So I have been searching around the web and NAM and have found these 4 Nav to video hookups:

1. http://www.nav-tv.com/mini.htm (sounds like it costs the most?)
2. http://www.tvandnav2go.com/bmw-tv-navigation.html (no price listed, cheesy backgroud music is great)
3. http://www.gnetcanada.com/navvideo-m...t=GNET_RGB_BMW ($350)
4. http://www.avelectronic.com/products.htm (budget model is $250)
5. http://www.soundgate.com/index.php?r...&usereferrer=1 ($350)
6. Ebay has a similar item listed for $135 (I just ordered it)

I am wondering if anyone knows if these units will all provide the same quality picture? I see that they have some different features, but I think that the simple ones will work fine for me, but I dont want to go with the cheap one and get worse picture quality or something. Does anyone know?

 

Anyone? Anyone? Bueler? Bueler?

 

Interesting hmmm

 

I am 99% sure that there are official BMW/MINI parts available to do this (e.g. TV tuner). At the very least, I think the switchbox for the front & rear camera system provides a way to tap into the video.

Take a look at the unmarked part on this page:

RealOEM.COM BMW R53 Cooper S FRONT CAMERA, REVERSING CAMERA

i.e. 662103030085

I believe that is the interface / switchbox - one is needed for either camera (although only one is needed for both since it has two inputs).

 

That would make sense but I've never heard of it. Where is this camera switchbox?

 

Hard to get in the USA unless you order from Canada or Europe... but you CAN get them. Some people have installed these cameras, using the switchbox, so they could give you first-hand experience on whether the switchbox will do what you want it to do. I don't have it yet but I definitely intend to get BOTH cameras at some point in the future.

One source I can immediately show you for the cameras and interface / switchbox (available for purchase individually) is this link at NewMINIStuff.com, under Gadgets & Cool stuff:

https://www.newministuff.com/new/sho...uctshow&id=230

But before pulling the trigger, you should ask people who have bought and installed the cameras, since they will be more familiar with the interface / switchbox than I am.

 

I was looking at this topic last summer while my 2006 MCC was on order. I was primarily considering rear camera options because of the convertible rear visibility. I also checked aux video input capability although it is unlikely I would ever use the feature. These are some of my notes from back then (prices and web links may have changed):

G-NET (http://www.gnetcanada.com/navvideo-m...b.asp?Mfg=Mini)
The G-NET switchbox is $350. Color/contrast/brightness is adjustable, and there is an optional $30 wired remote to control the image adjustments and to select the input. Video-in-motion interlock is defeatable (see Soundgate below). Installation instructions at: http://www.gnetcanada.com/downloads/...l_GNET_RGB.pdf

SoundGate (http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/soundvidbmw1.html)
I am convinced that this $350 unit is the same as the GNET. The front panel has the same arrangement of video connectors, image adjustments and DIP switches, and the DIP switch settings specified for MINI are the same as for GNET. Installation instructions at http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/vidbmw1dia1.html (The warning note describes the easily defeatable video-in-motion interlock implementation)

TVonNAV (http://www.tvonnav.com/minitvonnav.html)
For MINI, TVonNAV lists a $1069 complete video system including TV tuner for broadcast TV. For BMW, they list a $450 "video input solution" without the tuner (http://www.tvonnav.com/bmwrgb.html), which I believe is compatible with MINI. Selection of aux video is through the NAV screen instead of hardwire switch. Video in motion requires an optional $200 Video In Motion Module (http://www.tvonnav.com/minimodule.html).

TVandNav2Go (http://www.tvandnav2go.com/)
This is a $400 unit (price was not on the website; I called). It is plug and play like the other aftermarket units, but I don't see any particularly distinguishing features.

MINI OEM
This is what I ended up with, because the MINI rear camera has such a well integrated and inconspicuous mounting on the MINI boot. Apart from the camera itself, the video switchbox was about $200 + shipping from the UK (NewMINIStuff.com). Mike Craven (TheOfficeMaven) did a writeup on connecting aux video to it: http://motoringfile.com/2005/06/30/mini_video_input/
The GNET video box struck me as having features I liked, and I considered pairing GNET with the MINI camera. In the end I chose the all-MINI system because the MINI switchbox is cheaper and the camera is ready to plug into it. I didn't want to mess with ensuring that connections work between different manufacturers.

The aftermarket units all seem very easy to install with plug-and-play harnesses. The MINI OEM switchbox is slightly somewhat more involved to hook up, but not difficult.

 

By the way, in my post I used the term "video in motion". All of the units by default will not play aux video input while the vehicle is moving. A video-in-motion feature defeats the interlock. Actually it is probably illegal in most states to use such a feature when the screen can be viewed by the driver.

 

Sweet, I got my $135 ebay unit, and it is actually a NavTV brand unit. I just installed it and it is awesome, better picture quality on the nav screen than I expected. Wonder why they are so cheap on ebay? Now I need to get a DVD player and aux cable. Almost done.

 

135 BUCKS! I've been searching eBay and the Nav-TV units I find are all over 800!

Was it a one-off seller, or did it seem like there were more?

I want one to hook up my iPod Video!

Steve

 

The seller had 6 or 7 when he started, all began at $135. The auctions ended, but I dont think they all sold. The seller's ID was chrisqns. Here was the auction if the link still works. I took the ebay risk and came out good.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT
Maybe you could message the seller and see if he has or can get more?

 

I am interested in this mod. how and were did you do the wiring up to the Nav Screen. Is there a menu option to switch to aux video or did you wire up a bypass switch?

 

The wiring for all of these units is done at the Nav unit underneath the seat. Generally they are plug-and-play harnesses (plus a video switch box) that go in-line with the existing harnesses.

 

I have the NAV-TV unit installed along with a Kenwood 10 disc DVD changer on the AUX connection. Picture quality is great from the DVD. TV reception is good and bad...really depends on the signal you get.

 

Looking for help ,in the Midwest for all these 'puter "adjustments" The British NAV voice and DVD NAV hookups. 2003 MCS JCW

 

So MINITOR, how are you running sound? DVD player to aux input? Or are you running it to an aftermarket HU?

 

DVD to aux input for now, will be upgrading in the future but auto theft was too high in Seattle to put in a flashy HU. More info here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=ice+minitor