Dash cams - who has them, what do you think of them?

[BMWCurves]

After seeing my fair share of some sketchy stuff going on while driving (especially on this most recent drive home from California), I'm considering getting a dash cam for my car. I was hoping to see if members here have a dash cam, and if so what model they have and what they think of it.

EDIT: It seems the current top choice that is a good bargain between size, price, and performance is the Viofo A119C

[az3579]

Was in the process of researching as well...

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[Johnmadd]

Was in the process of researching as well...

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+1

[cakM3]

I'll be getting the Waylens setup
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/cd901ed7400bf06e2d4b12893b2d0cdd.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/cffa85de791936b833e36c8382c9b942.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/ea24321df50a5bd390f45c4405696f59.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/7762be343d947cb2f82087078f9e98bc.jpg


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[az3579]

How much, Charlie?

[rguti153]

I'll be getting the Waylens setup
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/cd901ed7400bf06e2d4b12893b2d0cdd.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/cffa85de791936b833e36c8382c9b942.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/ea24321df50a5bd390f45c4405696f59.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160614/7762be343d947cb2f82087078f9e98bc.jpg


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link ? im really considering one too . as the one i have on my car that comes with the avin 2 unit sucks.

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[cakM3]

link ?

http://www.waylens.com

review link with price: http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/waylens-a-data-driven-automotive-camera-system/

[WOLFN8TR]

http://www.waylens.com

review link with price: http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/waylens-a-data-driven-automotive-camera-system/

Dam Charlie you are going to cost me more money again!!! Looks like you will have to buy 3 of these, LoL.

This is nice!

Removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery
External power cable and cigarette charger

[sillieidiot]

I personally like the Blackvue. I had one of the older ones in my older cars and they were great. I want to get the new one with the front/rear setup.

[az3579]

Dam Charlie you are going to cost me more money again!!! Looks like you will have to buy 3 of these, LoL.

This is nice!

Removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery
External power cable and cigarette charger

As nice as it is, the issue is that it's not purposed for what people typically buy dashcams for. So, it may not have the same convenient features that a standard dashcam has for the reasons you need it. This is more geared for people who want to deliberately record a piece of footage for sharing later. This makes me wonder IF there are any inadequacies when used in place of a typical dashcam for the purpose of recording collisions.

I'd be more inclined to choose a product that is designed ​for that kind of purpose rather than the "active lifestyle" this cam is designed for.

I will let Charlie be the test dummy for this one. I'll see it, probably like it, and buy it, then blame it on him. :)

[WOLFN8TR]

Good points BP and good plan! [emoji106]

[3ZHP]

I've done enough with GoPro to know this can't be much better. Cards and batteries are costly and time consuming to change out for good footage.


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[cakM3]

I will let Charlie be the test dummy for this one. I'll see it, probably like it, and buy it, then blame it on him. :)

Of course you will!!


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[az3579]

Of course you will!!


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Realistically, I'll probably end up buying something else before this ever becomes available... this has been in Pre-Order status for a long time!

[Prestovie]

I felt the same way with all of the subpar driving that was happening around me, and getting a cam was one of my better decisions. Did a load of research, but ended up with this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KZ0J452/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Only $50, does 1080p and has a handful of great features.
And the rumors are true, it does make you exponentially more safe, a definite weight lifted:)

[das boots]

Like what sillieidiot says...a good dash cam that can view front and back is a better cam.

[derbo]

People seem to like the a118-c


-Sent from a fancy smartphone

[WOLFN8TR]

Does anyone use a Hero4 Session as a dashcam?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160626/c78e05d4411faa97c53ededca119f5cb.jpg

[az3579]

Does anyone use a Hero4 Session as a dashcam?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160626/c78e05d4411faa97c53ededca119f5cb.jpg
I have a Hero3 and would never use it as a dash cam. It's too much of a PITA to use it as one. You'd have to start it manually every time, as well as record manually...

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[BMWCurves]

For anyone that does have a dash cam currently, how did you route the power? I'm not enamored with the idea of having a plug constantly in the cigarette lighter...

[WOLFN8TR]

I have a Hero3 and would never use it as a dash cam. It's too much of a PITA to use it as one. You'd have to start it manually every time, as well as record manually...

Ya I was thinking the same thing. Thanks BP

[anandoc]

Here is an informative thread on dashcams on E46F. I have also been considering getting one since my move to Toronto and having to deal with nutcase drivers around me on a daily basis.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1067906

[sillieidiot]

For anyone that does have a dash cam currently, how did you route the power? I'm not enamored with the idea of having a plug constantly in the cigarette lighter...

hook it up to my sunroof that i don't have lol

[terraphantm]

I'll probably use the homelink connector on mine

[das boots]

Here is an informative thread on dashcams on E46F. I have also been considering getting one since my move to Toronto and having to deal with nutcase drivers around me on a daily basis.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1067906



This is nice. But I already have my V1 hard wired to the Homelink inside the cabbie hole. Might overload the fuse if I was to add a Mobius Cam or any other cam for that matter.

[terraphantm]

This is nice. But I already have my V1 hard wired to the Homelink inside the cabbie hole. Might overload the fuse if I was to add a Mobius Cam or any other cam for that matter.

You should be okay. V1 draws only 425mA maximum (250 typical), and the Mobius has a 1A charger, so its draw must be 1A or less. That connection is on a 5A fuse, so that's plenty of headroom.

[Rovert]

You want a dash cam that doesn't have a Li-Ion battery on board inside the unit. Heat will cause destruction under a greenhouse and could cause the battery to ignite. My friend has one in his E46 coupe that it's design is moulded/slanted against his windshield next to his rearview mirror. He used a little bit of black vinyl trim to blend into the auto wiper masking so it looks OEM from the outside and thieves would have to look really hard to see it's a dash cam. Having something sticking out there in plain view is just another reason for someone to smash and grab.

