[Saejin]

Thinking of trying to retrofit the night vision in my 2021 M50i since BMW no longer offers it as an option.

So, if anyone has a 2019 or 2020 X7 with night vision I've got a couple of questions.
- where is the button to activate it...is it in the touch screen or is there a physical button
- based on other BMWs that have this, the FLIR camera is mounted in the grill...can anyone confirm...should be on the left side kidney


From the basic research I've done so far looks like I'll need a new grill that accommodates the camera, FLIR camera, control module, and possible a new console piece if there is a physical button. And of course a software upgrade to activate the night vision option.

Anyone else try to do this?

[Paultattoo]

I have it. So totally 100% not worth the money. The view is on the main nav screen. Don't know what's more dangerous. Looking away from the road to see the night vision or just not turning it on. It should really be in the HUD to be any use.

[MystroX5]

I have it and really like it. That said, it would be a lot of work to install everything and code it. There is warnings that pop up for different size animals, etc..
https://www.wired.com/2009/10/bmw-night-vision/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...=3819647068001

The new system is better than this older video but here is a idea how it works.

[huskerdoc2020]

I love my night vision. The button is on the right side of the buttons located where the headlights AUTO is.

[Wild Blue]

Wish it was still available too

[Saejin]

Originally Posted by huskerdoc2020

I love my night vision. The button is on the right side of the buttons located where the headlights AUTO is.

Can you also tell where the camera is on the front of the X7.

So it’s good there’s an actually button so I can just swap out the headlight switch assembly.

[Saejin]

Originally Posted by Paultattoo

I have it. So totally 100% not worth the money. The view is on the main nav screen. Don't know what's more dangerous. Looking away from the road to see the night vision or just not turning it on. It should really be in the HUD to be any use.

Yeah, that sucks. Would be awesome if it were built into the HUD.

Typically when we drive at night my wife and I both scan the road ahead, so she would be primarily looking at the screen.

Does any warnings pop up on the hood if something is seen?

[Saejin]

It may be easy...I think the coding will be the hardest part.

New headlight switch assembly
FLIR camera
New grill if the camera is mounted on the grill
And new control module
Things may be pre-wired as well

I’ll dig into more and let everyone know.

[MystroX5]

Camera is on the front right grille, second slat from the light. It’s a long black camera.

[Saejin]

Ok, here's what found out on getbmwparts.com

Night vision camera - $4,000
Part# 66-54-9-322-653

Night vision camera lens cover - $700
Part# 66-54-9-261-106

Wiring harness - $380
Part# 61-12-9-825-143

Headlamp switch - $170
Part# 61-31-9-461-136

Control Module - Discontinued, but can find on other sites for $700
Part# 66-54-9-493-329

Upper Grille - $340
Part# 51-13-8-745-732

Grand total of $6290 if you bought the parts new.

Besides the price the other major issue is the wiring harness...it's all integrated into the other driving assistance systems, so there is no separate harness just for the night vision.

Guess this thread is over and the hopes of retrofitting night vision as well.

[Wild Blue]

Geez...

[Saejin]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

Camera is on the front right grille, second slat from the light. It’s a long black camera.

Damn, that looks so mean. Carbon or Sapphire black...I can't remember from your other posts.

I scoured the BMW site and built a few models and it seems night vision isn't an option on anything. So that tells me it may just be a supply issues with the cameras and control modules since those are probably sourced in China somewhere. I bet it's back in 2022 along with RES and Off Road.

Can't wait another year, so maybe I'll look at aftermarket systems and somehow plug the video output into the main screen.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Saejin

Damn, that looks so mean. Carbon or Sapphire black...I can't remember from your other posts.

I scoured the BMW site and built a few models and it seems night vision isn't an option on anything. So that tells me it may just be a supply issues with the cameras and control modules since those are probably sourced in China somewhere. I bet it's back in 2022 along with RES and Off Road.

Can't wait another year, so maybe I'll look at aftermarket systems and somehow plug the video output into the main screen.

Thanks so much. Sapphire black with Tartufo.


Here is a better pic of the night vision camera.

[ComingInHot]

I love the night vision as well. I don't put it onto the main screen very often unless it's really dark and I'm being really cautious. However the pedestrian and deer alerts on the HUD when driving have been great. Worth it to me for where I live and drive.

[Saejin]

So there are aftermarket kits available. It all depends on how much wiring you want to run through your brand new X7. It's the basic setup that BMW uses; FLIR camera, control module, switch, and wiring harness.

You could probably get the BMW Grille to mount the camera so it looks OEM. Possibly use the OEM Headlamp switch too to activate it. The issue now lies in how to power the camera and the control module and then send the output into the idrive center dash screen.

Probably not worth it for the X7 and the wiring you have to do. I'm sure BMW wouldn't approve if you have to take your X7 in for issues regarding the idrive system and the dealer sees all the extra wiring you installed.

However, Jeep Rubicon is fair game.

[Nath4n]

Originally Posted by Paultattoo

I have it. So totally 100% not worth the money. The view is on the main nav screen. Don't know what's more dangerous. Looking away from the road to see the night vision or just not turning it on. It should really be in the HUD to be any use.

Yeah, this is kinda bummer (especially when nightvision is used in BMW for quite some time) but the HUD notification with light beam (well, X7 has just a high beam segment) is very useful.

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by Paultattoo

I have it. So totally 100% not worth the money. The view is on the main nav screen. Don't know what's more dangerous. Looking away from the road to see the night vision or just not turning it on. It should really be in the HUD to be any use.

100% disagree.

Living in a rural area, the system has saved me from deer on multiple occasions.

[huskerdoc2020]

Originally Posted by jcarlilesiu

100% disagree.

Living in a rural area, the system has saved me from deer on multiple occasions.

I love it too

[lake x7]

So my wife and I tried the system out last night, I stood at the end of the drive way and she drove the car by at 50mph and the system did not pick me up. I just cleaned the car and the camera lens. Then I drove and my wife stood at the drive way, I pressed the night vision button and it came on the screen. I stopped to turn around and it went off the screen. I pressed the button again and as I drove by a person in bright yellow appeared on the screen, but nothing on the HUP.

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by lake x7

So my wife and I tried the system out last night, I stood at the end of the drive way and she drove the car by at 50mph and the system did not pick me up. I just cleaned the car and the camera lens. Then I drove and my wife stood at the drive way, I pressed the night vision button and it came on the screen. I stopped to turn around and it went off the screen. I pressed the button again and as I drove by a person in bright yellow appeared on the screen, but nothing on the HUP.

Was she walking towards the path of travel or did you turn like you were going at her? The system is smart enough not to alert you of people unless it senses a potential collision.

If I'm driving down the street and people are walking along the road, it may alert me, but if they are on the sidewalk it won't.

When it lights up yellow, it saw the person. Next time drive by and have her walking into the street (not in the path of travel of course) but have the car think she will enter the path of travel and it will alert you.

I guess long story short, it isnt going to throw the alert just from people being around. It has to sense a dangerous situation.

[lake x7]

She was just standing on the shoulder of the road, it picked her up on the center screen in yellow, but nothing in the HUD. You can not drive looking at the center display. Also with that night vision display on there is no nav or audio on it.

[BMW and me]

Hi, Did you add camera and successfully programmed/codded. I had that in my previous G30 and really don't know why BMW removed it.