Official MINI Rear Camera Retrofit Kit

Wow! That's very cool.

I hope this is made available in the U.S., but if it's not, maybe we can get someone in Europe (like Alex) to do a group buy on it for us. :-) I'd love to have this functionality in my MINI. I was really surprised that MINI didn't already offer it as an option with the navigation system as it's much nicer than the parking distance control they offer now in my opinion (and many other car manufacturers are already offering such a feature in the U.S. – My neighbor has one in her Infinity Q35 and it's great).

Also, if it is going to be available in the U.S., I wonder what the cost will be for the retrofit kit?

BTW, how come the switchbox kit isn't included as it looks like it's an important part? Also, why are two part numbers given in the PDF for the kit? What's the difference?

Speaking of which, anyone know if there's a way to get the onboard LED display to show “R” when putting a manual transmission in reverse? The R is there (somewhere) for the automatic transmission. Bonus points if it blinks about three times.

Tim, is it really that hard to find the reverse gear that you need the car to tell ya?

Yes, antsmini, but MINI USA has been known to do similarly foolish things in the past. So the lesson is, you can't always count on MINI USA being rational. :)

To me this gizmo seems more appropiate in behemoth SUVs or full size sedans, but a MINI, the shortest car sold in America???

I can see the camera being of better use in the convertible version which has horrible rearward vision with the top up, but the hardtop MINI???

If you are a sucker for gizmos, maybe this toy will do the trick to “impress your friends”, but if you need a camera everytime you go in reverse, probably you need to revisit your driving skills and learn to use the side mirrors (And turn your head back) when backing up.

Yes, the MINI is the smallest car sold in America. However, it is not impossible for human error to still cause damage, or worse, death — like especially to a small child or even a family pet. To say the cameras would not be useful in the MINI is like saying airbags could never be useful in a Hummer.

When you try to think about or criticize something, try to envision the argument from all angles.

I think there is a big difference between the need for airbags, and the need for a backup video monitoring system in a car. Come on!

There is not a safety substiture for airbags. As far as monitors go, if you remember in driver's education, you are suppose to walk around the car and look for any obstructions prior to backing the car out. If semi drivers and Hummer drivers can back out without killing people, I think Mini drivers can probably do the same thing.

I still think it is cool, don't get me wrong, but from a pure level of safety, I don't think it is the best money spent. But to each his own.

All,

For those of you who are interested…

StevePSB over on http://www.mini2.com was kind enough to find out the following information for me on the retrofit kit's part numbers:

The first part number you quote is listed as 'Reversing camera retrofit kit' and the second part number is listed as 'Retrofit kit extras', and it looks like you need both. This is rear only.

66 21 0 392 370 – £269.09 +VAT – Part on hold, not yet available 66 21 0 303 085 – £156.60 +VAT – Available to order from Germany

For front it looks like you need one camera

66 21 0 392 371 – Unknown price, not yet available

and another of the extras kits as above.

That's the best as I can interpret it ATM. The fact that they're not available yet means that a dealer can't order the parts ATM.

Thus, it appears that the “switchbox” (and possibly the “handle seal strip”) is part of the “Retrofit kit extras” package (although I'm not positive). However, it's strange that the “Retrofit kit extras” component is available in Germany, but the main “Reversing camera retrofit kit” isn't. Weird…

Alex,

You're the man! :-)

I'm definitely interested in one (but you already knew that).

– The Office Maven