If you want parking mode on your dash cam make sure you find one that can be stealth when recording as well as having a high quality voltage regular so the sensing/recording shuts down when the vehicle's battery voltage gets below a certain threshold.

[csanter]

I ran a hero3 for 6months with BT it was easy to turn on and off. Recording was also simple with the BT. Obviously it's not designed for this, but it was laying around and functioned for what I needed. Changing cards and batteries was cumbersome.

I'm now shopping for a more purposed cam, and can finally hardwire my V1 since the windshield replacement.


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[TheFinanceGuy]

Finally getting around to replying to this thread. I saw this about 2 weeks ago, but work and life got in the way.

I'm on my second dashcam. Here are my thoughts with each. I'll add to this as I am able.

-First one was a Garmin Dash Cam 20 (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/533/previous_models_automotive_cameras/garmin-dash-cam-20/prod146282.html).
I really like the quality of this unit. Never failed, never locked up on me. The image quality was good but the frames per second could have been better. I chose to plug and unplug this unit as I never got around to tapped the fuse panel.
I still have this unit, but moved it into my wife's Tiggy.

-Pros:
Really good at adjusting to the light.
Good picture quality at night
G-sensor wasn't too sensitive - it captured if you hit a pot hole really hard.
GPS enabled - GPS coordinates stamped on video
Speed also stamped and recorded
Great lens angle with wide view
Overwrites old video files if not locked

-Cons:
The unit is HUGE with the suction cup mount
Very viable through the front window (not ideal for car shows)
The suction cup mount would often falls off the window during temperature changes.
Li-ion battery was toast after 6 months
Speed stamp recorded
Pricey at $250

Video footage uploaded to youtube

Footage at sunrise

https://youtu.be/nFzQms7VdJ4

Footage at daytime

https://youtu.be/G10_JrPB80A

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160811/4bdeb261caea9ae99dc6fbe6753961e2.jpg

Next up is one my buddy recommended to me. I haven't decided if I like it or not yet. I've had it installed for about 3 days.

This one is an A-118C made by Auto-Vox (https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-VOX-Dashboard-Capacitor-Internal-Recording/dp/B00UUQD9L6)
This is a capacitor based camera with no battery. This allows the unit to be a bit smaller, and should be less prone to heat failure.

Pros:
Small foot print on the window
Very discrete
Video is very clear on normal conditions
No Speed recording
$75 shipped through amazon prime (mafia link!)
Overwrites old video files if not locked

Cons:
The camera seems to have a hard time adjusting to the sun glare
G sensor is way too sensitive (had to turn it off)
No GPS
No Speed recording
Fish eye type 170* lens gives a strange view


Video footage:

https://youtu.be/4rSsbxxzRQQ

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160811/b3e83141be0d61e3e74497de615e5386.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160811/eb46bcd1c8d7546e2bea0f21b148e515.jpg

[anandoc]

Thanks! I have been researching dashcams and the A118-C looks perfect to me.

[TheFinanceGuy]

Thanks! I have been researching dashcams and the A118-C looks perfect to me.

For short money, the A-118c is a great product. Small, yet powerful video quality.

I forgot to add, I use a fuse tap to tap into the homelink fuse. The power adapter is tucked into the glovebox. This is good, because this a switched power source. The cam comes on within 5 seconds of the key being turned, and off almost instantly when the power is cut.

[anandoc]

I was looking to use the following connector:

https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/448771_x600.jpg

to connect directly to the Homelink connector like so:

http://i.imgur.com/uikEWuRl.jpg

You mention that the camera turns off almost instantly when you switch off your car - but it still finishes writing the video file, right? I mean, thats the whole point of having the capacitor built-in...

Source images from this diy:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1086875

[TheFinanceGuy]

That is a nifty looking thing. The auto-vox camera comes with a very long cable. That might be tough to hide/stuff inside where the homelink goes.

It is a standard mini-USB cable though. You could probably cut the cord, or find a smaller cord.

[anandoc]

It is a standard mini-USB cable though. You could probably cut the cord, or find a smaller cord.

Thats the plan. I will splice the connector (that I mentioned above) into a mini-USB cable and then connect that to the homelink connector. Should be a much cleaner install that ways.

When you turn the car off, does the camera successfully write the video file onto the card? You mentioned that it turns off immediately so I was wondering...

[TheFinanceGuy]

Thats the plan. I will splice the connector (that I mentioned above) into a mini-USB cable and then connect that to the homelink connector. Should be a much cleaner install that ways.

When you turn the car off, does the camera successfully write the video file onto the card? You mentioned that it turns off immediately so I was wondering...

Sorry about that question - Yes. It still writes the file. Have a look


https://youtu.be/LXXU68etFL0

I was adjusting a menu setting while sitting in the parking garage this morning, that is why the camera is shaking.

[anandoc]

Sorry about that question - Yes. It still writes the file. Have a look


https://youtu.be/LXXU68etFL0

I was adjusting a menu setting while sitting in the parking garage this morning, that is why the camera is shaking.

Cool, thank you! I am going to be setting this up in my car.

[Fenrir]

I've been running a Cobra CDR 820 for a little over a year now. Outstanding little camera with a nice wide angle lens, HD capability, hardwire options, and many other fun little perks. It tends to pick up interior noise really well as well as a decent range of outside noises. The two are easy to differentiate in playback and sound sync is always on point.

It's very small and can tuck away in a corner of the windshield with little giveaway to those outside or inside. The battery lasts quite a while and uses a micro usb to charge. It has quite a few recording options ranging form the standard 5-10min rec to a constant or only record with power on/vehicle bump or movement.

It's a bit pricey but worth the cash in my opinion. Because of the miniscule size, the menus can be a bit of a hassle to navigate but become easier to traverse after a bit of a learning curve. Overall, I enjoy mine very much.

