DIY: PDC (Park Distance Control) for 02-05 sedans

[WHITEXi]

So Here is the rear PDC D.I.Y that I promised to get for you guys/gals. This is my first actual D.I.Y with pics and it was done last month so bare with me on some details. The kit was purchased off Ebay for $40 from the UK Ebay site. PM me for the seller if you want this kit. Its the kit that has the 4 small sensors. I like the sensor look actually and that is why I did not get the no drill kit. For the No drill kit D.I.Y search for Delmarco"s write up.

I will note that im not responsible if the measurements I took don't work for your car. I went into this figuring if i mess up the drilling that im out a bumper strip which is easily replaceable and cheap.

So lets start.

Tools needed:

- Torx T50 socket,ratchet, and extension.
- Flathead screwdriver
- 5/16 socket, ratchet or wrench
- Electric drill
- Test light
- File or exact o knife

Other items:

- WD-40
- Blanket
- Rags
- Electrical Tape
- Metal clothes hanger
- Sharpie or marker

I first washed the car, and soon after I finished and dried the car off I knew it was going to be a successful day :rolleyes
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/067.jpg

Good luck for me.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/001-1.jpg
Here is the back of my 02 sedan, and on the drivers and passengers side of the bumper from under the car you will see a hole on each. This is where you access the two bolts that hold the rear reinforcement bar/ bumper to the car. The bolts may be hard to see so when your wrenching make sure that the socket is fully seated over the bolt. This helps to avoid stripping it and some WD-40 will help but that's up to you, and watch your eyes when spraying anything upside down. Dirt may also be falling too during the process.

Get the T50 torx, ratchet, and extension and it will look like this.

Drivers side
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/002.jpg
Passenger side
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/003.jpg

Next there are two small bolts on the bottom front edge right behind each wheel. This is where the 5/16 socket, rachet or wrench are used.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/006.jpg
After the 2 reinforcement bolts are removed and the 2 small bolts are removed the bumper will need to be un clipped from the retaining brackets. Insert the flat head screw driver where the bumper meets the bottom of the quarter panel and very carefully pry the side front lip of the bumper from the bracket. It will look like this, and what were wanting to do is push the little black clip down and towards the car. This gets done on both sides.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/004.jpg

Note: The screwdriver was placed in the area where I was prying, it may differ slightly from your car but same idea. I used a rag around the edge of the screwdriver to protect the paint, pic was taken without it for reference.
After all that I slid the bumper back a bit on each side ( me doing this by my self ) to look like this.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/005-1.jpg
And then slid it off the car completely, and place on the blanket in a area with working space. It will make it easier with a helper.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/007-1.jpg
Next we will remove the 3 molding strips. First the outer sides. I placed my hand through the opening and just pushed it out at the edge where it meets the middle piece of molding.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/014.jpg
Then it slides out towards the back of the bumper.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/015.jpg
The middle piece I gently pulled back on and un clipped it as I pulled.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/016.jpg
After the moldings are removed you will find that the bumper is pre molded ( mine was atleast ) for the rear PDC. Note the threw holes.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/012.jpg
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/013.jpg
So heres the PDC kit.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/017.jpg
This is what youll find inside.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/018.jpg
The kit includes:

- 4 back up sensors
- The module
- The wiring harness
- A hole saw drill bit
- A beeper

Here's where it gets a bit tricky, I did this awhile ago so from memory this is what I did. I realized that on the back of the molding there's markings. Not sure what from I guessed the mold but they happened to fall right over the 4 holes for the PDC in the bumper.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/029.jpg
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/030.jpg
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/031.jpg
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/032.jpg
With out laughing bare with me.

