Found electromagnetic parking sensor system for front bumper

artsci · Oct 14, 2012

With the HD backup camera, parking sensors are not necessary on the rear of the Model S. But the front is another story, and that's where, without sensors, the bumper is most vulnerable to damage. I should know -- it's where I've scraped several of my car's front bumpers.

For the past several days I've been searching for a front sensor system that will not require drilling holes in the bumper. I finally found one this morning. It appears to have been developed for the UK market. The "sensor" is a metallic tape strip that lines the interior of the front bumper from side to side. It will require removal of the front bumper for installation, but that's usually not too difficult.

I'll order a set soon and have it installed on my S when it arrives.

If any others are interested, here's a link to the site:No Holes Parking Sensor | Parking Dynamics Reverse Sensor

contaygious · Oct 14, 2012

Thanks looks promising! Where does the speaker for the beep go?

artsci · Oct 14, 2012

Apparently you can place the speaker anywhere that's convenient. I'm sure there are places under the dash where it can be hidden but heard.

setritt · Oct 14, 2012

artsci said:
With the HD backup camera, parking sensors are not necessary on the rear of the Model S. But the front is another story, and that's where, without sensors, the bumper is most vulnerable to damage. I should know -- it's where I've scraped several of my car's front bumpers.

For the past several days I've been searching for a front sensor system that will not require drilling holes in the bumper. I finally found one this morning. It appears to have been developed for the UK market. The "sensor" is a metallic tape strip that lines the interior of the front bumper from side to side. It will require removal of the front bumper for installation, but that's usually not too difficult.

I'll order a set soon and have it installed on my S when it arrives.

If any others are interested, here's a link to the site:No Holes Parking Sensor | Parking Dynamics Reverse Sensor

That is amazing. The one thing this car is missing for me is the alert for parking. I was considering deferring until the added it but increasing repairs in my 2004 Acura TL has led me to order already. Would be great if there was a visual too

SCW-Greg · Oct 14, 2012

This looks awesome. Quite honestly, if built in mass, there's no reason that the cost on this should be anything but nominal, and something that should be standard on all cars.

Botbldr45 · Oct 19, 2012

I wonder if that would fit a roadster and save my low front bumper!!
:frown:

Thumper · Oct 19, 2012

Nice find ARTSCI. We need this. I hope the install goes well and it works as advertised. Thanks

artsci · Oct 19, 2012

Botbldr45 said:
I wonder if that would fit a roadster and save my low front bumper!!
:frown:

Based on my reading of the installation instructions I can't imagine why it wouldn't fit the roadster.

FlasherZ · Oct 19, 2012

Wonder how effective this will be for managing "curbing" on the right side to protect our wheels? Will the front version give you enough indication as you pull to a curb, or do you have to consider a right-side version? Hmm.

artsci · Oct 19, 2012

FlasherZ said:
Wonder how effective this will be for managing "curbing" on the right side to protect our wheels? Will the front version give you enough indication as you pull to a curb, or do you have to consider a right-side version? Hmm.

You can extend the sensor around the side of the bumper so it should warn of impending curb rash.

artsci · Oct 23, 2012

The kit for the front bumper arrived today. Quite compact and simple to install and the sensor extends around the sides of the bumper, thereby sounding warnings for side curb rash and rim protection. Here are a few photos.

The ECU is in the upper middle. It has DIP switches to set four different levels of sensitivity. The small speaker and wiring is on the left. The metal foil sensor strip is in the bottom center. It's about 1/2 wide, self sticks to the inside of the bumper, and is long enough to line the entire bumper from right wheel well to left. Everything connects to the ECU and the speaker is mounted in a hidden place in the cockpit.

A cool device for sure and it looks like the most complicated part of the installation will be bumper removal.

This is the foil strip rolled up.

Now all I need is the car with bumper to install it on. Cheering for a speedy production ramp up!

contaygious · Oct 23, 2012

Sweet! I will probably do this too.

NigelM · Oct 24, 2012

artsci said:
The kit for the front bumper arrived today.

Thanks for the research, you're a good sport. (I find it very amusing that you have the kit already when Tesla has to produce another 8,000 cars before they get to yours. P.S. I mean that in a nice way.)

mknox · Oct 24, 2012

contaygious said:
Sweet! I will probably do this too.

This looks like a great solution, but a Tesla rep strongly hinted that these might be added at some point. At the Get Amped event, I asked about whether the car had front/rear proximity sensors and the guy gave me a big smile and said "not yet..." I heard elsewhere that the car is even pre-wired for sensors. No confirmation on this, but I thought it was interesting.

artsci · Oct 24, 2012

NigelM said:
Thanks for the research, you're a good sport. (I find it very amusing that you have the kit already when Tesla has to produce another 8,000 cars before they get to yours. P.S. I mean that in a nice way.)

Believe me, I actually appreciate your comment. When I buy a new car and have to wait for delivery, I obtain in advance all of the things I'm planning to add or modify. There's not much on the Model S that needs to be added, but this was one major area of concern, as I've done damage to other cars without sensors. Of course, I could be trumped if Tesla adds bumper sensors between now and the time they build my car, but there's not much $ at risk. And if Tesla adds sensors will they be of this type? I hope so, as they appear to be far superior to the usual ultrasonic proximity detectors.

When I bought my S2000 more than 10 years ago, my dealer had a 7 month waiting list. So I've learned to be patient but also to be prepared when the car is delivered.

Botbldr45 · Oct 24, 2012

I contacted these guys also and they told me the system would not work on sarbon fiber .......

that leaves the roadster owners out unless the bumpers are not really carbon fiber...... anybody know about that???

MikeK · Oct 24, 2012

The same way it was allegedly pre-wired for electric-folding mirrors? :/ Honestly, at this point, I don't believe any such rumors from a Tesla person. It'd be great if it came to pass, but I'm not holding my breath.

Regarding this sensor, I wonder how the metal framework built into the "nose cone" will affect it. Hopefully there's some sort of calibration step where you set the baseline for the sensor, and then it just senses changes away from that baseline.

artsci · Oct 24, 2012

MikeK said:
The same way it was allegedly pre-wired for electric-folding mirrors? :/ Honestly, at this point, I don't believe any such rumors from a Tesla person. It'd be great if it came to pass, but I'm not holding my breath.

Regarding this sensor, I wonder how the metal framework built into the "nose cone" will affect it. Hopefully there's some sort of calibration step where you set the baseline for the sensor, and then it just senses changes away from that baseline.

According to the installation instructions as long as the sensor strip is aligned a few inches from any metal framework in the bumper it will work just fine. I don't know what the backside of the bumper looks like (if anyone has a photo please post it), but there seem to be several workable paths to glue down the sensor strip along the entire length of the bumper.

MikeK · Oct 24, 2012

I can't find it right now, but somewhere I've seen a photo of some Tesla guys working on a thin metal framework that appears to be part of the nose cone/grille area. Since the front bumper is actually behind the nose cone, that seems like where you'd want to run this sensor...

strider · Oct 25, 2012

Botbldr45 said:
I contacted these guys also and they told me the system would not work on sarbon fiber .......
that leaves the roadster owners out unless the bumpers are not really carbon fiber...... anybody know about that???

Roadster bumpers are plastic (at least the ones in my 2.5 are) unless you get the CF chin spoiler.

Found electromagnetic parking sensor system for front bumper

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