ECHOMASTER MIRROR MONITOR AND CAMERA KIT
● £129, Halfords
WHAT IS IT?
The Echomaster Mirror Monitor and Camera is an aftermarket kit that adds a rear-view camera to any car. It’s part of a growing trend for third-party add-ons that bring modern driver conveniences to older or lower-spec vehicles. The setup sits midrange in a line-up of systems available from Halfords, with a small numberplate mounted camera feeding to a special mirror-mounted screen rather than cheaper units’ pedestal-mounted displays.
The 170-degree camera is water and debris-proof and the display features static parking lines to help judge spaces.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Our our resident teenager has twice backed into things recently so we were keen to see whether a system like this could help of if it would prove a distraction.
The good news is that neither she nor any of the other drivers in the household have reversed into anything since fitting the camera so it seems to fulfil its basic function.
If you’re technically minded and a bit handy you could fit the system yourself but it does involved hooking things up to existing electric systems so hal fords also offer a fitting service, which we took advantage of and which left no trace apart from the wire behind the mirror.
The camera itself is a dicesized object that is barely noticeable once fitted above or beneath the rear number plate. It’s weatherproof and offers a 170-degree view of the surroundings.
The image from the camera is fed to a very clever replacement rear view mirror. The new unit hooks over your existing mirror and in normal driving acts just like a regular rear view. But put the car in reverse and a 4.3-inch section turns into a display showing the feed from the camera. It works remarkably well. The image is sharper and clearer than I’d expected and matches some factory fitted systems I’ve seen. The only drawbacks are that if the sun’s hitting the mirror directly it can be harder to see clearly, and there’s more vibration in the mirror than in the factoryfitted one.
I also have a slight issue with the view offered by the camera. It’s certainly good enough to show everything directly behind the car and definitely eases getting into tight parking spaces but objects off to the sideseem to disappear from view sooner than with built-in systems.
The unit is not perfect - the angle of view and the slight vibration of the mirror when driving aren’t ideal. However, if you’ve got an older car and a driver who struggles with judging the distance behind them it’s a worthwhile and inconspicuous addition that could save you a few quid in repair bills.