360 Camera

[ralzod]

Here's another 360 system that includes much more detail about the product. Frankly, I don't think the mirror cams look bad or obtrusive at all, assuming they could be installed as shown in their example photo. Continuing to research these options, because I'm not sure I want to wait for a non-guaranteed shiny 2019 option to emerge, especially if the aftermarket option is generally the same as OEM.

Universal 360° Vision System AVMS-3690​

Also, this side view monitor product is pretty cool too. Similar to what I've seen on some Hondas.

Dual Camera Blind Spot Monitoring System w/ 7.3​

 

[westcoastGT]

Here's another 360 system that includes much more detail about the product. Frankly, I don't think the mirror cams look bad or obtrusive at all, assuming they could be installed as shown in their example photo. Continuing to research these options, because I'm not sure I want to wait for a non-guaranteed shiny 2019 option to emerge, especially if the aftermarket option is generally the same as OEM.

Universal 360° Vision System AVMS-3690​

Also, this side view monitor product is pretty cool too. Similar to what I've seen on some Hondas.

Dual Camera Blind Spot Monitoring System w/ 7.3​

R man do you have a Stinger or one on order yet ??

 

[Kia Stinger]

Here's another 360 system that includes much more detail about the product. Frankly, I don't think the mirror cams look bad or obtrusive at all, assuming they could be installed as shown in their example photo. Continuing to research these options, because I'm not sure I want to wait for a non-guaranteed shiny 2019 option to emerge, especially if the aftermarket option is generally the same as OEM.

Universal 360° Vision System AVMS-3690​

Also, this side view monitor product is pretty cool too. Similar to what I've seen on some Hondas.

Dual Camera Blind Spot Monitoring System w/ 7.3​

Good stuff! Keep it coming! I know what you mean - why wait almost a year for something that might not be what you want anyway? Especially if/when there are options to get exactly what you want now. Let's keep researching...

 

[ralzod]

R man do you have a Stinger or one on order yet ??

Debating on whether to try to get one now, or wait to see if the '19 models have the missing options restored. Supply is extremely low on the east coast so far, and I will not pay a dealer markup, so I may have some time on my hands anyway.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Is it possible that the surround view camera option HAS been programed into ALL Stingers but the feature is locked? I've heard other manufacturers do this. If it's the case with the Stinger, we may be able to have the feature unlocked and easily add an aftermarket system after all...

 

[AnyVare]

Is it possible that the surround view camera option HAS been programed into ALL Stingers but the feature is locked? I've heard other manufacturers do this. If it's the case with the Stinger, we may be able to have the feature unlocked and easily add an aftermarket system after all...

Some of the owners could look under their side mirrors to see if the cameras are installed. If they are, it's probably just software. If they're not, the internal wiring is probably there, but the cameras and software would need to be updated.

 

[eljay]

There's definitely a small rectangle that's slightly recessed where the cam would be, and it isn't "chromed" like the rest of the mirror housing, but clear. But of course, for manufacturing simplicity, the mirror housing would undoubtedly be the same for all countries, so this doesn't guarantee anything except that if we eventually can add cams under the mirrors, we don't have to replace our housings.

 

[ralzod]

There's definitely a small rectangle that's slightly recessed where the cam would be,

I looked at the underside of a GT2 mirror this weekend, and I assumed that was the puddle lamp, although the sales people couldn’t figure out how to activate it.

 

[eljay]

I looked at the underside of a GT2 mirror this weekend, and I assumed that was the puddle lamp, although the sales people couldn’t figure out how to activate it.

The puddle lamps are under the front and rear door sills, and I think they all will have to be installed at the dealer, as mine were. Back when we only had Korean-spec cars here, I asked a rep at the auto show about the 360. He walked around the car on display to show me all the places where cameras were, and they were on the bottom side of the mirrors, right where the little rectangular depression is on my mirror. The question is, is there a camera lens inside there on US-spec cars, or is there wiring there so that a lens can just be installed and the software activated.

