Reverse parking sensors or camera

Adam · 2 Sep 2013 at 14:57

As tempting as chrome was, I have gone for the white option. I didn't realise these kits were in any way comparable to the OEM offering so looking forward to giving them a try.

Reversing sensors are the thing I missed the most after moving cars. Sure they can't replace being careful and looking but I found them very useful.

rodenal · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:27

aa6972 said:
You can get rear parking camera set for quite cheap HERE

All the op needs is a camera with a long video lead, it'll interface with the navs video in so no horrid aftermarket screen

EnderXi · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:36

I recently bought a 2010 civic myself and I paid for the sensors for that very reason, the civic has pretty poor rear visibility so I thought it a worth while investment and it has been very handy so far.

Third party sensors will probably work just as well I can imagine however that any faults with electronics could be blamed on the third party parking sensors just my thoughts.

rodenal · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:45

They can't really cause fault with anything other than the rear light...which would be an obvious one

Westyfield2 · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:50

There's soo many cheapie sensors available I wouldn't have a clue which kit to choose!

Adam · 2 Sep 2013 at 19:40

Westyfield2 said:
There's soo many cheapie sensors available I wouldn't have a clue which kit to choose!

I went for the one with the highest number sold: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230405599727&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

Hopefully it's ok to post this link, if not I will remove it.

Imy · 2 Sep 2013 at 23:02

Howard said:
I bough some silver ones as mine is a slightly darker silver, so a very slight blowing over them was all that was needed

Aren't they standard on the ST220?

r2d2 · 2 Sep 2013 at 23:15

paradigm said:
Mine show me what's going on.

I have the same ones.

Phil W · 3 Sep 2013 at 00:18

No problems with mine or the ones on my mums car, Howard. Unlucky maybe?

Mums mid-install;

63E1C6B9-65AB-463F-9574-6079DC71771D-912-000001325EBDD895.jpg

And mine;

Richie · 3 Sep 2013 at 06:59

I love the setup on mine - Focus with Active Park Assist. Front and rear sensors and it auto-parks for you (parallel parking)

paradigm · 3 Sep 2013 at 07:35

They (the sets that Adam and Phil W have bought) look like the set I've put on the GFs car, no problems here either.

The only thing I would say though, the buzzer is sodding loud, far louder than my OEM stuff in my 330d, the A6 or my A4s.

Howard · 3 Sep 2013 at 08:22

Imy said:
Aren't they standard on the ST220?

Parking sensors aren't, no.

paradigm said:
The only thing I would say though, the buzzer is sodding loud, far louder than my OEM stuff in my 330d, the A6 or my A4s.

Yep these sets are identical to mine and yes the buzzer was bloody loud, I managed to tame it to a more.. palatable.. volume level by taping some foam over it before hiding it behind the boot carpet

Phil W said:
No problems with mine or the ones on my mums car, Howard. Unlucky maybe?

Probably, knowing my luck! It's absolutely fine if I unplug the 'D' sensor, but if I have that one plugged in, occasionally I'll just get a solid beep when I engage reverse. I've even replaced that single sensor to no avail, so I'm thinking the control unit is a bit iffy.

paradigm · 3 Sep 2013 at 08:25

Exactly what I did (double sided foam stuck to the hole side of the buzzer).

Still an annoying tone though

Howard · 3 Sep 2013 at 08:28

It is a bit shrill! The first time I powered it all up I damn near fell over. But at the volume I've got it "set" to, it sounds fine. Very useful things to have though and a worthy addition to any car that doesn't already have them - no matter how good you are at parking it's always useful to know just how far away that bollard or low wall is.

Edit: That gives me an idea.. I wonder if I could 'modify' it and use a different type of small speaker which might allow it to sound at a different, more pleasant frequency.. Hmm. I might buy one of the cheapest £9 kits with the same control unit off eBay anyway to try and sort mine out so it's gotta be worth a bash

Freefaller · 3 Sep 2013 at 09:18

I hated the Civic for it's rear parking view - however sensors are all that you'd need really to help you there.

Gashman · 3 Sep 2013 at 19:52

I would vote just learn how to park properly. Have never used reverse parking sensors and/or cameras, have never ever hit anything whilst reversing and I don't exactly avoid it. Seriously though, a very much not needed piece of equipment.

Freefaller · 3 Sep 2013 at 21:12

I don't know, modern cars with their funny bulges and smart bumpers aren't as good at being used to "feel" your way into a space

Joking aside, the civic's rear visibility is not the best, and for the sake of a few quid to avoid using the bumper for bumping why not?

MooMoo444 · 3 Sep 2013 at 23:09

m4rkw7 said:
I'd go with a camera sensors just shout and don't show you what's going on.

They can be annoying if you have a driveway with close walls or long grass that it picks up, but otherwise mine are flawless. I don't rely on them by any means, but they really give you confidence to go back that little bit more

rodenal · 3 Sep 2013 at 23:27

Main will pick up the fence as I get close to it for initial driveway entry and beep like mad but soon forget about it unless I move closer to it again. Not sure why, but assume the aftermarket kits will be the same.

Still think camera for this car makes much more sense tho.