Anyone have a dash cam?

[walkie]

Hi guys and galls

Looking to do some German Road trips this year and fancied a dash cam for some of the scenic parts and for any documentation of trouble.

Has anyone got any recommendations? I don't want something that sticks on your windscreen like a clumsy sat nav, would prefer something a little more subtle

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Number5]

Ive just got an Ambrella "Mini0803" by Eprance and am pleased with it. (On Ebay via Amazon for about £60)

Its small enough to sit behind the drivers mirror so you cant see it. I've hardwired it into the supply for the rain sensor, which took about 20 mins, so I've no cables showing. Play back is easy on the home PC just by veiwing all the 5 minute files, which will all join together, if using the right viewing software.

You can get with GPRS which shows your speed and position or without for about £25 less. I went for the Non-GPRS as I don't particularly want my speeds reordered for all to see. The difference also paid for an extra base and lead that Ive out in my other car, so I can just move the camera between the two very easily.

Great bit of kit for the price. My only criticism is that the small flashing 'recording' LED can be annoying, so Im going to cover it up.

 

[TitanTim]

I've had a few dash cams over the years and generally found the cheaper ones struggle with contrast. I've recently bought a Mini 0803 and been really pleased with it.

http://www.carcamerashop.co.uk/mini-0803.html

I like it as it's small and unobtrusive so I can leave it in the car unattended. I've fitted it at the top of the screen in my M135i and tucked the power cable along the roof lining and down the windscreen pillar and under the dash. Switches itself on and off and uses a record loop so basically fit and forget.

Tim.

 

[andya1]

This mini sounds perfect as I fancy one as I am planning a west Scotland trip in May BUT I am not a good DIY person so wiring it into the supply for the rain sensor is boggling my mind What size sd card is best to have and one thing we have an iMac can they be played back on that instead of a pc oh I forgot to say I have an E85 would it be a similar fit in that car.

Sorry for all the noob questions

 

[Swiftly]

I have an Ambrella Mini0801 mini dash cam which is the forerunner to the Ambrella Mini0803 which number5 has mentioned. Had the cam for over a year and it has been faultless. I have a 64Gb micro SD car in the camera and that will give you 5 hours of recording time in full 1080 HD. Yes can play the videos back on a Mac as far as I am aware, they play on my PC and Android tablet no problem. The only thing would won't be able to use is the free GPS software as that is Windows based, however no doubt if you Google search there should be other free versions for Mac that would work.

Theres a good thread here http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60245&start=105 with photos of dash cams fitted and how to wire it to the rain sensor. It not a difficult job if you have a soldering iron and some tape, the whole process only took me 15 mins start to finish

 

[Number5]

This mini sounds perfect as I fancy one as I am planning a west Scotland trip in May BUT I am not a good DIY person so wiring it into the supply for the rain sensor is boggling my mind What size sd card is best to have and one thing we have an iMac can they be played back on that instead of a pc oh I forgot to say I have an E85 would it be a similar fit in that car.

1) install is easy. Ive got to install Mikerw427's within the next week or two, so I can do a photo tutorial, although I think theres already a good one on here that Aquazi did. - It comes with a 12v lighter plug anyway, for the meantime.
2) I've got a 16G SD card and that seems to be giving me about a 4 hour loop
3) Mine is an E85 and the E86 should be the same. E89 will probably be different wiring colours though, but same principle.

For £60, I thought if it wasn't any good, I'd stick it in the rear window of my 5 series just as a backup, but i'm really pleased with it. I may upgrade to the GPRS model later and then move the non-GPRS to the back then still.

 

[andya1]

This mini sounds perfect as I fancy one as I am planning a west Scotland trip in May BUT I am not a good DIY person so wiring it into the supply for the rain sensor is boggling my mind What size sd card is best to have and one thing we have an iMac can they be played back on that instead of a pc oh I forgot to say I have an E85 would it be a similar fit in that car.

1) install is easy. Ive got to install Mikerw427's within the next week or two, so I can do a photo tutorial, although I think theres already a good one on here that Aquazi did. - It comes with a 12v lighter plug anyway, for the meantime.
2) I've got a 16G SD card and that seems to be giving me about a 4 hour loop
3) Mine is an E85 and the E86 should be the same. E89 will probably be different wiring colours though, but same principle.

For £60, I thought if it wasn't any good, I'd stick it in the rear window of my 5 series just as a backup, but i'm really pleased with it. I may upgrade to the GPRS model later and then move the non-GPRS to the back then still.

Thanks for that I need all the help I can get as you haven't seen my DIY attempts is a 16g really good for 4 hours as that sounds perfect.

 

[GaryT]

This mini sounds perfect as I fancy one as I am planning a west Scotland trip in May BUT I am not a good DIY person so wiring it into the supply for the rain sensor is boggling my mind What size sd card is best to have and one thing we have an iMac can they be played back on that instead of a pc oh I forgot to say I have an E85 would it be a similar fit in that car.

1) install is easy. Ive got to install Mikerw427's within the next week or two, so I can do a photo tutorial, although I think theres already a good one on here that Aquazi did. - It comes with a 12v lighter plug anyway, for the meantime.
2) I've got a 16G SD card and that seems to be giving me about a 4 hour loop
3) Mine is an E85 and the E86 should be the same. E89 will probably be different wiring colours though, but same principle.

For £60, I thought if it wasn't any good, I'd stick it in the rear window of my 5 series just as a backup, but i'm really pleased with it. I may upgrade to the GPRS model later and then move the non-GPRS to the back then still.

Looking forward to the "how to" cheers

 

[srhutch]

No need to mess with the existing wiring.

