psheu

Just wondering if anyone have installed a full parking sensor on their TL.... I'm about to install a set i got that's 4 front and 4 rear color matched sensors with color LCD that I'm gonna mount near my inside rearview mirror.... the oem only covers the back... is it a good idea to have them? just wondering

Ron A

This thread has been moved from the Performance Parts & Modifications subforum to the proper forum. Please read The "Modifications" in "Performance Parts & Modifications" announcement at the top of the Performance Parts & Modifications subforum for a full explanation.

psheu

thanx Ron... I should learn to read:P it won't happen again

Walshstl

I have rear sensors, they came with the car. I have come to depend on them (and the side mirror tilt) and from now on I wouldnt buy a car without them. But, you can definitely live without them. Isnt it close to 1k for both front and rear? I personally wouldnt spend that much for parking sensors. Like I said, you dont absolutely need them but they sure do make parking ALOT easier.

psheu

omg.... $1K??? I paid ~$60 included shipping for the whole thing (parts) brand new.... thinking about paying someone ~$200 (i did a little research that it'll take prox. from $125 - $180 for installation front and back) for professional installation.... that's why I'm tempted to do this mod.... I won't mind paying a little extra because I want them to do extra good job and take extra care of my car.... plus, they have to get behind the interior lining of my car to place the color LCD display where I want it.... is this too much?

here are some pix for the parts....

as2222

looks pretty good. keep us updated. wanted to get one for my fronts cuz my ride's too low...

PeteThaPitbull

i had a system just like this that i had installed myself on my mitsubishi endeavor (SUV), i only had 2 sensors put in even tho when i ordered them from ebay it came with 4..it worked great..not hard to do at all, just wire them to your reverse lights, once your car is in reverse gear - it turns on..the hardest part was drillin the holes into my bumper

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

OEM sensors FTW...

I can't live without them. TL has a big ass, and a small field of view. I have the reverse camera too, very helpful in the city.

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

^I see red x?

TeknoKing

This should be a requirement for all the female drivers! (sorry)

My back up camera and the tilting mirrors are more than enough for me. But I'm sure those sensors do a great job.

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Not offended. I'd like to think I could manuever this thing like a pro, but I can't... Not only that, I'm extra cautious about damage. 2 years in and out of DC, not a scratch on my tail... worth the investment.

The sensors were installed way before I installed the camera... They're overkill, but it's nice to have an auditory alert to compliment the visual of the camera.

They also have a wider field of view than the camera, which means they "see" stuff" you can't see with the camera.

They make you lazy though. Once you have a camera, you have a tendency to ONLY look at it. The sensors also help when you're backing up using your mirrors.

I give em

psheu

Wonderful.... I'm gonna have them put in tomorrow.... I'll keep everyone posted with pix of the final product

lights

iTrader: (1)

if you take all the advices from Kennedy, you'll be broke in no time!! :p
i'm just playin.....






but it's sooo true...

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

"I'm rich, bitch... honk honK" - favorite chapelle skit...

psheu

well fellas good news.... I just got them installed and picked up the car.... after testing the system, I'm really satisfied.... the system turns on when u press the brake or put in reverse. the brain is hidden underneath the back seat. the display screen is mounted on the upper front windshield near the inside rear view mirror. I'll take some pix tonite after I get a hold of a camera.

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

so how does the beep sound... is like on fords where it gets louder... or like benz where it doesn't sound till ur really close?

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

OEM sensors start off beeping slowly, then as you get closer they beep more quickly... within 6 inches it turns into a continuous tone...