My head unit has a backup camera with an option to wire it up as a forward facing camera with record functions instead. So I'll be going that route for the ZHP eventually and throwing the dash cam in another vehicle.

[TheFinanceGuy]

Ben,

What do you use as amount for that unit? I looked at that unit, and with its price point being so low, and good reviews, I should have bought that instead of the Garmin. I was too skeptical and went with the Garmin based on name I trust...

[Fenrir]

The unit itself has a screw-on suction cup based mount that ships with it. You can purchase a few different variations from Amazon as well. That's a stock photo by the way. Mine is tucked away behind the rearview mirror currently.

I'm really surprised at how the prices have come down on these. I haven't priced them since I initially bought mine a little over a year ago.

26734

26735

26736

[WOLFN8TR]

I almost bought the Auto-Vox dash cam a few weeks ago. I like the way it mounts up out of the way. Can you post any more videos?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160811/f361062ab6c7f909a70c74ee03a27978.png

[TheFinanceGuy]

I almost bought the Auto-Vox dash cam a few weeks ago. I like the way it mounts up out of the way. Can you post any more videos?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160811/f361062ab6c7f909a70c74ee03a27978.png

Happy to tomorrow AM. My SD card reader is at work.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

[WOLFN8TR]

OK Cool, Thanks! I was just looking at some YouTube reviews of the Auto-Vox A118. It's looks pretty nice for the money.




http://youtu.be/M-M2XJevKZE



The Viofo A119 dash cam looks a tad bit better quality.

EDIT: I just bought the VIOFO A119!

Buy it Here- $80 http://www.gearbest.com/car-dvr/pp_392247.html?wid=21

http://dashcameras.net/a119-viofo/

http://www.viofo.com/home/30-a119-1080p-60fps-dash-cam.html

Dashcam Hardwire Install DIY (switched power)

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1086875

If I had $370 to spend on a dash cam it would be this!

BlackVue DR650S-2CH 1080p Dual-Lens Cloud-Capable WiFi GPS Dashcam for Front and Rear!


http://www.thedashcamstore.com/blackvue-dr650s-2ch-1080p-dual-lens-cloud-capable-wifi-gps-dashcam-for-front-and-rear/






http://youtu.be/amjcsoExAQU




http://youtu.be/iEQmQfXSID0

[anandoc]

Gary, what made you go with the Viofo A119 over the Auto-vox A118? I understand that the Viofo A119 also records your speed and stamps it on the video? Can you disable this?

[TheFinanceGuy]

Gary -
What's funny is that is the camera I set out to buy. But made a stupid mistake. See the regret text I sent my buddy.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160812/4a2167ec32dd46a8a7de52b04f5b17a0.png

They are the original makers of the a118c camera model. Auto vox is a copy with slightly less quality.

However, I don't think the differences are that noticeable.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

[cakM3]

GearBest is having a flash sale for the VIOFO A-118C Dashcam for $48.19 right now :thumbsup

Only 22 dashcams left though.... hurry up if you guys want one ;)

[anandoc]

GearBest is having a flash sale for the VIOFO A-118C Dashcam for $48.19 right now :thumbsup

Only 22 dashcams left though.... hurry up if you guys want one ;)

Charlie, thanks for heads-up about the flash sale.

[WOLFN8TR]

That's a great price! The one thing that made up my mind between the two was the image quality. If you watch the videos of them side by side the Viofo A119 has better license plate recognition in almost every weather condition. This I feel is crucial. Let's say you have a hit and run and you play back the video and Connor read the license plate number. [emoji15]

As far as the speed I'm not sure if you can disable it. I was posting these running on fumes, I was up since 2:30am. [emoji45]

The more I researched the higher my price range went. I really like the dual camera setup of the BlackVue!! But $370 and the install is way more involved. But I'm still thinking about it. I could always put the Viofo in my wife's 4Runner! [emoji6]

Guys go to the dash cam store and watch the videos of accidents and even thefts caught on tape. When you have the car parked with the camera set to motion sensing it can pickup some cool and illegal stuff going on. Pretty interesting!

[anandoc]

As far as the speed I'm not sure if you can disable it. I was posting these running on fumes, I was up since 2:30am. [emoji45]


Thanks Gary. Per the specs on the A119, the GPS logger module is an optional accessory. So I am going to guess that speed will not get logged as long as I do not have the GPS module installed. Now you have me leaning more towards the A119 :)

[cakM3]

After looking over the many options available I have decided I will be getting the Blackvue DR650S-2ch for my Porsche since the Waylens is not available yet...

https://www.blackvue.com/dr650s-2ch/ (https://www.blackvue.com/dr650s-2ch/)

[WOLFN8TR]

Thanks Gary. Per the specs on the A119, the GPS logger module is an optional accessory. So I am going to guess that speed will not get logged as long as I do not have the GPS module installed. Now you have me leaning more towards the A119 :)

Sweet good info, Thanks!


Look at both links and compare the specs and watch the videos between the A118C and the A119. I think most will agree the A119 is better and worth the extra $40. Not putting down the A118C but the image quality is better in both day and night conditions on the A119! You have to focus on road signs and license plates. On the A118C you can't read some of the images of the signs.

