I was at Famous Rays pizza on lunch today and decided to take a look in DCH Montclair Acura. I plan on getting a TL this spring and since I was right next door I figured I'd take a walk in just to look around. I started talking to one of the dealers and he was showing me a NBP/Parchment/auto/navi. He also told me it had a back up camera. I said since when was that an option. He stated that "well we do that here." He then told me that there was a DVD player in the glove box which was connected to the navi screen. I then, once again said, I didn't know that was an option. He said again "well we do that here." Asked pricing, he said for the DVD and back up cam it was $1600. Are all of the dealers beginning to offer this option?? Not that I would really spend and extra $1600 for these things. If I want to watch a DVD I'll sit my ass on the couch and do it and I feel I'm a good enough driver where I really don't need a cam to help me out. If this is a re-post, sorry, did't do a search.

 

1600 is actually a fair price for that i think. if they used quality components... it'd be the conversion kit, audio modulation (or maybe they even tapped XM).. rear view camera, dvd player... install for everything.

 

The quote I got from the dealer to installed back up sensor (with alarm, not video), was $950.

It is actually one of the "Dealer Installed" optioned listed on TL's brochure.

It's really hard to see out the back of a TL, and I've seen more than 1 or 2 TL with vertical scratches at the middle of the rear bumper. For some ppl, it's a good investment.

Therefore I think it's a fair price.

 

I just didn't know it was a dealer option. I actually didn't like the way the back up cam looked. I was in the license plate frame. It looked like a simple frame with a cam built in. I didn't touch it but it looked a little flimsey. Maybe I'm wrong. It also looks like someone can just come and rip it right off your car.

 

Oh, then it is different than the one I saw. The one I saw at the dealer (picture only) consisted of a series of 5 or 6 quarter-size sensor mounted across the rear bumper. The decreasing gaps between the beeping sound let you know you are getting close to something.

The licence plate frame mounted thing is an after market stuff.

 

I'm currently pricing the new Honda Ridgeline and the DVD backup camera option is a 1000 option. I wonder why it would be more on the TL.

 

go_blue: you are talking about the sensors. Those just beep to warn you. Papaman677 is talking about a backup camera that interupts the nav screen when you go into reverse.

 

Papaman,

Do you think you'd be able to find out for us how they did the audio on the DVD? It would be nice to know how dealers are doing it as it is an issue a lot of us are having.

 

does tha back up cam display the distance lines on the screen?

 

Forum vendor Vsokolov does the backup camera installation at his shop in Brooklyn.

The camera mounted on the license plate frame activates whenever you go into reverse and shows the camera image on the Navi screen. $700 complete with all parts and labor. Cheaper than having the Acura backup sensors installed. I'll probably do it sometime this spring.

BTW, to clear up any misconceptions here for those of you who think they might get to play DVD's on their NAV screen at that price......NOT!!! That $700 is for the backup camera setup ONLY...and only if you have the Navi.

 

Has anyone figured out how to get the 5.1 surround audio signal from a separate DVD player to utilize the TL's surround sound system? Actually, the first question should be....do mobile DVD players produce 5.1 surround? Concert DVD's would be cool!

 

VTECboy,

I think this would be very difficult. I have a PS2 in my glove compartment and it does have an optical out so I could get 5.1 sound from it, but I'd have to go through some kind of decoder to get 6 separate analog channels. Then, I would think the best way to do it was to put it into some kind of pre-amp to be able to adjust the volume and then tie in directly to the stock TL amp located in the passenger footwell. I doubt very much it would be possible to easily tap the digital stream into the stock head unit without taking it apart and learning the circuit.

 

I might be wrong but I think CA passed a law banning video screens (for Dvd's) that can be viewed from drivers seat unless they only work when car is in park. A good idea I might add. I would be interested in the back-up camera as is offered on the MDX for $950.

 

I'm sure when it's a dealer-installed option, they tie in to the hand brake (manual) or gear-shift (automatic). Of course, this wire is easily bypassed and tied to ground for people who want to be able to watch movies while driving...

 

Backup sensor != rear view camera

 

Yeah, DCH Montclair Acura is pretty trailblazing in that regard. When I was there to pick up my car I saw a WDP Navi with a custom wood kit - on the showroom floor! NOTE: They have a local installer do the aftermarket work.

Cheers,

Jason

 

I'm a little surprised that the dealer install a DVD player that's viewable through the navi screen. In most states, it's illegal to have a video-capable monitor viewable by the driver.

 

back up camera should of been a standard option on the TL....all other major auto maker has them....

 

OK, backup cameras on minivans and SUVs I understand, but on a sedan?

Sure, the TL isn't the easiest thing to see behind with the tall ass and all and yes, I understand it's a nice toy, but a backup camera just seems like overkill to me...

 

So, the "option" would be good... someone who like it could have it installed... someone who doesn't see its value could ignore it...

 

Agree its a nice to have, not need. Much more than a toy in areas like this where we pull in and back out of most parking as opposed to parallel parking. A few people have run over small children in the past few years here. Plus it comes standard on MDX/Navi and RL I think.

 

That's why I said Option. Not standard.

 

I really don't know the answers to some of the questions, how they hooked up the DVD to Navi screen. I was on my lunch break and didn't have all that much time to get into a deep convo w/the dealer. I'm sure he would have no idea how they hooked it up and Im sure even if he did, he probably wouldn't tell me. I'm assuming they would want the $$$ instead of telling a customer how they did it, go somewhere else or install it themselves for cheaper. It was not back-up sensors. It's a camera, like in the MDX. It did look very easy to steal though. Take your basic black license plate frame and mount a little camera on the top of it, that's what it looked like. As far as DVD player and how they hooked up the audio, i have no clue. Sorry couldn't be more help.

 

I think to make it "legal" it is wired to the parking brake sensor so it can't be watched while moving. But this is pretty easy to bypass.

 

Actually, you said "standard option".