Reverse Camera SE LR

[DixieTGS]

I have an old raspberry pi that may do it

I'm unlikely to change my setup now, but if you do go down that route I'm curious to know how much work is involved.

 

[aristotleMG4]

Hi @aristotleMG4, wondering if you had any success with this

Hi, Sorry for late reply, I manage to get the camera stuck to number plate ... but for last 1-2 months .... the main screen become unresponsive after random time, has keep hold of home button for long then it comes on But when put in reverse, the screen always shows reverse camera. And as soon as I disconnected the box and reconnect wires the screen came back on instantly and since then no issues.

No idea is the box need replacement or some firmware update.

Has anyone else faced this type of issue.

 

[DixieTGS]

I've had no issues so far.

I'm guessing that the control box should be passive except for the video connections, so I would be a bit nervous of driving the car if it might be affecting the infotainment system itself.

That said, it could be just the control box that is being affected (blanking the video) and it is capable of resetting when the infotainment resets.

It is worth checking all the pins in the connectors that have wires are present and look undamaged.

The steps below seem quite benign to me, but try at your own risk:

My next step would be to connect the control box to the infotainment via the 2 large plugs and leave the camera and video leads disconnected. If that works (infotainment is totally as normal) for a long enough time, I would try driving the car for a few days. The screen I'm hoping will be unaffected even in reverse?

If all OK I would add the video leads and test as before. The camera I would leave totally disconnected from the control. You may see some video when in reverse, perhaps just the lines that move with the steering wheel.

If still OK, repeat the tests after reconnecting the camera wires, which presumably will still fail. If it fails then at least trying one of the adjustable cameras mentioned in earlier threads is a relatively cheap option, but it would involve replacing the camera cable all the way through the car if it works.

 

[andyMG4]

I've added here a PDF guide from my experience - 100% reliant on the excellent videos from @DevonMG4. I started with the AliExpress camera, bought the adjustable AliExpress one, fried it and bought another from Amazon, and needed to cut/splice the cable. Is working well now, but if I knew then what I now know would have been half the time

Any comments/errors to work into the guide please let me know...

 

[jeanloup]

I got myself a Wolfbox dashcam I'm planning to install in my MG4 tomorrow. It comes with a rear dashcam which you can tap into your reverse lights to trigger it when in reverse (presumably with indicating lines too). I've been trying to figure out the best way to do this, having never done this before but I can't seem to find any information on where the cable for the reverse light is on the tailgate of the MG4.

I'm not after a hardwiring setup, just what's in the box and make it work so any advice would be helpful (and apologies if that's been asked before, I couldn't see anything about this specific issue in this thread). I'm also not entirely sure where the camera will go but hopefully somewhere I won't have to drill a hole to fit the cable into the car.

 

[DixieTGS]

Although you have a different kit, watching videos 2 & 3 by @DevonMG4 earlier in this thread will give you a lot of relevant information. Also the pdf by @andyMG4 in message 184 has extra information which could be useful.

Re camera position, mounting on the spoiler only requires drilling through plastic so no rust prevention needed. The hole faces down so can't be seen if you ever decide to remove it. Get the camera working and the view tested in various locations before deciding and starting work on the car.

Re reversing light, it is in the lighting cluster so not within the tailgate. I'm sure there are videos to show removal etc but not sure how you tap in to it or get the added wire back in to the car. A search on here or the web may show how to locate the wire in the car if you're lucky.

Alternatively a switch mounted somewhere unobtrusive around the centre console may be worth considering, at least as a temporary measure until you see how useful the camera is.

 

[jeanloup]

Thanks I have studied @DevonMG4 videos and they were useful for a lot of things, in particular removing the plastic cover of the tailgate but I'm nowhere near having a clue how to connect my kit to the reversing light.

I took out the side cluster as this is where the user manual told me the light was and I promptly managed to drop one of the bolts at the bottom of the rear bumper which I'm really not happy about mostly because I saw it coming and couldn't figure out how not to drop it. Now I've left my rear camera fitting experiment to the side whilst I figure out how to get that bolt back without having to dismantle half my car. What a dumb way to change a light bulb by the way, even putting back the light cluster in place was a nightmare.

It seems the best place for a rear camera is next to the tailgate handle but that means removing the spoiler which I recall @DevonMG4 saying is no easy feat and I don't have a garage to work in. So I might end up fitting it inside the window which is not ideal but my skillset is rather limited here :/

 

[DixieTGS]

I took out the side cluster as this is where the user manual told me the light was and I promptly managed to drop one of the bolts at the bottom of the rear bumper which I'm really not happy about mostly because I saw it coming and couldn't figure out how not to drop it.

I stuffed all the places I thought it might go to with rags, then once I was sure I'd unscrewed enough, withdrew with extreme care. I'm sure someone here has a better scheme. Luckily it didn't drop so I don't know if the rags were useful or not.

I'm sure you're not the first, so hopefully someone will be along to tell you how to retrieve it. ?

 

[jeanloup]

I stuffed all the places I thought it might go to with rags, then once I was sure I'd unscrewed enough, withdrew with extreme care. I'm sure someone here has a better scheme. Luckily it didn't drop so I don't know if the rags were useful or not.

I'm sure you're not the first, so hopefully someone will be along to tell you how to retrieve it. ?

In retrospect if only I had magnetic wrench heads then maybe that wouldn't have happened. I swear it feels like playing Operation trying to remove those bolts but anyway, I'm wondering if a quick spray of expanding foam on those cavities would do the trick.

 

[jeanloup]

Ok in the end I gave up wiring the rear camera to the backup light and fitted it inside on top of the rear window. We'll see what happens when it fogs up but to be honest, one of the things that's quite nice with this dash cam is how it works perfectly well as a normal rear-view mirror so, yes I won't have the nice guiding lines for parking for now but it's not like I had them to begin with.