A118C- http://www.gearbest.com/car-dvr/pp_142025.html

* 1.5" screen
* 32GB SD Card
* 1080P Video
* 3MP Camera
* No Motion Recording
* Novatek 96650 chipset

A119- http://www.gearbest.com/car-dvr/pp_392247.html?wid=21

* 2.0" Screen
* 64GB SD Card
* 1440P 30fps / 1080P 60fps HD Video
* 4MP Camera
* Motion Recording
* Novatek NT96660 chipset + OV4689 image sensor
* 6G F1.8 Sony Lens



After looking over the many options available I have decided I will be getting the Blackvue DR650S-2ch for my Porsche since the Waylens is not available yet...https://www.blackvue.com/dr650s-2ch/ (https://www.blackvue.com/dr650s-2ch/)

Great choice Charlie!




http://youtu.be/PiQlKKYHHv8




http://youtu.be/rGbo7q7YCGE




http://youtu.be/T6B2EojJpfE



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gYEsSKUbs




http://youtu.be/7E62_VaDbWU

[JupiterBMW]

Hey gents... I wanted to input into this thread as well... As some of you know, I've recently started driving for Uber on occasion in my M3, and as a result, I'm installing a dash cam as soon as I'm home. I'll be installing the Blackvue DR650S-2CH as well. It isn't cheap, but the quality of the equipment and the features appear to be the best. I did a weeks worth of reading on the Dash Cam forum and most agree that the Korean manufactured cams are the best. Heat is the biggest issue, so steering clear of battery cams is wise as already mentioned.

Good luck, looking to see what others install...

[cakM3]

I'm sure in the future you will have some interesting stories to share regarding your Uber driving Joop! ;)


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[Tunes]

For a good quality product at a decent price I think Kenwoods DRC-410 is great at $199, high quality video, upgradable memory (a must) 12v plug in option, plus a hard wire harness. Collision avoidance, lane departure can be turned off.
http://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/dashboard_camera/drv-410/

[das boots]

Hey gents... I wanted to input into this thread as well... As some of you know, I've recently started driving for Uber on occasion in my M3, and as a result, I'm installing a dash cam as soon as I'm home. I'll be installing the Blackvue DR650S-2CH as well. It isn't cheap, but the quality of the equipment and the features appear to be the best. I did a weeks worth of reading on the Dash Cam forum and most agree that the Korean manufactured cams are the best. Heat is the biggest issue, so steering clear of battery cams is wise as already mentioned.

Good luck, looking to see what others install...

This is my plan when I retire in a year. Drive for Uber and possibly Lyft using the ZHP Sedan. So, keeping an eye on this thread what is the best possible dash cam. I was also told by a Uber veteran (US Marine) that customers do not like a rear facing camera....they like to maintain their privacy.

[TheFinanceGuy]

There will always be a better camera. Tech will always improve.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

[WOLFN8TR]

I was also told by a Uber veteran (US Marine) that customers do not like a rear facing camera....they like to maintain their privacy.

I've seen a few videos of irate Uber passengers. Having a rear facing camera seems like a good idea from a Uber driver stand point.

The BlackVue Dash Cam is a very nice setup having the front and rear cameras but the quality of the video isn't as good as some of the $100 dash cams. Ive watched several videos comparing the quality between different camera and the BlackVue. The quality just isn't there to justify $350-400 for the dual setup.


Street Guardian SG966GC vs BlackVue DR500GW

SG996GC $270-
http://dashcamownersaus.com.au/product/street-guardian-sg9665gc-full-hd-gps-dvr/

Blacksys CH-100B $290-
https://www.blackboxmycar.com/products/blacksys-ch-100b?variant=6312284225




http://youtu.be/ewhz2deApaQ


Go to 11:00 for video comparison.



http://youtu.be/0LrIPxpk-WM


Take a look at the Blacksys CH-100B



http://youtu.be/qGEfkiklt98



http://youtu.be/wuRUZJvisdc

[az3579]

I've looked at everything out there and nothing satisfies my quality requirements. I'd be okay with either a super high quality 1080p 60fps camera or a 4k 30fps camera. Unfortunately the cameras that do meet those criteria don't live up to my standard for quality of video. I have a feeling that what I am looking for doesn't exist. :(

I will probably have to compromise a lot when I buy one.

Sent from my LG V10 on Tapatalk

[TheFinanceGuy]

I went with cheap and compromised a lot.

Please make sure everyone checks their local and state laws.

In MA it is illegal to record audio of people in secret. This falls under the old wire tapping laws. However, once it is disclosed it is fine. This is why I have turned off my internal audio recording.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

[JupiterBMW]

This is my plan when I retire in a year. Drive for Uber and possibly Lyft using the ZHP Sedan. So, keeping an eye on this thread what is the best possible dash cam. I was also told by a Uber veteran (US Marine) that customers do not like a rear facing camera....they like to maintain their privacy.
Good luck. Unless you have a 2005 ZHP, the car is too old. That is the oldest they allow for Uber cars. Not sure about Lyft though.


I'm sure in the future you will have some interesting stories to share regarding your Uber driving Joop! ;)

I already do have stories... But, given the car and how clean I keep it, I've already been hired privately to drive. I made $80 one night bringing some guy and his 3 chicks to a club... The same drive through Uber would've earned me about $18. :rofl


I've seen a few videos of irate Uber passengers. Having a rear facing camera seems like a good idea from a Uber driver stand point.

The BlackVue Dash Cam is a very nice setup having the front and rear cameras but the quality of the video isn't as good as some of the $100 dash cams. Ive watched several videos comparing the quality between different camera and the BlackVue. The quality just isn't there to justify $350-400 for the dual setup.
As for the video privacy, I can agree. Trust me, I will divulge all info if/when I pick people up. As for my "rear" camera, I'll be purchasing the IR camera, and it'll be in the back, also facing forward. I don't much care to record what they're doing, but I want an 'in car' view, as I'd like to have it also for upcoming track days... I'm hoping to get the M3 on the track soon...

As for your info regarding the video quality, hmm... I haven't watched any videos of them as I've only been researching for the last month, and I've been on the ship the whole time. The internet out here is pretty slow, so I can't load Youtube videos... When I get home I'll be looking more. I hope the quality is good enough for me, I really like the build quality of the Blackvue. Thanks for the input though.

[ELCID86]

I've looked at everything out there and nothing satisfies my quality requirements. I'd be okay with either a super high quality 1080p 60fps camera or a 4k 30fps camera. Unfortunately the cameras that do meet those criteria don't live up to my standard for quality of video. I have a feeling that what I am looking for doesn't exist. :(

I will probably have to compromise a lot when I buy one.

