I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __dashcams front and rear
Hi, I’m looking to purchase and install a set of dash cams, front and rear.
Unless there are better suggestions, the plan is to mount the front cam just forward of the rearview mirror (avoiding the mirror sensor on the left and not obscuring the drivers view) and the rear cam on the windguard facing backwards.
I quite like the idea of parking mode, to monitor the vehicle whilst it is parked, having previously had someone ding me at the supermarket carpark.
I am also mindful that it is very easy for a thief cut through and ruin the soft top and nick the dashcam, especially if the latter is obtrusive.
My existing dashcam from my old vehicle is a Nextbase 512W. I don’t like it for 2 reasons:
(1) keeps falling off the windshield, especially in hot weather.
(2) USB connections are not robust and deteriorate as the car is shaken about by potholes.
This has caused annoying issues with power and the rear cam also no longer operates with the connection warped by the sun. I will continue using it on a temporary basis, but it’s days are numbered. I know lots of people love them, but Nextbase is not on my buying list.
The 2 dash cams that I am considering are:
(1) Thinkware F790.
pros:
robust harness ensuring good connections, cam is detachable
low power extended parking mode
cons:
bulky 92x72x35mm
(2) Garmin Mini 2
pros:
compact 53x31x29mm
parking mode
cons:
cables and harness not as robust as the F790
For a front/rear pair both the F790 and the Mini 2 are similar in price once all the various filters, cards, wiring kits etc are factored in. Neither will store footage remotely (Garmin only if WiFi available).
Questions:
(1) Thoughts regarding vulnerability of dash cams to theft via the soft top?
(2) Ways of making dash cams less vulnerable/obtrusive?
(3) Experiences with parking mode?
(4) Experiences with either the Thinkware F790 or the Garmin Mini 2?
(5) Other dash cams that I might consider?
you’re so right about the NextBase cabling and falling off the windscreen! Just grrr…
Although I don’t have any personal experience with any other brand, one of my mates has used BlackVue for a few years and swears by them (S2000 owner). It’s a pretty slim thing, the footage looks just as good as mine and it’s never fallen off his windscreen. Even after a fairly spectacular ice based excursion into a field. Might be worth a look if you’re wanting something subtle.
You could consider a different model from Garmin which I have mounted in my ND2:
Our MX-5 cabins are relatively small and the interior camera almost behaves like a rear view camera
As you are probably already aware, you’ll need to purchase Garmin’s parking mode cable if you were to opt for one of their dash cams. I have their mini suction cup mount which I’m hesitant to recommend since I’ve had it fall off on me a few times, only when parked up for long durations.
A potential issue with this dash cam is when your car has its MOT test. You may have to temporarily relocate the dash cam to in front of the rear view mirror to avoid a potential fail for windscreen obstruction. This is why I opted for the suction cup mount instead of the included mount.
I got so frustrated with my Nextbase 412GW that when I bought my ND2 I never bothered putting it in. have looked again but not committed yet, a local install company to me (Kent) recommended Blackvue especially for their intelligent parking mode. Standard model is the 750x, flagship 900x. Might be worth a look for you.
I have the same predicament having purchased a MK4. Did you make any progress sourcing a dashcam and how is it working out. I have just read an American article on the same issue, they seem to suggest the front and rear mirror cams are best, as they don’t react to excessive heat, so don’t fall off the screen, and are less obtrusive. The major drawback is that some are 12" wide, so with the relatively small screen, they are a bit bulky.
As an interim measure I used the Smart Dash Cam Driver app and Driver: Dash Cam & Cloud Sync app running on an iPhone and taped to the front of the rear view mirror. This provided me with time to sort out a more permanent solution.
For better or for worse I went for the Blackvue 750 X LTE Plus front and rear cams, the former mounted on the drivers side behind the rear view mirror and the latter zipped tied to the windbreak.
Pros:
seems pretty robust
no signs (yet) of falling off the windscreen
no signs (yet) of poor electronic connections
it records videos, lots. And lots. See also cons
Cons:
expensive (very)
customer support is slow and not very user friendly
separating wheat from the chaff - seems to require a lot of trial and error configuration to get to record what you want and not what you don’t want
instructions are not great
not much help if you park somewhere where there is no WIFI signal and Mobile signal is at best 3G.
The jury is still out. As me again what I think in circa 1 year
I have the Nextbase 322 GW with rear camera module, great image capture when you can access the files, the software is incredibly awful in reliably making a connection to the camera!
You may be interested in the module from Dongar which adapts the feed to the rearview mirror to have a USB output thus saving the pain of trying to hardwire it to the fusebox. It takes a minute to fit and works very nicely with my Nextbase 222 with rear camera attachment. I have added photos HERE
Ever wondered whether an expensive dashcam and almost-as-expensive parking mode battery is worth the money?
I have.
Latest Incident
Today I was sitting at home minding my own business when I received an alert “Parking Event” on my mobile. I went out to investigate and discovered that White Van Man had just reversed into my parked and unattended MX-5, leaving a very large dent. He apologised but TBH did not look like he was in a hurry to report the incident: no doubt he would have left quietly had I not intervened. I have downloaded the footage from my dashcam to support my Not-At-Fault insurance claim.
Incident 2
Just over a year ago I pulled over on a narrow country lane to allow a large lorry to pass. He had already ignored five road signs stating “unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles” and really was not at all bothered when there was a harsh scraping sound as he passed my stationary vehicle, choosing to drive straight on without stopping. Aka “Hit-and-Run”. When I caught up with him he denied all responsibility and stated that it was my vehicle that had driven past his stationary lorry. Once again footage from my dashcam supported my Not-At-Fault insurance claim.
Incident 3
The vehicle was barely a year old when it was left in the care of Parkway Parking. Their careful airport parking valet service included returning the MX-5 with a scraped bumper whilst parking it in close proximity to a concrete pillar at the airport. They vehemently denied responsibility. With the assistance of dashcam footage I was able to successfully sue them. Parkway Parking did not help their case by refusing to identify their drivers or provide any evidence of their licensing or insurance. Could it be that they were employing drivers who were Illegal Immigrants?
I wish I was receiving Commission or Royalties for this post, but sadly I am not.
So, is an expensive dashcam and almost-as-expensive parking mode battery is worth the money? In my case, I regret to say that it has paid for itself several times over and the answer is a very definite YES.
