20. REVERSING AIDS: Where can I get electronic car reversing aids?

New and cheap is the JML Parking Sensor. Costs just £29.99 with two sensor pads. Powered by battery or from the cigarette lighter/auxiliary socket. Warns by progressively louder beeps. Form www.jmldirect.com or tel 020 7691 3800.


Auto Express magazine tests these devices every few years. These are the results of the latest tests in issue 886, December 2005. Again, the one they rated best with a five star score was the Quanan Q2030S now £99 which uses three sensors and also includes a pictogram of the car showing which sensor is picking up an object. Another advantage is no false alarms. They don't pick up until the object is 1.5 meters from the car. www.cleargate.co.uk, tel: 0870 729 3949.

Next, scoring four stars, the Meta Targa SR2, which has the advantage of being fitted in a special rear numberplate surround so the car bumper does not have to be drilled. This costs £99.99 from Halfords, but does not include a visual display.www.halfords.com, tel 08457 626625.

Next, also scoring four stars, the Steelmate PTS 200N2 at £129.99 has the good idea of a back to front display that the driver can see in his rear view mirror. Price includes installation by Halfords, so not as much as it first looks. www.halfords.com, tel 08457 626625.

Six others all scored three stars in the Auto Express tests. In random order:

Sempal Mobiltron Supa is a low level camera with a screen built into a replacement rear view mirror. Auto Express found it provided an excellent colour picture, but the wide angle made distances difficult to judge. Price £399.00. www.sempal.co.uk, tel 0870 145 3939.

Sempal Parking Sensors. Four bumper sensors and beeper. Price £123.95. Did not detect the bollard or bicycle as well as some of the others in Auto Express tests. www.sempal.co.uk, tel 0870 145 3939.

Cobra Parkmaster is a four sensor and beeper system. Did not detect the bicycle very well in the Auto Express tests. Price £99.00. www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk, tel 01932 732320.

Valeo Beep & Park impressed as well made, has four sensors and a display screen. Picked up the car well, but not the bollard or bicycle until 500mm away. Price £150.00. www.valeoservice.com, tel 01527 838300.

Carpoint Parking Sensors has four sensors and a display but the sensors are quite big and the display is not very attractive. Did not detect the bicycle until alsmost too late. Price £93.12. www.carparts-direct.co.uk, tel 01332 290833.

Meta ActivePark 4 has four sensors and a buzzer. Worked very well in Auto Express tests, but harder to fit. Price £99.99. www.metasystem.co.uk, tel 01905 791700.

Poron Micro 5S scored just two points in the Auto Express tests. Has four sensors and a voice count-down, but the voice ahs an American accent. Toos ensitive for large objects (4 metres) and failed to see the bicycle at all. Price £139.00. www.visualpromotionsukltd.com, tel 01902 882208.


Auto Express magazine previously tested a range of these devices in issue 646. The one they rated best value was the Quanan 2030 at £89.50 including post and packing, from Cleargate Ltd, tel: 0870 729 3949. Next, scoring four stars, came last year's winner: Autosonics' Backminder at a price of £160 for the DIY kit, including P&P, VAT and a drill bit, tel: 01259 217004 (website: www.autosonics.co.uk. Next, also scoring four stars, was Safety Eye at £83.98 including p&p, from APS Marketing on 01341 450690. Next, scoring three stars, the C-Back at around £150 from Dutch Company CPL at 0031 621 532 726 (website: www.c-back.com). Next, with three stars, Ultrapark at an expensive £339.57 from Laver Technology, tel: 01279 436080. Next, with three stars, the Cobra ParkMaster 0166 at £170, including installation, from Ital Audio, tel: 01923 240525. Next, also with three stars, the Meta SR2C at £249 including installation, from Metasystem UK, tel 01905 791700. Next, the VTD MB4 at £293.75 installed from Toad VTD, tel 01928 570500 (website: www.toadplc.com). Finally, the Meta SR2C Targa at £249 installed, from Metasystem UK, tel: 01905 791700.

Another product which uses coloured lights as well as 'beeps' was originally designed for reversing caravans. It is made by Brigade Electronics, is called the 'Backscan RI-OS', costs around £200 installed and worked well when fitted as an optional extra to a Ford Scorpio I tried. Brigade Electronics can be contacted on 0870 774 1500, www.reverseinsafety.co.uk Other systems from £80.

Numberplate surround fitted sensor costs £91,98 from Car Styling Store, tel: 01202 519 675, www.carstylingstore.co.uk

New 'wireless' parking sensors which take their current from the car's 12v supply but tranmist 'wirelessly' to a receiver plugged into the 12v accessory socket are BS-340 Back-Up Sensor £70.28 from tel: 01482 874874 and Parking Angel from £149.99 - £289.99, tel: 01925 242642 www.parking-angel.com

Added 14-2-07: Carpoint Easy Fit Parking Sensor has sensors built into the number plate surround so no bumper drilling is required. Costs £59.99 from www.a1motorstores.co.uk

Added 25-3-2008: Cheap and easy solution: "Owners of older models can now avoid lowspeed dings with JML's Parking Sensor. It warns when you are close to a car or obstacle, with the beep rate increasing as you get closer. It runs off your cigarette lighter socket or three AA batteries and it's very easy to install. It comes with two sensor pads which fix to the bumper above the tail lights. The wires connecting them to the main unit are then fed through the boot." £29.99. More at www.jmldirect.com

More general info at www.motormods.co.uk

Added 4-10-2008

Beep&Park/Vision, from Valeo Service, uses the latest sensor, camera and LCD
technology offering the motorist easier parking control and added confidence for
tricky manoeuvres - perfect for our crowded streets - which may help to cut down on
expensive bodywork repairs and possibly insurance claims!

Valeo has used its R&D specialists to develop and modify new car technology into its Beep&Park/Vision product, which has been adapted and packaged for retro-fit.

Beep&Park/Vision comes with four rear parking sensors, a rear camera and LCD monitor. The rear camera uses the latest wide-angle lens technology, and is discreet - the same size as a standard parking sensor. The camera works just as well in dim lighting conditions, for example with just reversing and rear lights. It sends clear, unfettered colour images back to the pocket-sized LCD monitor, usually fitted above the rear view mirror.

The monitor is easy to detach - an added value security option. It can even be
fitted at the back of the car and the image flipped so the driver can see it through
the rear-view mirror. The monitor not only shows the image through the camera, but also shows the distance on the monitor from the nearest object.

Beep&Park Vision is straightforward to fit, with no special tools required; even the
drilling tool for the camera and sensors is included. In addition to the camera, the
kit also emits an audible warning from 1.5m to 0.3m.

The kit retails for £349.99, including all three systems in one package: parking
sensors; camera and LCD colour monitor. Beep&Park/Vision offers the motorist the
opportunity to upgrade their vehicle to the latest new car specification. With the
image on camera backed by an audible and distance alert, Beep&Park/Vision truly
takes the stress out of driving.


Parking sensor manufacturer (information, not recommendation)

Shenzhen Cisbo Technology Co.,Ltd
4/F,21Building,Tianjian Industrial Area,Shangbao Road,
Futian District, Shenzhen,China.518034
Tel:86-755-83173526 Ext.815
Fax:86-755-83173613
E-Mail:szcisbo@topsbc.com
Msn Messenger: whitesnowflyboy@hotmail.com
Yahoo Messenger: rongfa123@yahoo.com.cn
Skype: fengqingzi123
Website: www.szcisbo.com
Contact Person: Ashley Zhang(Mr)