Hard wiring dashcam - non constant power circuit search
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 11
From: Toronto
BMW
Hard wiring dashcam - non constant power circuit search
I have a 2020 C43 Wagon and I’m in the process of wiring a dashcam (front and back).
Did me research, searches and looked what others have done (read pretty much every post on this forum). Not new to working on cars so this is easy project for me.
My research thought me that circuits on the passenger side are powered at all times and that on the driver’s side there are few circuits that are powered only when the ignition is on.
I pulled my wiring to the driver’s side fuse panel (the one on the edge of the dash you access by removing the plastic panel you see when you one the door). I also pulled the wring to the back (did not route the wire through the hatch door though).
Tonight I went to wire it up and found out that on the driver’s side all circuits (fuses) are powered with the ignition off! I even waited for 15 minutes and took the key to the house thinking it takes bit of time for the power to be disconnected, but no,… power is on at all times on all wires (I took the fuse panel off and checked all of the wires from the back).
Why is that? Surely they wouldn’t make a wagon different than other C43s?
I found a number of circuits that do turn on/off with the ignition in the trunk. I just feel bummed about pulling the wire out (removing the A-pillar cover and all) and re-routing it to the trunk.
Did me research, searches and looked what others have done (read pretty much every post on this forum). Not new to working on cars so this is easy project for me.
My research thought me that circuits on the passenger side are powered at all times and that on the driver’s side there are few circuits that are powered only when the ignition is on.
I pulled my wiring to the driver’s side fuse panel (the one on the edge of the dash you access by removing the plastic panel you see when you one the door). I also pulled the wring to the back (did not route the wire through the hatch door though).
Tonight I went to wire it up and found out that on the driver’s side all circuits (fuses) are powered with the ignition off! I even waited for 15 minutes and took the key to the house thinking it takes bit of time for the power to be disconnected, but no,… power is on at all times on all wires (I took the fuse panel off and checked all of the wires from the back).
Why is that? Surely they wouldn’t make a wagon different than other C43s?
I found a number of circuits that do turn on/off with the ignition in the trunk. I just feel bummed about pulling the wire out (removing the A-pillar cover and all) and re-routing it to the trunk.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 11
From: Toronto
BMW
This is the back of the fuse panel on the driver's side. All wires are powered all the time (obviously since I do not have any blown fuses) even with the ignition off.
This is the front of the fuse panel
I guess my message is to figure out where you'll pull the wires before you pull the wires so you don't end up wasting time.
Last edited by buco; Dec 18, 2019 at 07:25 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 282
From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
If you follow the How-Tos to the W205 section in the top ribbon, there's a step-by-step that gives you everything you need to know, including fuse location in the trunk. Likely would've saved you some work, but look at how much you know now! 
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 286
Likes: 64
nothing
I have a coupe and I couldn't find any fuse or power strip to tap off on driver/passenger sides either because they were all powered on at all times. The only location that powered on when ignition was on was inside the trunk so I had to tap off there. It was not hard TBH, you don't have to remove any panel or cover, just carefully push the wires in.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 797
Likes: 141
2018 C43
I needed both constant BATT and ACC when key is on for my dashcam.
For BATT, the yellow fuse block on the driver side like on your picture had constant BATT and piggy backed the last fuse (#211AMG stability control) on the bottom which was a blank for me.
For ACC all the black block to the right of the yellow had power only when key was in ACC position. I used the glove box light (#216)
Be warned, I think dashcam on parking mode drained the battery. I had the car battery warrantied 2 months ago because eco start/stop stopped working. Now I have both disabled.
For BATT, the yellow fuse block on the driver side like on your picture had constant BATT and piggy backed the last fuse (#211AMG stability control) on the bottom which was a blank for me.
For ACC all the black block to the right of the yellow had power only when key was in ACC position. I used the glove box light (#216)
Be warned, I think dashcam on parking mode drained the battery. I had the car battery warrantied 2 months ago because eco start/stop stopped working. Now I have both disabled.
Last edited by stockbmw; Dec 19, 2019 at 10:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 11
From: Toronto
BMW
I needed both constant BATT and ACC when key is on for my dashcam.
For BATT, the yellow fuse block on the driver side like on your picture had constant BATT and piggy backed the last fuse (#211AMG stability control) on the bottom which was a blank for me.
For ACC all the black block to the right of the yellow had power only when key was in ACC position. I used the glove box light (#216)
Be warned, I think dashcam on parking mode drained the battery. I had the car battery warrantied 2 months ago because eco start/stop stopped working. Now I have both disabled.
For BATT, the yellow fuse block on the driver side like on your picture had constant BATT and piggy backed the last fuse (#211AMG stability control) on the bottom which was a blank for me.
For ACC all the black block to the right of the yellow had power only when key was in ACC position. I used the glove box light (#216)
Be warned, I think dashcam on parking mode drained the battery. I had the car battery warrantied 2 months ago because eco start/stop stopped working. Now I have both disabled.
