![]() Bearing this in mind, the Garmin BC 40 would be a much more budget-friendly option, especially if you already own a supported GPS device. Thankfully it was covered under warranty, but the camera itself was several hundred dollars and the labor was about the same. With the stock backup camera having failed in my wife’s car a couple years back, I quickly learned how costly they can be to replace. With the warranty having recently expired, the new Garmin backup camera would be a quick and easy replacement solution if the one in my vehicle goes out anytime soon. Just install 2 AA batteries (lithium recommended). However, if you’re a diehard do-it-yourselfer, here’s a video series on how to install the BC 30 wireless backup camera. We recommend taking your BC 30 to your dealer for installation. It was the highest trim offered so it came with a backup camera installed. No Drilling or Wiring We eliminated the hassle of wiring this camera into your cars power supply. Installing AA Batteries Installing the Camera in the Mount Camper Mount Installation Considerations. Before installation, don’t forget to download the latest software for your Garmin devices using Garmin Express. According to Garmin, orders placed today will be processed within the next 1-3 business days. There is no Amazon listing yet, but we anticipate that one will appear in short order. The new Garmin BC 40 backup camera is priced at $149.99, and can be ordered directly from Garmin. “After a simple setup, drivers will have immediate access to a rugged camera that withstands harsh road conditions, while also offering a crystal clear backup view.” Pricing and availability ![]() “Thanks to the BC 40, drivers finally have a quick and easy way to seamlessly blend a wireless backup camera to the back of a vehicle without having to rely on professional installation services,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin worldwide vice president of consumer sales. Garmin particularly calls out the DriveSmart 55 and 65 initially, but the page it currently links to for all of its supported units is down at the moment. Unlike many of the existing aftermarket backup camera’s, Garmin dodges the need to install a dedicated monitor by making it work with some of its GPS devices. ![]() A single charge will last up to three months. In Garmin’s case, it’s two AAs, keeping maintenance straight-forward and simple. Similar to Nonda’s ZUS, the new Garmin backup camera simply attaches to the top of a license plate and runs on replaceable batteries. Given the fact that the old model required users to run some wires and the new one doesn’t, it’s a bummer that Garmin simply incremented the model number to BC 40 and moved on. But, after all "BC" does stand for "Backup Camera.The new Garmin backup camera is a follow-up to its predecessor, the BC 30. They don't want you looking at the video, I guess, except when using it when backing. Finally, you can't really use it as an alternate "rear view mirror" as it automatically switches off the video once in forward motion as a safety feature. Some make some sort of security bracketing. Others secure it with plastic cable ties and have to cut them and replace them with each battery change. One solution is to mount it inside looking out the rear window instead of mounting on the license plates. Perhaps the most significant annoyance is that it lacks security as it is easy to just snap off the mount in about a second. I have a Garmin DriveSmart 61 which is a model that does NOT ha ve this resolution setting feature. ![]() Some, not all, of the compatible Garmin GPS units allow setting the camera's resolution and lower resolution helps battery life. In a pinch, or if you prefer, you can certainly just use alkaline batteries, but the life will be more like a few weeks. So, it is good to keep spare batteries in the vehicle. But if youre a diehard do-it-yourselfer, thats an OK alternative as well. Battery life is a couple of months, maybe more, using lithium non-rechargeables (1.5 volt AA size). For installation, Garmin recommends taking the BC 30 to your dealer. So, at night, you only have available light, but it still does fairly well. It does not have a night mode (such as infrared lighting like some cameras) no doubt because it must always run on batteries. HOWEVER, there are some details worth knowing about. Excellent camera, but there are some details worth knowing
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