Who would be best to install dashcam?
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Joined: Feb 2019
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E350
Who would be best to install dashcam?
I am not interested in installing my own dashcam for my 2014 E350. Assuming Mercedes does not have an OEM dashcam for this car, who would you recommend I get to do the install - standard car audio place? Mercedes tech?
Also, is there a particular model of dashcam you recommend?
Thanks for your help.
Also, is there a particular model of dashcam you recommend?
Thanks for your help.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
The Viofo A119 V3 seems to work pretty good, and its quite compact. I have one in my truck.
Installation would consist of removing the A pillar interior trim, running the power wire up the A pillar from behind the dash and over to the camera's position in the middle somewhere. Not sure where placing this cam optimally on a W212 would be, the mirror is pretty bulky and there's not much room between the mirror and windshield, further there's a bunch of blackout screened around the OE camera used for automatic headlights, and collision detection, obviously the dashcam would have to be below this. behind the dash, you'll want to locate a ground and a 'circuit 15' (power when car is running) and connect these to a cigar socket, into which you plug the USB power supply for the Viofo.
I doubt you'd find anyone willing to do this for you, except maybe a car stereo installer shop, and they tend to be hacks.
Installation would consist of removing the A pillar interior trim, running the power wire up the A pillar from behind the dash and over to the camera's position in the middle somewhere. Not sure where placing this cam optimally on a W212 would be, the mirror is pretty bulky and there's not much room between the mirror and windshield, further there's a bunch of blackout screened around the OE camera used for automatic headlights, and collision detection, obviously the dashcam would have to be below this. behind the dash, you'll want to locate a ground and a 'circuit 15' (power when car is running) and connect these to a cigar socket, into which you plug the USB power supply for the Viofo.
I doubt you'd find anyone willing to do this for you, except maybe a car stereo installer shop, and they tend to be hacks.
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560SL, 380SL, E350
Also, I'd be concerned about wearing out the phone flash memory by writing over and over the flash with new video. The newer GPS units (and phones) really use a lot of flash with their high resolutions (which is the only way you're getting a license plate number from the video). I actually wore a micro flash card out - but the replacement cost $10 and I yanked it out and slapped a new one in (a bigger 8G) myself - better than hundreds of dollars for a potential phone repair to remove/replace by soldering flash chips on the motherboard or the entire motherboard.
The way I have my dashcam wired and mounted (basically to the right of the big interior mirror hump), I rarely see or even think about it. I hope I don't ever need it! No one outside can really see it either at first glance because I have tint there.
I ran the power from the console, into a 12V/5V converter, and then a good USB cable along the right A pillar (after removing the cover) up to the roof (all hidden) until it takes a sharp turn to the dashcam. When using the A pillar care must be taken to not possibly interfere with the operation of the airbag, I think that I did this with small ty-wraps and those little adhesive ty=wrap chassis mounts (I wouldn't trust tape).
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Joined: May 2021
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560SL, 380SL, E350
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
a good dashcam has a very wide angle lens thats intentionally distorted, so the center half or 2/3rds of the image isn't as wide angle as the edges are.
they are programmed to continuously record when the power is on, overwriting old video, and have a button to flag the current video as 'keep' that you can push when there's been an event.
re: power, my 1990s Mercedes had a connector block under the dash with ground, circuit 30 (always on), circuit 15 (on with ignition), and a few more and quite a few spare connector positions. very handy for connecting accessories in a non-destructive manner. I haven't looked to see if the w212 has anything similar.
they are programmed to continuously record when the power is on, overwriting old video, and have a button to flag the current video as 'keep' that you can push when there's been an event.
re: power, my 1990s Mercedes had a connector block under the dash with ground, circuit 30 (always on), circuit 15 (on with ignition), and a few more and quite a few spare connector positions. very handy for connecting accessories in a non-destructive manner. I haven't looked to see if the w212 has anything similar.
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2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
Check out fitcamx.com for ideas. I just installed one on my wife’s GLS x167 over Christmas. Literally took 15 minutes and works like a charm. Also looks like it’s straight from MB and meant to be there. Powers off the rain sensor power feed inside the mirror housing, no need to mess with wiring. Literally plug & play. Starts recording when the car turns on, and turns off when the car is shut down, but you can adjust the settings (easily) to keep recording if you want it to. Has a setting that if it detects a bump to the car while off, it’ll immediately start recording. Good if someone backs into the car while you’re shopping…
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
Last edited by nc211; Dec 28, 2022 at 08:09 PM.
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2012 E350 4Matic
Mercedes does have a dashcam in their accessory catalog, but it's horribly overpriced considering the low specs and the fact that it doesn't integrate with the car in any way, it's just a generic dashcam with the star logo on it. I have a Thinkware Q800pro and am very happy with it. Great picture quality, even at night, and license plates are easily readable (before buying a camera check on YouTube for sample footage and make sure plates are readable!). I have it hardwired and paired with a Thinkware external battery pack for extended parking recording without risking running down the starter battery, since I don't drive the car daily. I only have a front facing camera for now, but may add the rear camera at some point if it won't interfere with the rear shade.
