Aftermarket parking sensors - front sensor locations + kit recommendations

[tangcla]

I'm looking to retrofit parking sensors on my 840Ci and am contempating fitting a full suite of front as well as rear sensors.
Any suggestions on mounting locations for the front? I have the Motorsport front bar.

Also, any recommendations on kits? Display is unnecessary, just want the beeping.

I'm in two minds as to whether I should try to source an OEM BMW kit and retrofit, or just to go aftermarket. Has anyone attempted the retrofit using a kit from an E32/E34E38/E39?

[tangcla]

Bump.

Looks like I've sourced an E38 kit (front and rear).

Question regarding installation and mounting positions still stand

[Timm]

The OEM E31 parking sensors (to be kind) look pretty awful which is probably why they were a very rarely-fitted option:



The E38 system works quite well, it has two sounders, one at the front (shared by the other system sounds) and a separate sounder in the rear. You need all 8 sensors connected and working or it just gives up completely - here's how the E38 sensors are fitted to the bumpers using inserts that are bonded to the bumper:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/PDC/Index.htm

Full info here:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/E38_PDC_System.pdf

[tangcla]

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/PDC/Index.htm

Full info here:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/E38_PDC_System.pdf

Thanks Tim, always coming through with the goods!
Any idea whether there's any wiring already available to tap into in the E31 rear?

[Timm]

No wiring, no module, no rear speaker - nothing!

[tangcla]

No wiring, no module, no rear speaker - nothing!

Damn it! That's a shame.
Where's the best place to tap power and speed from the boot area?

[Timm]

Don't worry about that yet - work out how and where you are going to mount the sensors!

[TxGR8White]

The later model BMW's (E65/66 onward from 2008-current), use very small diameter flush mounted sensors, not like those hideous things that were an option on the E31 way back when...

[tangcla]

Don't worry about that yet - work out how and where you are going to mount the sensors!

The later model BMW's (E65/66 onward from 2008-current), use very small diameter flush mounted sensors, not like those hideous things that were an option on the E31 way back when...

I purchased the E38 kit so it won't be the super hideous ones (but not as pretty as the late model stuff).

For the rear, I think mounting should be pretty straightforward, yes?

Front, unsure as yet - but I was thinking, perhaps these spots (physical mounting dependent), see attached
Capture.jpg

[Timm]

At that height at the front they are going to miss the csi-bumpers nemesis - kerbs!

[tangcla]

At that height at the front they are going to miss the csi-bumpers nemesis - kerbs!

Sensors have a 60 degree vertical view. Think that's not enough?
Do you think they should go on the top edge of the CSI lip instead? I'd rather not drill into it, given a choice.

[Timm]

Probably best fit them where you have indicated and reverse up to kerbs......

[Timm]

A quick look at the document I linked regarding the PDC system - the reversing signal and road-speed signal are transmitted via the I-Bus, so you will not be able to provide those inputs on the E31. AFAIR, the PDC system still works (if you press the button) without the I-Bus working (the I-Bus often fizzled out on the E38).

[dancerst]

My front and rear PDC

[MParallel]

It had to be you Dimitri haha.

The E38 system is activated by ibus (reverse light on message to the PDC module). How'd you get around that?

[dancerst]

It had to be you Dimitri haha.

The E38 system is activated by ibus (reverse light on message to the PDC module). How'd you get around that?

��

Look look closely at my sensors! ��

e38 module can be coded to be activated by reverse gear!

[petejk]

My front and rear PDC

It's good to see the front sensor locations that you chose.
I'll be doing this with the early E38 front/rear PDC kit.
The nerve racking part will be drilling into an OEM CSi bumper!

[MParallel]

��

Look look closely at my sensors! ��

e38 module can be coded to be activated by reverse gear!

Ha! That’s pretty sweet!

Ok I looked at them, but what should I see?

Have you done front PDC on the E36?

[dancerst]

Ha! That’s pretty sweet!

Ok I looked at them, but what should I see?

Have you done front PDC on the E36?

On E36 I finished front PDC years ago


On E31 my sensors are “e90” style! Smaller diameter and no outer rings like e38/46

[MParallel]

I did see your old E36 topic, but that is from your older E36.
Would be nice if you had a journal of the 328i cabrio.

There you also talk about having to use a second ground to bypass the ibus on signal.

I did notice the nice flush sensors. Nice to see that also works. Guess it’s
always a standalone system. A module with wiring and sensors and some source of power.

[dancerst]

I did see your old E36 topic, but that is from your older E36.
Would be nice if you had a journal of the 328i cabrio.

There you also talk about having to use a second ground to bypass the ibus on signal.

I did notice the nice flush sensors. Nice to see that also works. Guess it’s
always a standalone system. A module with wiring and sensors and some source of power.

For passive PDC like on my old and current E36 (2 wire sensors) you had to use a second ground and also (depends on the module hardware) solder a resistor in the specific spot on the circuit board of PDC module.

on my E31 I used E38 active PDC system (3 wire sensors), but I had to modify sensors to make them look like e90 smaller sensor.
For this system, wiring is done exactly like on E38, just need to recode the module.

E90 is NOT standalone system anymore, unfortunately...


I have Instagram for my BMWs: https://instagram.com/dmitrysviridovbmw?r=nametag

[dancerst]

It's good to see the front sensor locations that you chose.
I'll be doing this with the early E38 front/rear PDC kit.
The nerve racking part will be drilling into an OEM CSi bumper!

Oh I know! I bought another rear bumper because first attempt wasn’t perfect ����*♂️
But front CSI lip turned out nice from the first try.

why are you using early E38 system?

[petejk]

Oh I know! I bought another rear bumper because first attempt wasn’t perfect ����*♂️
But front CSI lip turned out nice from the first try.

why are you using early E38 system?

The passive system seems like the least problematic to get working outside of the car that originally housed it.
Also, from what I've read, the E38 passive sensors are less failure prone than the active ones.
Either way, I made my choice with the best information I had at the time, and have accumulated parts for installation at a later date. Loom, gongs, switch, brackets etc. I'll be using some generic sensor mounting brackets from eBay which hold the sensors nicely.

[MParallel]

For passive PDC like on my old and current E36 (2 wire sensors) you had to use a second ground and also (depends on the module hardware) solder a resistor in the specific spot on the circuit board of PDC module.

on my E31 I used E38 active PDC system (3 wire sensors), but I had to modify sensors to make them look like e90 smaller sensor.
For this system, wiring is done exactly like on E38, just need to recode the module.

E90 is NOT standalone system anymore, unfortunately...


I have Instagram for my BMWs: https://instagram.com/dmitrysviridovbmw?r=nametag

Thanks. You you are not actually using the e90 system. I first read it like that. Do the 3-pin active sensors fit the stock E36 2-pin holders?

My M3 has factory PDC, unlike my 328i cabrio, where I retrofitted it. The retrofit setup make more sense, as you get a speaker that is installed in the rear, not the stock gong. Not really a problem with rear-only, but having the beeps come from the side you are moving towards, makes much more sense.

Front PDC would be nice, although to 'hack up' the factory install just for that (and since you can see the front of the car), but cool nontheless. And good reason to fir the cool pdc switch.

Someone (Vlakci) did a front install with hidden reed-contact sensors. Not having to drill in the front strips/bumper would be a big plus. But not sure if you can get such sensors to work with the OEM module.