I would like to know if anyone has had the Backup Sensors installed on their '04 TL. I am thinking I may have this done, since I have to park in some very tight quarters in my Company's parking ramp.

My questions:

(1) What is the approximate cost of the parts and installation?
(2) How long does the installation take?
(3) Do they drill into the existing bumper cover, or is it replaced?
(4) Is there any visual indicator (on the Non-Navi display) in addition to the audible warning?
(5) Overall, how effective are they? Was it worth the investment?

Thanks in advance.

 

I installed mine.
(1) The cost of the parts varies, I got mine through a friend. Real Cheap. I think through the internet you can get them for ~$600
(2) The installation takes about 3-4 hours.
(3) Yes, not only do you drill, you have to core (7/8" holes for the side sensors and 1" holes for the center ones). The bumper is marked on the inside where these sensors are installed. No guess work.
(4) No visible display, only beep from buzzer module installed under rear deck (from the trunk side)
(5) Very effective, Definatelly worth the investment. They already saved me from an SUV (gril in SUV) backing up into me. I actually had to put the car in D and step on the gas to avoid her. Would not have seen her until the thump if it wasn't for the sensors. Great on parking lots when people are too damn rushed to wait for you to back out of your spot and you're stuck between two large vehicles.

 

I had mine done through my dealer. The cost for the whole thing w/install was about $580. It took about 4-5 hours. Yes, they drill through the bumper. It's not the prettiest thing in the world but very, very useful.

 

I found a better solution...
cheaper, more acurate, it has voice and beep,
and the sensors are very small (no ugly holes...)
Miniture detectors, only 1/2 inch in diameter offer a factory installed look (can be painted). flush mount in plastic bumper.
- excelent range from 12 feet (4 meters) down to 12 inches (0.3 meters) in 10 zones.


The sensor is called Poron Micro 5s - it's the new model
you can get the voice in english or spanish (if you like being exotic).

From AutoToys.com - $269.95 (english)
http://www.autotoys.com/x/cust/produ...productid=2900


or from PoronFlorida:
regular : $299.99 Special: $249.99 + $10 sh (spanish or english)
contact email : poronflorida@poronflorida.com
http://www.poronflorida.com/micro5s_english.html

I'm getting one next week, installation is very quick and it connects to the electrical wire for the reverse light.

 

NOX 3.2, this looks good, I prefer anything could hide the hole better. The original Acura system has the big holes, which drive me crazy.

Please give up the update. Thanks.

 

I don't think they look bad on NBP but not too good on anything else

 

since the car is black, the holes look good!
I like your body molding and tires too.

 

I have a White Diamond Pearl TL and you can really see the sensors in the back bumper. It is almost an eyesore but they work so well that it is worth it. Also to everyone I have the actual installation procedure from Acura if anyone wants it. Just send me an e-mail and I will be more than happy to send it to you in PDF format or in Word format.

Thanks

 

Yes, true, it's on eyesore on anything but black but better than a damaged bumper. (In some cars like the X5, they put the sensors in the lower black portion of the bumper where it's much less visible). Hopefully, in future TL's, Acura will go with a back up camera instead like I had in my previous FX45--whole lot better. (One good thing though about going with Acura's system instead as opposed to aftermarket is that they will fix it if anything goes wrong with it).

 

:smackhead , keep us updated, please... my fat fingers.

 

Mine will be installed this week, I like'em, had on my 03 Navigator.

 

RKillian...that car looks hot!! How much did the install cost from the dealer?

 

Nothing, I've installed everything on my car except for the Eibach springs and the tint. I know my limits.

 

Moregrip...Are you getting your dealer to install it? What is the cost?

 

Can the backup sensors be turned off, or are they always on once they are installed?

 

thanks for the aftermarket sensor link

 

yes dealer is installing it, the sensors they sold me are Cost plus 10% and then whatever labor rate applies to the install.

 

The backup sensors (OEM and aftermarket) are normally off,
they are usually connected to your backup lights, so when you shift into reverse, then power is applied to the sensors...

The front units (like the ones in Mercedes Benz's) are a lot more complicated since they are commonly tied to a speed sensor, so only when your car is going forward at less than 10 mph they will operate... (most good systems I've seen are installed at the factory).
Instead of a speed sensor, they can also be installed using a manual switch for simplicity.

 

if you really don't want holes or "anything" to show on your bumper...

this is what the Poron guy in florida said:
"The Micro 5s buttons can be mounted inside plastic bumpers while the Micro 3s
rectangular sensors are mounted on top of the bumper. Plastic or otherwise."

so that means, that the sensors on the Poron Micro 5s unit will work from behind the bumper too...

