Fitting aftermarket parking sensors

Father Ted · Jul 1st, 2014, 20:42

Well, I've ordered some aftermarket parking sensors as, for all that the back of a V70 is vertical and visible from inside the car, I can never judge it!
I've gotten too used to having a parking mirror ( last two cars were Jap imports).

Having just fitted my towbar, getting the rear bumper off is not a problem, but it's not just "hollow" plastic, there are lots of reinforcements.
Has anyone added their own sensors and is there anything I need to look out for when I'm doing it?

wrinkles · Jul 1st, 2014, 21:24

I fitted surface mounted ones on my 940 estate.

biglox · Jul 2nd, 2014, 10:39

Put sensors on mine a couple of weeks back.

Mine's a 2005 facelift so it might be a wee bit different.

20torx screws on the the wheel arches to hold the bumper in place and then it just slides back.

The reinforcing bit on the inside of the bumper just unclips (in various locations) and will reveal "X" marks the spot for where the sensors go. Be careful as there are a few other marks and crosses etc so make sure you are looking at the right ones. .... and put some blankets or something down and the ground while undoing the clips or else you will scrape the bumper ... like I did !

The other thing is the radio aerial which is fitted to the rear bumper. Small white spade connector on the drivers side on mine ... with just not quite enough cable on it to make it easy. There's a green connector box just below the access panel in the boot and I found if you disconnect this it gives you another few mil to play with.

Blue wire is the reversing lights feed and there's plenty earth mounts to get a connection to.

TBH I thought it would take me less than an hour ... in reality at least 2 hrs ... mostly becuase of the radio aerial !!

Father Ted · Jul 2nd, 2014, 23:07

Ah! That's good news about the clips and the markings.
I don't have the radio antenna on mine, or, at least, I didn't see it when I fitted the towbar.

andybird · Jul 3rd, 2014, 07:54

When I did my S80 there was no need to remove the bumper. I found a thread on t'interweb somewhere showing precisely where and how to drill - have a look round, you might get lucky

martinrpeachey · Jul 3rd, 2014, 08:31

I fitted mine to the black lower skirt bit of the bumper, just below where it meets the painted bit. No need to remove the bumper then.
Wired it directly to the reversing light bulb fitting on the drivers side.

Still didn't stop the wife reversing into an 8 week old 3 series tho

Father Ted · Jul 6th, 2014, 21:30

I thought about mounting to the lower part, but wasn't sure if it would have a negative effect.
I've already had the bumper off twice, so I know the routine, so that doesn't take long.
As the car came with a touch up pen, I mounted into the coloured section, but painted them beforehand.

Quite pleased with the results. The display is mounted just in front of the boot light. I drilled through the edge of the light to drop the cable out, so there is no real "damage" to the car. I had to turn the PCB in the display upside down, but that was easy enough.
I also used two spare connections in my 12N socket and a link in the plug, along with a relay, to automatically over-ride the sensors when the caravan is on the back.

Oh, I did find the antenna wire when I looked: and spent an hour trying to get the damn thing back on!!!!

biglox · Jul 7th, 2014, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father Ted

I thought about mounting to the lower part, but wasn't sure if it would have a negative effect.
I've already had the bumper off twice, so I know the routine, so that doesn't take long.
As the car came with a touch up pen, I mounted into the coloured section, but painted them beforehand.

Quite pleased with the results. The display is mounted just in front of the boot light. I drilled through the edge of the light to drop the cable out, so there is no real "damage" to the car. I had to turn the PCB in the display upside down, but that was easy enough.
I also used two spare connections in my 12N socket and a link in the plug, along with a relay, to automatically over-ride the sensors when the caravan is on the back.

Oh, I did find the antenna wire when I looked: and spent an hour trying to get the damn thing back on!!!!

Yes ... you would think they could have given us a couple more inches of cable !

MrTee · Jul 7th, 2014, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by biglox

Blue wire is the reversing lights feed and there's plenty earth mounts to get a connection to.

