Dash Cam wanted
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Dash Cam wanted
I am looking to get a dash cam installed near the rear view mirror. I need something that is simple to use where it records from movement outside if possible or can start recording once engine is on. It has to have a chip I can pull out and play and then reload. It does not have to be hooked up to the screen in the car. It needs to be direct wired with the wires hidden. I am not real good on computers so it has to be easy to use. I am looking for suggestions if anyone has any. Thanks ahead of time.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
I've got a blackvue, which is nice because discrete.
it has a front & rear cam
I've got the 550 which is now replaced by the 650:
http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/sub1.asp?idx=26
if u only want a front cam go for the 600
or even simpler (and smaller) the 3500
and get the power magic to hardwire it & to protect you battery.
I know there are cheaper solutions, but few of them are small.
also check:
https://dashcamtalk.com/
https://forum.dashcamtalk.com/
good luck!
it has a front & rear cam
I've got the 550 which is now replaced by the 650:
http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/sub1.asp?idx=26
if u only want a front cam go for the 600
or even simpler (and smaller) the 3500
and get the power magic to hardwire it & to protect you battery.
I know there are cheaper solutions, but few of them are small.
also check:
https://dashcamtalk.com/
https://forum.dashcamtalk.com/
good luck!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
Likes: 696
From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Thank you for the help I will look into each of these and let you know what I will do. Thanks again
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
in the meantime here are some picies of mine, including how I routed the cables (see the red arrows).
as I have a front & rear camera a cable goes both from the left & right side of the car to the rear.
as u can see the front camera is bigger & has a better camera. still, the rear does a good enough job.
as I have a front & rear camera a cable goes both from the left & right side of the car to the rear.
as u can see the front camera is bigger & has a better camera. still, the rear does a good enough job.
Last edited by Egonvdv; May 11, 2015 at 08:41 AM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 326
From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
Just in case anyone digs up this thread:
I honestly can no longer "promote" Blackvue.
I've had 3 different BV camera and all of them had
overheating problems (when in parking mode).
I thought it would be fixed with their newer models,
but they just can't seem to get it right.
My latest (the 550 2ch) also:
- often gives the "check sd card" message,
- rear cam image sometimes is comletey green,
- time/date often incorrect,
- now & then it seems like the camera is recording (all relevant leds are on) but in fact is in a frozen state,
- and last but not least: the capacitor died after only a year.
Most of the above problems are common with all blackvue models (inlc the latest 650).
The only good thing about them is that they are pretty small & discreet
with a nice design.
But if anyone's interested... i'm selling mine! :-)
I honestly can no longer "promote" Blackvue.
I've had 3 different BV camera and all of them had
overheating problems (when in parking mode).
I thought it would be fixed with their newer models,
but they just can't seem to get it right.
My latest (the 550 2ch) also:
- often gives the "check sd card" message,
- rear cam image sometimes is comletey green,
- time/date often incorrect,
- now & then it seems like the camera is recording (all relevant leds are on) but in fact is in a frozen state,
- and last but not least: the capacitor died after only a year.
Most of the above problems are common with all blackvue models (inlc the latest 650).
The only good thing about them is that they are pretty small & discreet
with a nice design.
But if anyone's interested... i'm selling mine! :-)
Last edited by Egonvdv; Oct 1, 2015 at 12:00 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
I had a compustar camera installed in the front and back. I am completely satisfied with the system. It records front and rear both video and audio. and records for 6 hrs in park mode then shuts off and starts up if car has an incident.
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From: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
15 E200CGI SPORT
I just got myself a Thinkware F750 and will be installing them over the weekend. Will chime in and share my experience. Anyone of you mind to share how difficult will the install be?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,144
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From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
Ha funny, that's exactly what i'm gonna buy!
hesitated between that one & koonlung k1s;
the koonlung is much more discrete as it has remote (thus small) lenses,
but it too has quite some bugs which can lead to recording failing.
