Is the backup camera worth it?
 

Hello,

I am about to order a new Nismo 370z and I have two choices:

Gun Metallic or Brilliant Silver

I prefer Gun, however the silver one has a backup camera.

In your opinion, is the backup camera a feature that is needed? I heard the rear wing takes up a lot of the rear window.

Thank you,
Miller

Rearward visibility is pretty bad but backing up is still doable if you're careful. The backup camera is incredibly convenient, though. I have one and don't think I'd ever want to do without one again!

Nismo's don't come with the backup camera from oem.

I have no problems with the wing when backing up, it's trying to look out tiny side windows that drive me crazy when reversing out of a parking spot, there's a big blind spot on each side there.

2012s have an option for a backup camera with the screen in the rear view mirror

Back up Cam
 

At first I thought if you know hoe to drive you don't need it. But now that I have it I don't know how I lived without it....

thats cool, maybe I'll add it to my '10 then, I really do like my backup camera in our rogue.

you can buy the same gentex mirror and camera as stock on ebay for about $600..... I'm sure you might find it cheaper.
also online you will find them from nissan dealers online as well $599.

I added a camera to mine and I love it.
The worst without the camera is when you pull into a diagonal parking place (like at McDonald's), then have to back up. I was completely blind when backing up. Now it's no big deal.
It took my brain a little while to get used to what I was looking at, but it has helped me greatly.

back up camera is worth it. Came installed in the car already.

Mine came with the back up camrea. It's a nice feature. :tup: Don't have to strain my neck any more when backing up.

IMO i never really use it cause it doesnt show anything from the sides but does kinda come in handy for some tricky maneuvering that requires backing up and there are objects....plus my friends think its the coolest thing

Can you (parallel) park Lamborghini style in a Nismo?

Hands down, yes, it is worth it...it is my favorite mod.

I back in and out fine, areas with A LOT of ongoing traffic.

Back up cam is very helpful, factory one is really good but don't understand why they didn't put parking sensors.

Mine came with the back up camera as well. I love this feature however, as others have posted there are blind spots when trying to look out the back side windows, if one can even use them.

So a 3 way switch and 2 cameras looking out the little rear windows would do it hahahah.

I had the mirror back-up cam to be dealer installed as part of my purchase deal. The Rouge has the best backup camera set-up I've ever seen. 3 cameras, 1 in the rear and 2 facing down in the side view mirrors so you can see like your watching over the top of your vehicle. I think they should be a standard piece of equipment or at least sensors on a Z.

I'm sure it's nice, but I somehow manage to back mine up every day without hitting anything :icon17:

i dont know if its worth it from the factory, but i added the camera itself for 100 dollars or so and i think its worth it. i would've ran over a few dogs by now if i didnt have it

I installed a back up cam (bdl99's harness and Kenwood CMOS-200 group buy) in my 40th Anniv. It's pretty damn close to factory, actually. As many have already said, it's totally worth it, especially with the Z's rear quarter blind spots.

So, I recommend you get the color you want first. Then, if that car doesn't have OEM back up cam, you can easily install one yourself...contact bdl99 on this forum if you want his harness (adapted from a 09-10 GT-R harness). If the Z (2010 and up) you're looking at has nav, the software allows you to add a back up cam functions easily (actually, the software allows for AroundView, but I haven't seen anyone in this community set up their car for that). Alternatively, if the Z doesn't have nav, there's a factory rear view mirror back up cam option as well.

Backup cam was something I never thought I would use...until I bought my Tacoma that came with one! :icon17:

Now that I have my 2010 roadster, I really wish it had one. I saw that one is now offered w/ rearview mirror display on the Nissan Website under Z accessories, but one local dealer I asked about getting one installed wasn't sure it could be installed on a 2010 (and seemingly wasn't inclined to check any further :rolleyes:).

Tried another local dealer closer to home, who looked at me like I had six heads for even asking, looked up the price (and again seemed uninclined to check compatibility :shakes head:), and told me I should just go to an aftermarket stereo shop. (Of course, a couple weeks later, this same dealer also tried to CHARGE me for completing a TSB related to my vert top even though the vehicle is still under factory warranty :icon14:...doubt I'll be frequenting this particular dealer in the future! ;))

its awesome to have... I added mine for 20.00 from tmart.com it goes in where the licenses plate lights are... just switch one with the camera from tmart.com and no drilling etc needed...

Just curious about which back up camera everyone's talking about. The full nav backup camera or the mirror version.

I would be interested in peoples thoughts about the back up mirror version.

^ @DWS44: That's surprising the dealership employee didn't try to sell you the camera... i believe they get paid on commission for selling items & service

Yeah...surprised me too, considering that I was requesting them do the install and everything and be turned away from two different dealerships. I kinda let it go after that. I liked the idea of getting OEM parts, plus I don't really want the local stereo shop hacking up my car to install one otherwise.

Yes i love it!

I just roll my windows down and listen for screams while I backup slowly. It's working for me so far. :D

:iagree::icon18:

Mirror version is great. It expands your range of view and removes some of the blind areas. Semper FI Devil dog!

I had a backup camera linked to a 6" nav screen and hardly ever used it. I mean it was nice knowing it was there, and made parallel parking a little easier, but I actually feel more confident looking over the headrest instead. I just dont really see the point in a backup camera. It's not like a fire hydrant or shopping cart can mysteriously appear behind you, anything behind your car you would notice as you approached it and got inside. Assuming you have a good judge of your vehicles space, the only thing it really helps from is distancing yourself from curbs and stuff.

Get the color you want and then add the color. You can always add in the camera later.
unrelated question
I was interested in the back up camera too. For those who went to dealer to install it, does the rear view mirror look the same or noticeably larger then the original?

I added a back up camera to my Sony head unit and use it when I need it. I wired it so its on all the time. It's very helpful especially at night.

Love my back up camera
 

Hey....It's likely that you'll replace the crappy stereo anyway so get a head unit that does it all and has the option to connect a back up camera. My camera gives a wide-angle view so backing out of a parking space affords me a better rear view that I could get by simply turning and looking behind. Makes sense as the camera in located just above the plate whereas I'm seated 5 ft forward from the camera lens. I love it for those instances when ya have a massive SUV or truck blocking the view. :driving:

My 2 cents
Steve

The mirror looks the same, not bigger than normal. For the NISMO, the wide angle lense is nice for backing out of tight spots since the wing pretty much blocks most of the FOV.

Definitely worth it! Mine came with it and it's been so helpful when parallel parking to see how close I am to the curb and the car behind me. :tiphat:

screw a rear view camera, can we place one somewhere in our grill for a forward facing camera. i dont back up into spots, i go nose first 99% of the time. be nice to see the curb as i drive up to it. i know it wouldnt activate since you arnt in reverse, but is it possible? even better can we have it on while driving?

I would opt for the camera.

I have seen that on here somewhere. Aftermarket headunits have an optional video input. I guess it is as simple as mounting the camera and running the wires.

yea my headunit has an A/V in.... would it play while moving though? hack?