Rear parking sensor

[Maverick]

i work withing the automotive design section...a few years ago i was helping designing a parking sensor which sits inside the bumper skin. it is totally hidden!
it full wraps around the bumper (even the sides)
it is still in development with 3M's but shouldnt be too long till its on the market.
this will sell like wildfire as it will not change the styling of a car on bit!




just thought i would share that with you lol

also i did designs for the ford focus and seat ibiza, sadly no vw's as of yet

This would be the system that is available now and has been out for a few years, it's a piece of foil tape and it sticks inside the bumper. The name for this is electromagnetic parking sensor.

The system sounds good and I looked at this a while ago but seems to have some major issues in that detection of people, children, dogs etc isn't very good. Most of the websites that sell it don't really go into a lot of detail and if the system was as good as they claim the auto manufacturers would be using it as it's cheaper and they could just build in into the bumper and charge $$$ to plug the module in to activate.

There's often a reason why these products don't sell well and at this stage I'm suggesting research well and don't buy without getting all these questions answered. If they do work well I'd buy one in a flash.

The systems also don't work unless the car is moving whereas the ultrasonic ones work if the car is stationary and something moves in behind the car (like a child or dog).

They also detect things like manholes, buried cables etc. They work on the reduction in distance from sensor to target not absolute distance so if the item you are reversing towards is moving at the same speed it won't be detected.

A quick search on google shows the usual comments about them working sometimes and not others and trouble detecting people and animals. Still I guess people and animals are soft so won't damage your car like concrete and steel will

[Maverick]

To install PDC as per the factory looks like it will be around $1800 based on this price of the parts from oempl.us

http://oempl.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=75_23_30&products_id=555

$1095 USD, allow for the difference in price in Australia, painting and fitting and you wouldn't have a huge amount of change out of $1800.

[DionM]

Mrs OzDJ has put the towbar into a couple of other cars and work has had to pick up the repair bills for third party bumper bar repairs.

Really? First I've heard of this

(Inside joke)

[mikinoz]

Any outcome to OP?

[OzDJ]

Any outcome to OP?

Yes. Told dealer what they could do with their dealer slap-up sensors. Drew attention to how it was presented on the contract as a "factory" install when what was going to be delivered was anything but. Gave small sermon on the Trade Practices Act just to make sure the message got through.

Still waiting for an ETA on the car... funny how the initial flurry of dealer communication (salesperson, customer relations manager, finance manager, paint and fabric protection salesperson, and sales manager... yes, I have dealt with them all) has died off all of a sudden now that I'm on the front foot and wanting a definite delivery date

DJ

[Maverick]

Still waiting for an ETA on the car... funny how the initial flurry of dealer communication (salesperson, customer relations manager, finance manager, paint and fabric protection salesperson, and sales manager... yes, I have dealt with them all) has died off all of a sudden now that I'm on the front foot and wanting a definite delivery date

DJ

Yes I found this with my first few attempts to purchase a GT Sport TDI, as soon as you signed the contract they didn't care.

Now that I'm dealing with the other dealer in Brisbane (Highway Auto) the difference is quite amazing, like day and night. I spoke to the Sales Manager today about the delivery date and he gave me the real info without any BS.

A thumbs up to Highway Auto and a big thumbs down to Austral VW.