For an 06 RL:

With the high rear end of the RL, now I know why they have the back up camera option, almost creaming the car on a drainpipe.

I have searched the threads and not come up with a good answer.

So, rather than pay the dealer 1200 bucks, does anyone have suggestions like buy from Ray Laks Acura (hondacuraworld.com) and install your self, or bring it to a dealer, or a stereo store, or something.

Looking for what people may have done in Northern VA, DC, MD.

Thanks in advance.

 

I pickup my wifes RL tomorrow. They were installing the backup camera. If I had to get it. I would look at this for a good price http://www.hondapartsunlimited.com/. Follow it through and it shows all the parts and numbers for backup camera and mount. Good Luck

 

I just had the backup camera installed in my 06 RL yesterday at Tischer. I think the total cost (including installation) was $670, but I'd have to go back and look as I paid for it when I bought the car a few weeks ago. The $1200 quote you mentioned seems really high.

 

$1200 is way too much. My installed price was in the $650 range.

I'd also like a front camera as that steep nose really shortens the visibility of the hood.

Rob144

 

$1200 is way too high. It cost me $680 to get my rear camera installed at my dealer. The rear camera costs $ 644 with installation on the Acura eStore.

 

I am planning to get it installed tmrow. The dealer gave me a quote for 800$. 500$ for the Cam and 3 hrs to install it .I am going for it.

I hit a parking pole on the other day while backing up...i really felt it really needs a back up cam.

Here I go getting it done trow....

 

This is a great find. Thanks very much!

 

Glad it helped You. I just picked up my wifes new 2006rl today. Got it home waxed it to make sure no issues. The car is better than I expected. Started playing with all the gadgets. What A Car. Took it out tonight love the headllights. She gets it tomorrow night , has no ides its here. There is only one thing it doesn't do and thats why I have her.

 

So ... you mean it doesn't cook?
.
.

 

My 06 RL and 06 MDX have backup cam. I think the cam in MDX is far better.
Brighter and more clear image. Right after in "R" position, the image in RL is dark but it gets better a while after(about a couple seconds later) but still worse than in MDX. In MDX there is no such variation.

 

I think it looks pretty good. My MDX 2003 has a better picture too but I think its the location of the camera. It just gives her a better chance of not backing into something. Once you have one you will not go without

 

Can't wait to get one and get it installed.

The local dealers charge an arm and a leg and are none too happy about me purchasing the parts over the internet from another dealer.

 

Oh Well!!!! Maybe all of them could use a little competition.

 

Got mine installed this week and am liking it so far. Of course, I had to go try it out on a variety of curbs, walls, cars, trucks, etc. to know what it looks like at 2 ft, 1 ft, 6 in, 1 in, etc. Now, I just have to train my wife on how to use it.

 

Question regarding the backup camera: Does it come on immediately after you start the car and put it into reverse, or do you have to wait until the Nav boot process is finished and you get past the nag screen?

 

Another question from a recent proud owner of 2005 Acura RL. Can i get the backup camera installed on my model? If so, what is the best recommended approach i.e. buy parts from honda estore and take it to dealer OR get it done at dealer for parts+labor?

 

It will come on "almost" immediately. No need to wait for the NAV system to boot but I do find on occasion it will take a few seconds to come on. I don't know why but it's the samw with my MDX.

LL

 

I did the exact same thing as you. I purchased my camera and mount from hondapartsunlimited.com and then had the dealer install it. They took 3 hours and charged $300 for installation but I saved about $200 for what they were going to charge (850). They were just shocked that I was able to buy the camera and mount for $325, yeah right.

 

I was going to order backup camera from hondapartsunlimited.com and thought I would check the estore one more time. My dealer had the installed price for $505, (320 parts, 185 labor). Great deal, so I tried to order it and it would not go through. I tried again, and I got a technical difficulties problem, and then again and the camera option is no longer available!

Call up the dealer, and it is 845 to purchase installed!

 

The '05 will NOT take the camera -- there's apparently some difference in the head units. from the '06. One or two folks around here have tried to get it installed on their '05's and it simply did not work.... search the board.

