Cheep Reversing Sensors

[notamondayfan 44]

I was looking at some reversing sensors for the estate and came across some dirt cheep one on Amazon (range from £25 - £40)

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Parking-Reversing-Sensor-Buzzer/dp/B001I1AG18/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1315916378&sr=8-15

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Reverse-Parking-sensor-4pce/dp/B003ELED8M/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1315916378&sr=8-13

 

Has anyone experience with these? I thought they would be £100+, but was wondering if these are worth a bash. The top one looks very cheep, and doesn't have a display, which I like because so long as I can hear the beeping, then I can gauge the distance that way.

The other one looks more advanced, and says it automatically works when reversing (the cheep one doesn't mention it so I'm guessing it doesn't), but unless it was wired into the reverse switch lighting, how else would it work?

 

(Edit: Just read the reviews on the cheep one, and it looks like the £15 one needs to be wired into the reversing light, which makes sense.)

 

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this kind of kit?

 

Cheers, Dean

Edited September 13, 2011 by notamondayfan

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Left arm behind passenger seat.

 

/all you need.

[stuart1298 6]

We sell em at Ecp 25 quid, comes with the hole saw so you don't have much about finding drill bits, simple to wire up, look like oe and you can paint them, only a light coat obviously, sold loads of em and had no complaints

[Fox 3]

I got a set for the Mrs, IIRC I got them for about £16 on eBay.

 

They even come in various colours to match the paintwork. They have been on about seven months with no issues, even came with a drill bit to cut the bumper.

 

Just clip into the reverse wire and earth, hide the box and away you go!

[GLPoomobile 958]

I've considered getting some for my fat bastard Alfa, as it's a s*it to judge the length of. What puts me off is that they all say the minimum sensor distance is something like 30cm. What use is that? I can gauge to as close as 30cm on most the time, it's when i'm getting to within a few cm of another object that I want a warning!

[Rich_p 23]

I have a brand new set that we never got round to fitting to my Dads Mondy when he had it. It has the small stick on sensors rather than ones that require drilling and painting (you can get these cheaply to fit instead)

 

I know it's not really the place to advertise but if anyone is interested I'd sell them for far less than I paid!

[harryskid 193]

Whats wrong with the wing mirrors then?

[omega 82]

i thought all reversing senses went cheep so you could hear them!

 

iam sorry

il get my coat.

[damien 22 1 Cars]

im going for a rear view camera rigged to the cd/dvd player. i need to look into angling it so that it points at the towbar as mounting it in the bumper would be no good

[notamondayfan 44]

Whats wrong with the wing mirrors then?

 

Well my thought was for £15 it's just that bit more reasurance as to how far off hitting something you are. I don't drive the estate that much and arent too confident on where the rear is, so rather than fork out loads in insurance excess, I thought it might be an idea to spend £15 instead.

[harryskid 193]

Well my thought was for £15 it's just that bit more reasurance as to how far off hitting something you are. I don't drive the estate that much and arent too confident on where the rear is, so rather than fork out loads in insurance excess, I thought it might be an idea to spend £15 instead.

 

Well if you did get the sensors, try not to rely on them. Use them as a back up to reassure your self and keep getting use to the mirrors and get your confidence.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Confidence isn't everything though. Some cars are just an arse to judge the size of.

 

My first car was a Mk2 Astra. Not a massive car but pretty similar to a lot of large hatchbacks these days I'd say, and bigger than most kids first cars. I used to park that in ridiculously tight spaces as I had no option where I worked, it was a case of get parked anywhere I could, or park miles away and walk for ages to work. So I used to squeeze it in (no PS either!) and end up with about 6 inches space at either end.

 

Over the years I've never really owned anything bigger than that Astra until now. I've been driving the 166 for nearly a year now, and although I can park it OK and have not had any scuffs or knocks (except the front), I still find it impossible to judge the distance both front and rear, and consequently avoid parking anywhere that my be a little on the tight side. Visibility out the back is not great, with a long boot that also sits quite high, and out the front you've got a huge bonnet that you can't see the end of. I've bumped the front bumper in to the wall in our underground car park quite a few times, and now I put the lights on when I park down there as I can tell when I'm an inch away from the wall by the change in focus of the beam on the wall.

 

Anyway, my point is, you can drive for years and have oodles of confidence, but sometimes big vehicles can just be a s*it to park. Getting it right can make you feel very proud of yourself, but these days I think I'd rather just go with the quick convenient solution of having a gadget to tell me how close I am.

 

Or just park the continental way - when you feel the bump you know you're close enough. And if you don't have room to get in the space, you make room!

Edited September 13, 2011 by GLPoomobile

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

I've got a set on my 307: http://photos.cybernck.com/307breaknck?page=7

 

A bit paranoid and intermittently doesn't work, but it comes handy in such a long car.

 

Also, helps with objects that you normally wouldn't be able to see while reversing.

[Atari Boy 11]

I have had them on my daily drivers for a few cars now. Be warned, they make you a lazy and have poor judgement.

I could not live without them now, they have ruined me.

[harryskid 193]

I have had them on my daily drivers for a few cars now. Be warned, they make you a lazy and have poor judgement.

I could not live without them now, they have ruined me.

 

Thats just what i was trying to tell him , Eyes and ears are the best!