Using the ruler I found the center of the markings. I placed the beginning line of the ruler ( which wasn't the best but I worked with it ) to the top edge ( yellow dot ) of the molding. The end line I read off of is the crease at the bottom ( red dot ) of the molding. The Center ( green dot ) was marked using a sharpie. I made a circle and this is where I place the drill bit. The other 2 lines above the circle ( black dots ) were just reference points as to where the markings should be with the PDC holes.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/035-1.jpg
If the molding was to be put back on the bumper, the red dot would be the bottom and the yellow the top.
I then clipped the molding back on the bumper and this is what it looked like from the back.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/039.jpg
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/040.jpg
I forgot picks of the drilling process but its pretty self explanatory. Place the saw hole drill bit from the kit in the drill. Put the molding on a block of wood. Place the drill bit part of the bit on the center mark circle you found and begin drilling slowly. Once the center hole is drilled through the drill bit will move down and now the outer hole for the sensor will begin to cut. I went slow.... I actually stopped before the entire hole was through and placed the molding back on the bumper to see if it lined up with the hole and it did. Being to late if it wasn't right anyway I just wanted to check. After each hole is drilled remove the excess from the inside of the bit it will build up and not let you drill the next hole.

The after product will look like this.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/042.jpg
If there is a lot of burring on the edges it can be taken down with a file or exact o knife.

Take the 4 sensors and notice that they should be labeled A, B, C, D. From the drivers side to the passenger its in the order A, B, C, D. Refer to the labeled instructions in case there was a change. Place the wires of the sensors through the right holes just drilled in the moldings
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/043.jpg

and then through the right holes in the bumper.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/044.jpg

Then push the sensors in the molding fully seating them, and clipping the molding back into the bumper.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/045.jpg

After I ran the wires through the under side of the reinforcement bracket. Going from the drivers to the passenger side.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/046.jpg
looking at the passengers side you will find a wiring harness running into the car behind the battery. Next to this is a body plug, lets remove it.

From outside the car.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/049.jpg
Now remove the battery tray and the passenger side truck panel cover. The hole will be noticeable from inside the car.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/050.jpg

Make a small + sign in the center and then run the PDC wires through it like so.

[WHITEXi]

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/052.jpg

After you run the wires through the body plug move and place the whole bumper near the car and place on the ground in the way as if it would be ready to put back on the car. Place the wires in through where the body plug goes and then pop it back into the car. This is where your help can be used. Place the bumper on the car and as you slide it back into place pull the slack of the wires in to the car. I left a little slack if I ever need to remove the bumper. Also as you slide the bumper back on the brackets that you had to un clip it from earlier, make sure it slides into place correct.

To the inside:

Lets start by removing the rear seat, its very easy.


- For the bottom part, just pull up on the middle part. It pops right out

- For the seat back, at the top of the rear seat pull back towards you HARD and it pops out. May have to find the sweet spot but its not that difficult. I grabbed at the ends and it worked.

- At the bottom there's 4 metal clips, grab the bottom of the seat and pull up HARD to un clip them.

- Pull the seat belts out for slack and then the seat back will lift up and out the car.

Un clip the inside plastic panel by the bottom of the door ( already removed in pic ) and you will see the rest of the wiring.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/055.jpg



Next remove the B pillar cover, its the center pillar that the passenger seat belt mounts too. Its held in with two push clips at the bottom, I gently started to pry them out with a flat head screwdriver. Then the cover just slides down and out.

Grab the beeper, this is the part that will alarm you as you back up near an object.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/056.jpg


Looking at behind the back seat on the passenger side there will be a wiring harness that runs into the car.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/054.jpg

Take the beeper end plug and push it through the foam plug around the wires and into the trunk. Grab the PDC module and mount ( has velcro on it already ) it above the wheel well.

Take the 4 wires from the PDC sensors and adjust the length to reach the module and then tape them up together so there not all over the place. There labled A, B, C, D also at the plug ends and so are the plug ports on the module. so go ahead and plug them into the correct ports. Then grab the beeper plug that you just pushed through into the trunk and plug it into the module

Should look like this.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/061.jpg

Back to the inside of the car its time to mount the beeper, run the wire for the beeper down along with the cars wire harness. Then up along the B pillar. I planted the wire under the door seal and then stuck ( has double sided tape on it already ) the beeper above the seat belt. Make sure the wire clears the belt and doesn't interfere.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/058.jpg

Once seated the B pillar cover, inside lower trim panel and rear seats can be reinstalled. If the B pillar cover doesn't want to re install the sensor may be in the way slightly, I had to move it around at first.