 

thanks pal...

guess i will have to sell my recently purchased '05 RL....

do you guys know of a good way to sell the car and get its money's worth?

 

ohhh and another question.. can i not rip-and-replace 05 HeadUnit for '06 one?

 

Something similar happened to me. Their quoted price on estore was 650 or something like that. So when I called up to check it out, they said that did not include the attachment package which was another $200. Total BS. Just order it from hondapartsunlimited (camera and attachment) and don't pay a penny over 3 bills for the labor.

 

I don't know this for a fact but I thought the 05 rl is not hardwired or cable ready so to speak, for the backup camera. It is hard to believe they changed the headunit in the 06's. They probably just ran a harness from the headunit to the trunk so it was backup camera ready.

 

You're going to sell the car because you can't get the backup camera?!??

 

It's hard to believe someone can't give us an exact reason why the 05s can't take the camera. If it's a simple harness issue, that's not a huge undertaking to do either. It would be nice to know.

 

I missed the thread last week. I just had my back up camera installed on my new RL ,they ripped me off for 800+tax.

I did not know that we can get the parts for so cheap in honda parts...next time i will buy online and ask the dealer to install it.

 

lol.... the car is for my wife... and she can't see anything while backing up... i am afraid that she'll wreck the car pretty soon w/o the camera....

 

I went to my dealer today, and they said they WILL (and CAN) install camera on '05 RL :-) So i am all happy and dandy.... (now i may just as well keep the car)...

In addition, they confirmed that iLINK CANNOT be installed on '05RL, however, a specialized audio store (like hifi Buy) can easily retrofit that in the car (the service engineer told me they are surprised why Acura doesn't do it by itself!)

 

Before you get excited do a search for the poster Qatar's attempt to have the dealer install the camera in the 2005 RL. The 2005 is missing a switch that the 2006 has that turns the camera on when the car is put in reverse. His dealer was confident it could be installed in the 2005 but was ultimately unsuccessful - and this was after he had his trunk switch moved to accomodate the camera. I think he ultimately traded up to a 2006. I have a 2005 and would love to have the Acura camera. I think there are aftermarket cameras which may work.

 

well thats a bummer Lets see what the dealer has to say towards the end of the day... (i was convinved, after going through the threads here, that it cannot be done, precisely due to problems you have mentioned, but once the service engineer told me that he has done it b4 in other RL's and it can be done, i got my glimmer of hope back)...

 

the verdict is NO CAN DO my dealer, before starting installation, called up district rep, who didn't have an answer for him... then he called up acura central tech support, who flat out said 'don't go there'.... so here i am, with an '05 RL with no camera/sensor AND no iLink

am almost convinced i should trade it for an '06 RL....

 

I just called my dealer, who wants $687 installed. They also have a coupon for 10% off parts good to the end of the month, so that's $637 installed. I'm pleased to see that's in line with the experience of others here.

As in my sig, that's my next mod, and a necessary one with a little one who is on the launching pad to crawling.

 

My 2005 RL has a dealer-installed iLink. I had the connector put in the lower center compartment for my easy access. Had it for about a year now. Works fine. No problems whatsoever.

 

Don't despair over not getting an Acura iPod link... because it blows goats even when it works right (which mine did for all of a month or so).

Get an aftermarket iPod link, and tell your wife to turn her head and look over her shoulder.

 

lol.... very well said jftjr...

yes, after hearing stories about iLink, i am on my way to a local custom audio shop for installing USASpec :-)

and as far the camera is concerned... ummn.... i dare not tell my wife to look back, else i'd be hunting for a new apt/house soon, and this time it'd be for my own self hehehehehehehe

 

There was a 2005 RL on eBay recently with a backup camera. The seller even showed pictures from the camera on the navi screen. SOMEONE had to have done it, and I doubt they used an aftermarket system or switched out the head unit. So I dunno . An alternative is Dom's aftermarket unit. Just go to the Group Buys section in "Off Topic" and you'll see it, it's always on sale.