Just browsing through the latest Super Cheap Auto catalogue, wondering what peoples opinions are on a couple of items on this page:

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/www/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalogues.viewPage&PageID=1255&catID=158&categoryId=7

Im looking at the Parking Sensor (Top Left), I know this one looks pretty crappy, but I'd rather have one like this that just gives me the distance, this way I can hide it away instead of having one of those ones that clips onto my rearview mirror.

Has anybody been in/used a car with this sorta thing in it? Is it useful? Does it actually work?

The other thing I am interested in is the "Headlight Commander" (Right, 3rd Row).

Ive heard some mates talking about these things, but I have never actually seen them in action. Same questions as above: Has anybody been in/used a car with this sorta thing in it? Is it useful? Does it actually work?

I can get these things installed professionally, so ease of installation is not an issue.

Thanks in advance.

Pooky has em on her 2nd gen, bit more trendy than that one but similar idea.

They work quite well, they do have some shortcomings (towballs, shrubs etc) but overall work quite well.

Nothing beats a bloody good look first though.:D

They work quite well, they do have some shortcomings (towballs, shrubs etc) but overall work quite well.


Already thought of the towball issue, Probably just have to take a few hundred mm of what the gauge reads.

When Pooky's says "0" meters yur still about 20cm or so away, so ya get a little grace..:D

I've got the Mitsu version fitted which has no readout only an audible warning. It's the only thing to rely on (you can't see much out the back of a 380), so yes, it works ok. I'm still getting used to it and have to admit I've got out of the car occassionaly to check the distance myself but it's been right.

It'll be a good aid in your KE, speaking from when I had that model (and bumped into a few things...).

Sweet, if I go ahead and do it ill definitely test it out at home first against the wall to gauge how accurate it really is.

No opinion/experience on the headlights?

these headlight things sounds kewl. what do they do

these headlight things sounds kewl. what do they do

Basically sense the light level and turn your headlights on accordingly.

If youve seen the new Camry Ad they demonstrate them on that.

I recently got reversing sensors installed in the rear bumper of my KJ Verada
Helps a lot when reverse parking

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/mohit/Verada/verada15.jpg

How much did it cost to get the sensors painted the same colour as the car?

Cost me $199 to get the sensors supplied, painted and fitted by Selmax here in Melbourne

remember hearing he said 200 which includes painting n fitting. some joint in melbourne i think

I bought a $200 system from "WOW" in Toowoomba, took an entire day to fit it, as the system has a total of 6 sensors and lcd screen.
But mine has two front sensors as well, which is what I really wanted after lowering the car, as I found myself scraping the front on the concrete stoppers in carparks, so very handy.
I have an colour lcd monitor that came with the package, overall very happy with it, they work a treat, just remember to drive slowly so they can pick up the distance properly though.

...The other thing I am interested in is the "Headlight Commander" (Right, 3rd Row).
Ive heard some mates talking about these things, but I have never actually seen them in action. Same questions as above: Has anybody been in/used a car with this sorta thing in it? Is it useful? Does it actually work?...

Can't say if this brand/model will work, but we have the factory version of it on our family car (2002 Tarago). It works like a treat.
We just leave the headlights on 'Auto', the headlights switch on automatically at dusk/night or if your in a tunnel/garage etc. Then they switch off again when no longer needed. (there's a small round sensor on top of our dash)
The only time I switch them on manually is in poor daylight conditions such as rain as they sometimes don't come on automatically then.
I love it because ya never (or hardly ever) have to worry about switching the lights on.
When ya get into the car at night - magic they switch on when you start the car & I don't have to switch them off again.
Just another lazy auto addition but it's cool.

Worth it if your interested in them - assuming they work like the factory unit.

My old KS, Skotty's car, has an automatic headlight controller fitted. Its not the daylight
detection ones. Its more for the DRL (Daytime Running Light), so its meant to be on all the
time. If you leave the unit off, it acts like a headlight on warning device. Leaving it on and
leaving the light turned off, it turns on the light 10 seconds after ignition (to protect the
battery) and operates at 80% illumination and switches off when switching off ignition.
Turning the light switch on with the unit on, it give full power to the light and will remain
on for 30 seconds (after switching off ignition and light). Very handy if you park in dark
carparks.

auto headlights would be awesome i reckon.. especially if you could get them to stay on at night for 30-60 seconds after you lock your car and when you unlock it, they come on again.. i think commodores do this.. pretty wikid..

as for reverse sensors.. meh.. every second car i drive at work has them.. at first i was a little unsure on how long i could keep going before it beeped non-stop.. they are bloody handy, and i usually find that once they beep non-stop you are still a good foot away from the wall (to cater for tow bars i suppose).. most of them even seem to work up against our wire mesh fence.. these are the genuine mitsu and mazda kits..

but i reckon the peugeot ones are fantastic.. it has 2 beeping speakers.. so if you are getting close to something on one side, the beep will come from that side.. handy for reversing into tight places with cars either side..

im lookin at getting some for my car, but i gotta get rid of the towbar first and cover that hole up..

*edit: with those kits that have the little display, i dont think you actually have to plug it in, therefore you would just judge it by the beeps.. i think the display looks tacky anyway

Yeh the sensors in my KJ Verada give a continuous beep when the are a foot away from an object. This was i know i still have about 30cm behind me.

Yeh the sensors in my KJ Verada give a continuous beep when the are a foot away from an object. This was i know i still have about 30cm behind me.

Did they have to remove the bumper bar to fit it? I have bought one off ebay for $50.00
and haven't fitted them yet. Got quoted $200 to paint and fit from a Mitsu dealer.

Also, those sensors with displays are a no no, you should be looking rearwards when
reversing and not totaly relying on the sound and display. Non of the OEM ones have a
distance display, however, I like the sound of having left/right distinction.

Did they have to remove the bumper bar to fit it? I have bought one off ebay for $50.00
and haven't fitted them yet. Got quoted $200 to paint and fit from a Mitsu dealer.
No they didn't have to remove the rear bumper bar
Took them 3 hours to fit and calibrate the sensors

No they didn't have to remove the rear bumper bar
Took them 3 hours to fit and calibrate the sensors

Thanks for that. I was told that the bar had to be removed because of the metal bracing
behind it inteferes with the drilling.

auto headlights would be awesome i reckon.. especially if you could get them to stay on at night for 30-60 seconds after you lock your car and when you unlock it, they come on again.. i think commodores do this.. pretty wikid..



dude my TJ does this, flick the high beam when engine is off and take the key out and the lights stay on for 60seconds..

dude my TJ does this, flick the high beam when engine is off and take the key out and the lights stay on for 60seconds..

yeah, i know, i do it all the time..

but i want the lights to come back on when when you press "unlock" on the remote of a night time..:)

Attached is a circuit diagram for an auto headlight controller plus information on it which I
downloaded a while ago and was intending to make it but do not have the time. Someone
on here with electronics skills should make it and sell it to the members.

Saw these in the supercheap catalogue as well, let me know how you go with them, might be a worthwhile mod :).

Attached is a circuit diagram for an auto headlight controller plus information on it which I
downloaded a while ago and was intending to make it but do not have the time. Someone
on here with electronics skills should make it and sell it to the members.

easy, i could do it... i make pcb boards for all my projects, this looks easy enough to make a board for...

also the 555 timer is such a wonderful and versatile chip lol