Sent from my LG V10 on Tapatalk

Why do you need/want such high quality video?

[Rovert]

Because BP wants a higher level of life. It's all or nothing. Haha

[az3579]

Why do you need/want such high quality video?
Because you simply can't tell license plates past 15 feet or so in front of the car with most of what's available on the market. The quality isn't sufficient to make it easy to pick out the characters. I need to be able to see a plate a farther distance since hit and runs are common in my area, so people are likely to flee.

Sent from my LG V10 on Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

Because you simply can't tell license plates past 15 feet or so in front of the car with most of what's available on the market. The quality isn't sufficient to make it easy to pick out the characters. I need to be able to see a plate a farther distance since hit and runs are common in my area, so people are likely to flee.

Sent from my LG V10 on Tapatalk

Gotcha. Makes since.

[WOLFN8TR]

Ya I agree as well. Thats the one thing I notice in some of the cheaper cameras out there, you just can't read the license plates. I like the dual camera setup from BlackVue but the rear camera is only 720P. The parking mode that detects motion is pretty sweet. In my opinion if you want a dual camera setup with 1080P front and rear get two BlackVue DR650S-1CH WiFi cameras. They are approx $250 each. Ofcourse wiring the rear camera will have to be powered separately going with this configuration.

BlackVue DR650S
http://www.blackboxmycar.com/collections/blackvue/products/blackvue-dr650s-1ch-wifi?variant=4305081985 (https://www.blackboxmycar.com/collections/blackvue/products/blackvue-dr650s-1ch-wifi?variant=4305081985)

[BMWCurves]

Anyone heard of the Vantrue N1? It's on sale for $60 on Amazon.com (using code BH2F9URO), down from $140. 1080p, night vision, g sensor, etc.

Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Vantrue-Mini-Dash-Dashboard-Camera/dp/B01A4YUITY?tag=kinjadeals-20&ascsubtag=2f55ef42f134fee68a45e3f46a7322f4ca448424&rawdata=%5Br%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fjalopnik.com%2F%5Bt%7C link%5Bp%7C1785938586%5Ba%7CB01A4YUITY%5Bau%7C5727 177402741770316%5Bb%7Cdeals

[WOLFN8TR]

Never heard of it out of the countless Dash Cam reviews I've read and video comparisons I've watched. The one thing that would bother me is the way it mounts and hangs down from the window. The Viofo A119 I just bought is very discreet when mounted.

[TheFinanceGuy]

Price is decent. Buy it through prime and see what you think. You'll know in a matter of minutes if you like it or not.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

Price is decent. Buy it through prime and see what you think. You'll know in a matter of minutes if you like it or not.


Sent from my iPhone 6s using Tapatalk

I would, but I'm not anywhere near my car for the next 3 months.

[ELCID86]

Just saw this on MassDrop. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/blackvue-dr650gw-2ch-car-dash-camera?mode=guest_open

[BMWCurves]

What are common wiring options for dash cams? This looks like it plugs into the cigarette lighter which I'd want to avoid.

[anandoc]

What are common wiring options for dash cams? This looks like it plugs into the cigarette lighter which I'd want to avoid.

Using the homelink connector is probably the easiest and most 'OEM like' way to wire this up. Here is a DIY

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1086875

[WOLFN8TR]

Just saw this on MassDrop. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/blackvue-dr650gw-2ch-car-dash-camera?mode=guest_open

I've been looking at Dash Cam's recently and this is a really good buy. It's about $100 off, not to shabby!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160916/2bd3fe601e832760ed255fcd9d23744d.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160916/8eabbe88074415732152a120a7e1e497.jpg

[BMWCurves]

Using the homelink connector is probably the easiest and most 'OEM like' way to wire this up. Here is a DIY

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1086875

Cool, appreciate it!

[BMWCurves]

Any updates from anyone?

[WOLFN8TR]

I bought the Viofo A119C and installed it in my wife's car. It takes really good quality day and night videos. Very impressed with this $80 dash cam.

[anandoc]

I bought the Viofo A119C and installed it in my wife's car. It takes really good quality day and night videos. Very impressed with this $80 dash cam.

Hey Gary, did you get the A119C with the GPS attachment? If so, does the GPS attachment add a lot of extra bulk? I like the slim profile of the A119C but I would also like to have the GPS functionality.

[WOLFN8TR]

I didn't get the GPS attachment.

[anandoc]

I didn't get the GPS attachment.

Thanks. Its $8 CAD difference between the GPS and non-GPS model so I will go for the one with GPS. You can disable it from logging your speed, yet it can still geo-code the videos.

[TheFinanceGuy]

I did buy the 119C with GPS - though, I haven't had a chance to put it in the car.

The 118 works pretty well for cheap money.


Here is a clip of my car inside the dealer having the airbag replaced. This is from the 118.


https://vimeo.com/192019773

[anandoc]

@TheFinanceGuy which DC-DC converter did you end up using to hardwire the Viofo to the homelink connector? I am looking at this one:

https://www.amazon.ca/DROK-Waterproof-Converter-Adjustable-Transformer/dp/B00C63TLCC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480552658&sr=8-5&keywords=drok&th=1

[TheFinanceGuy]

@TheFinanceGuy which DC-DC converter did you end up using to hardwire the Viofo to the homelink connector? I am looking at this one:

https://www.amazon.ca/DROK-Waterproof-Converter-Adjustable-Transformer/dp/B00C63TLCC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480552658&sr=8-5&keywords=drok&th=1

I used a fuse tap (https://www.amazon.com/Support-circuit-Adapter-Blade-Holder/dp/B00SUTYYS2) and a cig lighter socket (https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Charger-Cigarette-Lighter-Female/dp/B00EZJBELQ/ref=pd_sim_60_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00EZJBELQ&pd_rd_r=88SE4K8Y46T43AVZYZ5N&pd_rd_w=zBbro&pd_rd_wg=yXiTW&psc=1&refRID=88SE4K8Y46T43AVZYZ5N) .

