DIY parking sensors for insignia

Banzai_Joe · 17 Oct 2012 at 11:34

Hi all,
so i want reversing parking sensors, and found THIS pretty useful thread.

However, i'd prefer NOT to drill into the bumper and have seen the PD1 set been recommended a few times as they're invisible.

Your thoughts please?

edit: the Dolphin ones seem to be deemed one of the best kits to buy.

Capt Doufos · 17 Oct 2012 at 12:26

What is the age of the car? Our 08 civic had the parking sensor postions premarked on the bumper so there was no measuring or worrying about postioning required.

I just used one of the cheap kits off ebay and painted them the correct colour. Had no problems what so ever, they even came with the correct holesaw.

MatteH Oxford · 17 Oct 2012 at 14:02

The kits with no external sensors showing through can have a nightmare dealing with rain water sat on the bumper, I'd get the "normal" kit personally.

Banzai_Joe · 17 Oct 2012 at 14:55

Capt Doufos said:
What is the age of the car? Our 08 civic had the parking sensor postions premarked on the bumper so there was no measuring or worrying about postioning required.

I just used one of the cheap kits off ebay and painted them the correct colour. Had no problems what so ever, they even came with the correct holesaw.

Yeah, sounds like the ones i'd been looking at, for about £15.
The car is a 2010 Insignia, and i'm told they do have the markings on the inside of the bumper, but i was hoping not to have to take the bumper off. The link i posted earlier shows that you don't have to take it off to fit this kit.

The kits with no external sensors showing through can have a nightmare dealing with rain water sat on the bumper, I'd get the "normal" kit personally

Hmm....that's interesting to know, thanks

Banzai_Joe · 17 Oct 2012 at 16:17

Any thoughts on these?
Although the only seem to come in black

Phil W · 17 Oct 2012 at 16:38

I DIY'd mine (drilled holes, £13 for the set). Work brilliantly.

paradigm · 17 Oct 2012 at 16:39

Banzai_Joe said:
Any thoughts on these?
Although the only seem to come in black

That looks awful :/

I retrofitted the full Audi kit into my A6, and wouldn't fit anything other than OEM, I didn't even consider the "retrofit kit" that Audi sold, as it wasn't the same kit that the factory fit (and wouldn't link to the MMI display).

IAmATeaf · 17 Oct 2012 at 17:11

Does the bumper not need to be taken off for the PD1 set? Would have thought you'd need to as you need to get the strip that fits on the inside of the bumper aligned the entire length of the bumper.

MatteH Oxford · 17 Oct 2012 at 17:23

paradigm said:
I retrofitted the full Audi kit into my A6, and wouldn't fit anything other than OEM.

Not every manufacturer offers OEM kit, however nice that is, because a particular vehicle may never have had the option for parking sensors in the first place.

MatteH Oxford · 17 Oct 2012 at 17:27

IAmATeaf said:
Does the bumper not need to be taken off for the PD1 set? .

Almost definitely yes.

I'd just go for the ultrasonic kit option as it's only a few holes to drill once the bumper is off, and if you paint the sensors they don't look that bad really. I'd rather have the reliability & good function over minor issues with aesthetics.

Phil W said:
I DIY'd mine (drilled holes, £13 for the set). Work brilliantly.

Nice job!

paradigm · 17 Oct 2012 at 18:05

MatteH Oxford said:
Not every manufacturer offers OEM kit, however nice that is, because a particular vehicle may never have had the option for parking sensors in the first place.

They didn't offer a "kit" (well they do, but it's rubbish and I didn't want it). I ordered individual items using part numbers from my local Audi parts counter.

The Insignia was available with parking sensors, therefore you can buy the parts to retrofit it properly.

MatteH Oxford · 17 Oct 2012 at 18:25

paradigm said:
The Insignia was available with parking sensors, therefore you can buy the parts to retrofit it properly.

I take it then the car's (by that I mean every insignia model) loom either supports parking sensors or you can get the wiring/add ons to the loom if they exist. Sometimes looms will differ significantly with specific trim levels, and this causes issues with retrofits - just something for people to be aware of if they're not already.

I can't see something as simple as parking sensors being too much of an issue though. Usually it's things like retrofitting heated seats which are the awkward jobs.

Tom_ed1987 · 17 Oct 2012 at 19:44

Unless you care about something as trivial as seamless integration of parking sensors into the OBC just get a £15 kit from Ebay, hide that hideous LED segment display, and use the inbuilt beeper function. I bought one years ago to play with and they do work well, although I never got round to fitting it to anything.

They are usually supplied with the correctly sized hole saw/pilot drill.

nicholas_yiu · 17 Oct 2012 at 20:14

I have those linked fitted to my Octavia VRS. They are OK except being too sensitive (it will beep if your bumper gets too close to the curb) They cope OK in the rain surprisingly. Definitely help with parking but I wouldn't trust them 100%

It's very difficult to get a good colour match as my car is a strange shade of yellow which is the only reason I went for them. I had to take the bumper off anyway and it would be as easy to fit the £15 ones.