[RhoXS]

My new X3 has multiple video cameras. In an instant I would buy a plug and play product that would utilize these existing cams in place of a dash cam. Surprised BMW does not offer this as an option and no aftermarket device is available. I perceive there is certainly a market for it.

[Rik762]

Sounds like a sensible suggestion to me. Come on BMW.

[robe033]

Yes, I would like this too,,,,, Searched everywhere

[pokerface]

Certainly makes sense. However I'd imagine battery drain will be massive powering all of those cameras through the core system while in parking mode.

[Pinewood]

Originally Posted by pokerface

Certainly makes sense. However I'd imagine battery drain will be massive powering all of those cameras through the core system while in parking mode.

This is the biggest issue unless they mount a secondary battery (charged by the primary) , and used exclusively for the camera subsystem. Although possible, it would present a high overhead in terms of weight,cost and reliability.
You may have seen my musing about a dash cam and have bitten the bullet on the ddpai M6+ which has the ability to perform time lapse and park guard functions if a power source is left on .
The only power bank that can do this safely is the Cellink B battery pack.

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/cellink_b/p...cellink_b.html

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Pinewood

This is the biggest issue unless they mount a secondary battery (charged by the primary) , and used exclusively for the camera subsystem. Although possible, it would present a high overhead in terms of weight,cost and reliability.
You may have seen my musing about a dash cam and have bitten the bullet on the ddpai M6+ which has the ability to perform time lapse and park guard functions if a power source is left on .
The only power bank that can do this safely is the Cellink B battery pack.

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/cellink_b/p...cellink_b.html

Agreed. ding ding pie all day long.

At £169 the price is a bit steep.

However, if you look at this site, there is another option.

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/index.html

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/accessories.html

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/adata/powerbank/pv110.html

http://www.adata.com/product_feature_9_298_en.html

You would need to investigate how to set it up to operate it when you leave the car parked.

[Pinewood]

@[Peter_R] - the power bank you listed will work, but there is no way to charge it and supply power to the dashcam at the same time. It would also mean swapping plugs each time you wanted the dashcam to use parkguard.
Not so much of an issue at the end of the day, but quite tedious if that functionality was required throughout the day,on frequent stops.
Having said all that, £32 is a lot more palatable than £169

[RhoXS]

I do not agree power would be an issue, at least for my primary purpose of having an accurate post accident record and secondarily an actual speed record if I get a ticket. In all these cases the engine would be running and the electrical load of the camera would be of no consequence to the very robust X3 electrical system. A video record while the car is parked would consume energy no matter if an aftermarket system or OEM system is used.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by RhoXS

I do not agree power would be an issue, at least for my primary purpose of having an accurate post accident record and secondarily an actual speed record if I get a ticket. In all these cases the engine would be running and the electrical load of the camera would be of no consequence to the very robust X3 electrical system. A video record while the car is parked would consume energy no matter if an aftermarket system or OEM system is used.

Not everyone has the same requirements for a dashcam. Many use it as just a witness camera in case they are involved in an accident. Others wish to have as a desirable feature the parking mode.

Agreed dash cams must consume power if they are active and can over a period of time slowly discharge a battery. Not a problem if you drive the car every day because as we all know the battery gets kept in peak state. That is why there are aftermarket electronic boxes that monitor the current drain and shut down the camera as it drains the battery when the car is used little. Also as we have seen in other threads there are power banks that are charged from the car and use this parking mode without discharging the car's battery. Desirable and essential for some but not for others.

[pokerface]

Originally Posted by Pinewood

This is the biggest issue unless they mount a secondary battery (charged by the primary) , and used exclusively for the camera subsystem. Although possible, it would present a high overhead in terms of weight,cost and reliability.
You may have seen my musing about a dash cam and have bitten the bullet on the ddpai M6+ which has the ability to perform time lapse and park guard functions if a power source is left on .
The only power bank that can do this safely is the Cellink B battery pack.

http://www.car-dvr.co.uk/cellink_b/p...cellink_b.html

I use a TPower battery pack for the camera on our X3. It's been solid.

To clarify on my earlier statement I just don't expect Bmw to ringfence the camera system from the rest of the idrive such that it can be powered independently. Keeping the rest of the system juiced to support parking recording will likely be the biggest hurdle