Would you buy an X6 without rear view camera?

[ygillard]

Hello,

I found a nice 2009 X6 pretty much loaded but it does not have the rear view camera (that seems to be such a spudid thing not to have ordered when pretty much every other option is on the car). Anyhow, with the bad visibility, I would think not having the rear view camera is a show stopper. What are your thoughts?

Thx.

[Sharpie12]

I bought an X6 without rear view camera...then I just bought my own video/audio modules...now I have a rear view camera and I am able to view my videos from my ipod/iphone on my screen. Plus for $180 I have Video In Motion...All that with installation cost me around 1k

[flipside99]

There are aftermarket options available, but nobody should be driving this thing without the rear camera.. It's astounding that it isn't standard.

[chuck92103]

I have a camera and rarely us it.

I just listen for the PDC beeps. Some folks need all the help they can get I suppose.

[X6 MBN]

Originally Posted by Sharpie12

I bought an X6 without rear view camera...then I just bought my own video/audio modules...now I have a rear view camera and I am able to view my videos from my ipod/iphone on my screen. Plus for $180 I have Video In Motion...All that with installation cost me around 1k

Sharpie12,

Any chance of explaining how you did it, what kit you used and from where you bought it etc?

Cheers.

[REInvestor]

Originally Posted by ygillard

Hello,

I found a nice 2009 X6 pretty much loaded but it does not have the rear view camera (that seems to be such a spudid thing not to have ordered when pretty much every other option is on the car). Anyhow, with the bad visibility, I would think not having the rear view camera is a show stopper. What are your thoughts?

Thx.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[rainman50]

It needs a rear camera for me.

[GJM]

+1

[LANDLORD]

I find the rear camera, and the top view cameras, make backing up, and parking without scuffing the rims, easy. It would be very challenging without them to say the least.

[Kassfy]

CAMARAS are good to have..but the PDC is pretty much what you must have! The beeps is all i listen too even when looking at the camara

[Israeli_Flava]

OMG! I just ordered my X6 and I'm so glad I got the camera now that I hear all this feedback...When I test drove it, the guy was like "uhhhhhh, ok...sooooo lemme park it" lol

I do need all the help I can get

So if you are like me... don't get it.

[dmlgc]

I mostly use the mirrors and PDC but there has been several times when I was glad I had the camera. There are aftermarket ones that will provide same functionality and additional features. Think this is personal preference kind of thing.

[Sharpie12]

Originally Posted by X6 MBN

Sharpie12,

Any chance of explaining how you did it, what kit you used and from where you bought it etc?

Cheers.

http://www.alekshop.com/multimedia

Look down the list and look for this product.

Audio/Video module (PIP) and Rear View Camera for BMW 2009-2011

[commbett]

Had it on the X5 and now we have not got it on the X6 and I have learned this is a pure luxury and it is definitely not a necessity.

I am in the UK and the parking spaces we use are tiny, we also have the 21 inch BMW wheel and my wife can park it with no problems, no scuffed wheels upto now! Spend your money on something else

[jfewins]

A MUST

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

I don't have it either..IMO, it's not a must have as PDC keeps you "safe".

Mine was bought already on a lot. If I was ordering custom I'd definitely get it.

[GeraG]

Must have option, especially for X6

[X6Amy]

I don't have a rear view camera, didn't want the option, don't need it I can reverse perfectly. Was really surprised how good the rear view visibility was when I first test drove an X6.

[X6Amy]

(prob because I was expecting it to be bad) Must post pics for you guys of my garage for my X6 there's about a 1cm gap between the door and the rear wall. LOL TIGHT

[zaha]

It's not 100% necessary but I would not buy an X6 without that option. My garage is very tight so I can use all the help that I can get to make parking easier.

[dmlgc]

In my earlier post I said this was a personal preference kind of thing, I was WRONG.

After an experience at the supermarket parking lot last weekend I am glad I have the camera. A child came running sideways towards the back of my X6 as i was pulling out between a van and car, before he was close enough to trigger the PDC I saw his shadow in the camera. I stopped and he went running by ( PDC went off) to get into the side of a van two cars away.

Now would I have been able to brake in time with just the PDC warning , maybe. After this experience I would not have anything with this much blindness to the rear without a camera. I don't care about scratches parking I could always get those repaired , would not want to have to repair a child.

Something to think about.

[GJM]

Once you've had the camera, you wouldn't be without it.
However our older X5 camera has better clarity than the newer X6.
Invaluable, when reversing up to the trailer hitch.