Parking Solutions

[7en]

When I buy an A110 it will be used and some don't have parking sensors or camera fitted, after my first test drive I've seen how this is really necessary for daily use so I've been looking at solutions.

The most discrete I've come across is something like this number plate parking camera, which would save drilling multiple sensors into the bumper, trying to match paint etc, has anyone tried one on the A110?


https://www.parkingcameras.com/store/pm35f-premium...

Edited by 7en on Saturday 6th May 07:18

[johnnyreggae]

The solution is to buy a car that meets your needs ! If you want sensors and/or camera then buy a car with them fitted - my sense is most do so don't worry about it until the unlikely event of you actually finding the perfect car without them

[7en]

johnnyreggae said:

The solution is to buy a car that meets your needs ! If you want sensors and/or camera then buy a car with them fitted - my sense is most do so don't worry about it until the unlikely event of you actually finding the perfect car without them

I ask as that may already be the case. With the specs changing on newer models I think I'm possibly even less likely to find one closer to the specs I'd like in the future. I think having a camera without sensors is a bonus too as it keeps the bumpers looking extra clean.

[a110au]

I would be interested in seeing if this works

https://www.nonda.co/products/smart-rear-view-came...

it is a rear plate attached camera. bluetooth, to an app, that auto starts.

IF (BIG IF) the latency to start the app and show the image is low enough and automatic, it could be a good solution. Assuming you use my phone mount (haha).

edit: never mind, read reviews. dodgy.

Edited by a110au on Saturday 6th May 08:44

[aea730]

I think I would just look to buy one with F&R sensors as a minimum and a camera as a bonus.

I’ve had mine 2 days, the sensors are quite sensitive, it screams loudly from all four corners on reversing out of garage so I still resort to old fashioned judgement. Camera is good but I wouldn’t let it put you off the car without it

[tony993]

7en said:

I think having a camera without sensors is a bonus too as it keeps the bumpers looking extra clean.

I agree. I think the sensors look really horrible & the noise they would make as I reverse down my drive would have been unpleasant too. I wanted to spec' the camera without the sensors, but they wouldn't sell me a camera unless I also bought the sensors, so I bought a camera from ebay for next to nothing. I saw someone elses DIY installation on their A110, & it was very neat. I've been too busy to install my camera. It's still on my to do list, but I've managed fine without it for a year now - it's only a small car.

[7en]

tony993 said:

I agree. I think the sensors look really horrible & the noise they would make as I reverse down my drive would have been unpleasant too. I wanted to spec' the camera without the sensors, but they wouldn't sell me a camera unless I also bought the sensors, so I bought a camera from ebay for next to nothing. I saw someone elses DIY installation on their A110, & it was very neat. I've been too busy to install my camera. It's still on my to do list, but I've managed fine without it for a year now - it's only a small car.

Was it one of those number plate mount cameras? Will it connect to your phone or the A110 infotainment?

After a couple test drives I felt like rear awareness is somehow necessary and I prefer the idea of the retrofit camera. Saying that, if a car has everything I'd like with rear sensors I'd be ok with that, front sensors I would definitely prefer to not have them. You can disable the sensors but it's a menu within a menu I believe so not very easy to switch on/off quickly.

Edited by 7en on Monday 8th May 19:53

[Simon Owen]

Don’t over think this, it’s a small car and is a very easy to park, by the fact that you are looking at an Alpine in the first place means you will likely have greater awareness than most. Yes I know I’m generalising but the A110 really doesn’t ‘need’ a reversing camera, very much a nice to have (at best) rather than a necessity !!

[Whaleblue]

Can the sensors be permanently switched off, leaving the reversing camera on??

[tony993]

7en said:

Was it one of those number plate mount cameras? Will it connect to your phone or the A110 infotainment?

No, it went into the same location as the OE camera next to the boot release button - so you really wouldn't know it was there unless you were looking for it, & the guy had wired it into a satnav screen. Mine will go into a phone. If I remember correctly, the camera is Bluetooth, so I just wire it into the reverse light, & I don't have to worry about installing a cable to run all the way from the back of the boot to the dashboard.

[7en]

How useful are the rear parking sensors in the Alpine? I see people on test drives where they start going off in traffic, without having put the car in reverse, surely they should only trigger once you've selected reverse. The manual states sensors will only operate less than 6mph but only mentioning engagement upon reverse when referring to the camera.

[Miserablegit]

7en said:

How useful are the rear parking sensors in the Alpine? I see people on test drives where they start going off in traffic, without having put the car in reverse, surely they should only trigger once you've selected reverse. The manual states sensors will only operate less than 6mph but only mentioning engagement upon reverse when referring to the camera.

No issues with my rear sensors except in middle of winter when they are frozen over and constantly beep in reverse. Never had them work when not in reverse so sounds like a fault in those test drives if true.

Rear vis is fine once used to it and the sensors help when parking. I thought I might need a camera but I manage fine without.