Front window cams - whats good? Any good stories having one?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, Canada
2013 GLK250 Bluetec
Front window cams - whats good? Any good stories having one?
I have been thinking i might want a front window camera, no i won't be "peeling out" 
or driving crazy 
( its a diesel after all and no more than usual 
) but seriously i am just interested in having one, kind of a fun toy and it can come in handy if its a quick mount/dismount type.
Anyone been playing with these, mounting issues at all? I'd like to avoid hacking up the car for cable runs etc so it needs to be a decent setup.. Be interesed to hear thoughts and stories related.
or driving crazy ( its a diesel after all and no more than usual ) but seriously i am just interested in having one, kind of a fun toy and it can come in handy if its a quick mount/dismount type.Anyone been playing with these, mounting issues at all? I'd like to avoid hacking up the car for cable runs etc so it needs to be a decent setup.. Be interesed to hear thoughts and stories related.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 3
From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
I have been thinking i might want a front window camera, no i won't be "peeling out" or driving crazy ( its a diesel after all and no more than usual ) but seriously i am just interested in having one, kind of a fun toy and it can come in handy if its a quick mount/dismount type.
Anyone been playing with these, mounting issues at all? I'd like to avoid hacking up the car for cable runs etc so it needs to be a decent setup.. Be interesed to hear thoughts and stories related.
or driving crazy ( its a diesel after all and no more than usual ) but seriously i am just interested in having one, kind of a fun toy and it can come in handy if its a quick mount/dismount type.Anyone been playing with these, mounting issues at all? I'd like to avoid hacking up the car for cable runs etc so it needs to be a decent setup.. Be interesed to hear thoughts and stories related.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, Canada
2013 GLK250 Bluetec
I have a cheap dashcam mounted to the black plastic behind the rear view mirror. The cable is easily tucked up inside the headliner along the windshield and down the side, out of sight. It goes under the dash, where i have it plugged into a cigarette lighter adapter hard wired into a wire that gets power only when the car is on. I like it because it doesnt get in the way or cause a blind spot, can be removed easily if necessary, and has no cables showing. I haven't needed it, but almost got hit once when someone ran a light and it would have come in handy then. Buy one on amazon for less than $60 and spend some time installing it so it's not noticeable. The whole idea is to forget it's there until you need it.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 3
From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
It came with double sided foam tape, but it couldn't handle the Florida heat and started pulling off within weeks. I ended up buying some exterior trim tape and it has held up in Florida heat and Colorado cold. I'll see about photos. This is cheap peace of mind... accident, carjacking, unreasonable police officer... if someone can spend $50k on a car they can certainly afford less than $80 for the camera and 12 volt receptacle and an hour of their time.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 336
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
2016 GLE300d 4Matic
I put an Ojocam Mini 0801. I think it's the Pro 0803 now. It's very small and includes a gps. It uses a micro-sd card so you can expand capacity as well as pop it out to review in your TV or computer. I read a hundred reviews before settling on this one. It had the highest resolution and good sensitivity in low light without spending a fortune - around $100
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 3
From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
I put an Ojocam Mini 0801. I think it's the Pro 0803 now. It's very small and includes a gps. It uses a micro-sd card so you can expand capacity as well as pop it out to review in your TV or computer. I read a hundred reviews before settling on this one. It had the highest resolution and good sensitivity in low light without spending a fortune - around $100
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 915
Likes: 185
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I've been using a dashcam in my GLK for some months now. Just running a cord down to the 12v socket in the slide open bin. Later I want to wire to a constant 12 volt source when I can find one. My dashcam can have motion sensing (visual movement) and G-sensing (physical movement of the vehicle) activated. That way the camera would come out of standby mode and start recording if someone of something moves in the field of view. Since that could cause it to come on too often depending on where you're parked I would probably use the G-sensor mode most of the time. That would come on (start recording) if someone strikes the vehicle.
