Retro Fitting Rear PDC

Honestly Wayne,

I think it's great. Superb even. Well done, and something I want to tackle myself over the quiet winter months.

Wayne, this is an excellent addition

Compared to what BMW used as OEM PDC anything current is miles ahead. Not only in terms of looks but also wrt to longevity as BMWs PDC sensors have a history of childbed fever.

The only problem for OEMmies is that it ain´t OEM

Two of my cars have been outfitted with a system which is called "Park-Profi" over here. See Ebay.

This is a "minimal invasive" method to add basic PDC functionality (strictly backwards). It is very unobtrusive and easily installed (one 5mm hole in boot lid just underneath number plate). It does require a "standard" size (roughly 50cm/20 inches) number plate though.
It suits just fine to park the car within 4 inches of a wall reversing... try that without PDC and with confidence

Cheers
Reinhard

Great job Wayne, looks very professional -- more so than the hideous OE system with those massive square sensors!

One reservation I have though, I had exactly the same system as you installed on a previous car I used as a daily driver when I was doing more mileage. It worked perfectly well, but the beeper used had a very cheap tinny sound to it (it's basically just a metal type buzzer). Not something that bothered me in my runaround, but I hold my 8 to higher standards :D. My dad's E46 has a factory fit audio only system, and it has a much better quality sound.

I'm wondering if it would be possible to fit a different sounder to the aftermarket system, after all it's only two wires with a voltage applied whenever a beep is required. I've no idea where to find something suitable though.

Where did you mount the beeper in yours? On my previous car I originally mounted it just behind the rear seat as recommended by the instructions. But I found I couldn't hear it unless I turned the radio down, so I extended the wires and relocated it to underneath the glovebox.

One more thing I should add: the system I had came with 8 sensors and had 8 inputs, so you could use it for front sensors as well. I didn't bother with the front ones for two reasons. First I don't see the point as it's very easy to judge the distance to the front of the car, so it wasn't worth the hassle to install them in my opinion. Second, the rear sensors are active only when in reverse, which is ideal. But obviously the front sensors don't have an easy way to detect when you're parking, so they're either on all the time (annoying if you're in traffic I expect) or have to be manually switched on, meaning an unsightly switch somewhere.

Looks good mate! Nice job. I shall have to get mine done now... don't suppose you fancy lending a hand?

I'd like to install a front system. I'm low. I bet I could put a switch hidden somewhere where the armrest used to be or by the front of the driver's seat?

Paul M: I also have the 8 sensor kit ready to fit and definately want the front ones on after bashing the undertray on kerbs far too frequently.

I noticed on the 7 series that the PDC is not operational once moving above a certain speed, the cutoff is exactly the same time as when the TV display switches off 'for safety reasons'. Therefore, there must be a hook up into a speed sensor somewhere.

Maybe we could use a similar technique on the 8 ?
Anyone know how it works on the 7 ?

The 7 is no doubt controlled by the car's electronics, it's easy enough for BMW to integrate it in such a way. It could be done this way on the 8, but you'll need to design your own interface that counts the rate of speed pulses and switches off the interface above a certain level.

Not hugely difficult if you can program embedded microcontrollers (such as a PIC 16Fxxx series) but still lots more work than I'd consider worthwhile!

Great job Wayne , I might have a go at doing this myself. Couple of questions... is there a reason the centre sensors aren't completely symmetrically placed? And on a side note, you mention the foils for the rear bumper; do BMW sell these seperately do you know..?

Well I am back! Nice job Wayne as you know I too ordered the same kit as you when we had agreed the right one via email. I am glad to see the fitting process went well and I am very keen to do mine too soon. However like you I am also keen to get the rear bumper repainted (once the holes are drilled. Did you position them to a particular size / layout I had been looking at some pictures of the OEM system.

Good job there Wayne. Looks more OEM than the OEM version.

My car has OEM PDC, and the two mid sensor mounts look like add-ons (because they are) and are made of mild steel, so they rust. Stupid design really.

However, they do work superbly and I only get the increasing frequency beeper when I am close to something (some types start beeping when you are miles away!). With this in mind I may buy a couple more (OEM) sensors to mount "invisibly" up front and use a changeover relay when I engage/disengage reverse to give my automatic selection of front/reverse sensors. Like I say, they only start to beep when I get close, so shouldn't be a problem in normal driving.

I'm now working on my bootlid redesign (on a spare bootlid, so no rush needed) and when it's finally done and in for painting I'll remount the middle PDC sensors which, I hope, should look how OEM ones would have done if they'd bothered to design it properly.