Highline Reversing Camera for R36 wagon - Is it worth it?

[prn31]

Ok, So I have fitted an RVC to my R36 wagon. Purchased from Vincent off ebay and installed by Greg at Volks Muller at Annangrove. Just as an aside on the install – because I have a power tailgate it was almost impossible to pull the wire/cable through the left hand rubber plug. It had to be cut and sikaflexed up.

Anyway it is just the no-frills RVC and not what I believe is called the Highline Reversing Camera, which is the factory option, that uses the Rear Assist System with the dynamic lines. I understand that you need to install a camera controller module 3c9907441 to turn your camera into a Highline.

My questions are as follows:
1. For those who have the factory Highline camera do the dynamic lines make it easier to park or is more trouble than its worth?
2. I know that JKU sell the complete Highline Camera kit, but does anyone in Australia just sell the 3c9907441 module? It looks like you can source it out of Europe for Eur199 plus freight.
3. How easy is it to install? I believe that the factory location for the module is in the spare wheel well. I presume you need to run wires to the RNS510 and camera? It looks like another big job.

I would like my R36 to be optioned as it would have left the factory, but just wondering whether it would be worth the effort to convert my camera to a Highline version.

[Darkhorse Developments]

Not really worth the expense. You will have to connect the canbus wires from the control box to the ecu and code in camera system.

[kamold]

I personally find the guidelines useful for parking in carparks.
Its like any piece of kit- once you use it you tend to rely on it more than you should.
Do you need dual-zone climate control, automatic transmissions, auto headlights/wipers, bendy headlights, heated seats etc?
Of course not but they are nice to have.

Yes the control module needs to be cabled up to the canbus gateway which is behind the climatronics unit. Whether its worth it or not is something only you can decide

[snerlo]

I personally think it might be a waste of money but you are the one that has to drive it and reverse it. If it will make you that much more happy when reversing, go for it. Good to see someone went through as much hell as I did trying to get that darn wire from the tailgate through to the headunit. I split a hole halfway along on my rubber boot as well. I couldn't push the wire through to the inside of the car though so I just made another hole just beside it. What at PINA!!!! So many f's and c's came out of my mouth.

[prn31]

Yes the control module needs to be cabled up to the canbus gateway which is behind the climatronics unit. Whether its worth it or not is something only you can decide

So the job is almost as involved as putting the camera in the first place? I presume that you need to run a cable from the canbus gateway to the module (wherever you position it) and then onto the camera itself, or not? If you don't have to take a cable to the camera than that is one less headache.

I wonder if JKS sell the module and cable separately? There is a mob in Poland that does, but that is a long way away...

On a related subject, my camera occasionally doesn't come on when I select reverse and at other times the camera comes on for a few seconds and then it goes to the OPS screen. Any idea what could be going on?

[kamold]

Yeah it would have been best to install it along with the camera while pulling cables...
Do you know if your parktronic controller is coded for a camera module as well as the RNS? Might explain the behavior.
I'd see how you go for a few months with the static camera guides before you decide if you really need the bendy lines...

[prn31]

Yeah it would have been best to install it along with the camera while pulling cables...
Do you know if your parktronic controller is coded for a camera module as well as the RNS? Might explain the behavior.
I'd see how you go for a few months with the static camera guides before you decide if you really need the bendy lines...

If I'm honest I would have to admit that I didn't know the ins and outs of highline and lowline cameras before the install. I now know why the JKS kit was so much more expensive...

Anyway, if the module is placed on the right side of the spare wheel well if would mean taking the cables down the right side sill as opposed to along the left side roof (for the camera.) Is the module connected to the camera as well?

I have no idea if my parktronic controller is coded for the camera module. Is there any way I can tell without reverting to a VCDS scan?

Yes, fair call. I'm still getting used to trusting the camera as opposed to looking behind. I probably need to see how the bendy lines work in real life to know whether it is worth installing. I'm gathering that not all VWs are factory fitted with highline cameras either? Is that a cost thing or something that Park Assist 2 takes care of?

[revivor]

May I ask how much did you pay for the install at Volksmuller?

[prn31]

May I ask how much did you pay for the install at Volksmuller?

I was quoted 3 hours ($400) but it took much longer to do, but they kept their word. I was impressed.

[snerlo]

Yeah, mine only took much longer due to the hinge area. Outside that, I had my cable installed in about two hours.