Front Camera Failure, F15

[dak1511]

The front camera on my F15 has stopped working which of course is also causing my Surround View to not work and throw an error message on my dash which says "Camera System Failure". I know it's the front because when I activate surround view, it quickly gives me the overhead shot but is all blue in front of my car. The front cam shows a blue screen when activated too. I took the camera out and was hoping the smoking gun would be corrosion on the connector that I could clean off, but this is not the case. Everything looks clean connector-wise. Plugged back in and still nothing. My questions follow:

1) Do you believe the camera itself is suddenly bad? Or should I be looking further into the connection or something similar?

2) If I were to buy a new camera online, does this dealer have to program it to my car, or will it plug and play?

3)Lastly, any great ideas on where to order the camera should I need to do so? or are there aftermarket cameras that I could plug in seemlesly?

Lots of questions, I know. I appreciate anyone's insight!

[turboawd]

Does the screen flicker or change at all while unplugging and putting it back in?

[r33_RGSport]

Should be as simple as plug n play since you are not replacing the module itself.
Unless there is a newer version of camera where it need to be re-registered.

[Mr.47]

You can buy those cameras used on Ebay, and it should be plug and play as long if its these 4 part numbers
66539352788
66539360369
66539388797
66539213990

X5 F15 Surround View

[dak1511]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Does the screen flicker or change at all while unplugging and putting it back in?

Turboawd: I'm unsure what the screen does when it get's unplugged. Right now, when I activate the front camera, the screen simply turns blue. I can look into this tomorrow when I take the camera out to check the part number.

[dak1511]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Should be as simple as plug n play since you are not replacing the module itself.
Unless there is a newer version of camera where it need to be re-registered.

r33_RGSport: Thanks for the heads up. This gives me some peace of mind. Here's hoping I can find a comparable camera model. I will advise once I order and install.

[alphaod]

Thanks for this thread, my front camera was damaged about two years ago by a rock (it's a got a crack in the glass); I found a replacement on Ebay, hopefully it's plug and play since I wasn't going to pay the $500 for the new one.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Russmov

Yup it's absolutely ridiculous what they charge when you can find the same part for 20 or so dollars. Complete rip off

I don't know where you found it for $20 because I didn't find it at this price.

I pulled one out of my mirror (since I cracked my mirror housing), this camera doesn't feel like a $20 item. It's metal, well build, solid construction. You know that GoPro they sell for $400? This feel better quality. That said I think the $500 is a bit ridiculous because image resolution is atrocious compared to a GoPro, but I couldn't find it for $20.

[Russmov]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I don't know where you found it for $20 because I didn't find it at this price.

I pulled one out of my mirror (since I cracked my mirror housing), this camera doesn't feel like a $20 item. It's metal, well build, solid construction. You know that GoPro they sell for $400? This feel better quality. That said I think the $500 is a bit ridiculous because image resolution is atrocious compared to a GoPro, but I couldn't find it for $20.

Hey that was my bad man, I was thinking about the PDC sensor, not the frontview camera.will remove other message so as not to confuse anyone or get them excited for a cheap price lol

[alphaod]

Anyone know if I need to remove the front bumper entirely or is there an easier way? If I pop off the top 5 bumper retainer screws, I can see the camera and the mounting bracket, but my hands do not fit in there. I cannot get access to it from removing the front grills either.

Originally Posted by Russmov

Hey that was my bad man, I was thinking about the PDC sensor, not the frontview camera.will remove other message so as not to confuse anyone or get them excited for a cheap price lol

Yeah, I was thinking like where is this guy getting this for $20?!

[dak1511]

I was able to get to my camera very easily from the top of the engine compartment. I removed a plastic cover near the front and was able to reach down and unhook it. Should be VERY simple!

[dak1511]

I purchased my new(used) camera this week from EBAY, and it was out of a 2018 X5. Part number is 66539213990. I plugged it in yesterday to hopefully get my surround view back, but the camera doesn't work! Now what? Is it the connector?...and if so, how do i fix this? Could the camera be bad from Pacific Motors on Ebay?

[CatalinP]

It might require coding.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by dak1511

I purchased my new(used) camera this week from EBAY, and it was out of a 2018 X5. Part number is 66539213990. I plugged it in yesterday to hopefully get my surround view back, but the camera doesn't work! Now what? Is it the connector?...and if so, how do i fix this? Could the camera be bad from Pacific Motors on Ebay?

I got three different cameras on Ebay, the cameras looked exactly the same as mine, but was keyed differently in the connector.

Finally I gave it up and bought the camera from the dealer, and it worked immediately. Plug and play. Same part number you listed.

I don't know, maybe your Ebay camera is bad? Needs to be coded?


If you'd like, try I can mail you my old camera with the cracked lens, if you can get an image (albeit a blurry one), but at least you'll know if it's the camera module or the camera itself...

[bmw x5 f15]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I got three different cameras on Ebay, the cameras looked exactly the same as mine, but was keyed differently in the connector.

Finally I gave it up and bought the camera from the dealer, and it worked immediately. Plug and play. Same part number you listed.

I don't know, maybe your Ebay camera is bad? Needs to be coded?


If you'd like, try I can mail you my old camera with the cracked lens, if you can get an image (albeit a blurry one), but at least you'll know if it's the camera module or the camera itself...

nice answer ? but if i coding it will work or not ? how i can number part of the camera
i was thiniking f15 from 14 to 18 the same part

[Happyrdm]

Hi
I need to replace my cracked front camera, I’ve got the new one off eBay
Tried to remove the old one and found it impossible to reach into the housing between the grills just below the bonnet.
It so narrow I can’t reach and undo the fixings or connector

Anyone with some advice please?...

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Happyrdm

Hi
I need to replace my cracked front camera, I’ve got the new one off eBay
Tried to remove the old one and found it impossible to reach into the housing between the grills just below the bonnet.
It so narrow I can’t reach and undo the fixings or connector

Anyone with some advice please?...

I fixed mine from the top. There was a ton of room in front of the engine to work with.

[Pra77]

I have a crack in front camera of my 2016 BMW X5 50. But i can see a clear picture on my screen inside the cabin. Just the hairline of the cracks show up on the screen. Do you think its just the housing that i need to replace ? I do not have the part number of the glass encasing. Can anyone share the part number of just the outside glass encasing ?

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Pra77

I have a crack in front camera of my 2016 BMW X5 50. But i can see a clear picture on my screen inside the cabin. Just the hairline of the cracks show up on the screen. Do you think its just the housing that i need to replace ? I do not have the part number of the glass encasing. Can anyone share the part number of just the outside glass encasing ?

You need to replace the whole camera. The glass front is part of the camera and it's all sealed.

If it's clear for now, perhaps it's not worth replacing. Mine got cloudy after two years then I finally replaced it.

[Pra77]

Thanks for your reply. Really appreciate it. You mentioned that you replaced it after 2 years. Was it plug and play or did you have to re-calibrate the camera ? TIA.

[Pra77]

Btw dealer told me 6 hours of labor for replacement and $450 for the part itself !! I would rather have me labor the replacement and save some green. Thanks in advance

[alphaod]

I replaced it myself. It was pretty easy. Dealer probably wants to (or say they will) disassemble the entire front end which isn’t necessarily. You can access it from the top in front of the engine. Part is quite expensive. eBay I got three different parts all didn’t work. The dealer part was plug and play for me. $450 sounds about right (unfortunately).