Over the weekend I fitted the reversing camera from the Tiguan. (AKA lowline camera)

The boot release handle is different so I sliced the handle bit off and just used the remaining rubber mount.

It's fitted a bit too much recessed so the top of the picture just sees the lip above the license plate hole but otherwise the camera works great, excellent picture at night and I can see all I need to see, including a great view of the towball which makes it easy to line up the trailer.

It's not a must-have feature as the rear visibility for the Superb Combi is already excellent but it certainly makes it a bit easier to reverse into my full-of-crap garage.

The cable is quite easy to run. I went from behind the Columbus to the lower A pillar kick panel, down the door sill (it's a bugger to get past the vent duct that goes to the B pillar vents) then up, past the rear seat squab airbag and along the upper cover in the boot. Up the D pillar cover then across, under the roof lining to the flexible cable duct thing into the boot door.

Note: The right-side (drivers side here) cable duct to the boot door has one brown wire. The left-side duct has a billion wires and the water hose for the window washer so it's already too full to add any more cables.

The door trim is a bugger to get off and even harder to get back on.

Following all that, two tick boxes in VCDS (one in navigation (reversing camera low installed) and one in PDC/park assist (camera installed)) and it all just works.

Main downside is that from the time you get in and start the car, the Columbus takes 30 secs or so to boot up to a point where it can display the picture. I also don't like how it's slightly off-centre but that's just me being anal.

Upside: The car picture shown for the parking sensors is a white combi, just like mine

The yellow line is around 100mm in front of the towball and is also just after the point where the reversing beepers become a solid tone.

Edited 20 June, 201312 yr by wokwon

That's nice and discreet. Most of the cars I rent in US have these cameras fitted as standard, and they are useful if there.

Cheers

Steve

Hi there,

As far as I know, the camera can only work integrated with the columbus unit via a special camera unit that controls it, yet you didn't mention anything about that, please clarify is it really possible to get these results by wiring the camera straight to the back of the unit without any module in between?

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Hi there,

As far as I know, the camera can only work integrated with the columbus unit via a special camera unit that controls it, yet you didn't mention anything about that,

For our platform (VW A5 platform) there are two camera options:

1) Lowline camera (the one I fitted). It plugs directly into the video plug at the back of the RNS-510 (Columbus). It has guidance lines (the yellow lines) but the lines do not move when you turn the steering wheel. If the camera is plugged in, no other video devices (e.g. tv tuner) can be added. The camera requires a splice into the reversing light power supply as well to trigger the unit. I just used a scotchlock for this. The item I bought from ebay had the whole rubber handle and camera assembly, harness and plugs so I didn't need to buy anything else. The ebay item I purchased was http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330656583042&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:AU:1123 (back in Feb 2012, never got around to fitting it until now).

2) Highline camera. This one has a controller module in the boot and is a different camera too (different format of output). The controller module has two inputs, one for a camera and one for the TV tuner and can switch between the two. The controller then connects to the video input at the RNS-510 and also to the CAN bus. It also displays moving lines on the screen as the steering wheel is turned that show where the car will go. This unit requires calibration with a printed calibration mat on the ground behind the car. I haven't found anyone who managed to get the calibration to work without a VAS tool and the proper VW mat, apparently copies and VCDDS do not work. This controller module also only works on selected chassis/BCMs. It's so much trouble I never bothered with it and went with the lowline.

Nice job.

Is it just a single video connector to the head unit? A lot of the ones I've seen for sale seem to have a separate wire feed to the head unit also?

Thanks

Adam

One big DIN plug to the head unit at the head unit end with two flying leads for power (red and black) (which I tapped off the quadlock at the head unit).

The camera end has two connectors, a 2x2 for power and a funny looking 4 pin plus sheild for the video signal. Theres also a yellow wire to go off to the reversing lamp for trigger power.

Thanks. Should it be a 12v permanent feed so that the camera kicks in in reverse even if the radio is off?

Thanks wokwon the posting this - are you able to hitch up easily on your own by using the camera?

Also, could you post a close up pic of how / where you mounted the camera please.

Hi No Waiting,

I will post up a pic when I get my car back (I'm currently travelling).

I can hitch up myself now easily as I have a good view of the towball. I don't actually do it that often (probably use a trailer perhaps 4 times a year). Mostly the camera is used for reversing into my garage.

Regarding the mount on the boot lid, I cut a hole around an inch square (the camera was something like 23x23mm) and pushed the camera through, glued in place with epoxy and held internally with nylon ties. Cutting holes in a 3 month old car is not for the faint hearted so you may wish to consider an alternative mounting. I have a square plastic insert 25x25mm which I can use to fill the hole should I need to later on. Inside the boot lid there is a heap of room, i wish I took some pictures of that.