[kevinkay]

so your current setup - you are just filming while the car in is motion?

And sorry to ask this dumb question, but watching youtube I can't get the answer - do you have to press the power button "on" when your ready to drive off OR does it pick up power "on" when the "acc" is powered up?

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by kevinkay

so your current setup - you are just filming while the car in is motion?

And sorry to ask this dumb question, but watching youtube I can't get the answer - do you have to press the power button "on" when your ready to drive off OR does it pick up power "on" when the "acc" is powered up?

Dashcams tend to be wired to ignition, so when ignition is on, they "power on"

[_ink]

Originally Posted by kevinkay

so your current setup - you are just filming while the car in is motion?

And sorry to ask this dumb question, but watching youtube I can't get the answer - do you have to press the power button "on" when your ready to drive off OR does it pick up power "on" when the "acc" is powered up?

Yep, what Nev said. The dashcam will power on automatically when you start the car. The physical power button is there to switch off the camera, and there's also a physical camera button to take a photo.

[kevinkay]

curious if you bought the SD card with the camera?

would the "class 10" SC cards on ebay for $5 work?

[_ink]

Originally Posted by kevinkay

curious if you bought the SD card with the camera?

would the "class 10" SC cards on ebay for $5 work?

I bought my SD separately..

[kevinkay]

I just ordered one

this link starts it at $59.99
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3300...8b7ff6bbecf557

Then I took the $2 coupon offer
then from another webpage I found a $8 coupon for aliexpress (it was one of those re-direct offers and I can't find it on my history)
So I paid $49.19


***make sure you use a credit card that does not charge a "foreign currency fee"!

THANKS _ink for the leg work and all the info!!!

[roxxor]

Ordered one as well, I ordered the one with the rear camera lens so I will add my experiences installing that one once it arrives. Thanks all for the info!

[_ink]

No worries.

I didn't go with the rear mainly because I dispised that it looked like the old school number plate reverse cameras.

Let us know how the install goes!!

[FCBayernFTW]

All these cameras and we still need to buy additional ones?

Cmon BMW!!

Chevy has been integrating cameras for years.

[BatMeoW]

Originally Posted by FCBayernFTW

All these cameras and we still need to buy additional ones?

Cmon BMW!!

Chevy has been integrating cameras for years.

It seems BMW now has an option that you can order on the newer cars (presumably IDrive 7 ones):

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/05/17/b...camera-system/

This review of the new X6 also talks about the same.

It's a 360 degree dashcam!!

I wish it was available as a option for my car. Seems like all the hardware is there and only the software bit is missing.

[kevinkay]

_INK tracking says my camera arrives tomorrow. Doing the preliminary work - how does the front (closer to the hood of the car) piece separate? just pull? I released the side clips but It almost feels like its clipped together and also to the windshield?

Did you run the wires over the metal box my finger is pointing to? (I am assuming the wires will fit under the plastic front cover)? And then drop the roof control unit, across and then down the pillar........

THANKS!

[_ink]

yep they just separate apart, there are plastic clips which hold them together. Yes, the wires just run over that box, up into the roof lining, across to the pillar and down.

[VladTheImpaler]

This should be of help - https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/g...les/1Vnbg8T4N9

[kevinkay]

Originally Posted by VladTheImpaler

This should be of help - https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/g...les/1Vnbg8T4N9

VERY much appreciate your post, but I always need the "real life" translation of TIS.
I have broken many many plastic parts on past BMW's by -"Release cover (1) from the latch mechanisms (2) and (3)".
And then you understand the latch mechanisms after its apart and broken in your hands,

[kevinkay]

Installed and working!

First of all the directions for inserting the sd card are WRONG. With the unit installed the brass contacts will be facing the back of the car OR that little shark fin that extends from the side of the card will be DOWN. (it takes a micro SD card). I need a penny to push it in and pop it out (fat fingers).

just some of my experience.....
Fuse #47 is taken by the rear cig. lighter (and I did'nt have a fuse tap that allows a second connection) I used empty #57 for ACC power and it shuts down after 6 min after ACC turned off (This is someone else's work). I grounded on a bolt in front and left of the fuses, I could not find a bolt on the firewall like _INK mentions??

Read sometimes people tuck wires into the pillar. You gotta take the cover off. One torque screw under the "airbag" tag and pull the clips staring from the top, then jiggle and lay the cover like a fallen tree to release the 2 bottom clips. I took my roof console off you might be able to tuck the wires between the windshield and header to get across to the pillar. I tie wrapped the wire to the wires in that pillar - keeping them away from the airbag.

The iPhone app they tell you to get is TimaCam. Connect to the camera wifi through your PHONES settings not the app "connect to wifi".

I am still fooling around with settings but I think the camera keeps recording for the 6 min after the car is shut down or locked. And starts recording as soon as you open the door and ACC is activated. There is a setting "motion detector" but I guess that for the parking chip that wont work with our car.

BIG thanks to _INK for this find and posting it. I knew/know little about dash cams but like he said this has a VERY OEM intergraded look - I am very pleased.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=60

[kevinkay]

this is text message reply with AliExpress when i asked about the 24h parking battery error:

If you used Novatek 96655 chip,it will have this problem.
Our car dvr is Novatek 96658 chip,so you don't need worried it.But must ensure that the voltage is greater than 12V.
If you want 24H can 100% work,you can select our HUAWEI HiSilicon chip.
This years,we will launch HUAWEI HiSilicon chip car dvr,and now only our factory is producing.

[_ink]

great work!! I'm trying to work through an issue where the videos will only record for a few seconds when a recording event is triggered. I want all events to be recorded for whatever the set interval (1min, 2min, etc) is set at, It's not doing this right now.

[kevinkay]

I did not get the 24h chip as _ink advised that it will not work on our cars.
Just for fun I tried locking or unlocking the car via the app and YEAH it recorded for the 6 min of ACC power.
Could come in handy.....You need to see who walks by the car on Tuesday at noon while your at work ??....OR you hear someone out near the car while your upstairs in bed - flash the lights or beep the horn via the app and you scare them AND capture them on cam!

From what I got from the texting with AliExpress is that there is a new 24hour "chip" that will sense when the voltage deviates from 12v and then will shut down. So I am guessing you might not get full 24hour recording but the car won't send a "fault" because there will never be a negative 12v drain??

[suby01]

This install does look sleek and factory for sure. The video quality also seems good from checking the sample clips. One thing why I recommend going with a reputable company for a dashcam is reliablity.
Not that it will break, but you know that it is constant on or is recording when you want it.

I had a Cobra dashcam an older model and the quality was great gps logging and parking mode all you would need. But it did not work all the time. When the car started it woudnt turn on. Or after a few hours it would shut off. I never knew. There were multiple times where I wanted to check on a clip luckily no accidents but just funnies you see on the road. Checking the SD card and nope nothing recorded. This happened more time than not.
After about a year they released a firmware update that fixed this. But everyone should be mindful of that. If there was an accident and it actually didnt record that I would be not too happy.

[kevinkay]

Point taken, but i was someone that thought I would never need or want a dash cam so a $50 cost is a good introduction.
And your exactly correct - I have checked those "funnies" that happen on the road and so far this unit is working exactly as it should. It records everything from when its first powered to 6 min after the car is shut down including all interior audio (I have learned I need to watch what I say ).

[Juris]

I assume recent buyers here have been happy with video quality. The samples posted earlier only show the number plate when in the shade--- With direct headlights and with sunlight the number plates were not visible. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[kevinkay]

Not so great on plates - these are screen shots of the paused video playing on my mac. Blowing them up distorts them, but this is just using very basic computer viewing.