Reverse Camera Fitting
 

Hi All,
I am thinking about fitting a reversing camera that hopefully would work via the MMI when reverse is selected. SHMBO is not very happy with our A8 D3 'cos whenever she is in the car, driving or passenger, the parking aid fails (just a constant beep).
I have read quite a few posts that never actually end with a definite result. Some have suggested that it could be done by connecting a camera via one of the Aux video inputs on the analogue TV tuner, and then coding it with VCDS.
Has anyone managed to do this?
I do not fancy running a video cable from rear to front of car and using this http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?productid=58&cat=4&page=1 but again buying original Audi bits might well have to be the answer.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, today I fitted a Roadhawk DC2 forward camera with 8GB SD card, 128GB SDX card on order. And also fitted the TyrePal TB99 TPS with five sensors. Both working nicely.

If you have a TV tuner already fitted then you don't need to run a cable all the way to the front, even if you did it's surprisingly easy to do.

The cheapest none factory option assuming you have a TV tuner would be a camera fitted in place of one of the number plate lights and have it connected to the AV input on the TV tuner.

That will need selecting in the MMI everytime and a pain IMO

Next route would be something like the Xcarlink you posted relitivley easy to do and works better than the above.

Last one is to go full OEM and fit all the original parts for the bendy line display with the correct camera in the boot lid grip.

I went with the full OEM option and like it but its not cheap.

My Birthday present from the Boss was an AMI, fitted and working.
My Xmas present from herindoors is VCDS, up and I am playing with it.
My Xmas present to myself was a Roadhawk DC2 windscreen camera, fitted and working.
And I sneaked in a TB99 TPS with five sensors, also working.
SWMBO said my beloved A8 has had enough so the reverse camera will have to be an "El Cheepo" Senor!!
The problem with using the TV tuner Aux feed is as you say having to actually select it each time.
So it looks like one weeks pension will have to buy the XCarLink thingy, and we will have to manage without the bendy lines.
Unless someone knows better and comes up with a really cheap alternative.
Has anyone used the XCarLink?
Second thoughts, I could always buy the wife a red flag:snigger:

Aux or AV 1 or 2 sadly dose not work. I have 3 different cameras off the net they all work perfect with the tv indoors but will not work in the car what so ever i think the frequency that it uses is different. I never did get to the bottom of it .. but i did conclude it must be oem or kufatec jobbie to work. I didnt mind the idea of manually changing to AV. Ment i could use it in moving traffic to see who is behind me better

Hi Guy, you may have the same problem I had with the wireless streaming box.

For some reason the video input craps out, for unknown reasons but if you have a video input live while the av1 or two is selected then open the settings menu and select pal/secam or whatever it says and the video feed will start working again.

Its a tad annoying and TBH if you had to do all that faff to get a reverse picture up i think you would quickly tire of it.

As an alternative to the xcar link how about this http://car-solutions.com/en/car-vide...en-support.php

I see that is now sold.

Ray, did you buy this? If retrofitting to an early D3 you'll also have to fit a newer Control Unit (4E0919283) as you'll have A or B installed. Revision C or higher is needed for a reverse camera. Only found one on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A8-S8...-/331407316804

I never thought to ask but does your car have a tv tuner if not then I beleive you will need to add the fbas connector to it in order to integrate the rvc module or fit one that has the connector but that will require cp removal at a dealer.

Why would the parking aid need replacing Matt? Just curious

Hummm... I can't actually give an answer. It was something at the back of my mind having read a thread on Quattroworld. I'll see if I can find it.

This is my assumption

4E0919283A - 8 sensors, no graphical support
4E0919283B - 8 sensors, no graphical support
4E0919283C - 8 sensors, graphical support, rear view camera support
4E0919283D - 8 sensors, graphical support, rear view camera support

Hi Matt, Del and Davie,
Thanks for the input.
I have managed to buy a 4E0919283B - 8 sensors, no graphical support on ebay for £28. At this price it was considered worth a try. One of the Chaps at the Xmas meet managed to clear a similiar problem to mine by changing the controller. Should be here next week.
The reverse camera is just a thought for now, but seriously the original Audi method is a little bit :( expensive for now.
We arrived in Edinburgh OK, and are now organising dinner for nine of us.
Have a splendiferous New Year, and it was sunny from Gretna on.
No WiFi, so I am hotspotting via my mobile.

if you don't have a Tv tuner its even more of a ball ache. since i had to change most of my electrics for my RSE retro fit i have all the old modules gathering dust if you need any.

