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I installed a dash cam in my R231 today and it was ridiculously easy to completely conceal the wire so I thought I'd share my experience with others who may be thinking about doing the same. The camera I bought is one I've used before and am quite happy with, an Akaso V1 that I bought on Amazon. It's small, has built in GPS, WiFi, FHD resolution and an effective mounting system with no suction cups. It comes with a very long power cord that plugs into a lighter/power outlet. This is what made it so easy: MB has thoughtfully provided a switched power outlet on the side of the tunnel in the passenger footwell that is perfect for this installation. Using a credit card or the included trim tool it's very easy to push the wire into the gap between the glass and the headliner and then between the glass and the and the A pillar. From there a credit card will push the wire fully into the seam coming forward. I pried off the triangular trim panel (from the front) on the side of the glove box facing the door and pulled the cable through. After plugging the cord into the power outlet I concealed it behind the top of the footwell carpet and back to the opening to the side of the glove box. I coiled up the remaining slack there, secured it and replaced the trim piece. The only exposed wire is the few inches needed to plug into the camera. It took me about 30 minutes but if I did it again without the "thinking time" it could be done in 15.
since this is switched power , I guess it only works when ignition is switch on......would be cool to have a video that is instant "on" when car gets bumped etc......
Nice! I'm going through the console (pulled side panels off and used a coat hanger wire with tape to get it to the other side...struggling with the A-pillar until I read this. I am mounting the dash cam near the center on the drivers side at the top of the windshield so that it is less visible from the inside. Thank you for the detail.
Thought it maybe helpful to provide a bit of info here.
We always thought that dash cams are helpful in case of accidents, including hit/runs, vandalism or potential backup in case of being accused (in error) of speeding/running a red light, etc.
For that the camera has to work while driving and parked, front and rear.
We don't have the SL anymore but have installed Blackvue Dual channel cameras which worked great even for the folding top. The only issue was that the top had to be up for rear recording. Connected to driver side fusebox.
Couple pics of how that looked.
I am also including a couple of pics from our S-Class and now our latest standard config in the BMW M8 and GLE. Sorry for the bad pics but this is all I have handy!
Our latest setup uses the Thinkware U1000d which records in 4K 60 frames/sec for the front and 2k 30 frames/sec in the rear. Night recording is great and resolution great for license plates.
I think the parking mode is important with a nice car; people are just crazy these days. For this you need a both the switched and constant power connection (or an extended battery pack like the Celllink Neo).
Correct, but there are other ways to set it up. I am almost always in a secure garage whether at home or work so no real worries other than on the road.
Correct, but there are other ways to set it up. I am almost always in a secure garage whether at home or work so no real worries other than on the road.
Not sure who this was referring to, but what other ways to setup would those be?
Also these issues happen less at home or office but likely at the restaurant/bar/valet or at the grocery store parking lot and even at the MB dealer. Always interesting to see where they take the car for a spin while being serviced.
We don't have the SL anymore but have installed Blackvue Dual channel cameras which worked great even for the folding top. The only issue was that the top had to be up for rear recording. Connected to driver side fusebox.
Do you have any photos of where you mounted the rear facing Blackvue, and how you ran the cable from the front camera to the rear through the trim panels?
Do you have any photos of where you mounted the rear facing Blackvue, and how you ran the cable from the front camera to the rear through the trim panels?
Here is what I have. Not great but the car is gone, so I can't take more pics...
The rear camera cable comes from driver side fuse box location. You can pull out the fuse box from its holder so all the cables and power controller (magic pro, etc) can be placed behind it.
Remove the driver door sill and loosen the left rear quarter interior panel; no need to remove it. Run the cable down from the fusebox behind the rubber seal and then below the carpet (door) and then to to the roof mechanism.
Follow the existing cables in the scissor mechanism and hide cable underneath the C-pillar and headliner panels.
Here is an uglier solution that we used for the AMG GTC roadster. Since the car has a soft top and some fixed glass wind diffuser, the camera was attached there instead. Not as pretty but it has the benefit of properly recording with top up or down. I can't think of an alternative decent option for the SL.
Nice job Wolfman!
Two questions:
1) I have the same Escort detector that you have. I can’t figure out a good place to mount the small control box that allows you to mute the detector. Did you mount yours?
2) I normally mount my detector similar to what you did, upper windshield near the rear view mirror. However, in another pic (maybe on your S class) you show yours mounted low, just above the dash. Any thoughts on one location versus the other?
Nice job Wolfman!
Two questions:
1) I have the same Escort detector that you have. I can’t figure out a good place to mount the small control box that allows you to mute the detector. Did you mount yours?
2) I normally mount my detector similar to what you did, upper windshield near the rear view mirror. However, in another pic (maybe on your S class) you show yours mounted low, just above the dash. Any thoughts on one location versus the other?
Hi, I assume you mean the smart cord? Admittedly I never installed them as I didn't feel the need. The false alert learning is decent on these detectors (Max 360c), including the false alerts from blind spot alerts, adaptive cruise, etc.
In regards to detector locations, I have all the convertibles with the RD just above the dash (centered). I did that because the sun visors are used more often on a top down car and get in the way. On the S-Class that wasn't an option as the IR coating on the glass renders these units worthless and I placed it in front of one of the two IR cutouts. This way it would at least detect anything from the front...
Range-wise I find either location works the same. I'd pick what looks best, based on the car.
[QUOTE=Jcrew;8026343]Nice job Wolfman!
Two questions:
1) I have the same Escort detector that you have. I can’t figure out a good place to mount the small control box that allows you to mute the detector. Did you mount yours?
What I did was to buy an inverter that fits into my console cup holder; that inverter is plugged into the 12v socket in the passenger footwell area, and allows me to not only plug in my detector to the inverter with quick access to the mute button, but also allows for up to three other S cord devices to be engaged. Works, well but I do have to give up one cup holder. Works well for me, and even though my car has the smoker package, the cigar lighter plug is relatively inaccessible under the console doors.
Hi, I assume you mean the smart cord? Admittedly I never installed them as I didn't feel the need. The false alert learning is decent on these detectors (Max 360c), including the false alerts from blind spot alerts, adaptive cruise, etc.
In regards to detector locations, I have all the convertibles with the RD just above the dash (centered). I did that because the sun visors are used more often on a top down car and get in the way. On the S-Class that wasn't an option as the IR coating on the glass renders these units worthless and I placed it in front of one of the two IR cutouts. This way it would at least detect anything from the front...
Range-wise I find either location works the same. I'd pick what looks best, based on the car.
Here is how we have it on the AMG...
That’s a nice job Wolfman.
Did you run the wire by tucking it between the dash and the bottom of the windshield?
Nice job Wolfman!
Two questions:
1) I have the same Escort detector that you have. I can’t figure out a good place to mount the small control box that allows you to mute the detector. Did you mount yours?
What I did was to buy an inverter that fits into my console cup holder; that inverter is plugged into the 12v socket in the passenger footwell area, and allows me to not only plug in my detector to the inverter with quick access to the mute button, but also allows for up to three other S cord devices to be engaged. Works, well but I do have to give up one cup holder. Works well for me, and even though my car has the smoker package, the cigar lighter plug is relatively inaccessible under the console doors.
Thank you for the suggestion. I usually hardwire my detectors to eliminate exposed wires. Not sure which way I will wire this SL yet though.
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