Rear view camera dark?

[JamesM3M5]

Originally Posted by motex

There is a big thread about this issue, welcome to the club!
I also own an Alpine white M4, I ended thinking that the problem must be with the camera's light sensor, this gets worst on white or light colored cars like ours. The problem begins with the license plate led's who make the top of the rear bumper too bright at a point that the camera light sensors work as in daylight mode.

I made a few tests to probe my theory and I'm very positive I'm close to the problem, first test was to put some dark cloth over the rear bumper and test the camera, you will find a big difference in terms of depth, second test I did was to cover half of the license plate led's with black duct tape and also got a nice improvement, and still using the duct tape until today.
One more: turn off the car lights, that way the rear license plate lights will not fool the camera's light sensors

I already placed a complaint to my dealer and he will forward it to the factory, I also made a short video which is located in the other thread.
So, until BMW give's some solution to this, we will have to make this stupid fixes until they make a recall out of it.
Here is the duct tape trick, I covered the outer half of the license plate led's, kind of difficult to see in this picture

Brilliant! Maybe it will just take a programming update to reduce the dimming effect, or maybe they can dim / turn off the license plate lights when reversing at night.

[motex]

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

Brilliant! Maybe it will just take a programming update to reduce the dimming effect, or maybe they can dim / turn off the license plate lights when reversing at night.

I will say they must make a recall and change our cameras, is a design fault

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by motex

There is a big thread about this issue, welcome to the club!
]

Any status updates? How is this mod working?

[motex]

Yes! BMW is giving out free Duct Tape and you get to choose the color!!

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by motex

Yes! BMW is giving out free Duct Tape and you get to choose the color!!

lol

[lux]

I agree there is a problem with the camera. Worst OEM unit I've experienced. My after market unit for my e90 was superior to the one from BMW.

[OtakuRevel]

Found out first hand tonight how horrid the rear camera is. I could barely see in the camera what I could very clearly see when I stuck my head out the window. It was almost pitch black on the camera.

The rear view on my Dodge Ram is worlds better and tons clearer. Shocked.

Will have to try the lights off thing next time.

[Vectors2final]

I've heard others haven't had any issues at all.


However, I planned to switch to LED reverse lights to allow for more vis at night.

[phantomF80]

Count me in as another one with dark reverse camera at night.

[motex]

We all have to place our complaints in order for BMW to take action

[Andrew115]

Mine seems okay. I do notice that if it's okay at night I need to adjust it again so it's not washed out during the day.

[motex]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

Mine seems okay. I do notice that if it's okay at night I need to adjust it again so it's not washed out during the day.

What color is you car?

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by motex

What color is you car?

SS

[allennsn]

Checked mine and I don't have any issue with my rear view camera. Noise level is higher due to higher gain but I could clearly see the rear view. Body color is SO.