It's easy, tap the fuse, connect the socket, run power cable up the pillar and along window line.

Here is a pretty good DIY on how to do it.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7211-DIY-Additional-12V-Power-sockets-and-USB-charging-doityourself

[anandoc]

Has anybody gotten their hands on (or even heard of) the BMW Advanced Car eye system? This is basically a OEM BMW Dashcam solution for the front and rear and apparently it is only available in the European market for now. Here is a link to this product:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-european-bmw-parts/advanced-car-eye-hd-camera-front-rear/66212359954~geb/

[BMWCurves]

Bump for thoughts.

[ELCID86]

I'm still thinking about this one.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170310/24c41c12c64ff195bb032b2dcaa27c51.jpg

[anandoc]

I'm still thinking about this one.



Do it! I have been using it for the past couple months and its awesome! Its highly customizable and quite discreet - making it look almost OEMish. Let me know if you have any specific questions around this unit.

[WOLFN8TR]

The A119C is a really good dash cam for the money. It works good in both Day and Night conditions. It even takes good videos looking facing into the sun.

[ELCID86]

Thanks for the confirmations guys.

[WOLFN8TR]

Welcome...

[BMWCurves]

Nice, I think I'll look into that one as well. How's the audio quality on it?

[autobarn]

I've had the Blackvue 650GW-2CH (front and rear setup) with the Power Magic Pro kit for about two years now and it's been nice.
They have constantly updated firmware and even added cloud storage.
There's now a battery pack too for when your car is in parking mode for long (so you don't drain your battery).

[Rovert]

For any seasons dashcam users, most of you probably use the default 1080p 30FPS. When does 720p 60FPS become of value? In professional video, if I want less motion blur and more fluidity, I'll use higher frame rates. I'm guessing there is more chance of capturing stuff that passes you at higher rates of speed more clearly with half the blur so if you needed a plate number you have a chance of seeing it? Just thinking aloud as I test my Aukey DR02 dashcam.

[Rovert]

So it's been a couple weeks since I have installed and used the Aukey Dashcam for a sale price of $57.

Things I like:
1. The GUI is easy to access and use with a decent amount of customizable settings.
2. The wedge shape is very inconspicuous for someone looking at the windshield from the outside or looking in through the side windows. It's hidden from the back window.
3. It's run off capacitors to hold memory of settings which can handle a lot more in car sun heat compared to Li-Ion batteries.

Things I don't like:
1. It could be a tad slimmer, but I don't know what's inside its super light body.
2. A smaller mini-USB plug would be nice as it uses an extra inch from the top including needing space to unplug it so a side mount and/or micro-USB with an "L plug" would be better here.
3. Plastic quick release plate needs "up" motion to release dashcam, using up space that could be mounted higher.

For the price I purchased this at, it's not bad of an experience at all. The picture is clear both day and night and it has the menu selectable option to capture audio as well. It'll capture 720p 60fps (7Mbps) but I feel that the extra detail of 1080p 30fps (13Mbps) is good enough as it'll capture license plates better so long as the speed delta isn't so fast it creates too much motion blur. Having 4K would be a nice addition for more plate clarity for further distances but I know that'll come down in price with time.

If you want a powered parking mode for this camera you could either wire it to constant on via car battery or find a small high-quality USB Li-Ion battery pack that works with a super low current to buffer your out of vehicle recording. The camera goes into a lower power motion detection mode so it'll start recording for a couple mins less than a second after it detects motion.

Here are a few video clips that I just trimmed or stitched together in Quicktime without changing the bitrate or quality:

A time where a truck crossed the center line. (https://cl.ly/3c0G1Y0X2F3J)

A night time clip when a truck tried to change lanes into me on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/3x3c473W343r)

An attack of a cardboard box on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/0y371d1h3G3J) (no bumpers were harmed thanks to thick bouncy XPEL Ultimate wrap.)

And some shameless playing with a 400+HP Camaro... (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)LOL (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)(pride could have been harmed on the Camaro's side but it's no fun to post video with everyone behind. :P)

I didn't/won't post these to YouTube since I have in car music on and there'll probably be multiple copyright infractions because of that. Hopefully, this gives a representation of what dashcams can do. If you want, download the actual file so you get a better understanding of what it's like at 100% of the unit's quality.

[san]

So it's been a couple weeks since I have installed and used the Aukey Dashcam for a sale price of $57.

Things I like:
1. The GUI is easy to access and use with a decent amount of customizable settings.
2. The wedge shape is very inconspicuous for someone looking at the windshield from the outside or looking in through the side windows. It's hidden from the back window.
3. It's run off capacitors to hold memory of settings which can handle a lot more in car sun heat compared to Li-Ion batteries.

Things I don't like:
1. It could be a tad slimmer, but I don't know what's inside its super light body.
2. A smaller mini-USB plug would be nice as it uses an extra inch from the top including needing space to unplug it so a side mount and/or micro-USB with an "L plug" would be better here.
3. Plastic quick release plate needs "up" motion to release dashcam, using up space that could be mounted higher.

For the price I purchased this at, it's not bad of an experience at all. The picture is clear both day and night and it has the menu selectable option to capture audio as well. It'll capture 720p 60fps (7Mbps) but I feel that the extra detail of 1080p 30fps (13Mbps) is good enough as it'll capture license plates better so long as the speed delta isn't so fast it creates too much motion blur. Having 4K would be a nice addition for more plate clarity for further distances but I know that'll come down in price with time.

