colin6307
Member Since: 17 Apr 2010
Location: croydon
Posts: 87
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| worth ordering surround cameras? |
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About to order New D4, is it worth ordering surround camera
Cheers
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 Sat Aug 28 2010 8:43am |
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Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 2813
 
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Depends on what you do with your car and how your finances are. I use mine often and although they are a bit of a gimmick I think they are worth it. I got a very good deal on mine so that was and easy decision maker, go for them  Tow bar, roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit.
D4 camera club
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 9:03am |
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LiftedDisco
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: Towcester
Posts: 248
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Personal preference really... have you driven one with them fitted?
I got an invitation to a day at Gaydon which was a superb experience and tehy had fully kitted HSE's to play with, including the surround cameras...
They made gread play of the fact that you could pull up alongside a kerb without clattering the alloys... but theat.s never been a problem so far, so not impressed...
They also made great noise about the ability to see 'around corners' using the front camera to give a left/right view of an approaching (but hidden) cyclist. I have some doubts about this - it is clever (some might argue that it's truly witchcraft in action) BUT my concern is that it means you need to activate the camera system and then look inside the car at the dash at the very point when you should be observing every nuance of what is happening around you. This (in my mind) makes it good as a gimmick, but limited use in the real world.
Reversing onto a trailer - useful if you do... but then, if you do this regularly, you probably don't need it! I have a horse trailer on most weekends and it seems to be an awful lot of money for the odd time when it's raining and I need to double check something...
I wouldn't... but it's your car!
Enjoy the D4 - it's every car you'll ever need!
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 11:46am |
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doubledoom
Member Since: 09 Jul 2010
Location: Lowestoft
Posts: 116
 
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It was about the only extra I did not order. Apart from gimmick factor which is fun for a short while, I didnt see any long term benefit as I wouldnt be doing anything where it could be useful.
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 1:58pm |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 9687
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They are waste of time..... unless you want tow assist.
to get tow assist you must order the additional surround cameras.. Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
D3 HSE 2006, Locking Rear Diff, 4 x LF140s, 4 x Bosch Roof Lights, Frontrunner rack, RLD Rock sliders, Winch, RAI, Twisted Exhaust, Cooper STs, GSM FBH, Painted in a proper colour !, limo Tint SupaGlass
D4 HSE 2010, RAI, Winch, Locking Rear Diff, Remote Park Heater, Hybrid TV, Heated Steering Wheel, Adaptive Lights, Limo Tints
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 2:16pm |
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ilron
Member Since: 18 Jul 2009
Location: By the sea west of the mountains
Posts: 85
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I chose them for the gadget factor and trailer assist, my experiences this far is:
- They are brilliant for when my GF parks the car: Side view + rear view = perfect placing each time.
- The front cameras are useless in intersections, they would have been much more useful if they had been mounted at the sides as on the new BMW 7 series.
- The cameras underneath the mirrors are useful as confirmation on where your side is on narrow roads where you have to hug the fence when you meet a lorry, but it is not like you could not do that without them either.
- I have not towed a trailer yet, only a car that wouldn't start and didn't exactly bother with trailer assist then.
- I have experienced connection issues with them, which my dealer will have to sort out.
All in all I don't regret that I went for them, but could easily have lived without them.
Most second hand cars around here is identically specified which might give you a slight advantage when selling it. Although I doubt you will get a higher price; your car will still have one more gadget than the others.
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 3:21pm |
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RichardB
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 277
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I did have a day using a D4 with these fitted and didn't really find them that useful. Having to bring up the picture and then focus on the dashboard didn't really work for me and I didn't find the views that 'natural'.
However, the reversing camera is another matter. Standard on the HSE I believe and I'd add it to any of the other models. Works really well and other half thought it was daft but now loves it.
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 3:23pm |
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Salty Spuds
Member Since: 05 Dec 2009
Location: The Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire
Posts: 75
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I only have the reversing camera, best £230 quid I spent, invaluable for hitching up the trailer & reversing out of the drive as it allows me to see around corners. I have driven an HSE at Skipton LRE with the surround cameras & found them an interesting toy but not particularly useful "real world" I wouldn't buy them. Yet another Stornoway XS, common as muck
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| Sat Aug 28 2010 11:16pm |
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tjp74
Member Since: 10 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 57
  
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There is a difference in the rear camera when you have the surround camera or not. When you have the system, rear camera is a digital type, image is digitally corrected so no fish eye rounded view. Yellow guide line is more accurate and it moves as you turn the steering wheel instead of fixed straight line in cars without the camera system. It's actually very helpful guiding the car when reversing. Glad I got it. TJ
2010 LR4 HSE Lux Plus White/Ebony <=Gas Guzzler
2000 Discovery II SE7 <=Toy
2010 Prius w/Solar Roof <=Gas Saver 
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| Mon Aug 30 2010 5:35pm |
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buellbeast
Member Since: 30 Jul 2008
Location: Exile
Posts: 1326
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After having my D4 for the last 3 mths with surround camera system. Used it for towing and some grenlaning. I wouldn't buy another without the system as I've found it very useful in all situatons a worthy addition
Last edited by buellbeast on Mon Aug 30 2010 6:36pm. Edited 1 time in total
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| Mon Aug 30 2010 6:07pm |
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SazzaG
Member Since: 30 Jan 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 104
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I find the cameras great for towing - I tow a small dirt bike which I can't see in my rear view mirror, so being able to have the rear image on screen all the time (which you can't with only the reversing camera) is useful for keeping an eye on it!
Tow assist is also very useful. Still haven't found a use for the front cameras though - they really don't look round the corners at all.
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| Mon Aug 30 2010 6:24pm |
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highlandcow
Member Since: 14 Oct 2009
Location: Stirling
Posts: 193
 
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As others have written, it really does depend on what you plan to do with your D4.
If you can afford them and think that you might miss them if you don't order them, then you should probably order them because it'll cost much more to try to get them retro-fitted and the retro-fit won't be by Land Rover.
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| Tue Aug 31 2010 5:14am |
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Steve in Germany
Member Since: 29 Jan 2008
Location: Up a hill in Brecon
Posts: 185
 
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Rear and side camera with Tow assist is great, front camera......like others have said
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| Tue Aug 31 2010 7:52pm |
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leyend
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: Gulf of Siam
Posts: 2
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One front camera should be enough to avoid running over something in front of the high hood.
I have no clue why we need 2 on the front bumpers?
The side camera should have wider image. It should cover one foot in front of the front wheel to the center of the back wheel.
Last edited by leyend on Fri Sep 10 2010 4:37pm. Edited 1 time in total
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| Fri Sep 03 2010 5:13pm |
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SazzaG
Member Since: 30 Jan 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 104
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Ironically, the kerb view camera actually has a very wide field of view - it looks like the software is limiting what's shown on the screen.
When I first hooked up my trailer, one of the rear view options was from the side cameras, looking straight back! Assuming the cameras aren't moving, the field of view must be very wide indeed. Shame you can't change the view yourself on the screen. I agree though - seeing more of the kerb and car would be useful.
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| Tue Sep 07 2010 12:03pm |
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