Sorry to be boring but about dash cams?

[sad_old_man]

I already have a dash cam that I was quite happy to introduce into my new Z4 until I read some posts (on another less reputable Z forum not this one) that went on and on about endless visits to BMW dealers to reset the notification symbol on the dashboard due to excessive drain being sensed by the battery? I'm quite happy to buy another one if this is the case but not to the extent of paying the £385.00 that the local BMW dealer wants for fitting their dash cam?

Any advice would be appreciated and thank you in advance!

 

[andyglym]

I already have a dash cam that I was quite happy to introduce into my new Z4 until I read some posts (on another less reputable Z forum not this one) that went on and on about endless visits to BMW dealers to reset the notification symbol on the dashboard due to excessive drain being sensed by the battery? I'm quite happy to buy another one if this is the case but not to the extent of paying the £385.00 that the local BMW dealer wants for fitting their dash cam?

Any advice would be appreciated and thank you in advance!

Can't speak for the Z4 issue reported but I have a Nextbase in mine, hard wired. Cost about £100 to buy and about an hour or so Labour at my local garage at circa £40 pph. Good footage too.

 

[t-tony]

Have a look at this,

https://zroadster.org/threads/eos-dashcam.19087/

If you only have the camera wired to an ignition fed live I don't see how you will ever get a battery drain notification.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

Some dash cams will constantly monitor for activity and will trigger if anything is sensed. That of course needs a permanent power feed. Car batteries, while powerful, are not limitless in their reserves. Dashcams need a fair bit of power to do that video processing.
If however a dash cam is integrated with existing sensors in the car, I can see that it can be powered only when required and power drain minimised. That said, it's the first time I've heard of warning lights for power drain.
If you want to be able to leave your cam running while your car is unattended I would suggest installing a second battery pack (used for phones etc) fed from a switched supply. Still won't be limitless but would give you several hours additional running time after parking up.

 

[sad_old_man]

Well boys and girls after spending what seemed like forever at my local stealer talking to a nice man about dash cams I am now in possession of the following confusing facts.

1. Yes, there will be a slight chance of triggering a notification warning on my Z4 if I leave the camera in parking mode?
2. Yes, even if they fit the BMW Advanced Eye camera system the notification problem will still exist?
3. No, they won't hard wire any other dash cam system into my Z4 other than their own BMW camera system?
4. No, I can't have the full Advanced Eye system (front facing and rearward facing cameras) at a cost of £399 installed in my Z4 because its a convertible and there is nowhere for them to fit the rearward facing camera?
5. Yes, I can have the Z4 version installed (front facing camera only) at a cost of £299?

In possession of this valuable information I have bought a Nextbase 412GW dash cam from Amazon. I'll let you all know my views on this unit later.

 

[t-tony]

Well boys and girls after spending what seemed like forever at my local stealer talking to a nice man about dash cams I am now in possession of the following confusing facts.

1. Yes, there will be a slight chance of triggering a notification warning on my Z4 if I leave the camera in parking mode?
2. Yes, even if they fit the BMW Advanced Eye camera system the notification problem will still exist?
3. No, they won't hard wire any other dash cam system into my Z4 other than their own BMW camera system?
4. No, I can't have the full Advanced Eye system (front facing and rearward facing cameras) at a cost of £399 installed in my Z4 because its a convertible and there is nowhere for them to fit the rearward facing camera?
5. Yes, I can have the Z4 version installed (front facing camera only) at a cost of £299?

In possession of this valuable information I have bought a Nextbase 412GW dash cam from Amazon. I'll let you all know my views on this unit later.

Did you buy a hard wiring kit with the camera?

Tony.

 

[andyglym]

I have said model hard wired in. Good piece of kit.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I bought a Nextbase 412 too, and hard wired it into my Zed especially for the Euro cruise, more specifically the trip over the Swiss passes, but sadly my car committed suicide before I could use it

 

[sad_old_man]

Did you buy a hard wiring kit with the camera?

Tony.

Strangely enough now you mention it Tony yes I did? However apart from opening the box which I did all on my own (are you proud of me)? that's as far as my knowledge goes I'm afraid!

 

[sad_old_man]

Here is some footage from my newly acquired Nextbase 412GW if I ever learn how to upload things

 

[andyglym]

Here is some footage from my newly acquired Nextbase 412GW if I ever learn how to upload things

Nice footage and near blue skies! I've just canoed up the M6 for 4 hours

 

[sad_old_man]

I know the feeling well Andy. I once looked in my door mirror as I was approaching Charnock Richard services in my M5 and the back end of the car looked more like a speedboat than a car?..........

 

[sad_old_man]

Have a look at this,

https://zroadster.org/threads/eos-dashcam.19087/

If you only have the camera wired to an ignition fed live I don't see how you will ever get a battery drain notification.

Tony.

Can't just wire it to the ignition Tony or the Parking Mode on the cam won't work? That's just one of the problems I'm struggling with?

 

[t-tony]

Surely if you're parking you will have the engine running?

Tony.

 

[sad_old_man]

Surely if you're parking you will have the engine running?

Tony.

If the damn car was a little bigger I could put a 30Kw portable generator in the boot as well but I would still need to run a cable?