It took me ages to figure out the remote for the MMI wont work without the MMi control panel as it had the built in RF receiver for the remote inside. i changed all the modules and had component protection removed only to realize it was that .. so rather than change it all back again i left it. i have the MMi brain and all sorts of gubbins

so how can i make a camera work then in the AV slot ? i know you have explained but ive no idea ?

When you have selected AV1 or 2 as the source, then IIRC you press the setup button, then there is an option for changing the signal type, if you select that it should kick into action assuming you have a signal being fed into the input.

Nope ..nada .. but if i plug a dvd player in on an extension lead its fine.. maybe the cheap camera is just not compatible at all ..

I'm having similar trouble. I fitted the RVC control module. It worked with a cheapo chinese camera until I installed it properly and then it didn't work. I brought the camera into the house and tested on TV and it was dud, I must have damaged it, so binned it and ordered a different one.
That one worked on the TV but nothing on the MMI either through the RVC module or aux in.
The wife's digital camera which has composite video - tested OK on TV and on AU- in but RVC would cut off after a second with fault code about video in open circuit or short to ground.
I now have another chinese reverse camera to try when the weather is better - not sure what the exact spec is for the video input but seems fussier than TVs.

did you try both format options, also how are you powering said camera.

Some cameras in my experience only have three wires, 12v+, Signal, 0v/signal ground

Looks like folk are having a lot of trouble fitting reverse cameras and getting them to work reliably.
Just thinking sideways, could the problem be to do with the "Video in motion" setting?
In the MMI hidden menu there is a setting for this, if I remember correctly.
Apologies, the thinking matter is a bit wooly after the return drive from Edinburgh. Very hectic couple of days, once in a lifetime thing, another bucket list box ticked!!!!!:D

I vaguely remember reading somewhere the rvc module does not supply 12v feed to the camera, its something like 7v so if you try to run a camera other than oem from the rvc module you may well get problems with the camera dying or errors being thrown.

Yes, you are correct - there is a 6/7v out from the RVC module for the original camera but I am using 12v from the 12v outlet.
Still have the 'problem' of fussy input, but hopefully will figure something out.
***EDIT
Ok did some tests today.
Putting new chinese RVC camera signal into RVC ECU via a new 6" Fakra-phono adapter gives garbage scrolling picture.
Putting new chinese RVC camera signal into Aux-in on TV gives good picture.
Putting same signal into cam-in on RVC ECU gets scrolling garbage.

I am now thinking the Original Audi camera 4L0980511 is not a normal analogue composite video - probably LVDS....
https://www.google.co.uk/search?clie...DS+audi+mmi+2g

Managed to find some time in the sunshine yesterday and had a real play with the reversing camera gubbins.
I have purchased a Chinese (?) number plate light camera with three LEDs in it. I powered this with 12 volts from the Power Supply socket in the boot. The LEDs lit up.
I then connected the video out from the camera to AUX 1 on the analogue TV tuner. I landed up with a screen full of snow on the MMI just as if there was no video signal. (OK I'll look into that later.)
Then tried Aux 2. Wow!! Brilliant picture, and it had guide lines, they were not the Audi style bendy lines but a good guide none the less.

I had put Aux 1 & Aux 2 Kufatec cables in the TV tuner last year as my very first attempt at modifying the A8. Both inputs worked surprisingly well at the time using a cheap DVD player.

Next step was putting a transmitter on the camera video output and it's matching receiver on the Aux 2 input. Powered up and voila, still a very good picture, no apparent degradation via the Tx/Rx combo.
The idea here is to save me running a video cable from the boot lid to the main body of the car. I am still thinking that the X-CarLink might be a good way to go especially with the Tx/Rx kit. The LEDs in the camera wil be fed from the number plate light supply and the camera and Tx will be powered from the Reversing light supply.