I've found sections of the fuse panel in the trunk though that are powered only when ignition is on. I will back haul only the ignition-on power line (smaller wire, easier to fish) to the driver's side fuse panel where i will be picking up constant power and ground. I really like all the space behind the fuse panel to store my power control box.
Yeah, I will not be using park mode for more than 2 hours after the car is turned off. I can also set the camera to shut down if the car battery voltage drops below certain level.
It's fun learning the new car!
While doing this I realized that i have cigarette lighter type plug under the glove-box!
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 797
Likes: 141
2018 C43
I'm pretty sure now that power lines @ the fuse panel depend on the options you have. I have verified that power line that runs on the right side of the driver's side panel is powered at all times. That would be fuses 213 to 219, which are blank in my car.
I've found sections of the fuse panel in the trunk though that are powered only when ignition is on. I will back haul only the ignition-on power line (smaller wire, easier to fish) to the driver's side fuse panel where i will be picking up constant power and ground. I really like all the space behind the fuse panel to store my power control box.
Yeah, I will not be using park mode for more than 2 hours after the car is turned off. I can also set the camera to shut down if the car battery voltage drops below certain level.
It's fun learning the new car!
While doing this I realized that i have cigarette lighter type plug under the glove-box!
I've found sections of the fuse panel in the trunk though that are powered only when ignition is on. I will back haul only the ignition-on power line (smaller wire, easier to fish) to the driver's side fuse panel where i will be picking up constant power and ground. I really like all the space behind the fuse panel to store my power control box.
Yeah, I will not be using park mode for more than 2 hours after the car is turned off. I can also set the camera to shut down if the car battery voltage drops below certain level.
It's fun learning the new car!
While doing this I realized that i have cigarette lighter type plug under the glove-box!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 11
From: Toronto
BMW
Thank you very much! Appreciate it! I'm in central Etobicoke... so not too close.
I will be "working" from home over the holidays so I'm planning to get the job done then (sort of in between my emails and work tasks)
Cheers!
I will be "working" from home over the holidays so I'm planning to get the job done then (sort of in between my emails and work tasks)
Cheers!
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 17
2019 c43
Not sure If you resolved this yet but wanted to add my experience.
I have a thinkware f800 pro which has parking record function. You set it up to stop recording once the battery hits a selected volts etc.
Mine setup records for around 10 hours.
Anyhow! Getting back to the point we originally hooked mine up to the fuse box and the car (2019 c43) would always cut off the power after 40 mins ignition off so it wouldent record anymore parked footage.
In the end we resolved this by connecting it directly to the battery at the front, through the glove box.
I have a thinkware f800 pro which has parking record function. You set it up to stop recording once the battery hits a selected volts etc.
Mine setup records for around 10 hours.
Anyhow! Getting back to the point we originally hooked mine up to the fuse box and the car (2019 c43) would always cut off the power after 40 mins ignition off so it wouldent record anymore parked footage.
In the end we resolved this by connecting it directly to the battery at the front, through the glove box.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 29
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia
'18 C43 AMG Coupe
In case anyone still needs a good place to tap for power that turns off with the car, just use the cig lighter in the front dashboard. I’ve had my radar detector tapped into the back of it for over a year now, and it always turns off with the car.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C450
I also wired mine to the glove box light. Yet the issue I ran into is that when the engine restarts, after it shuts off when I stop at lights to save gas, the cam often restarts also. It appears there is just enough of a power interrupt that it restarts my cam. Maybe 70% of the time.
Does anyone else have this issue? I have the A119 V3 and a C450.
-Prost
Does anyone else have this issue? I have the A119 V3 and a C450.
-Prost
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 797
Likes: 141
2018 C43
I also wired mine to the glove box light. Yet the issue I ran into is that when the engine restarts, after it shuts off when I stop at lights to save gas, the cam often restarts also. It appears there is just enough of a power interrupt that it restarts my cam. Maybe 70% of the time.
Does anyone else have this issue? I have the A119 V3 and a C450.
-Prost
Does anyone else have this issue? I have the A119 V3 and a C450.
-Prost
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21
Likes: 9
C43
In order to hardwire my radar detector, I resorted to tapping into the 12v socket at the back of the center console. The power is switched with ignition on. (check your particular application)
Go to the 40 sec portion of this video and it shows how to remove the rear console cap. Basically you detach at the top and then pull the assembly up and off.
Go to the 40 sec portion of this video and it shows how to remove the rear console cap. Basically you detach at the top and then pull the assembly up and off.
Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 114
Likes: 21
GLS450, AMG C43 Cabriolet
I did mine with an OBD plug.
It is constantly on, but the plug has a low voltage detection that automatically shuts off power to the dash cam when your vehicle's battery is running low, preventing any further drain on the battery.
Works great, lets the dashcam work in "parking" mode, and literally takes 30 seconds to install.
It is constantly on, but the plug has a low voltage detection that automatically shuts off power to the dash cam when your vehicle's battery is running low, preventing any further drain on the battery.
Works great, lets the dashcam work in "parking" mode, and literally takes 30 seconds to install.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2017 C43
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
CLS550 4MATIC