Installation is a job that any stereo or aftermarket accessory shop can handle; hardwiring is simply either a two wire or three wire connection depending on whether or not you want to enable parking mode or just have the camera record while driving. There is a bit of trim removal involved to run wires to the trunk as the best place to pick up a switched power connection is the rear fuse box, the dash fuse box circuits are all always-on. In my case, I used an add-a-fuse device on the circuit powering the trunk 12v outlet to get a switched feed for the Thinkware battery pack, which I mounted under the parcel shelf and from there ran the wires up to the camera.
Finally, do not use/let a shop use an OBD2 power adaptor, they don't work properly with the W212 because of the intelligent charging, and the camera will enter parking mode when stopped at long traffic lights due to the voltage drop. Tried that before making the decision to hardwire.
Installation is a job that any stereo or aftermarket accessory shop can handle; hardwiring is simply either a two wire or three wire connection depending on whether or not you want to enable parking mode or just have the camera record while driving. There is a bit of trim removal involved to run wires to the trunk as the best place to pick up a switched power connection is the rear fuse box, the dash fuse box circuits are all always-on. In my case, I used an add-a-fuse device on the circuit powering the trunk 12v outlet to get a switched feed for the Thinkware battery pack, which I mounted under the parcel shelf and from there ran the wires up to the camera.
Finally, do not use/let a shop use an OBD2 power adaptor, they don't work properly with the W212 because of the intelligent charging, and the camera will enter parking mode when stopped at long traffic lights due to the voltage drop. Tried that before making the decision to hardwire.
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Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 163
Likes: 124
560SL, 380SL, E350
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 163
Likes: 124
560SL, 380SL, E350
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 163
Likes: 124
560SL, 380SL, E350
Check out fitcamx.com for ideas. I just installed one on my wife’s GLS x167 over Christmas. Literally took 15 minutes and works like a charm. Also looks like it’s straight from MB and meant to be there. Powers off the rain sensor power feed inside the mirror housing, no need to mess with wiring. Literally plug & play. Starts recording when the car turns on, and turns off when the car is shut down, but you can adjust the settings (easily) to keep recording if you want it to. Has a setting that if it detects a bump to the car while off, it’ll immediately start recording. Good if someone backs into the car while you’re shopping…
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
My camera, although I like it, is older, and had this fitcam been available when I bought it I probably would have gone this route.
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 97
Likes: 45
2011 E550 | M273 | 4Matic NA | W212
Get fuse taps and find a fuse under the steering wheel fuse box. No splicing needed. Hide the wire under the weather stripping near the door and move up to the head liner. Hide the remaining cable in headliner till you have the wanted amount poking out for the dash cam install. Should be 30-45min for a first time install. Hardest part is finding the right fuse.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 766
2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
Here is what the fitcamx looks like on the GLS. Sorry I couldn’t get a vary clear shot through the windshield via the glare.
we actually needed it this week. Construction truck who didn't clean off his trailer prior to going in the highway, throwing loose rocks off of it, got our windshield. Camera caught it all, including the logo and phone number on the truck. Needless to say that redneck denied everything and hung up when i sent the video to the company’s website email address. Told him my insurance company will get it too, along with the state DOT and anyone else. Clearly showed the debris covered trailer and small backhoe he was carrying on it. By law they’re supposed to clean the trailer of that stuff prior to hitting the road…
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 266
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2011 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon
I have the Viofo A129 which I installed myself. I used the powersupply from the glovebox outlet and the cams come on when the vehicle is started...did not hardwire so that the cams are on all the time but only when vehicle is on and running. I installed the front camera below the rearview mirror and snaked the rear camera wiring through the trim on the passenger side to the rear of the vehicle and mounted the rear camera on the rear glass. There are plenty of Youtube tutorials that show you step by step if you wish to undertake this on your own.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 83
Likes: 9
E350
Check out fitcamx.com for ideas. I just installed one on my wife’s GLS x167 over Christmas. Literally took 15 minutes and works like a charm. Also looks like it’s straight from MB and meant to be there. Powers off the rain sensor power feed inside the mirror housing, no need to mess with wiring. Literally plug & play. Starts recording when the car turns on, and turns off when the car is shut down, but you can adjust the settings (easily) to keep recording if you want it to. Has a setting that if it detects a bump to the car while off, it’ll immediately start recording. Good if someone backs into the car while you’re shopping…
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
comes with the tool you need to do it yourself, along with great tech support. Look it up on youtube as well. You can easily do it yourself.
image quality is excellent (4k), as is the field of image. Very happy with it!
