CoolBDPhenom03

Alex has a good video here:
But I'll also chime in with my $0.02 on my own install.

1. The install instructions in the box are pretty easy.

2. Running the wire across the roof liner, above the doors, and into the trunk is easy.

3. There is almost 3 extra feet of wire for the camera's power source, so you can start from the windshield and work your way to the trunk. I did it backwards because I wanted to make sure I had enough.

4. To remove the trunk liner, there are just 2 push pins and the grocery hook. The grocery hook may be optional depending on how comfortable you are with working behind the liner. WARNING: There is a plastic tab on the grocery hook so pry it out gently and slowly with a flat head.

5. Remember the exact location of the fuses, or use a marker to mark the place...almost messed this one up. I originally used a fuse in the YELLOW box, but Alex recommended one from the PINK box. You just pull the brace out that holds the fuses in. It's a simple snap enclosure.

6. Use double-stick tape to attach the power toggle switch to the trunk itself (metal).

7. Do not forget to ground the wire before you connect ANYTHING. Yes, the car is off, but just in case.

Tip: Alex pointed this out in the video, but hopefully it's common sense...keep a slight loop of slack in case you want to change how the camera is pointing. I did it because if I looped it over the knob that locks the camera into position, you could get a better look when you tuck the wire into the roof liner.

Install time is approx 1 hour.

AMGFANs

very similar to what i set up mine as well..but I start from the front to the back..

CoolBDPhenom03

Well, I started from the back for 2 reasons. I wanted to get the right fuse to make sure I had power before I hooked everything up; and I wanted to make sure the wire was long enough (which it was - I had almost 3 feet of slack).

BlackboxMyCar

heyhey!

This is so awesome haha!

Thank you for sharing And I am glad to hear that the install was easy. Mercedes C-Class has been the easiest cars to hardwire.

BMWs are also pretty straight forward and hiding wire isn't so difficult.

Audis are easy to hardwire but hiding wires along the headliner is very, very tough.

Japanese cars are very easy to hide wires, but the hardwire part is difficult

CoolBDPhenom03

Minor update:

After reviewing some of the footage from the past day (1st day of operation and ownership) it appears that everything works in parking mode. I ended up using the top fuse in the PINK box, pictured here:

Rsquad911

Quick question... When hard wiring the CR-500 to the C63 do you have to use the battery power saver? Or can you just buy a generic socket plug (Power to the fuse and ground to the bolt inside the trunk)?

one of these...


Also when wrapping the wire around the fuse did you do it on the left blade or the right blade?

thanks in advance!

CoolBDPhenom03

That picture is exactly like the kit I bought. And I think I wrapped it around the right blade.

CoolBDPhenom03

Actually, here's the link:
http://www.blackboxmycar.com/product.php?id_product=41

BlackboxMyCar

Heyhey,

You would need to buy a power kit or the power magic pro to properly hardwire your dash cam.

The purpose of the power kit is to allow your cam to run even when your car is off. It will cut off power if the power kit senses that the battery is going below 11.8V. If you don't use the power kit, your camera will continue to draw your battery power and your battery will be drained.

If you want to use the parking mode, i would recommend getting the power kit. If you are just hardwiring it to have a clean fit and finish, I would use the socket; however, you need to turn off your dashcam everytime you park your vehicle.

Rsquad911

Hi Alex!

Thanks for your response... I was under the impression from the owners manual that the CR500 has a built in battery saving mode if the voltage drops below 11.6

EDIT:
I forgot I have the FineVu GPS.... Doesn't that act as a power kit?

Tp_man

Hey. The kit you are showing is slightly different compared to the power magic pro. The Fork part is the ground and the single strand of wire is what you use to wrap around the little tab you pull out from your box. The one that you posted a picture of seems to be lacking the strand of wire and has a circular plug instead.

CoolBDPhenom03

Right, I should have clarified that.

BlackboxMyCar

Heyhey,

Yes, CR500HD does come with built in battery protector. However, FineVU does not want customers to depend on the that feature to use the parking mode.

FineVU thinks ahead and put that feature in so that once power kit fails, at least your CR500HD can still detect the power loss and shut itself down. However, this is really a secondary protection to avoid draining your battery.

As a vendor and from FineVU's business point, we may look like we are trying to sell more power kits, but really this is a smart thinking of FineVU to be able to prevent draining your car battery if the power kit were to fail. I hope you understand

If FineVU wanted to sell more power kits, they would not have put this feature in right?

As for the GPS, please watch this video:

Hope this helps!

Let me know if you have any questions.

CoolBDPhenom03

Exterior pic

Tp_man

Your cam position looks a little bit higher up compared to what BlackBoxMyCar does. How is the camera view from that position?

CoolBDPhenom03

I just wanted to mount it as high as possible to be out of the way. The mount allows you to tilt and angle the camera so I only have the top, left corner obstructed by the dots behind the mirror.

bhamg

Very useful thread, thx for posting, will get around to it this spring.

BlackboxMyCar

I position it bit lower so that those black dots don't show. However, your set up is perfectly fine as well

Here are some pictures of my install on the C63 AMG today!

brendan999

Sorry if this is a stupid question. I currently have a Caidrox dashcam installed in my car and would like to upgrade to a FineVu. Are the power cables generic across the brands so that i can just plug in the existing power cable to the FineVu? Would want to avoid having to re-hardwire again.

I believe the power cable is 12V on the Caidrox.

CoolBDPhenom03

The power kit is a 12v cigarette lighter adapter tapped into a fuse and the camera plugs into that. If that's similar to your setup, then it should be fine.

brendan999

Great to hear. Thanks very much

justdjames

I was looking into this , but our rear view mirror would have to be replaced , I like the idea it has night vision , 360 degrees and a DVR http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/pr...ellers&from=fn

MBAdon

Awesome write up. I am going to purchase either this camera or the top Blackvue camera, still cnt decide. I have read that the 11.6v built in battery protection is basically useless since almost all temperatures a car battery is 100% drained by the time it reaches that level.
http://dashcamtalk.com/battery-disch...oltage_cut-off

CoolBDPhenom03

It's actually an 11.8V cut off.

Sincity

I'm really impressed with the picture quality and wide angle lens on this unit. I just wish in the future, FineVue will make a "split" unit so the camera will be smaller and attract less attention. I'd like a small camera with the logic box and controls separate like a remote radar detector.