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

"bippu, bippu, bippu"

psheu

well, there is a switch behind the monitor to adjust the volume of the alert. (high, low, off) Like Kennedy said, it beeps according to the distance (or you can turn it off completely and just read the screen). here are the promissed pictures... I just got off work so the night picture is so so.... I'll take more pictures tomorrow during day time.... I'm also picking up my mom's 03 NBP TL tomorrow (fixed up from the accident)......

according to the acura tech who installed it for me, it took him all day installing the unit because he rip apart the entire enterior panel to run the wire to where i want it. and it didn't come with enough wire. He run the wire through the wire hole in the firewall to avoid additional drilling (no additional hole )

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

very nice! good place to mount the screen.

psheu

psheu

Thanx everyone for your warm comments and suggestions!!! here are some more pictures:

Walshstl

^^ Nice dude! So what was the total price for everything + installed? The oem option from acura I thought was like $400 for just the rear so thats why I thought it was so much. The parking option for other luxury cars are very spendy.

@TechnoKing

Lol parking sensors come stand on cars like S550, ls460, 7series ect. Its not for females. Its preferred over the backup cam IMO. I think the backup cam is useless. You cant keep your eyes glued on the camera when backing up, it even warns you about not doing that. With the sensors, you can look behind you and depend on your hearing to see if you are getting too close. Im sure anyone, if given the chance to use both, would prefer the sensors.

Walshstl

Wait so is it possible to just install an on/off button or switch? I would just want the rear to work when the car is in reverse, and the front to work when I hit a button or switch. Was the screen an optional thing? It seems liek too much clutter to me.

psheu

the parts included shipping was ~$65 (as in the box above picture) and installation ~$200... the display screen is included with the entire kit. the warning speaker is integrated in the display unit.

silver_alty

Did the sensors come color matched?

silver_alty

I remember the Acura service guy quoted me at like $1100 for the (rear only) system installed :-/

I really wish I had a parking system on my car..15% tints at night=absolutely no visibility in the rear :-(

psheu

yep

psheu

this is quite normal for the dealer installed job cost... the oem sensor only covers back also... the system I got covers the front as well... I have the Acura service guy install the unit for me on the side (that's how I got it installed with this price). this unit come with the monitor instead of just audio warning like the oem system have. I didn't trust other people to install this unit because they need to take apart some interior trim to run wire to where I want the monitor to be mounted. plus the front wire need to be run through the front firewall. the bumper have pre-existing hole mark for the sensor placement so it's not hard to install the rear sensors.

the sensor comes in really handy at nite, parallel park, butt park, and backing up.... check out different aftermarket sensors, i think everyone offer more function than the oem sensors.

pkarandi

Thanks for all the great info and pics psheu. For <$300 these sensors seem like great peace of mind. I am always paranoid when parking and reversing about dinging something, especially since my last car (94 Prelude) was so much smaller and easier to get in/out tight spaces. I have to figure out now if I want to invest in something like this (although I do have the rear camera).

Figure too if these sensors prevent just one ding, they have paid for themselves. Looking at it like that makes it an easy sell.

By the way, your install looks excellent. The color matches perfectly and all the sensors look nice and flush with the body. Seems as good as OEM. Very nice.

pkarandi

psheu,

Can you tell us where you got them and what brand they are? (I can't read the brand name off the package in the pics). Thanks!

psheu

thanx for the warm comment... I agree about avoiding costly repair from scratches, nics, dents... we all love and baby our car (that's why we got it in the first place) ... the sensor adds to security of rear camera with the ability to know exactly how far you r from an object (starting from 2 meters out)... I got my unit from ebay... there r some other ones out there... look around first... it's always a good idea to do some research and shopping (only the best for our cars)

as2222

say that there's an object below the sensors.. will it detect that?
EX) your car is slammed, you're parking and there's the rock thinga ma jiggy in a parking spot. If it's under your sensors, will your sensor go off?

psheu

normally you won't mount sensors that low to the ground cuz it's gonna pick up false signal all the time... it's about a foot from the ground where u mount your sensor and it'll pick up objects directly in front of it that you can't see over your hood... but as far as picking up objects on the floor, i'm not sure where u have to mount your sensor for that... i'm sure it can be done if u mount it low enough....