I'm looking for suggestions on where to place a Backup Camera on an XKR Coupe and Convertible. Also what Camera to use and places to buy.
I see the Boot Lid as a good place but running wires up there does not look like a lot of fun.
Some of you must have done this before, what's your input. Did not see any posts on that, are there any?

Cheers

 

I couldn't find a photo of a Jaguar but isn't the rear bumper a better location?



A camera on the boot lid would be in plain sight and vulnerable to the wrong kind of attention when the vehicle was parked.

Graham

 

there are now some backup camera that are wireless. That makes it easy to stick them anywhere. Up here in the frozen north Canadian tire sells them, and we usually put them on the rear licence plate surround.

 

A few people have fitted them so hopefully they will be along soon, I've been toying with the idea but that's as far as I got so I'll be interested in your progress.
Are you planning on using the nav screen for a display?

 

I haven't considered adding one to my Jag, but one came standard on another I have. It's located at the top of license plate just below boot lid, quite unobtrusive. From experience with that one, I wouldn't advise locating yours down so low on the bumper, it will collect road grime and you won't be able to see a thing!

Steve

 

The camera location/mounting doesn't seem to be nearly so much an issue for me, as where to put the monitor (in a tasteful fashion) in an 01 XK8.....

 

I've considered adding a camera, but cannot think of an elegant location for the monitor inside the cabin. My car is a '97 and doesn't have a built-in LCD.

 

Rear view mirror monitors are an elegant solution if you do not have the nav. screen. One example: MobileVision M35 Rear View Mirror w/ Built-In 4.3" Color TFT-LCD Monitor

I can provide a plug and play adapter if you do have the nav. screen. It is unfortunately a bit costly though, since you need my plug-and play-adapter ($150) and a video format converter (about $233) such as the PAC VCI-X: .

Most people mount the camera on the license plate and pass the cable under the boot top liner and follow the path of the existing wiring harness to the main chassis through the rubber boots across the boot hinge. I have installed a few of these for local customers.

 

When I upgraded my head unit and navigation (which uses the OEM screen), I also added blind spot cameras on the front (right and left, thanks to WhiteXKR for his help) and a backup camera (also thanks to WhiteXKR), all of which use the OEM screen. The backup camera is above the license plate and just below the boot lid. You cannot see it unless you look. I knew the camera was there but had to ask the installer where it was. I like both the blind spot and backup cameras, even though I have the backup parking aid. I have also see aftermarket blind spot radars being sold and am thinking about adding one as well. It's probably the Nuclear Engineer in me; I like things that are redundant and diverse.


Mark

 

I'm in the middle of fitting a back-up camera system which plays through the OEM Satnav. I picked a camera position that I'd seen used in an S Type and that is in place of the trunk switch in the trunk plinth. The camera, a bullet style, is fitted through the boot lid, but up against the aperture left by removing the switch, as shown below. The aperture does not obscure the line of view of the camera.

Fortuitously, there is room in the space behind the plinth to allow the switch to be repositioned as shown below

 

Astromorg, that's an elegant solution!

Steve

 

I like your solution Astromorg. Do you have details on the install, like camera diameter, where to run the wires and whatever tips you have.

 

This is very like the camera I used, but you need the NTSC not PAL version, plus a converter to change the signal to RGBs or RGsB if you intend to use the OEM satnav screen

This is a Bumper mounted water proof quality colour cameraAnd has a very wid


The hole in the trunk lid is shown in the photo. Because the angle of the body work is quite steep, I had to make special angled spacers to allow the camera to be mounted horizontally.

I ran the wiring - one two-core power lead and one video signal wire alongside the other wiring from the trunk lid to the trunk. I decided against trying to bundle all the wiring into one flexi tube at the hinge and just tie wrapped the new to the original flexi pipe.

 

You don't see it and it feeds into my Alpine double din head unit.