Put it all away for another day :D

I now need an ignition hot in the boot, anyone know of a Terminal 15 in there? If I go with the X-CarLink then the Ignition hot will not be needed. +++

AND hoping that the camera will fit in the number plate light aperture. I know already that I will have to drill out the number plate light fixing screws and will do both because I have LEDs to fit in there.

But if you don't buy the PDC control unit - then if you select reverse won't the parking PDC graphics cover up your camera picture going in via AUX-in.

I have a genuine Audi RVC camera in the house, but don't really wan't to spend even more money on a new boot microswitch handle and number plate light strip + getting it painted. So might try dremelling a square aperture for it in the existing handle.
:-(
Wist I'd never started this retrofit - turning out to be too expensive.

Oh God, nothing is easy.
I'll put it all back in and try putting it in reverse.
I'll let you know on this thread, I was having a chill day :(

Tried it and it worked OK.
So I have now fitted it and working via Aux 2 on the analogue TV Tuner.
Only one set of lines, the ones from the camera.


I had to dremel the boot lid handle/number plate light fixing. Started with the handle still attached, and filed the camera/number plate light plastic box to make it fit. Managed to get it in but on looking closer spotted that with a bit more hacking it would go in just that little bit better.
Took the handle off the car and went on the bench with it and dremeled away at the back. Took a bit longer, and a little bit more filing on the camera box but it went in like made for the job.
The resultant picture is a degree or two off centre and SWMBO is complaining that it is confusing, but she said that years ago when I forced her to reverse using mirrors instead of twisting round and peering through the back window.
I like it, and we have a good colour picture. It works for me but I'm used to 12 metre long buses without cameras. To be honest the very slight misalignment is not worth the hassle of stripping it all down again.

I am going to try a graphic interface between the screen and the screen control unit. Someone locally makes a unit fairly cheaply (100 pounds or so) that will do it and cut the MMI feed when the car is reversing.

I have just needed a camera. What exact one did you get that replaces a license plate lamp?

Mike

I may be wrong but please double check the unit is LVDS as I have read on other sites.....
The MMI Control head take an LVDS video in - not composite.
The RVC unit outputs LVDS .
The TV unit outputs LVDS but the AUX in are composite.

The underlined words in the following text are links. Left click on them and your browser should open up another page.

I used this camera:-

CAMERA

I also bought from the same supplier:-

Tx/Rx Pair

When ordering the camera remember to select the PAL version. The NTSC one would work but you would have to change the MMI setting on the Aux channel you use. This camera worked out of the box without any faults.

I used the Tx/Rx to save running a video cable from the boot lid to the main body. There is also the possibility that I will purchase a CAR VIDEO INTERFACE or an X-CarLinK in the future to automate switching the MMI to reverse camera view on engaging the "Going Backwards Gear".

Any problems just ask.

The LVDS that some people are talking about is when you are connecting direct to the MMI.
Because I have connected via the now otherwise redundant analogue TV Tuner the camera output can be just composite using a yellow plug/socket that is already fitted. Just plug and play.

Right Chaps,
I managed to buy the X-Carlink, the seller knocked £50 off for me 'cos I phoned him and had a nice chat. The manufacturer has done some updates, both hardware and software. It now does all sorts of video to the MMI screen and can pass audio to the sound system. I only want it for automating the reverse camera operation. The supplier said that it might now work with my Chinese PAL camera, and yes it did. :love:
Now fully fitted and working really well. +++
Camera and transmitter/receiver pair as above.
Camera and transmitter in the boot lid, both powered from reverse light supply. The LEDs in the camera body powered by number plate light supply.
X-Carlink powered by a permanent supply and by an ignition switched supply. It also needs a reverse supply, this I took from the reverse light supply by tapping into the loom in the left boot space and running the wire through the car to behind the glove box where the X-Carlink is located. The receiver for the camera transmitter is also located there and is supplied by the reverse supply.
SWMBO has not inspected it yet, but she will give it a good pass mark, really good colour picture, no interference and it switches on automatically. Whatever sound is playing carries on, only the video is replaced by the rear view.
Engaging the backing up gear just does it all for me. :ROFL:
Final cost just over £200.