Installing A Back Up Camera

[rocknrun]

Last week I installed a backup camera in my wife's 2004 Beetle Convertible. Thought I would post a few pics and comments that might be helpful to others. The camera I installed is one of the inexpensive ones you can get at Advance Auto, Auto Zone, etc. The camera itself mounts onto the rear license tag.

It is necessary to drill a 1/2" hole for the camera cable to pass through (amazing the amount of crud that was behind the license tag).



Remove the torx screws on the bumper cover so you can pull it back just slightly to pass the camera cable under it.



I drilled another hole to bring the cable through and passed it over the weatherseal. Another option might be to make a hole in the seal and go through it, but I was a little hesitant to do that.


Pop off the cover that gives you access to the tailight assembly, pass the cable through the opening in the cover so you can snap it back on. You will need to find the wire that feeds the reverse lights; on the 04 beetle it's the dark blue and black wire. Using a tap in connector, splice the red camera wire into the backup light wire. I found a convenient screw nearby for the ground wire. The transmitter unit which connects to these adhered very nicely with velcro to the fabric of the trunk liner.


I mounted the video monitor under the center dash onto a switch blank that pulls out of the dash. I'm not a big fan of velcro for stuff in the cockpit, so I drilled a small pilot hole and screwed in a vehicle trim screw (Lowe's has these). The head of the screw slipped into a U shaped channel on the back of the monitor and made a nice, snug fit. The monitor came with a windshield suction cup mount; I'm not a big fan of those either.


The screen is small, so you don't get hi-def quality views, but it does what it's designed to do and helps with seeing what's behind you. The screen stays off, automatically comes on when the car is put in reverse.

[DZLBUG]

I'm not really understanding the purpose of this on a NB?

[rocknrun]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

I'm not really understanding the purpose of this on a NB?

1-Major blind spots on her NB convertible.
2-A very active 2 year old grandson.
3-While my wife was at the beach I was bored and didn't have
any current project in the works on my Jeep.
4-Like any accessory, it's not something that would interest
everyone or even most people. Just thought it might be helpful
if someone else was thinking about installing one.

[MiG]

I know somebody at work that installed one of these on his passenger side mirror pointing forward.
When I asked him why he did this. He said if he ever needed to get around a vehicle quickly from the right side, that he could see if there were any parked cars or cyclists ahead.

[MiG]

btw, why did you run the wire this way?.

Since you drilled into your bumper. You could have ran the wires through the rubber boot seal in the rear corner just under the tail light on the driver's side. The wires would have been totally hiden.

[boogety boogety]

Originally Posted by MiG

btw, why did you run the wire this way?.

Since you drilled into your bumper. You could have ran the wires through the rubber boot seal in the rear corner just under the tail light on the driver's side. The wires would have been totally hiden.

I truly don't think the OP is all that worried about clean installs, if he has this set-up in a 'vert. If this is not just begging for someone to knife the top to get at his gadgets, I don't know what is:



But, whatever...

[rocknrun]

Originally Posted by boogety boogety

I truly don't think the OP is all that worried about clean installs, if he has this set-up in a 'vert. If this is not just begging for someone to knife the top to get at his gadgets, I don't know what is:



But, whatever...

I appreciate the info on the rubber boot;wasn't aware of that.

Not that it matters and not that I really care about boogety's opinion, but we leave the VW unlocked, because it does have a convert top. Have a nice life.

[MinnieVW]

I completely understand why you'd want one of these on an NB vert.
Installing one myself today-thank you for your pictures and directions, they were helpful.

[charigus]

My wife drives an 05 , with the top up It's basically a crap shoot everytime you back the car up , I find it hard to belive that , 1 - backup cam wasn't original equipment from factory , 2 - that the federal watchdogs would even consider letting a everyday driver type car be sold having such a defect and 3 - why hasn't vw voluntary recalled these , install cams and correct the problem on the current converts ( maybe they have ,,, I don't no ) that being said I will be installing one ASAP

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by charigus

My wife drives an 05 , with the top up It's basically a crap shoot everytime you back the car up , I find it hard to belive that , 1 - backup cam wasn't original equipment from factory , 2 - that the federal watchdogs would even consider letting a everyday driver type car be sold having such a defect and 3 - why hasn't vw voluntary recalled these , install cams and correct the problem on the current converts ( maybe they have ,,, I don't no ) that being said I will be installing one ASAP

1 - It's a NB, VW doesn't put any useful options in them
2 - I wouldn't consider a limited rear view a defect, plenty of other vehicles of all types have limited rear views
3 - It's not a problem. Even if it was, it wouldn't be one that puts lives at risk and has the probability of million dollar lawsuits.

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by rocknrun

1-Major blind spots on her NB convertible.

Major is an understatement. My '04 NBC has blind spots like no other car I've ever driven.
If you've never driven one, you have no idea.

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by squeebug

1 - It's a NB, VW doesn't put any useful options in them
2 - I wouldn't consider a limited rear view a defect, plenty of other vehicles of all types have limited rear views
3 - It's not a problem. Even if it was, it wouldn't be one that puts lives at risk and has the probability of million dollar lawsuits.

Try backing up or changing lanes (to the right) in a NBC. You'll be amazed.

[squeebug]

Try doing the same thing in a Charger. Just as bad but you don't see them being recalled. I have the same problem in my Explorer, can't see anything to the sides because of the rear headrests. They haven't recalled those. Backup cameras wouldn't help with changing lanes anyway. My work van is even worse, you can't see to back up or anything. You just have to chance it. NBC can't be any worse than that.

Its not like it wasn't obvious that such an obstruction was there when you test drove the car, yet you bought it anyway.

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by squeebug

Its not like it wasn't obvious that such an obstruction was there when you test drove the car, yet you bought it anyway.

I'm not complaining. I'm just stating that you have no first hand experience regarding the topic of discussion.

[Smileybug]

At least you have a back window. Lots of work vans without rear windows. My dad had one like that. Gotta learn to use your side mirrors.

[LucysCougar]

YEP MAJOR ,,and YES I did notice that when I test drove mine, BUT it is the luxury of having a NBC nothing else like it when driving with the top down!! But I will be looking into this as well. I remember we had one in one of our luxury SUV's back in the day and it was great. I will do my install a little differant though. and go with color as well.
I already know were the wires are as I have installed a hitch
and ran the wire to that same spot.

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

At least you have a back window. Lots of work vans without rear windows. My dad had one like that. Gotta learn to use your side mirrors.

I have....I've been driving it for 4 years now

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by miffmole

I'm not complaining. I'm just stating that you have no first hand experience regarding the topic of discussion.

How do you know I have no first hand experience? You don't know me or a damn thing about me so don't just start making assumptions.

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

At least you have a back window. Lots of work vans without rear windows. My dad had one like that. Gotta learn to use your side mirrors.

Very true. They're horrible but at least they are there. You definitely need to know how to use your mirrors, especially in vehicles with poor visibility.

[charigus]

First of all. it is a major defect , and there is no excuse for the lack of a back up cam in any auto , whether It's a lambo or a econoline ,,,this technology.has been in place for several years and the cost for the factory to install would be minimal ,,,and this is a safety issue ,,, as anyone that drives a nbc , van , charger or lambo will tell you Mr squeewhatever ,,you must be employed by vw ,,,anyways that car is history ,its replacement is total crap as is the jettas ,,nothing more than another Honda / toyota / nissan . Vw has lost the look that made them vw. RIP. vW