Hi biglox, did the sensors wire directly to the blue wire without a relay?

Thanks
Mal

biglox · Jul 8th, 2014, 11:10

Yes just tapped straight on to it. Obviously earth connection required too. Plenty of earth points available.

Jul 1st, 2014, 20:42	#1
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 22:00 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Fitting aftermarket parking sensors Well, I've ordered some aftermarket parking sensors as, for all that the back of a V70 is vertical and visible from inside the car, I can never judge it! I've gotten too used to having a parking mirror ( last two cars were Jap imports). Having just fitted my towbar, getting the rear bumper off is not a problem, but it's not just "hollow" plastic, there are lots of reinforcements. Has anyone added their own sensors and is there anything I need to look out for when I'm doing it? __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Jul 2nd, 2014, 10:39	#3
biglox Member Last Online: Apr 21st, 2023 10:15 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Edinburgh	Put sensors on mine a couple of weeks back. Mine's a 2005 facelift so it might be a wee bit different. 20torx screws on the the wheel arches to hold the bumper in place and then it just slides back. The reinforcing bit on the inside of the bumper just unclips (in various locations) and will reveal "X" marks the spot for where the sensors go. Be careful as there are a few other marks and crosses etc so make sure you are looking at the right ones. .... and put some blankets or something down and the ground while undoing the clips or else you will scrape the bumper ... like I did ! The other thing is the radio aerial which is fitted to the rear bumper. Small white spade connector on the drivers side on mine ... with just not quite enough cable on it to make it easy. There's a green connector box just below the access panel in the boot and I found if you disconnect this it gives you another few mil to play with. Blue wire is the reversing lights feed and there's plenty earth mounts to get a connection to. TBH I thought it would take me less than an hour ... in reality at least 2 hrs ... mostly becuase of the radio aerial !! __________________ V70 2.4S LPG + XC90 Active.

Jul 2nd, 2014, 23:07	#4
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 22:00 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Ah! That's good news about the clips and the markings. I don't have the radio antenna on mine, or, at least, I didn't see it when I fitted the towbar. __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Jul 3rd, 2014, 08:31	#6
martinrpeachey Premier Member Last Online: Jul 18th, 2018 07:30 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: poole	I fitted mine to the black lower skirt bit of the bumper, just below where it meets the painted bit. No need to remove the bumper then. Wired it directly to the reversing light bulb fitting on the drivers side. Still didn't stop the wife reversing into an 8 week old 3 series tho __________________ 310.2bhp, 333ft/lb, 19T powered ex-plod with 224,000 miles

Jul 6th, 2014, 21:30	#7
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 22:00 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	I thought about mounting to the lower part, but wasn't sure if it would have a negative effect. I've already had the bumper off twice, so I know the routine, so that doesn't take long. As the car came with a touch up pen, I mounted into the coloured section, but painted them beforehand. Quite pleased with the results. The display is mounted just in front of the boot light. I drilled through the edge of the light to drop the cable out, so there is no real "damage" to the car. I had to turn the PCB in the display upside down, but that was easy enough. I also used two spare connections in my 12N socket and a link in the plug, along with a relay, to automatically over-ride the sensors when the caravan is on the back. Oh, I did find the antenna wire when I looked: and spent an hour trying to get the damn thing back on!!!! __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Jul 3rd, 2014, 07:54	#5
andybird andybird Last Online: Jan 31st, 2017 22:04 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hartley, Kent	When I did my S80 there was no need to remove the bumper. I found a thread on t'interweb somewhere showing precisely where and how to drill - have a look round, you might get lucky

Jul 8th, 2014, 11:10	#10
biglox Member Last Online: Apr 21st, 2023 10:15 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Edinburgh	Yes just tapped straight on to it. Obviously earth connection required too. Plenty of earth points available. __________________ V70 2.4S LPG + XC90 Active.

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