What I learnt in all this is that that car is very odd in the steps you need to do just to change a light bulb. The user manual tells you to remove the whole rear bumper just to change the fog light, and because there are so many screws and bolts underneath the car, you need to basically have a garage do it if you don't have a way to elevate the car. But mostly it's just really hard to figure out the electrical systems because there's hardly any documentation or diagrams for any of it.

 

[DixieTGS]

Have you tried the manuals on @siteguru 's website http://www.siteguru.co.uk/MG4/Manuals/

They are not very helpful for this task though. The refit and remove manual contains a section for 'Tail Lamp Assembly', but nothing you don't already know.

In the wiring diagram Pdf search for tail lamp assembly. It shows the module it connects to, pin numbers and wire colour. Even if this helps I'd not be brave enough to tap in to a wire until the car is older and I had enough confidence in the electrics being reliable.

 

[BrownChair]

Hi, Sorry for late reply, I manage to get the camera stuck to number plate ... but for last 1-2 months .... the main screen become unresponsive after random time, has keep hold of home button for long then it comes on But when put in reverse, the screen always shows reverse camera. And as soon as I disconnected the box and reconnect wires the screen came back on instantly and since then no issues.

No idea is the box need replacement or some firmware update.

Has anyone else faced this type of issue.

I experienced this too when using the camera which came with the kit. Over time, that camera became more and more unresponsive to the point where i would have to go from Drive to Reverse a few times to get the camera to show up.

After replacing the camera with the adjustable one, haven't had any issues

 

[colorflo]

There seems to be a new/updated version available on aliexpress. This one seems to have a much higher video resolution and is also displaying PDC graphics in the top right corner. Anybody tried it out already? This one looks much better, than the previous version and I'm really tempted to get it.
MG4 Camera

 

[Bam Bam]

I'm very tempted to get one of these cameras, but I wouldn't have the time or skill to install it.

Does anyone have a rough idea of what I should expect to pay a mechanic to fit one?

Ballpark figure obviously and I live in a very expensive part of the world (Oxfordshire) so it will probably be at the top end!

 

[clipdawg05]

I got myself a Wolfbox dashcam I'm planning to install in my MG4 tomorrow. It comes with a rear dashcam which you can tap into your reverse lights to trigger it when in reverse (presumably with indicating lines too). I've been trying to figure out the best way to do this, having never done this before but I can't seem to find any information on where the cable for the reverse light is on the tailgate of the MG4.

I'm not after a hardwiring setup, just what's in the box and make it work so any advice would be helpful (and apologies if that's been asked before, I couldn't see anything about this specific issue in this thread). I'm also not entirely sure where the camera will go but hopefully somewhere I won't have to drill a hole to fit the cable into the car.

Have you installed it yet? How does it look?

 

[Edd Beesley]

I'm very tempted to get one of these cameras, but I wouldn't have the time or skill to install it.

Does anyone have a rough idea of what I should expect to pay a mechanic to fit one?

Ballpark figure obviously and I live in a very expensive part of the world (Oxfordshire) so it will probably be at the top end!

For my not-perfect job I'd guess it took about three hours actual work time. As a service I'd expect to be paying ~£300 for this.

There seems to be a new/updated version available on aliexpress. This one seems to have a much higher video resolution and is also displaying PDC graphics in the top right corner. Anybody tried it out already? This one looks much better, than the previous version and I'm really tempted to get it.
MG4 Camera

Those lines look like they would be more useful, but wonder how well they line up to an actual space behind you, and if they are the right width/adjustable. Having the parking sensor info on screen is good, though it should be a side-by-side with the video, so then the video would be in the right aspect ratio too (it's still stretched too wide).

 

[Bam Bam]

The reversing camera could be a good investment. Just pranged the car reversing. ?

 

[Bam Bam]

Decided to get this, but a bit overwhelmed by the choices.

There seem to be two on ali express GBR site at the moment. They seem identical but one is £10 cheaper.

MG4 Reverse Camera No Need Program Just Plug&Play Rear Cam Box Decoder With Dynamic Parking Guideline Backup Car Interface - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Both are CVBS only.

Someone linked to this one previously, which is cheaper and AHD but seemingly only on the German version of aliexpress:

Auto AHD Reverse Rückansicht Backup Kamera Für MG4 EV Decoder Dynamische Parkplatz Linie Stecker und Spielen Unterstützung Original Parkplatz Sensor - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

de.aliexpress.com

I'm tempted to get the latter one.

[edit - except I've noticed it says 'this is no longer available' however, I found this one which is cheaper again but a little vague]

Rückfahr kamera für saic Motor mg4 mg Mulan Reverse Cam Decoder mit dynamischer Richtlinie Backup Car Interface Box - AliExpress 44

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

de.aliexpress.com

Do these seem legit to people?

 

[colorflo]

I messaged the seller of the latter one and he sent me pictures on how to install the camera, so to me this seems legit.

Not sure what happens to your waranty though if the camera causes any electric issues ?‍

 

[Bam Bam]

I messaged the seller of the latter one and he sent me pictures on how to install the camera, so to me this seems legit.

Not sure what happens to your waranty though if the camera causes any electric issues ?‍

Thanks for the reassurance.

It seems like there are now two broad options, for each of which there are two sellers.

Two for around £120, two for around £85. They seem to have a lot of the same videos/photos, so I would guess that the cheaper ones don't include a camera but the more expensive ones do. Having a camera included that definitely works with it seems like the less stressful option.

It is reassuring that Aliexpress have a 90 day return policy, but what if I can't get someone to install within the 90 days?