 

[ralzod]

@eljay I believe that is incorrect. Look at this Motor Trend photo that shows the camera protruding from the end (likely for field of view reasons); the square you and I saw is separate, by the door mount.

MT's linking options are bad. This is the high-rez original photo...

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2017/06/2018-Kia-Stinger-GT-side-profile.jpg
​

Just for attribution, this is the article/gallery (photo 16)...

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/kia/...test-review/#2018-kia-stinger-gt-side-profile​

 

[tofu]

The square by the mount is for the puddle lamp.

 

[TomTom26]

So....

 

[eljay]

@eljay Look at this Motor Trend photo that shows the camera protruding from the end (likely for field of view reasons)

The square by the mount is for the puddle lamp.

OK, this makes perfect sense now, and I stand corrected. But that brings another question: When should I have light coming from the mirror-mounted puddle lamps, like in TomTom26's picture? When my puddle lamps under the door sills are lighted, the lamps under the mirrors aren't. I have an appointment with my dealer Saturday, and if this should be lighted when the others are, which only makes sense, I'd like to call them now and let them know to add that to my appointment.

 

[ralzod]

But that brings another question: When should I have light coming from the mirror-mounted puddle lamps, like in TomTom26's picture?

The Stinger Salon people couldn't figure it out either, so my guess is they only come on in limited circumstances...just need to figure out what those are!

 

[tofu]

The Stinger Salon people couldn't figure it out either, so my guess is they only come on in limited circumstances...just need to figure out what those are!

They should turn on if the mirrors are set to auto-fold and you walk up to the car with your keyfob, from what I remember.

Do the US spec models have the puddle lamps in the mirrors?

 

[ralzod]

They should turn on if the mirrors are set to auto-fold and you walk up to the car with your keyfob, from what I remember.

I'm already laughing at what it will look like when @eljay tries to test this in the California sunshine.

 

[eljay]

They should turn on if the mirrors are set to auto-fold and you walk up to the car with your keyfob, from what I remember.

Do the US spec models have the puddle lamps in the mirrors?

I'm already laughing at what it will look like when @eljay tries to test this in the California sunshine.

OK, I see it now. They come on when the mirrors unfold. I don't lock the car while she's locked in the garage, so I'd only seen the mirrors unfold in the California sunshine up to now. Thanks, guys!

 

[Kia Stinger]

My guess is that the camera assembly would NOT be in the mirrors if the car did not come with the surround-view option. However, another guess is that the wiring IS THERE inside the mirror - and everything else is intact inside the car and programed-in. My thought is that all we may need is the mirror assembly and the ability to unlock the feature...

 

[Chris]

My guess is that the camera assembly would NOT be in the mirrors if the car did not come with the surround-view option. However, another guess is that the wiring IS THERE inside the mirror - and everything else is intact inside the car and programed-in. My thought is that all we may need is the mirror assembly and the ability to unlock the feature...

You are also missing the button that turns it on. It should be in between the seat heater controls. My guess it's at best a 50/50 shot of the wiring being there. They obviously have to switch the line over to make the American version of the car. There are a ton of differences. If they are switching the line over anyway it is not hard for them to omit the camera wires. It all depends if the harness for the power mirror includes the wires for the cameras or not. My guess is not..

 

[ralzod]

My guess is that the surround view processing is also done by a separate hardware module, not software inside the Kia head unit, since it's probably fairly CPU/GPU intensive to bend the fisheye views into straightened, merged images.

I'm still really interested in the possibility of adding one of these aftermarket solutions (which I linked to earlier in this thread). Aside from drilling a hole in the mirror bottom, the rest should be no more challenging than running stereo or dashcam wires, and the module is supposedly plug-and-play with the RCA inputs on the factory head unit. I think the 360/SVM module simply preempts the regular display when video is initiated, and my guess is that's the same thing the OEM SVM is doing (either activating upon reverse, or manually with the button). The Rear View Safety company even markets directly for the Kia Sorento, so they might be able to make a quick entrance into the Stinger aftermarket.