Surround View as a dashcam DVR?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Montreal, Quebec
2015 GLK 250 BlueTEC
Surround View as a dashcam DVR?
Hi all,
Was thinking about getting a dash cam, and then I thought about how my GLK 250 has the surround view with tons of cameras already built-in. Why do I need to install more cameras when I could just record the feed from the ones that are already perfectly installed in the car.
I searched online quite but didn't find much info on the subject. Wondering if anyone here has tried anything like this? Also wondering if the car stores any video data in the event of a crash?
Was thinking about getting a dash cam, and then I thought about how my GLK 250 has the surround view with tons of cameras already built-in. Why do I need to install more cameras when I could just record the feed from the ones that are already perfectly installed in the car.
I searched online quite but didn't find much info on the subject. Wondering if anyone here has tried anything like this? Also wondering if the car stores any video data in the event of a crash?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 334
Likes: 10
From: Northern California
2016 GLE300d 4Matic
I was looking at the Surround View option and noticed it isn't available if you get the trailer hitch! Is that crazy or what. The user with a trailer in tow can use Surround View more than any other driver. I wonder what the conflict is?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
2014 GLK 250
I got the factory trailer hitch and my car has Surround View, so I'm not sure what you mean... 2014 model.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
2014 GLK 250
I haven't tried this yet, but all four cameras feed into a box in the back of the car, in the cargo area, left side (when facing front of vehicle), behind a panel.
They appear to be coaxial video cables, meaning the video may be analog. Since it is a German car, I wouldn't be surprised if it was PAL video being sent, but it may also be another standard such as SDI.
You could unplug one of the cameras and connect it to a recorder and see if you get an image. By using a splitter cable, it may be possible to connect a recorder and also allow the Surround View to continue working.
Even if it was possible to record the "surround view", it wouldn't make a great dashcam as it provides a "top-down" view. But you could probably record from the front camera.
However, since the camera is outside the car, and not behind the windshield as most dashcams are, the video is always going to be dirty.
They appear to be coaxial video cables, meaning the video may be analog. Since it is a German car, I wouldn't be surprised if it was PAL video being sent, but it may also be another standard such as SDI.
You could unplug one of the cameras and connect it to a recorder and see if you get an image. By using a splitter cable, it may be possible to connect a recorder and also allow the Surround View to continue working.
Even if it was possible to record the "surround view", it wouldn't make a great dashcam as it provides a "top-down" view. But you could probably record from the front camera.
However, since the camera is outside the car, and not behind the windshield as most dashcams are, the video is always going to be dirty.
