Dash Camera Discussion / What Dash Cams are you guys using?

I am having this installed with it....
BlackVue Power Magic Ultra Battery (B-124X) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKYM2TT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B5DBDbX89CBVH

It is hardwired, but doesn’t draw power unless the car is running, when the car is off, the battery kicks in.

Mine gets installed later this month, I will report back any findings.

BMWs can be sensitive to voltage changes, excess battery drainage, etc...but I wouldn’t have that stop you from having a dash-cam installed. However, I wouldn’t recommend installing an aftermarket remote start setup. I have read nothing but issues with those on BMWs.

The BlackVue can be powered by 12v outlet if you want....

What every Supra needs!

CarGuy11 said:

What every Supra needs!

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I would recommend this battery pack over the one in the video.

BlackVue Power Magic Ultra Battery (B-124X) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKYM2TT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yPTFDbEZAH3FZ

This one will power your cameras for close to 24hrs. It’s made of Lithium-Iron vs lithium-ion.

Lithium-iron is supposed to deal with hot and cold temps better, fully recharges in about 40 minutes, does better with multiple charge/discharge cycles, and the reviews of the 112 are pretty bad.

Of course there is a trade-off, which easily identified when you compare the prices of the 124x to the 112. However, if you are paying 500.00 for a dashcam, you might as well have it set it up so it can record. (IMHO)

^^^ I considered size as well for the battery pack. Where did you mount the Power Magic Ultra?

CarGuy11 said:

^^^ I considered size as well for the battery pack. Where did you mount the Power Magic Ultra?

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To the right (passenger side) of battery, fits in there nicely.

Any updates on anyone who's got their Blackvues installed via hardwire and successfully avoided the car throwing any codes (e.g., as discussed here) due to the smart battery? I just picked up the equipment to do a hard install but wanted to make sure that someone has done this and actually had it work before I take it to get installed. Otherwise, I may just go with plugging it into the 12v cigarette lighter up front for now.

I have a Blackvue DR900S 2 channel that I'm running successfully. I have it connected to the B124x battery which is hardwired (via relay) directly. This allows the dashcam to run in parking mode for 8+ hrs and quickly charge back up from the Supra battery.

I also have my radar detector directly wired.

This video will explain where you need to tap in. It's important that you use a relay or else you risk getting a code.

larrymz3 said:

I have a Blackvue DR900S 2 channel that I'm running successfully. I have it connected to the B124x battery which is hardwired (via relay) directly. This allows the dashcam to run in parking mode for 8+ hrs and quickly charge back up from the Supra battery.

I also have my radar detector directly wired.

This video will explain where you need to tap in. It's important that you use a relay or else you risk getting a code.

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Awesome to hear! In terms of running the relay, would you be able to provide any more details about that? I currently have the Blackvue dash cam, Power Magic Pro, Power Magic Ultra Battery, and a Blendmount camera mount sitting around, but am not sure if I need to pick up any other parts before bringing it into an installer. (I plan to find an experienced installer but still just want to make sure that I know what a proper install should look like so that I can check it out before potentially ruining the $500 battery that isn't even in stock. )

Supra Dupra said:

Awesome to hear! In terms of running the relay, would you be able to provide any more details about that? I currently have the Blackvue dash cam, Power Magic Pro, Power Magic Ultra Battery, and a Blendmount camera mount sitting around, but am not sure if I need to pick up any other parts before bringing it into an installer. (I plan to find an experienced installer but still just want to make sure that I know what a proper install should look like so that I can check it out before potentially ruining the $500 battery that isn't even in stock. )

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You can’t use the power Magic pro and the power Magic ultra battery.

At least that is what BlackVue told me. My Magic pro came free with my 900s, so I sold it on eBay.

You shouldn’t need any other parts. The installer should have relays.

For any of those of you who've installed a back dashcam, how exactly did you get the wiring from the back of the body of the car up and through the trunk? I didn't want to mess anything up there and wasn't sure how to get it into the plastic tubing thingy, so I have the wire for the back camera just kind of dangling there right now. If anyone has any pictures / videos of how to discretely run this wire I would really appreciate it.

m(_ _)m

No pics, but, my installer ran the wires through the factory rubber boots on the trunk and then under the headliner to the front cam.

larrymz3 said:

No pics, but, my installer ran the wires through the factory rubber boots on the trunk and then under the headliner to the front cam.

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Yeah, that's what it looked like from the video, but I wasn't sure how to get it up under that area. It wasn't entirely clear to me what could/couldn't be popped off back there to access that area.

After much discussion with Toyota customer service, my Toyota dealer, and a large local BMW dealer, I found that there is no Dash Cam accessory suited specifically for the new Supra, or BMW Z4. BMW uses a standard model for all of their cars, and their techs use internally accessed installation instructions (which they don’t share). And no, they won’t touch a Supra. Like my ‘Clown Car’ horn replacement (see separate post), I asked my Lexus dealer (dealt with 20+ years) if they would install a Lexus Dash Cam in my Supra. I have the same Dash Cam in my Lexus RX350, and like the features and smart phone UI. Unfortunately, it is only front facing, but has parking surveillance and protection against draining the battery. The techs installed 2 fusible links, and 2 mini fuses. They ran a wiring harness from the camera to the fuse panel in the right rear corner of the car. It is fused through the ‘steering wheel media and fuel light’ circuit.

Boomer64, do you happen to have the Lexus part number for this factory dash cam accessory? I've been looking into aftermarket options but I had no idea Lexus offered their own.

Further, based on your description of the installation in your MKV would I be correct in assuming that, other than having a smartphone handy, there are no further hard-wired connections needed for it it to work other than basic +12V power, Ground, +12V Accessory and applicable ignition circuit splices?

I would have shifted it up so that just the actual camera eye was below the textured line but overall great.