I'm buying mine tonight... (will take digital pictures of install to post later)

from PoronFlorida:
regular : $299.99 Special: $249.99 + $10 sh (spanish or english)
contact email : poronflorida@poronflorida.com
http://www.poronflorida.com/micro5s_english.html

 

good luck. hope the install goes well and thanks for taking a step forward.

 

Anyone have pics of these installed on any car OTHER than black? I have ABP and I'm considering them.

 

Exactly the reason I refrained from having them installed. Those black open holes are as conspicuous as hell on any color other than black. If you look at the factory sensors installed in Caddys, Benzs, Beamers, Lexus's, Saabs, etc., you'll see they're 4 circles in the bumper, each filled in with the bumper's color, no where near as conspicuous as the Acura's. That, I could've/would've lived with.

So I opted for another solution, a 5/8" thick moulding and a 3M Clearmask strip right above it - 2 layers thick, 16 mil.
The moulding color even matches the splash gurads. Though you can't see at this angle, the moulding end is cut on the same angle as the line going along the front edge of the taillight assembly for a more factory look.

 

I have Desert Mist. If interested send me a note and I'll give you my album's url. They are great. Small holes same colour as the car, not really noticeable (who really cares? Think a dent isn't noticeable?????) and boy do they work. Saved me many many times in the last 7 months. I love them. Same arguements against them as the side moldings, which I also love.

 

If anyone hesitates to have this backup sensor installed, besides looking for the aftermarket model, you may wait and check 05TL's, it "might" be different.

Just a thought.

 

They are FUGLY!

 

JSS1

do you have the OEM backup sensors or the Poron aftermarkets? Thanks

I think I've seen your DM in driveway/snow pics.

 

OEM. Dealer installed with full warranty. For all who think they look horrible I dare you to back into a space between concrete pillars with your eyes closed, like I can.

 

I'd rather have intelligent cruise control that slows you down to maintain a safe distance from cars in front of you or the highway.

 

Agreed but that still doesn't stop you from backing into a fire hydrant.

 

I have something similar to this installed on my Wife's SUV. Not the prettiest gadget but it works great, is very inexpensive, it installs in a few minutes.

http://reversesafe.com/

Thoughts?

 

I got mine installed and they work really well...got OEM from acura; i negotiated the price of the sensors when I was negotiating the purchase, so when i picked up the car this past Monday, they were already installed. My out the door cost for the entire car was $33740, with tax/title/reg included (anthracite, camel, navi, 5spd, decklid spoiler, backup sensors). That price included my trade in...93 camry v6 xle (got around $2,000 for it).

I have a question for everyone who got it installed by Acura. When they installed mine, the corner sensors are filled in with a black piece of plastic...however, the two back sensors (the ones directly in back of the car) aren't filled in...there's a whole about 1-2 inches deep. These aren't filled in. Can someone who got it installed from Acura verify that those two holes aren't supposed to be filled? Basically, the back sensors aren't filled in, but the corner sensors are? I feel like the back sensors should be filled in as well for consistency...

Thanks.

 

why not just get a backup camera like avelectronics offers for the NAVI display... like the MDX has.

 

First of all, MDX (or RX330) has the special design cover for the rear-view camera, which 04TL doesn't have, and not many dealers are willing to sell those whole package to you.

Second, if you go aftermarket products, they usually do the whole DVD setup, it's more than what you need for rear-view camera.

 

Mine is the same. I think it has to do with the method it determines the distance as it is sonar based.The back ones have a much greater distance to track (6+ feet compared to the 1 1/2 feet on the sides) and therefore use a lower tone. Think of it as woofers on the back and tweeters on the side. I think the sound waves on the side are high enough to pass through the covers where the low frequency of the back ones would just bounce back if they were covered.

 

This is an edit and reprint of what I posted on August 5 for another thread. I had the sensors installed in late July after waiting approx six weeks for backordered parts (dealer said Anthracite parts are in high demand and tough to find); my TL was new in April, and I ordered the sensors in May. Sensors were installed during my 5K service, $489+$89 for parts (pn 08V67-SEP-230 plus pn 08V67-SEP-200G) and $273 for labor. Each sensor is an oval (vertical) "cut into" a circle that's approx 1-1/8" in diameter (fully round). I still don't love them, but I've grown to like them, and, because I backup to walls and garage doors about fifteen or twenty times each week, the sensors will definitely save me a bumper repaint in a couple of years; and it took only a few days to get accustomed to how they change the appearance of the car (is ok). First series of tones is approx 5 feet from the target; next series is approx 3 feet; next is approx 24 inches, then you wait for the beeps to lead to an uninterrupted steady tone, which stays steady while another set of beeps begins (somewhere between 24 and 12 inches from the target). When I hear two separate but steady uninterrupted tones, I know I'm about 9 inches from the target. [Lots of racket for passengers in the back seat.]