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I wanted to share my stealthy S2000 CR backup camera install in case anybody needs inspiration! I'm too anxious about banging up my front spoiler so I usually back into spots. Years of driving an IS350 hang me jonesin' for a backup cam in the CR... so I did this over the summer. It was fun and I'd be happy to put a parts lust together for anybody attempting to do it.
Costs: $129 shipped for the Gentex mirror (new-old-stock), $20 shipped for the camera, $3 for the mirror mount and adhesive, $20ish dollars for misc shrink tubing, o-rings, wire sleeve etc (stuff I mostly already had)
Enjoy. Video attached at end!
Finished product... do you see it?
Removed the rear cylinder lock for drawings in PTC Creo:
I bought a Gentex display mirror (OEM on Toyota Tundras and more).
Harness was modified to interface with the camera. Three wires total:
+12V ignition switched power (spade attached at fuse box point)
Ground (spade fastened to random bolt behind kick panel)
Reverse signal (t-tap into the existing harness)
You can see how the camera mounts... connections are 12V and video:
Harness routed through with trunk release mechanism:\
If you don't mind using your iPhone for a backup camera, you can mount a mini camera in the rear bumper above the number plate and mount a wifi transmitter for it in the trunk as I did a few years back. The camera costs about $16 and the transmitter is about $30. The software for the transmitter (iOS and Android) is a free download. It takes some wiring and two pop-rivets to mount the camera. It gives you a very nice full screen image with distance markers on my iPhone 6s and my son's iPhone 6s Plus. I wired the power for mine into the backup light.
EDIT: I found a photo of my iPhone backup camera install above the number plate.
Think the 3D Printed mount will hold up the road vibration? Filament?
-- Chuck
Time will tell but I think it will hold up. It is ABS with full density in most spots. I also forgot to mention that I designed and added a bezel between camera and trunk-lid. I added a groove to that for an o-ring and rubber grommet for added waterproofed-ness and snugness against the trunk lid. This probably helps immensely with dampening vibration, now that you mention it.
Nice work! All the mirror cams I looked at didn't have the correct attachment to attach the mirror to the stock mount, how did you manage to mount this?
dang where did you get the mirror for so cheap?! also, how does the camera hold up against say, rain?
I found the mirror on mercari. It's definitely not a cheap mirror but they can be found by searching for Tacoma / Tundra / FJ Cruiser rearview mirrors on eBay. So far the cam has survived a few car washes, and I'll add pictures of the rubber seals I've added.