on COMAND screen a multimedia interface must be installed. Alternatively, a cheap (~15 USD) LCD monitor can be used to see the picture.

Wiring - Rear View Cameras

The simplest path from the front panel to the rear under seat is to follow the thick, red positive wire. Then the wire can follow wires that go from rear SAM to trunk cover.

Have not been tested, but probably the wire could be fitted into the trunk cover wiring shield.

To activate rear view camera when the reverse is engaged you can connect a wire (the blue wire in the picture) to rear light reverse cable connector.

Rear View Camera Options

CCD v CMOS Technology - Rear View Cameras

There are two types of rear view cameras available employing quite different technology. They are CMOS and CCD. BenzWorld Veteran Member 'InCarTronics' stated in the W163 Forum in 2011 (reference http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w163-m-class/1589136-rear-view-backup-camera.html) "DO NOT EVER install a CMOS camera. We have posted many times about this. Even if you do not buy one of ours, NEVER (did I say never?) install one of these crappy cameras." There is obviously a bit of vested interest here but the advice seems expert based on the following points.

• 1. Superior low light function without the need for the UGLY ring of LED's.
• 2. Works in all temperature ranges (CMOS cameras won't work in low (below 45F) or high temps (95F+).
• 3. MUCH smaller footprint.
• 4. Can survive car washes etc because they have a GLASS lens (not a cheap plastic lens that clouds and scratches with road grime and cleaning solvents).

InCarTronics continued, "NEVER EVER buy a CMOS camera for automotive use. We have posted many times on this, and have spent several thousand dollars in testing. ONLY buy CCD cameras for automotive use.

• 1. CMOS - low duty life. A camera on a car needs to be powered all the time so that it will sync properly when in reverse and instantly. A CMOS can not tolerate this, and will wear out fairly quick. Camera installation, and wiring is the hardest part of the job, you only want to do this once.
• 2. CMOS cameras are made to be CHEAP. They use CHEAP plastic lenses and most of them claim to be water tight, but are not. Therefore the road grime, chemicals, and water quickly degrade the lens. That makes the image foggy and unusable.
• 3. CMOS cameras can not do low light without those large ugly IR led rings, and then only for about 6 feet.
• 4. CMOS cameras only have an effective operating temp of 45 - 90 degrees F. They go black or white at either end of that temperature extreme.

"CCD cameras CAN (if they are good quality) operate in 0.02 LUX (very very dark) lighting without large ugly LED's. They operate from 0 to 135 degrees. They have a sharper picture. GOOD CCD cameras also use a glass lens, and are water tight.

"Bottom line is the oldest saying in the world... You get what you pay for. Since the camera is fairly long process to install, one would think you only do it once."

Mounting Locations - Rear View Cameras

Early W220s were not designed for rear view cameras as an OEM option. It can be difficult to find a workable and convenient location for installing an aftermarket camera. Possibilities include;

• A special number plate housing with a camera built in.
• A camera mounted on a bar which is fitted on the top of the rear number plate using the existing screws.
• A camera in a purposefully designed handle which can replace the existing trunk handle.
• A camera in a purposefully designed number plate light fitting to replace one of the existing lights.
• A universal style stand alone camera which can be fitted on either vertical or horizontal surfaces but does require a hole to be drilled in the car body.

Depending on the options at delivery, there are many variations of handles and number plate light fittings. The next photo shows a W220 2003 update model S500L with Retractable Trunk Grip (RTG) ie the hidden chrome handle.

With the Number Plate Light Removed exposing the socket.

Front and back views of Number Plate Light Cover. The part number is 220 820 00 66.

The dimensions for the Number Plate Light for this vehicle are:

eBay - Rear View Camera (CAMERA1)

There are several rear view cameras available on eBay.

Typical eBay Rear View Camera Price: 35 USD

For example, this one is marketed on eBay as a W220 rear view camera, however, there is no place where it could be possibly mounted.

Licence Plate Light Module - Rear View Camera (CAMERA2)

In the comparison of rear view cameras below the Rear View Camera in Licence Plate Light Module is designated as CAMERA2.

CAMERA2 Price: 50 USD

The camera comes with built-in LED which is powered by a separate wire. Note, that the LED is not CANBUS "error free", which means that if connected to licence plate light wire the LED will blink and errors will appear on the instrument cluster. To make it work an additional resistance - load resistor of 150 ohm must be added (you can also use 100 ohm load resistor, but in that case if the LED malfunctions you will not receive error message on the instrument cluster). To mount it in place of original licence plate light module you will have to sacrifice the original module by breaking off the connector (or alternatively drilling two holes). Breaking it is easy since if the original licence plate module has been used for a while the plastic becomes very fragile (see license plate lights page).

Dimensions of the camera. Fits well into the original licence plate light bulb module.

Camera dissected. Although 4 screws on the camera plastic can be unscrewed, the camera module cannot be opened - plastic has been melted together.

Camera screwed in the original licence plate light module housing.

Original licence plate light module with two holes drilled (alternative to breaking the connector off).

Load resistor and camera connector soldered to licence plate light module bulb contacts.

Ready for use. One connector must be plugged in the licence plate light connector, other to composite video plug that comes with the camera.

Camera mounted in the trunk cover.

CAMERA2 Advantages:

• Discrete mounting (hardly visible from distance).

CAMERA2 Disadvantages:

• The small LED provides less light onto the licence plate than aftermarket LED modules (see license plate lights page).
• Has relatively small view angle (see comparison below).
• Since mounted 20cm away from center, makes rear view biased (see comparison below).

Generic - Rear View Camera - (CAMERA3)

In the comparison of rear view cameras below the Generic Rear View Camera is designated as CAMERA3.

CAMERA3 - Price: 15 USD

Camera available in two colors.

Camera dissected.

Trunk lock with drilled hole for camera.

Trunk lock with camera fitted.

Camera mounted.

Camera mounted (view from distance).

CAMERA3 - Advantages:

• Can be mounted very close to the center of car.
• Has large view angle (see comparison below).

CAMERA3 - Disadvantages:

• Not very discrete (visible from distance).

Other - Rear View Cameras

CAMERA4

Other rear view camera mounted (CAMERA4).

Comparison

Here we provide a comparison of two rear view cameras. The rear view camera in the licence plate light module (CAMERA2) and the generic rear view camera (CAMERA3).

Vehicle with the two cameras mounted.

Actual	CAMERA2	CAMERA3