mccalli
Regular Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2018
- Points
- 18
Am considering getting a dash cam. Would prefer front and rear, but I have no idea how to run cable from the front to the rear, and no real idea how to run cable from the front to the fuse box either. Neither do I have any real idea where i would mount a rear dash cam either...
So. Got two choices - first is get a more taxi-cam dash cam like this one. Advantage - install once, records the cabin and sides, as well as (presumably) the rear by looking through the plastic rear window. Disadvantage - ...but I have no idea how clear looking through the rear plastic window would be. Can't imagine all that clear. Video quality of rear might not be that great.
Second choice is to buy one that does front and rear separately, like this one for example. Advantage - rear camera can be mounted...well, in the rear. Likely better video quality. Disadvantage - might not record the sides like the taxi-cam thing would, unless rear mounted externally still has the plastic window problem.
To do either, I'd be looking for a hardwire kit. Having recently discovered the wonderful world of fuse taps, that seems like the easiest way to get a permanent power install to me - do not want to faff splicing/soldering/anything else in a small confined space where I could screw up the car's electrics. So I think I would need to hide the power in the headliner, down the A pillar and then...err...no idea. Don't know how to reach the engine compartment fuse box. Same applies for the rear - if externally mounted, then I'll need to reach the outside and I don't know how to run cable from inside the cabin through to the outside of the rear of the car.
I wouldn't be opposed to having someone fit it for me, but I've seen either online quotes for £115 to £125, or Halfords for £30 but using Nextbase cameras only really which I don't much want. The Nextbase ones look quite bulky, are priced high, slap their logo on all the video and get reasonable but not top online reviews (Voifo A119 Pro or the new A129 seems to get good reviews, and I also like the look of the Viofo W1R for its discreetness though the reviews aren't that promising). So unless fitting drops to £50 or similar, I'm more interested in doing this myself.
(I have exactly the same set of questions about a 5-series F11, by the way. 2012 520D M. In fact ideally I'd like two mounts for the same dash cam, and just transfer depending which car I'm driving. Also why looking at self install - two lots of £115 to fit adds up quickly).
So - any experience in fitting them? Any tips for the wiring? Any models work/not work for you?
So. Got two choices - first is get a more taxi-cam dash cam like this one. Advantage - install once, records the cabin and sides, as well as (presumably) the rear by looking through the plastic rear window. Disadvantage - ...but I have no idea how clear looking through the rear plastic window would be. Can't imagine all that clear. Video quality of rear might not be that great.
Second choice is to buy one that does front and rear separately, like this one for example. Advantage - rear camera can be mounted...well, in the rear. Likely better video quality. Disadvantage - might not record the sides like the taxi-cam thing would, unless rear mounted externally still has the plastic window problem.
To do either, I'd be looking for a hardwire kit. Having recently discovered the wonderful world of fuse taps, that seems like the easiest way to get a permanent power install to me - do not want to faff splicing/soldering/anything else in a small confined space where I could screw up the car's electrics. So I think I would need to hide the power in the headliner, down the A pillar and then...err...no idea. Don't know how to reach the engine compartment fuse box. Same applies for the rear - if externally mounted, then I'll need to reach the outside and I don't know how to run cable from inside the cabin through to the outside of the rear of the car.
I wouldn't be opposed to having someone fit it for me, but I've seen either online quotes for £115 to £125, or Halfords for £30 but using Nextbase cameras only really which I don't much want. The Nextbase ones look quite bulky, are priced high, slap their logo on all the video and get reasonable but not top online reviews (Voifo A119 Pro or the new A129 seems to get good reviews, and I also like the look of the Viofo W1R for its discreetness though the reviews aren't that promising). So unless fitting drops to £50 or similar, I'm more interested in doing this myself.
(I have exactly the same set of questions about a 5-series F11, by the way. 2012 520D M. In fact ideally I'd like two mounts for the same dash cam, and just transfer depending which car I'm driving. Also why looking at self install - two lots of £115 to fit adds up quickly).
So - any experience in fitting them? Any tips for the wiring? Any models work/not work for you?
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