Dashcam Opinion

cr-07

Hi All,

Looking to get a dashcam for the car. The car is a 2020 BMW 330e G20.

I was initially considering getting the BMW Advanced Car Eye 3.0 for €700 (front & back fitted):

https://bmwaccessories.ie/products/advanced-car-eye-3-0?variant=41540704305336

But have decided against it as I feel it is quite a bit of money for an average dashcam with a nice badge. Would this be the general consensus?

I am currently torn between this Nextbase:

https://www.halfords.ie/technology/dash-cams/nextbase-522gw-front-and-rear-dash-cam-bundle-450454.html?

And this BlackVue:

https://www.halfords.ie/technology/dash-cams/blackvue-dr590x-2ch-front%2Frear-dash-cam-with-32gb-microsd-card-461702.html

I'm leaning towards the Nextbase, but would like to get opinions if anyone has any?

I am also looking to get it fitted (hardwired) by Halfords, as I feel I would have some 'come back' if something went wrong (like battery dying etc).

Does anyone have any experience with Halfords fitting a dashcam, and if so, how are they?

Kimbot

I have a nextbase 322GW and find it very good. I must buy the rear add on module and get that installed soon. You can easily wire it yourself, I got the ODB cable kit and it took 2 minutes to install and it keeps the cigarette lighter free for other things.

Mundo7976

Have the 522 about 4yrs now & still going strong. Does everything needed & image quality is decent.

Handy enough to wire yourself, being biased I wouldn't trust halfords to plug in my kettle, & they charge silly money for simple jobs

cr-07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852210#Comment_121852210

Do you know if the OBD port is an "always on" fuse, or only activates/deactivates with the ignition? If it is always on, I'd be wary that it might run down the battery when away on holidays for example.

Ya, for my previous car I had hooked up the dashcam via the cig lighter - had cables running all over the shop! 😂

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852239#Comment_121852239

As far as I know its not always on, it stay on for a couple of minutes after you shut the car off but that is it I think.

cr-07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852236#Comment_121852236

Was thinking along the same lines, never got anything done with them before - don't want them to start butchering the interior! My reasoning is that it would take me 1-2 hours to do it properly myself, but would rather get them to do it for come-back reasons. Maybe I can "give him a hand" while he's doing it 😂

Only thing is they're charging €84 for it, but are supplying the hardwire kit. I would need to get this individually if I was doing it myself (€30).

Doop

Have the blackvue front only camera, quite happy with it. Got our mechanic to fit it while he was doing a service..

Thing I like most about it is how neat and unobtrusive it is.

What I don't like is without a subscription (which I don't have) you have to be in the car and connect to the camera via wifi settings to download footage. alternatively there is a memory card you could remove and put into a laptop etc. Its nto that much of an issue mind you, but its the only one I've ever had so if don't if the other brands offer a better system. Either way ill never be paying a subscription for the privilege!

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852295#Comment_121852295

Trust me, its very very easy to install yourself. Its only max 5 minute job to run/hide the cable :)

Mundo7976

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852307#Comment_121852307

Exactly, the only issue I had was I had to use mini screws to attach the rear to the taildoor

cr-07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852307#Comment_121852307

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852328#Comment_121852328

Hiding the cables is not my worry, it's the finding which fuse box & which fuses to use for the following kit:

https://www.halfords.ie/technology/dash-cam-accessories/nextbase-dash-cam-hardwire-kit-159302.html

Hoping Halfords might have more experience in this

Kimbot

Look at the ODB cable ;)

https://www.halfords.ie/technology/dash-cam-accessories/nextbase-obd-power-cable-825926.html

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852391#Comment_121852391

If you don't know then the kid doing it in Halfords won't either.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852258#Comment_121852258

Are you sure, it literally says this in the specs for the odb wire kit

By using your vehicles OBD port the Dash Cam will be connected to a permanent power supply ensuring the camera is not only recording while you’re driving but also can access the power in the event of a collision when your vehicle is parked.

Suppose the question is how much power is it drawing while recording 24/7 , you would imagine not much or they wouldn't be able to sell the kit, everyone would have dead batteries

Sono

Have a nextbase dashcam fitted by halfords, very happy with both.

Have the 522GW front facing with rear view camera attached to it rather than running cable to back window for separate rear camera. Works fine.

Also, even if you plug it into the lighter, there is no reason for cables to show apart from where it comes up from under passenger seat mat to centre console.

Fitting hardwire kit is also easy apart from finding a bolt to connect the earth wire to the chassis, there always seems to be loads of plastic around the fuse box so finding a metal part to earth to can take a bit of time and dexterity. Op you can google the location and fuse box map, just stay away from fuses which are related to critical car functions, pick something like the fuse to the lighter or light in the glove box then use the tap connector to fit the hard wire.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121852721#Comment_121852721

well mine hasnt recorded 24/7, it appears that if the car moves then it will power up and record. I will tesat it out later and see.

cr-07

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Picked up the Nextbase yesterday and installed it myself - got the hardwire kit instead of the OBD kit.

Was straight forward enough, found the fuse box under the drivers footwell, and chose a fuse that was available. From the diagram I found, the fuse is an "always on" fuse. The hardwire kit stated to use an always on fuse, so that it can use the parking function. The kit states it has capabilites that will monitor the car battery so that it doesn't pull too much power so that the battery doesn't go flat.

The fuse is supposed to be used for something to do with the wing mirrors.

If I see any issues with the car battery, I will see what other fuses are available. Only tricky part about the install was finding where to store the 2-3m of excess wire for the rear camera - stuffed it behind the trim for the boot liner 😀

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058338760/dashcam-wiring-side-curtain-airbag-warning

I'd recommend having a read through my latest thread showing how to avoid the side curtain airbags.

Damien360

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121858424#Comment_121858424

That's a great guide, I think that should be a sticky on motors forum.

I've done a few cams for my own and relations cars. Avoiding the side airbags is the only part I'm wary of.

Damien360

The 522GW from nextbase is a good camera. I have front and rear wired to switched live (usb power on fuse board). I keep using them because their support is fantastic. The one downside is the night time view is just about ok.

The blackvue is what I'm considering next as it has excellent night time view but it's quite a bit more expensive.