If you want a powered parking mode for this camera you could either wire it to constant on via car battery or find a small high-quality USB Li-Ion battery pack that works with a super low current to buffer your out of vehicle recording. The camera goes into a lower power motion detection mode so it'll start recording for a couple mins less than a second after it detects motion.

Here are a few video clips that I just trimmed or stitched together in Quicktime without changing the bitrate or quality:

A time where a truck crossed the center line. (https://cl.ly/3c0G1Y0X2F3J)

A night time clip when a truck tried to change lanes into me on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/3x3c473W343r)

An attack of a cardboard box on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/0y371d1h3G3J) (no bumpers were harmed thanks to thick bouncy XPEL Ultimate wrap.)

And some shameless playing with a 400+HP Camaro... (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)LOL (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)(pride could have been harmed on the Camaro's side but it's no fun to post video with everyone behind. :P)

I didn't/won't post these to YouTube since I have in car music on and there'll probably be multiple copyright infractions because of that. Hopefully, this gives a representation of what dashcams can do. If you want, download the actual file so you get a better understanding of what it's like at 100% of the unit's quality.

Thanks for the review Trevor!

Seems like the video quality is pretty good for the price. I am considering it now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rovert]

There is a sale for Anker's product, Roav with a product code for similar price. I reckon picture quality is similar as they use the same Sony sensor.

https://dealnews.com/Anker-Roav-1080-P-Wi-Fi-Dashcam-for-67-free-shipping/2041781.html

It has an extra feature of Wifi viewing/transferring with your mobile phone rather than just microSD to SD adapter to your computer.

BTW here are exterior and interior shots. I used a polarizing filter to remove glare so keep it as real as what our eye sees:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170724/2c4a1a74b793334464f9225181244c71.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170724/7f5866a03ce88a4838e166af02758e7e.jpg

[derbo]

So it's been a couple weeks since I have installed and used the Aukey Dashcam for a sale price of $57.

Things I like:
1. The GUI is easy to access and use with a decent amount of customizable settings.
2. The wedge shape is very inconspicuous for someone looking at the windshield from the outside or looking in through the side windows. It's hidden from the back window.
3. It's run off capacitors to hold memory of settings which can handle a lot more in car sun heat compared to Li-Ion batteries.

Things I don't like:
1. It could be a tad slimmer, but I don't know what's inside its super light body.
2. A smaller mini-USB plug would be nice as it uses an extra inch from the top including needing space to unplug it so a side mount and/or micro-USB with an "L plug" would be better here.
3. Plastic quick release plate needs "up" motion to release dashcam, using up space that could be mounted higher.

For the price I purchased this at, it's not bad of an experience at all. The picture is clear both day and night and it has the menu selectable option to capture audio as well. It'll capture 720p 60fps (7Mbps) but I feel that the extra detail of 1080p 30fps (13Mbps) is good enough as it'll capture license plates better so long as the speed delta isn't so fast it creates too much motion blur. Having 4K would be a nice addition for more plate clarity for further distances but I know that'll come down in price with time.

If you want a powered parking mode for this camera you could either wire it to constant on via car battery or find a small high-quality USB Li-Ion battery pack that works with a super low current to buffer your out of vehicle recording. The camera goes into a lower power motion detection mode so it'll start recording for a couple mins less than a second after it detects motion.

Here are a few video clips that I just trimmed or stitched together in Quicktime without changing the bitrate or quality:

A time where a truck crossed the center line. (https://cl.ly/3c0G1Y0X2F3J)

A night time clip when a truck tried to change lanes into me on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/3x3c473W343r)

An attack of a cardboard box on the interstate. (https://cl.ly/0y371d1h3G3J) (no bumpers were harmed thanks to thick bouncy XPEL Ultimate wrap.)

And some shameless playing with a 400+HP Camaro... (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)LOL (https://cl.ly/2J2a38010l33)(pride could have been harmed on the Camaro's side but it's no fun to post video with everyone behind. :P)

I didn't/won't post these to YouTube since I have in car music on and there'll probably be multiple copyright infractions because of that. Hopefully, this gives a representation of what dashcams can do. If you want, download the actual file so you get a better understanding of what it's like at 100% of the unit's quality.

Nice Review.

For Parking mode you can use something like a power magic pro or multisafer.


https://www.blackvue.com/power-magic-pro/

https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/multi-safer-vs-power-magic-pro

[WOLFN8TR]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170724/7f5866a03ce88a4838e166af02758e7e.jpg

That would drive me nuts! I'm to OCD to go that route.

[BMWCurves]

Bump.

[sillieidiot]

I have the newest version of the blackvue 750s or something. I forgot lol I haven't installed them yet though. Got the 2ch version. May try to install them soon. If not lazy lol

[Rovert]

^ nice help to the thread there. [emoji23]

[sillieidiot]

^ nice help to the thread there. [emoji23]

Well I did respond to the thread title lol ok for the other half of the question. It looks cool lol

[704sw]

Well I did respond to the thread title lol ok for the other half of the question. It looks cool lol

I’d like to know your opinion once you get it rolling. A 2 channel system is very appealing to me.

[sillieidiot]

I’d like to know your opinion once you get it rolling. A 2 channel system is very appealing to me.

Yeah I was waiting for this update. Now both the front and rear cameras are 1080p. And they upgraded to the Starvis Sony sensors which perform better in low light. I don't know if you have any experience with those sensors, but I have them in a couple of my security cameras and is like a huge upgrade at night.

I just haven't been home long enough to actually do the install.

[Rovert]

No worries. We’ll be patient. Anytime 2017 or 2018 is great.

-Love from Canada.