I hard wired mine but direct to the fuse board. Just modified the supplied 12v car charger to give to tails. Connected the earth to a nearby grounded screw and used a piggyback fuse holder for the live into a switched fuse.

 

[andya1]

I have an Ambrella Mini0801 mini dash cam which is the forerunner to the Ambrella Mini0803 which number5 has mentioned. Had the cam for over a year and it has been faultless. I have a 64Gb micro SD car in the camera and that will give you 5 hours of recording time in full 1080 HD. Yes can play the videos back on a Mac as far as I am aware, they play on my PC and Android tablet no problem. The only thing would won't be able to use is the free GPS software as that is Windows based, however no doubt if you Google search there should be other free versions for Mac that would work.

Theres a good thread here http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60245&start=105 with photos of dash cams fitted and how to wire it to the rain sensor. It not a difficult job if you have a soldering iron and some tape, the whole process only took me 15 mins start to finish

Hi Swifty

Thanks for the reply would I be able to view it on my iPad and if so how do I transfer it do I use a cable? See I told you I was useless, if I could get it onto the iPad then I could record over it as normal but have the video from my Scottish drive on the iPad now that would be good.

Thanks

 

[andya1]

No need to mess with the existing wiring.

I hard wired mine but direct to the fuse board. Just modified the supplied 12v car charger to give to tails. Connected the earth to a nearby grounded screw and used a piggyback fuse holder for the live into a switched fuse.

Oh that is easy for you to say I would end up with the car on fire

 

[Swiftly]

I have an Ambrella Mini0801 mini dash cam which is the forerunner to the Ambrella Mini0803 which number5 has mentioned. Had the cam for over a year and it has been faultless. I have a 64Gb micro SD car in the camera and that will give you 5 hours of recording time in full 1080 HD. Yes can play the videos back on a Mac as far as I am aware, they play on my PC and Android tablet no problem. The only thing would won't be able to use is the free GPS software as that is Windows based, however no doubt if you Google search there should be other free versions for Mac that would work.

Theres a good thread here http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60245&start=105 with photos of dash cams fitted and how to wire it to the rain sensor. It not a difficult job if you have a soldering iron and some tape, the whole process only took me 15 mins start to finish

Hi Swifty

Thanks for the reply would I be able to view it on my iPad and if so how do I transfer it do I use a cable? See I told you I was useless, if I could get it onto the iPad then I could record over it as normal but have the video from my Scottish drive on the iPad now that would be good.

Thanks

I assume your iPad has an SD card slot built in? If not you can buy a USB SD card reader to plug into the iPad and to which you insert the SD card into. There is also Mac software available you will be pleased to here. Links to software are listed on this review site for the camera http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/6/15/mini-0803-probably-the-best-mini-dashcam-with-a-screen.html

 

[srhutch]

No need to mess with the existing wiring.

I hard wired mine but direct to the fuse board. Just modified the supplied 12v car charger to give to tails. Connected the earth to a nearby grounded screw and used a piggyback fuse holder for the live into a switched fuse.

Oh that is easy for you to say I would end up with the car on fire

Small bit of soldering to do out of the car then just connect to the fuse.

 

[srhutch]

This kit comes with hard wire kit, just add the piggyback fuse holder and you are away. They even come with crimp connectors so no soldering required.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-Mini-0803-Ambarella-A7-Super-HD-1296P-Dash-Cam-Car-DVR-Camera-Hard-Wire-Kit-/261684530748?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3ced9d0e3c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Add-A-Circuit-Standard-Mini-Micro-Blade-Fuse-Boxes-Holder-Piggy-Back-Fuses-Tap-/310917899244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item486426a3ec

 

[SamUK]

I'm thinking about a SJ4000 WiFi - about £60..for my bike..

Has got good reviews..

Will try to did up the link

 

[dhobbs]

I've just got a mini 0801 and I think it's great for the price.
£47 from amazon including a 32gb card.

The 0803 is meant to be better and there is the 0805 and the not yet released 0806

I'm interested in hard wiring it to a switched live, any details would be appreciated.

Daz

 

[Z435iFI]

I have been using Blackvue DR500GW-HD for a year now and have been happy with it. It works in bright daylight as well as in night time without much light at all, it has GPS and WiFi too.
GPS is nice when playing the video, as the player shows your location on the map and also your speed. I know there are a plenty of cheaper models on offer too, that might do the job as well as this one.

 

[ric19]

As I have said on another thread I shied away from a GPS version as I think it has the potential to be used against you if you were speeding and an accident occurred although some one did point that out that forensics could probably still work out your speed by analysis of the video but I suppose that would need an expert witness to get involved whereas if you've got your speed displayed at the bottom of a video for all see, you're done up like a kipper

 

[igeak691]

Its small enough to sit behind the drivers mirror so you cant see it. I've hardwired it into the supply for the rain sensor, which took about 20 mins, so I've no cables showing. Play back is easy on the home PC just by veiwing all the 5 minute files, which will all join together, if using the right viewing software.

Can you go into more about how to tapped into the rain sensor? I'm handy and want to do the same thing, but wanted to know if this will require removing the rear view mirror as I believe they are one unit.

 

[srhutch]

As I have said on another thread I shied away from a GPS version as I think it has the potential to be used against you if you were speeding and an accident occurred although some one did point that out that forensics could probably still work out your speed by analysis of the video but I suppose that would need an expert witness to get involved whereas if you've got your speed displayed at the bottom of a video for all see, you're done up like a kipper

It's easy for them to work the speed out. All they would have to do is measure the distance between two objects in the video, like two lampposts and see how long it took you to travel between them. GPS would just save them from having to go and measure.