Stealth Dash Cams

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Hi,

Always wanted a 2 channel dash cam, but with my building now being valet would definitely appreciate the 3rd channel. Problem is every single dash cam I look at has a screen attached to it. It would drive me crazy let alone anyone else in my car.

I see the BlackVue at a cool 500 bucks very expensive. I was planning to just plug into cigarette lighter on the rear seat console. Is that possible?

So two things,

1. Any other dash cam options for me that are cheaper. I just need some form of video and I can just pull the SD card when I need to pull up footage.

2. I don’t mind hardwiring, but I already have a sub and amp on the battery and honestly don’t want to add to the mix. Any harm in all these accessiors leaching the battery? I am def not paying for a power park because I drive the car like once every 7 days so it’ll die.

[FrankMstein]

My wife got this one. https://a.co/d/1fwtlkl More intuitive and consistent.
I have two of these and are disposable at this price, get TWO. One for 5-6 years and the other 2 with no issues. https://a.co/d/bQeTw8I If you take the chip out and download you don't get sound for some reason.

Both are slow as shit for downloading videos.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

I was planning to just plug into cigarette lighter on the rear seat console. Is that possible?

FWIW, that's how I have my BlackVue DR900x-2CH plugged in now, USB plug in rear seat console (F87). Pops out from under rear seat.

(I have an external BlackVue battery hardwired in the trunk, I just haven't gotten around to making a longer power cord to reach the trunk)

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by FrankMstein

My wife got this one. https://a.co/d/1fwtlkl More intuitive and consistent.

I also like them, I have one each in my 3 other cars. Biggest pro/con is no GPS so no speed recorded with video.

[Frostynorth]

VIOFO makes nice cams, the a119 screen turns off after a minute.
There are 3 channel options too

[Sierra055]

I have these in two of my cars (both Audi's) and plan on putting one into my M340 when it arrives. Definitely stealth install but no third channel. If you connect it to the wiring harness in the mirror (usually picks up off the rain sensor) then unfortunately you don't get parking mode, but if you hard wire it back to the fuse box you do.
Image quality is very good, pretty much as good as the Blackvue 900x I have in another car, though the app is rubbish by comparison though.

https://fitcamx.com/collections/bmw

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Originally Posted by jkoral

I also like them, I have one each in my 3 other cars. Biggest pro/con is no GPS so no speed recorded with video.

you think i can buy three and stick one towards my cabin?

[FrankMstein]

Originally Posted by jkoral

I also like them, I have one each in my 3 other cars. Biggest pro/con is no GPS so no speed recorded with video.

No speed huh? All I need is video! Speed may be a problem in my case...

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

you think i can buy three and stick one towards my cabin?

Yes.

"Using Dash Cam Video Sync allows any combination of up to 4 of the Garmin Dash Cams below to be paired simultaneously with the Garmin Drive™ app. This allows you to install multiple dash cameras in the same vehicle, such as front and rear cameras, and create composite picture-in-picture videos from the simultaneous recordings."

From https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?fa...1u5075NYaHY15A

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

Hi,

I see the BlackVue at a cool 500 bucks very expensive. I was planning to just plug into cigarette lighter on the rear seat console. Is that possible?

So two things,

1. Any other dash cam options for me that are cheaper. I just need some form of video and I can just pull the SD card when I need to pull up footage.

2. I don’t mind hardwiring, but I already have a sub and amp on the battery and honestly don’t want to add to the mix. Any harm in all these accessiors leaching the battery? I am def not paying for a power park because I drive the car like once every 7 days so it’ll die.

While I do run BlackVue in my BMW, Genesis, and Spider, I'm running AZDOME 4K's in my other cars. Nice alternative for the price. Units are similar in size to the BlackVue's - and I actually like their app better.

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by Sierra055

I have these...

https://fitcamx.com/collections/bmw

I have the FitCam in my M235i. Very stealth, good quality video, easy to install and operates automatically. What more can you ask other than a rear camera as well.

///Rich

[Sierra055]

I see they even offer that now too. Would be good if it was as stealth as the front.

[rbryantaz]

I have a $65 AliExpress dual front/rear DVR that goes in a custom rear view mirror housing (replaces the factory plastic cover) on my e70 and e90. It is basically invisible on the front. I then use a rear camera mounted in a replacement license plate light housing.

It works fine, the live view on timacam app isn't great but it stores video and audio to the SD card very well with a file per camera that you can set to make a new rotating file name with different durations.

[tranquility]

Ya, I never understood ppl who want to get those massive carcams...it just attracts thieves, attn, etc.

Check out those mobius carcams. I don't think any are 2 channel but I bought two and just mounted them easily (I could've done a better job on the rear but the front is absolutely stealth tucked underneath the rearview mirror).

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/154545037725

[VAcurler]

I installed the FitcamX on my F23 this past week. It is a VERY tight fit with a mirror tap and blendmount for my Uniden R7. I have the one with the rear camera but couldn't figure out where the cable came out so I need to try again this weekend. My plan is to have the rear mounted somewhere so I can see behind me with the top UP or DOWN

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by VAcurler

I installed the FitcamX on my F23 this past week. It is a VERY tight fit with a mirror tap and blendmount for my Uniden R7. I have the one with the rear camera but couldn't figure out where the cable came out so I need to try again this weekend. My plan is to have the rear mounted somewhere so I can see behind me with the top UP or DOWN

I made a mirror tap from computer connector parts but had no problem fitting it in.

It just works. You will love it when you get it fitted.

///Rich

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

does anyone know if blackvue does black friday sale?

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

does anyone know if blackvue does black friday sale?

They might, What model are you looking for? I have a blackvue sitting here that I bought for my wife's car and never installed that I could potentially make you a deal on. If interested send me a PM and I can get you the details.

It also had the capacitor power bank so it can run while parked.

-Rich

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

It also had the capacitor power bank so it can run while parked.

What capacitor power bank are you using?

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by jkoral

What capacitor power bank are you using?

It is a cell link B, 6600mAh. It is actually a LiFeP04 Battery now that I look at it...

It wasn't cheap and sadly I never installed it.

Long story but it was for my wifes car and then she chipped the windshield so I was going to wait until that was fixed, then just never did it.

Bought as:

[BRAND NEW] BlackSys CH-200 2 Channel Dash Cam
FREE 32GB / Cellink Battery B

It was about $500. You reminded me that I need to install it or sell it.

-Rich

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

So if I buy a Blackvue DR770x 3ch and hook it up to a battery pack that advertises 12hours and set the dash cam to impact only. Will I only get roughly 12 hours impact or not before the external battery dies?

Blackvue states even in impact only mode the first few seconds will also record, but how is that possible? That would mean the dash cam is always recording thus will drain my external battery. Is there a way to ONLY record during impacts. Is there a smaller drain and drains more after impact detected. I typically leave my car for a week in a parking garage so I really only can handle impact events only.

[gblansten]

Having wanted a dashcam system in previous cars and not getting one I definitely appreciate the multicam system that came built into my car. I wish more car companies would build these systems into the vehicle.