Integrated dashcam update...

I read your message and was ready for it every time I intentionally popped the SD card in/out, but I wasn't ready for it to shoot across the car like a .22 round as I was squeezing the shell pieces together! C'est la vie, I had a couple spares from some raspberry pi projects floating around anyway.

Mine came with the updated firmware, but thanks!

 

Anyone have the official hardwire kit? I spliced my own and was curious about the expected behavior. It appears to be G-sensor based so the camera sleeps a minute after ACC power cuts, then wakes on a bump. It also stayed on quite a while after I pressed the power button when it was sleeping. Need to test it more but it seems to be working right.

 

I'm curious if anyone has any more thoughts on this dash cam. Right now I'm having a hard time deciding between it and something very small like the Garmin Mini 2 with the OBD-II cable. (Or maybe the Dongar Tech BMW adapter might work?) I've ordered plenty of things from Aliexpress over the years, but feeling like I should maybe go with something from a more established mfg.

 

Watching for this reason as well. I’ve run Mini 806’s front and rear for many years and they’ve been solid. Wanted something more up-to-date (e.g. with WiFi) and liked the OEM look of the Fitcamx but the discussion is making me wonder if it’s better to go with something more tried and true.

 

I have dual Garmin Mini's and they've been ok so far except for the app/WiFi.

It's so incredibly slow it's basically unusable. Exporting a 30 second clip is probably a 10 minute process after waiting for the list of videos to load, finding the correct section, trimming it, and transferring to the phone.

You also cannot turn off or adjust the accident detection so every time I shut the hatch the rear cam locks that clip. Wouldn't be so annoying if it didn't take so long to delete them with the app...

Honestly disappointing from Garmin but after killing three other cheap dashcams in three years I wanted something reliable. Hopefully the Garmin will still satisfy that.

 

I only have mine wired with the rain sensor, so no "power on bump," but powers on anytime the car is unlocked, a door opens etc... Also stays on for a few minutes after I'm out the car which is nice. Also found out it is on while charging which is nice if I'm charging away from home. So behavior sounds similar with the exception to automatic bump detection while off.

Its a great setup and wouldn't hesitate to buy it again for another car. The 4k footage is fantastic during the day and good enough at night (rear cam is ok enough). Have had no issues. Wifi connects quickly and the app is simple and works well. Footage can be a little slow to load all the thumbnails but that's not surprising.

Best part is its all incognito (besides the rear cam, but if you have tint you can't see it) and looks factory. You set it up and forget it until you need it. I hate dash cams taking up windshield space to begin with so for this was the perfect option.

I bought directly from Fitcamx and it was shipped to me in like a week or so. The customer service seems on point as well, they emailed after purchase asking for a side picture of the mirror assembly to confirm the correct camera.

The only negative I have is the installation can be tricky and frustrating and hope to never have to mess with it again lol. It will be sold along with the car haha.

 

This from the man who brought light to the charging port!

 

Looking at their website now, the only front and rear camera option I see is "Front 4K+ Rear 1080P+ 128G- Get Power from the Fuse Box"
Is there an option to get the dual camera that uses the rain sensor that I'm missing? Or is this what you ordered and it allows rain sensor connection on the front, too?

 

Lol I know right. I hate doing stuff in awkward positions because of my back, and trying to keep all the wires tucked/stuffed in and snapping it together was just giving me fits.

Interesting, I just looked myself, they have changed the options it seems because they didn't have that before when I purchased. So maybe they are just including the fuse box kit with it, but I dunno. I would reach out to them, I'm sure they can answer that question.

 

I got a quick response back from them, but not exactly sure what to make of it since it seems many here already got a dual camera version that works with their SE.

• Hi, is it possible to get the dual dash cam option for a MINI Cooper that connects to the rain sensor? I only see an option for connecting to the fuse box. https://fitcamx.com/collections/mini/products/fitc…
  12:31 PM
• FITCAMXHi
  12:31 PM
• FITCAMXThe dual-camera version of the rain sensor version is not compatible with all models.
  12:32 PM

 

When wiring for the rear cam, did you route the wire from the front cam across the bottom of the A pillar? I believe there are airbags just above the glovebox and above the door.

 

Well that wasn't very helpful lol. Honestly not sure, it may just be a mistake or it may now come with the hardwire kit as well as the rain sensor harness.

I fished it all through the headliner into the hatch itself (through the flexible rubber tubes). You do have to pop some of the headliner clips off and remove the 3rd brake light plastic trim to access. Only wire visible is about 2 inches worth where the camera is mounted under the 3rd brake light.

 

The primary choice is between an integrated dashcam that is clean and hidden or one that may have more features but look kinda messy. The plastic housing is more brittle than stock, a downgrade in quality IMO. I had to remove it when getting my windshield replaced and a clip snapped. The app is pretty terrible, rarely can I stream or download a clip to my phone. Things are made worse by 4k which results in huge short clips, but the quality is good and you can clearly read plate numbers.

So just push it up in there, run it straight down the middle? Does the wire rattle at all?

 

I can agree the housing is not as good of quality plastic and would definitely need to be careful if you need to remove it.

I have not had issues with the app, I actually thought it ran pretty smoothly. Just the clip loading time which isn't terrible but not great either.

I should have said ran it around the headliner perimeter. But yea pretty much stuff it up there. A plastic pry tool is helpful to open the gaps and push it up. The plastic pillar/trim sections can be pried open a bit and the wire pushed down inside and then back up into the headliner. Just be careful not to crease the headliner.

 

I picked up the fitcamx because i like to have a dashcam in case of a real issue (accident, etc.) but I almost never care about it otherwise.
It works, it visually stays out of the way, and I can access it if I need to.

If you're a real dashcam nerd and want to pull video every day, or want all the advanced features and upgrade every year, maybe look elsewhere.
But if you just want to have footage in an emergency this is perfect imho. (And yes the installation is annoying.)

 

I just ordered the model A. Will it not work? I think it occludes less of the windshield than the Model B (from what I can tell from the pictures).

 

You need the specific model for your vehicle/trim - they should follow up asking for pictures at which point they will correct the order if needed.

 

My answer to you have nothing to do with cameras but caring a full spare tire in my EV BMWI3 for 6 years I never used once is Murphy low I hope you have the same experience with your cameras never have to be used to proof anything!

 

I think my camera might have old firmware or something. Just installed one in the wife's C40 and the app is perfectly smooth. Same phone, 4k, but has the 3 minute clip option. Streams and downloads great. I emailed them a few days ago asking about firmware but never heard back.