Next grab the PDC harness.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/062.jpg

Looking in the trunk on the passenger side under the rear shelf you will find a wire loom that leads to the trunk. This is where I ran the wire through. Make sure the end with the fuse stays in the trunk. It was a timely task but I took my time using a wire hanger with the two wires from the harness taped to the end. I gently and slowly pushed it through the loom. Be careful not to stab any wires or poke through the boot.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/063.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/064.jpg

Eventually it came through the loom and into the trunk.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/065.jpg

Locate the reverse light bulb wires and using the test light find the positive and negative wires. Tap the negative to the negative and positive to positive. I didn't take a pick of the wires tapped because I have aftermarket tails and the wires are not the oem. I believe in Delmarcos D.I.Y he stated that in the trunk loom the brown was ground and the blue/ yellow was the power DOUBLE CHECK THAT FIRST....

Then plug the PDC's wire harness into the module and test it. All you will have to do is place the car in reverse ( not running ) and place the ebrake on. If the ebrake doesn't work then get a helper to hold the brakes while you are outside the car.

When the car is placed in reverse the beeper should beep once, then to test each sensor you take an object ( I used a board ) and slowly move it towards each sensor individually. As the object gets closer the beeper should sound more and more till it gets to the desired stop point basically and then it will flat line.

If everything checks out the put the cover back in for the trunk and battery.

All said and done it looks like this.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/066-1.jpg

Its a good thing my trim is faded, that way you can see the sensors lol. I will be dyeing the trim soon. I will be getting the actual oem PDC trim piece soon though I hope and will see if the sensors I have will fit the oem piece. If so that's even easier.

Hope you find this useful, usually when I go into things not knowing what im doing I just wing it so that's what I sorta did :buttrock

[ryankokesh]

Thanks for putting the time in to make the diy!! Ordered my kit last week! :)

[WHITEXi]

Thanks lol I tried, Like I said the only place I had a hard time was with the measuring. It all came together tho so maybe others will come up with there own way to do it, I basically just wanted to set up a guide line.

[325ximelic]

my question for you whitexi is i drive an 01 will it be about the same?

[danewilson77]

Epic....Whitey. Very nice.

Is it me o does the passenger side sensor look funny?

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq66/whitexi/PDC/066-1.jpg

[WHITEXi]

Thanks Dane, maybe just the camera angle? What do you mean by funky I kinda cant figure it out. I do tho see I had tape sticking out from the trunk hahaha. Oh and off topic but for those who may be wondering, that's an ebay pre painted $55 M3 rep spoiler.

[delmarco]

brilliant mate!

[rayzah blade]

one thing I would say that I would do differently, (and this also depends on the drill bit that came with the kit, and how well the bit can eat through the moulding) is just keep the molding on the bumper, and drill from the back side through the pre-determined holes and file the edges for a clean cut.. this would save oodles of time spent on measuring and cutting and fitting four times.. just an idea.
very nice write up. did this make into the DIY section??

[WHITEXi]

Thanks again guys. Ray, I was going to try that but for some reason I didn't. I don't remember why tho lol, and yes I did throw it up in the diy area.

[JcLusso]

where did you get the backup sensor kit?

[rayzah blade]

where did you get the backup sensor kit?

from the first paragraph, in post #1...


The kit was purchased off Ebay for $40 from the UK Ebay site. PM me for the seller if you want this kit.

[ryankokesh]

Mine just came in the mail! Not sure when I'll have time to install it though... :/

[ryankokesh]

Finally installed my cheapo pdc. I guess it technically works - as it in flatlines the beeping when I get really close to something. Other than that though the beeps are pretty sporadic and not incredibly helpful.

As far as whitexi's diy though, it was really useful. I did end up just tapping into the wiring harness that leads to the trunk lid before it left the battery area. That cuts back on the wire-fishing involved. I think neg went to brown, and positive went to blue/yellow.

Also, I didn't take the black bumper strip off - just drilled right through as ray suggested!

[TerraPhantm]

Has anyone retrofitted the OEM sensors? Something like this would be nice for parking in Manhattan (which I find myself having to do more often these days)

[WHITEXi]

I looked into the oem one but it was to much effort, I would need a new button board with the options already on in the car and then I believe a recodeing from the dealer, find the pds's and strip and then all the other items to get it to work.