[BMWCurves]

For those of you that have dash cams, how did you wire them? To a switched power source, or use something like this fuse kit so it is always "on" but cuts power when the car's battery's voltage drops to a certain level:

https://www.amazon.com/Hardwire-Installation-Garmin-Rexing-Novatek/dp/B01JUNG3G2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512263275&sr=1-3&keywords=dash+cam+fuse+connector

[Rovert]

Mine’s wired to glove box aux power. I made sure my dashcam is capacitor powered and not battery powered. Summer heat would play havoc on a Li-ion battery in the sun in the hottest area of your car. I can have the option to mount a battery to power the dashcam separate where is low in the cabin away from sun. I’m not sure how auto cutoffs from main car battery work. I’ve heard some are bad quality and drain the battery just themselves which isn’t a good thing.

[cornercarver]

I use a battery-powered GoPro which I take with me when I leave the car. I wouldn't recommend leaving a dashcam (or anything else for that matter) in the car because it's a temptation for thieves.

[Rovert]

Saw this from a friend:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-obd-Car-Dash-Cam-DVR-for-bmw-car-serial-7-E65-mini-3-E46-5/32806150021.html

[BMWCurves]

Mine’s wired to glove box aux power. I made sure my dashcam is capacitor powered and not battery powered. Summer heat would play havoc on a Li-ion battery in the sun in the hottest area of your car. I can have the option to mount a battery to power the dashcam separate where is low in the cabin away from sun. I’m not sure how auto cutoffs from main car battery work. I’ve heard some are bad quality and drain the battery just themselves which isn’t a good thing.

Yeah, I am leaning switched power just for the sake of not over-draining my battery. The downside is then that most dash cams that have motion-sensing while the car is parked and off is rendered useless, no?

Which one do you use, the VIOFO A118 or something similar?


I use a battery-powered GoPro which I take with me when I leave the car. I wouldn't recommend leaving a dashcam (or anything else for that matter) in the car because it's a temptation for thieves.

Yeah, I'm planning on having something inconspicuous at best, or removable that I can toss in the glovebox if need be.


Saw this from a friend:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-obd-Car-Dash-Cam-DVR-for-bmw-car-serial-7-E65-mini-3-E46-5/32806150021.html

Interesting. I do like the hidden-ness of it.

I do enjoy a foreign website that gives bizarre specs like that it's made in "China mainland", it's function is "Night vision strengthen", or "amblyopia class" night vision (I really don't understand that last one).

[704sw]

William I think the A119 is supposed to be better for a very small incremental cost. Different sensor perhaps?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

William I think the A119 is supposed to be better for a very small incremental cost. Different sensor perhaps?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup! They have now the A119 V2 and the A119s V2, the latter having a sensor better suited to night time driving. I'm leaning on getting either one of those, just trying to figure out which wiring option I should use.

[704sw]

Yup! They have now the A119 V2 and the A119s V2, the latter having a sensor better suited to night time driving. I'm leaning on getting either one of those, just trying to figure out which wiring option I should use.

Isn’t there also a difference between capacitor vs. something else?

It’s something I really want (and need), but if I ever *need* the video for insurance I’m going to have to edit out the audio of me singing along full volume to T-Swift.

[BMWCurves]

Isn’t there also a difference between capacitor vs. something else?

It’s something I really want (and need), but if I ever *need* the video for insurance I’m going to have to edit out the audio of me singing along full volume to T-Swift.

I believe all Viofo models are capacitor (as compared to battery powered). I just see enough bad driving on the road that I think it's time to get some sort of precautionary measure just in case.

[anandoc]

It’s something I really want (and need), but if I ever *need* the video for insurance I’m going to have to edit out the audio of me singing along full volume to T-Swift.

You can turn off audio recording. I have a Viofo A119C and I have turned off this feature, along with recording speed. It still records the GPS coordinates - just not the actual speed.

[704sw]

I believe all Viofo models are capacitor (as compared to battery powered). I just see enough bad driving on the road that I think it's time to get some sort of precautionary measure just in case.

I couldn’t agree more. It’s so concerning how many people I see on their phones behind the wheel. I almost got sideswiped at 80mph on I-26 Friday by some dipshit drifting lanes staring at his phone.


You can turn off audio recording. I have a Viofo A119C and I have turned off this feature, along with recording speed. It still records the GPS coordinates - just not the actual speed.

Nice, thanks.

[BMWCurves]

You can turn off audio recording. I have a Viofo A119C and I have turned off this feature, along with recording speed. It still records the GPS coordinates - just not the actual speed.

I cannot find the A119C, do you have a link?

What setting do you record in? I see the newest update by Viofo is the A119 V2, which has 1440p @ 30 fps, but I feel like scaling down to 1080p @ 60 fps is a better bet, in which case the A119S V2 seems like the better choice given its supposed superior night recording clarity compared to the A119 V2.

[Tunes]

I have recently installed a Kenwood DRV-N520 that ties into my DNX-994S receiver and I love it https://www.cartoys.com/drvn520
The cam is so small you can't see it mounted on my windshield (behind my mirror and it uses the screen on my receiver. It has a SIM card so if I want to view on my computer or share the video I can.

[ELCID86]

Perhaps a cheap alternative combo-cam? (if it goes live)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1592252142/caply-the-worlds-most-durable-action-camera?ref=75ki1e

[trancenation]

I've been using the Blackvue DR650S-2Ch System paired with a Cellink Battery B to supply power to the camera during parking mode, works well. It has impact sensing, motion, event recording, GPS, a nice GUI to playback the footage, and most of all the cloud function that let's you wirelessly view footage from your phone (if you choose to hook the dashcam up to a hotspot).

While the car is running, the Cellink Battery B is charged through an ACC powered fuse. While the car is off, the Cellink Battery B stops charging and just supplies power to the dashcam.

I've had it for over a year now. They just came out with the DR750S which has an improved CMOS sensor with better night time capability and resolution.

you can find a lot of good information on blackboxmycar.com (which is where i got the cellink battery B)

[ELCID86]

Just read this and thought I’d share.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/05/19/anker-c1-pro-c2-pro-review-not-average-dashcams/

[sillieidiot]

mines still sitting in a box lol