Did you get it with the rear cam and hardwire cable?
hesitated between that one & koonlung k1s;
the koonlung is much more discrete as it has remote (thus small) lenses,
but it too has quite some bugs which can lead to recording failing.
Did you get it with the rear cam and hardwire cable?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 326
From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
i have the power magic with my Blackvue but you should NOT use
it with the thinkware, because it has a similar system already built in.
This is all u need:
http://thinkware.com/Products/AccessoryView/Hard_cable1
From the manual:
Device auto-off timer :
Sets the timer for the dash cam to automatically shut down in parking mode
to prevent fromdraining the vehicle battery
Device auto-off voltage :
Sets the voltage level for the dash cam to automatically shut down if the
dash cam detects voltage level lower than configured value for more than
5 minutes in order to prevent fromdraining the vehicle battery
it with the thinkware, because it has a similar system already built in.
This is all u need:
http://thinkware.com/Products/AccessoryView/Hard_cable1
From the manual:
Device auto-off timer :
Sets the timer for the dash cam to automatically shut down in parking mode
to prevent fromdraining the vehicle battery
Device auto-off voltage :
Sets the voltage level for the dash cam to automatically shut down if the
dash cam detects voltage level lower than configured value for more than
5 minutes in order to prevent fromdraining the vehicle battery
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
would you mind sharing some pics? would like to see how clean they installed it. cheers!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
I also had a GPS installed on the camera those are the wires you see above it. Hopefully the pictures get posted if not I will try something else
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
Likes: 696
From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
thanks for the pics! that looks really good! does it have motion sensor when parked? does it start recording as soon as you start the engine?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,401
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Starts recording as soon as car door trunk or hood is opened. It records for 6 hours in park mode both front and rear. If someone hits the car or opens the door it records for another 6 hours. something has to be done to the car for it to record after the initial turn off. The chip has a lot of room and once it is full it records over or you can clear it.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 865
Likes: 61
From: Bay Area
14 550 sedan
Just in case anyone digs up this thread:
I honestly can no longer "promote" Blackvue.
I've had 3 different BV camera and all of them had
overheating problems (when in parking mode).
I thought it would be fixed with their newer models,
but they just can't seem to get it right.
My latest (the 550 2ch) also:
- often gives the "check sd card" message,
- rear cam image sometimes is comletey green,
- time/date often incorrect,
- now & then it seems like the camera is recording (all relevant leds are on) but in fact is in a frozen state,
- and last but not least: the capacitor died after only a year.
Most of the above problems are common with all blackvue models (inlc the latest 650).
The only good thing about them is that they are pretty small & discreet
with a nice design.
But if anyone's interested... i'm selling mine! :-)
I honestly can no longer "promote" Blackvue.
I've had 3 different BV camera and all of them had
overheating problems (when in parking mode).
I thought it would be fixed with their newer models,
but they just can't seem to get it right.
My latest (the 550 2ch) also:
- often gives the "check sd card" message,
- rear cam image sometimes is comletey green,
- time/date often incorrect,
- now & then it seems like the camera is recording (all relevant leds are on) but in fact is in a frozen state,
- and last but not least: the capacitor died after only a year.
Most of the above problems are common with all blackvue models (inlc the latest 650).
The only good thing about them is that they are pretty small & discreet
with a nice design.
But if anyone's interested... i'm selling mine! :-)
Bonus pic for anyone who wants to see how discreet they are from less than 10ft away.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 326
From: A Dutchy Living in Marseille, France
EQE SUV AMG-line 350+
glad to hear you are happy with it.
I do agree that the design is very discreet, which is also my top priority for a camera.
however it's just too expensive considering the quality and especially if you do not use parking mode.
IMO in this case you might as well install a mini 0806.
maybe i'm a bit negative now, but i'm seriously pissed off :-)
I do agree that the design is very discreet, which is also my top priority for a camera.
however it's just too expensive considering the quality and especially if you do not use parking mode.
IMO in this case you might as well install a mini 0806.
maybe i'm a bit negative now, but i'm seriously pissed off :-)
