Vrodman

Hey Guys,

Something in the air here in the South Bay Area with aholes and crazy drivers lately. I am realizing that a dash camera could one day prove to be invaluable. I started looking at various options online and there a re a number of different ones. My next thinking was that some of you fellow "good drivers" with fast cars likely have already done this.

So any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

fallen

I have WheelWitness HD Pro and really happy with it.

Stereolab42

How hard is it to get a wire through the firewall to the fuse box? Is there a grommet available I can reach without taking apart the dash? I run my V1 by tapping into a small wire near ther rearview mirror but I want to add a dashcam also and running both off that small wire seems unwise.

PeterUbers

looney100

I went through the rear seats to the trunk wiring. I've seen others tap into the power from the near the rear view mirror.

bluesea

I'm using a Thinkware F800 Pro that was professionally installed. It is a front and rear camera system that has proved very reliable and has very positive reviews. It edges out the Black Vue which is also a quality system as I understand it.

The F800 syncs with a smartphone as well to review files on the road, before I can get to my computer. It has voice prompts and I find it easy to use. I have the previous generation on my "14 E63 and had great results with that one, so I purchased the current one for my '18 E63.

Don't go cheap! I had a Phillips ADR 810 unit (now 900) that had positive reviews, which seemed to be working, according to the indicator light. But when I checked it just to see if it was working, I found that it hadn't recorded anything for months - without me changing the settings. And it wasn't that cheap either - but I sensed that I couldn't rely on it - and sure enough...

http://www.thinkware.com/Products/Dashcam/F800PRO

Good luck!

Vrodman

Thanks a lot.

Can you offer any details about the installation? How much did it run you? Did you just use a stereo shop installer? time it took them? etc.

Thanks Again

bluesea

Give me a day or two to take some pictures of my installation. It will be different shots of the two visual pieces (front main unit and rear camera). By the way, it's in my wagon so the rear camera is mounted on a different piece of glass, but it's the same, really.

I'll look to see what the installation cost was, but the two-channel system on Amazon with their branded SD card runs $460. The install only took several hours as I recall. He's a very experienced installer who regularly deals with exotics like Ferrari, etc.

It's a must have, and a small price to pay over time - or even on the day of the install, possibly, driving back home.

You can buy the front camera separately, but it doesn't make sense to only have a front facing camera if you're looking to cover yourself as much as possible from fraudulently claimed liabilities and other assorted liars.

Vrodman

Thanks Bluesea,

I look forward to it. I am thinking I will have this done at the same time I have my active LiDAR jamming system put in!! But first, I need to buy my next E63 (1015 or 2016). I am not going to invest any more money in my 2011. Selling that baby soon after buying the new(er) one.

Cheers

bluesea

Here are pictures of the Thinkware F800 Pro and the older F-770.

Since you will have a W212, I took pictures of the front camera/head unit of the older F-770 because it’s mounted in my W212 on top of the plastic housing that covers the cameras in the windshield. The pictures of the F800 are here to show you and others what this newer unit looks like. The newer unit can be mounted just as the 770 on the W212’s flat housing.

The W213 has a slightly domed and more vented housing, so my F800 was mounted below that housing, on the windshield. I suppose one could still mount it on the housing but it wouldn’t look as clean and I’m not sure if covering the last few vents would have an adverse effect on anything in there, though I doubt it. In spite of how the new unit looks in the angle of the shot, it in no way blocks my view and never notice it.

The rear camera shown is the F800 one. I chose that to upload here since they’re both mounted the same and you can see what the new unit looks like.

Cheers!



F770 mounted in W212


F770


Rear F800 Pro



F800 Pro rear







Hard to see, F770 in W212 from outside.

Vrodman

Thanks Bluesea,

I like it! Likely going to mimic this.

I am thinking that having that rear camera visible to drivers behind you would likely demotivate them from pulling J*ck*ss stunts?? Have you noticed at all if this works as a deterrence?

Also, don't mean to be a pest, were you able to find any cost info on the install? Somewhat curious. Even a ballpark would be helpful.

Thanks Again

bluesea

I have a call in with my installer. I don't think he charged me more than three hours and I guess his rate is around $125 - I'm vague on all of that though and can't find the receipt.

I initially thought about the rear camera compelling a sense of decorum in anyone behind it ( "The power of Camera compels you!" lol ), but I haven't noticed. In fact, I don't notice the camera either. I'll have to check it out now that you brought it up.

Vrodman

One last question for you:

On the rear camera, how do you work around your rear sunshade? I noticed in this new 2015 I can't even stop thing at partial height. It either goes all the way up or all the way down. I would think it would get in the way or collide with the camera when it goes up.

bluesea

I have a wagon so I don't have that issue. The 800 series offers a front camera only package. If it won't clear the screen then maybe you can have a bracket fabricated that can place the camera behind the screen. I'm not sure how it would attach to the trim.