Rear view camera

Rear view camera is a nice feature, especially if the rear window is tinted. This page covers rear view camera installation on 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 purchased.

Wiring

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 fit into the trunk cover wiring shield. To activate rear view camera when the reverse is engaged you can connect wire to rear light reverse cable connector.

Cameras

Supposedly W220 rear view camera

Price: 35 USD

Marketed on the ebay as W220 rear view camera, however, there is no place where it could be possibly mounted.

Rear view camera in licence plate light module

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. Breaking it is easy since if the original licence plate module has been used for a while the plastic becomes very fragile (see licence 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.

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.

Advantages:

• Discrete mounting (hardly visible from distance).

Disadvantages:

• The small LED provides less light than aftermarket LED modules (see licence 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

Price: 15 USD

Camera available in two colors.

Camera dissected.

Lock with drilled hole for camera.

Lock with camera fitted.

Camera mounted.

Camera mounted (view from distance).

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• Not very discrete (visible from distance).

Other Cameras

Other rear view camera mounted.

Comparison

Vehicle with mounted generic rear view camera and camera in the right licence plate light module.

Conclusions

• Rear view camera in licence plate module is more discrete.
• Since the generic rear view camera is mounted closer to center...
• Generic rear view camera has larger view angle.