Featured in this article is our new VOICE/AUDIBLE backup sensor. It was installed in a 1999 MERCEDES ML 320

The product is available by visiting our storefront and searching for MINI or BACKUP. MINI1 TALKING.

Priced under $89.00! Always in stock for immediate delivery.

You can use this article for the installation of the MINI2 and MINI3 systems. It is the same procedure. The professional installation of this product by the AUTOTOYS.COM staff took less than 30 minutes in this vehicle. Time of installation will vary from car to car.

The mini system comes with 2 sensors and a speaker for the beeping/voice response system.

The mini 2 and 3 comes with a LED display which SHOWS you visually with a numeric display the distance behind your vehicle.

Factory lamp removal. 10MM bolt. Just 2 to remove. Easy.

Take out the medical bag, it makes things a lot easier.

Take out the other panel on the left side also.

Shown this picture is a large harness running to the back of the vehicle. Our GUESS is that this is the harness for the rear tailights. You may be able to grab the gray wire for the reverse lights in this harness, but we DID NOT TEST the wires. We went straight to the light. The wire you are looking for will show 12VOLTS when the backup lights come on.

Removed the grommet behind the tailight.

Take out the rear sill. We used a small snap on screwdriver and carefully removed the covers to get to the philip head screws. be careful not to mar the plastic, pry it up slightup and then PULL IT UP from the sides.

Picture of the sill removed.

Hint: Stick all of your loose screws and parts in a box so it doesn't get lost! We stuck it in the box the backup sensor came in.

Right picture.

This is the reverse taillight wire. It is gray. We used a t-tap to easily tap the wire. Shown is the tap being applied. This connector is available in our TOOLS SECTION in our storefront. T-TAP

Remember removing that grommet? Well, run your power wire (red) through that hole.

We stuck a hole in the grommet we removed and slipped out power wire through it. This will retain the watertight and air tight seal of the vehicle!

We prepare the power wire to connect to the reverse light wire. Notice the male insulated spade which plugs easily into our t-tap. This is also available in our TOOLS DEPARTMENTS in our STOREFRONT:

Note: If you do not wish to purchase these connectors, you can also strip back the wire and tape it up with electrical tape or solder your wires.

The power is all done!

The unit only requires 2 connections, the rest is PLUG IN. The power to the reverse lights shown above and a GROUND connection which needs to b e connected to a chassis ground. We grabbed a ring terminal from our TOOLS DEPARTMENT/STOREFRONT and made a CRIMP. Notice the SQUARE solid crimp made, this tool is available in our TOOLS DEPARTMENT #5 in our storefront.

All the connectors in this kit use telephone ends. If you need to extend the wires, you can easily purchase modular phone jack extenders at Radio Shack or any hardware store, etc.

We ran the wires on the side under the panels to inside the control module:

NOTE: If you are considering installing our MERCEDES BENZ 8 DISC CHANGER, you can also run your CHANGER cable "OUTWARDS" into the cabin area and mount the changer outside the plastic cubby holes.

We tapped a ground with a stainless steel self tapping screw (available in our TOOLS SECTION). This is a safe location, we chose it for our customers because it is easy to locate. NOTE: The screw to the LEFT (factory) is NOT a good grounding point.

Shown is the VOICE speaker mounted on the rear pillar. It is loud enough to reach the front cabin from the front.

Main control module mounted.

A picture of all the holders, tape, etc the kit comes with. It also comes with wire connectors which we did not use.

Telephone jack like connectors in the main module.

Mini microphone jack for the speaker. Plugs in!

Drilling is not required. But we did it to make the installation look neater! UGH. This was painful in our 5 day old ML.

Picture of sensor mounted with the hole drilled. STICKS ON with special tape.

We didn't want to drill another hole, so what we did was remove the weatherstripping and put the RIBBON size cable UNDER the weatherstripping. For safe measures, our team put electrical tape where the metal touched the ribbon cable. It worked out PERFECTLY.

Have a question? Click on my head to talk live.

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