Using a switched outlet, like the one I use now, does not allow for these two sensing systems to work when the car is shut off :-(
Using a switched outlet, like the one I use now, does not allow for these two sensing systems to work when the car is shut off :-(
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, Canada
2013 GLK250 Bluetec
I put an Ojocam Mini 0801. I think it's the Pro 0803 now. It's very small and includes a gps. It uses a micro-sd card so you can expand capacity as well as pop it out to review in your TV or computer. I read a hundred reviews before settling on this one. It had the highest resolution and good sensitivity in low light without spending a fortune - around $100
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
I tucked it against the top of the windshield to the right of the mirror. The power cord easily tucked along the edge down to the glove box and the power source there. They sell an additional power cord that splices into a 12v power line so the 12v receptacle in the glove box stays free.
I've had it close to a year and it works well. The 16gb card it came with stores about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
thanks for mentioing the cam type and brand ill check it out. Only problem with this method is if you live somewhere with any amount of sun, you cant put up a sun shade and keep the camera from baking. By attaching it to the mirror housing and not the glass itself, there's space for the shade i use. Oh, and that glove box receptacle is not in my 2013 350; unless i wanted to use the receptacle in the center console, i had to come up with a different plan. You can buy them for a few dollars online and then hard wire the receptacle itself. This way the camera's power cable can be swapped out pretty easily if need be and the receptacle left behind under the dash above the pedals. I also have an amplifier that powers all four cabin speakers up there.
I've been using a dashcam in my GLK for some months now. Just running a cord down to the 12v socket in the slide open bin. Later I want to wire to a constant 12 volt source when I can find one. My dashcam can have motion sensing (visual movement) and G-sensing (physical movement of the vehicle) activated. That way the camera would come out of standby mode and start recording if someone of something moves in the field of view. Since that could cause it to come on too often depending on where you're parked I would probably use the G-sensor mode most of the time. That would come on (start recording) if someone strikes the vehicle.
Using a switched outlet, like the one I use now, does not allow for these two sensing systems to work when the car is shut off :-(
Using a switched outlet, like the one I use now, does not allow for these two sensing systems to work when the car is shut off :-(
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 336
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
2016 GLE300d 4Matic
Only problem with this method is if you live somewhere with any amount of sun, you cant put up a sun shade and keep the camera from baking. By attaching it to the mirror housing and not the glass itself, there's space for the shade i use. Oh, and that glove box receptacle is not in my 2013 350; unless i wanted to use the receptacle in the center console, i had to come up with a different plan. You can buy them for a few dollars online and then hard wire the receptacle itself. This way the camera's power cable can be swapped out pretty easily if need be and the receptacle left behind under the dash above the pedals. I also have an amplifier that powers all four cabin speakers up there.
It is a little more trouble but I didn't like the angle if I fastened it on the mirror.
Perhaps there's a 12v lead you can splice into behind the glove box? I pulled the dash panel off the right side next to the glovebox so I could tap into the line leading to the 12v outlet in the glove box from behind the glovebox and leave the receptacle free. If you don't have a receptacle it get more complicated to the extent you have to find a 12v source but the net should be the same.
Most of the time the video is intensely boring, but I figure this is like insurance and parachutes. When you really need it you can't call a time out or try and do without. A little over $100 for a constant opportunity to have a video that can be reviewed is irreplaceable. I like it a lot.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 915
Likes: 185
Yikes:
I've got the DOD TECH LS460W - maybe not the best value for the money... haven't done any more research on these lately.
http://dod-tech.us/product/dod-ls460w/
http://dod-tech.us/product/dod-ls460w/
Last edited by MBKLUE; Mar 29, 2015 at 11:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, Canada
2013 GLK250 Bluetec
I've got the DOD TECH LS460W - maybe not the best value for the money... haven't done any more research on these lately.
http://dod-tech.us/product/dod-ls460w/
http://dod-tech.us/product/dod-ls460w/
