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      04-16-2019, 02:06 PM   #1
Scanger
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Dash Cam Installation

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to see if anyone has installed a dash cam for their new X7 yet.

I would like to install one but am not sure how to do a clean install. I am also not sure if hard wiring a dash cam will void the warranty on the car.

I would appreciate some feedback on this subject.

Thank you!
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      04-16-2019, 04:35 PM   #2
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In our recent cars (Audis, Land Rover) a clean install was made very easy by a simple mirrortap solution that you could order from places like amazon. For those that don’t know, mirrortap is a short-run cable with a power connection at one end for various 12-volt radar and dashcam applications and on the other end a couple of small spade terminations for “tapping” into the existing wiring harness connector on the overhead console (where the sunroof, telematics, and overhead lighting controls are). The mirrortap packages have an inline fuse built-in for safety and for low-power applications like radar detectors and dashcams, they are perfect. The only bit of knowledge needed is where the ground and accessory-power slots are in your specific car’s harness and of course how to safely remove the overhead console cover to get to it.

For my last 3 Audis and current Range Rover Velar, this was shockingly similar and easy to do. I currently have Blackvue dashcams installed via mirrortap on all my cars, and have made detailed DIY posts with pictures on both the Audi and Range Rover forums for all the cars I’ve done it on. I suspect any BMW will be just as easy, though I don’t have an X7 yet to try doing it to. Once I do, I will surely post a DIY here as well, but I suspect someone will beat me to it since I don’t expect an X7 until fall at the earliest.
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      04-17-2019, 08:29 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masmole View Post
In our recent cars (Audis, Land Rover) a clean install was made very easy by a simple mirrortap solution that you could order from places like amazon. For those that don’t know, mirrortap is a short-run cable with a power connection at one end for various 12-volt radar and dashcam applications and on the other end a couple of small spade terminations for “tapping” into the existing wiring harness connector on the overhead console (where the sunroof, telematics, and overhead lighting controls are). The mirrortap packages have an inline fuse built-in for safety and for low-power applications like radar detectors and dashcams, they are perfect. The only bit of knowledge needed is where the ground and accessory-power slots are in your specific car’s harness and of course how to safely remove the overhead console cover to get to it.

For my last 3 Audis and current Range Rover Velar, this was shockingly similar and easy to do. I currently have Blackvue dashcams installed via mirrortap on all my cars, and have made detailed DIY posts with pictures on both the Audi and Range Rover forums for all the cars I’ve done it on. I suspect any BMW will be just as easy, though I don’t have an X7 yet to try doing it to. Once I do, I will surely post a DIY here as well, but I suspect someone will beat me to it since I don’t expect an X7 until fall at the earliest.
That's very helpful! Thank you so much.
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      04-18-2019, 12:04 AM   #4
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BlackVue DR900S + BlendMount BBV-2018

BlackVue DR900S + BlendMount BBV-2018
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      04-18-2019, 08:14 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kbl888888 View Post

Wow, nice set up. Do you mind me asking if the mirror tap set comes with the camera or do I need to buy it separately? Where can I get this set up?

Thanks!
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      04-18-2019, 06:53 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scanger View Post
Wow, nice set up. Do you mind me asking if the mirror tap set comes with the camera or do I need to buy it separately? Where can I get this set up?

Thanks!
Hi, I bought this on this website
https://www.blendmount.com/index.html
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      04-18-2019, 08:29 PM   #7
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Looks awesome. Could you show where you connected the mirror tap?
Thanks

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      05-18-2019, 10:19 PM   #8
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Does the mirror tap allow you to use parking mode?
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      05-19-2019, 12:13 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jokinawa View Post
Does the mirror tap allow you to use parking mode?
Most likely not. I have a BlackVue dash cam installed in my F80 and in order to use parking mode you either need a battery backup (preferred & recommended) or a Power Magic Pro hardwiring kit (not recommended). I am assuming that the mirror tap taps into a power supply that will turn off at some point after the ignition is turned off. If it is attached to a constant power source, the camera will not turn off (even though it will shift to parking mode), and the battery would be drained and cause other types of electrical gremlins to show up.

I use a battery backup for my dash cam and is the recommended way to go in modern BMWs with their very intricate electrical systems. IMO, the best way to power a dash cam system is to tap directly to a switched fuse in the fuse box using a battery backup system. I wired mine using an unused, switched 12V fuse spot in the rear fuse box on my F80.
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Last edited by jmciver; 05-19-2019 at 12:18 AM..
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      05-19-2019, 06:39 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by jokinawa View Post
Does the mirror tap allow you to use parking mode?
Most likely not. I have a BlackVue dash cam installed in my F80 and in order to use parking mode you either need a battery backup (preferred & recommended) or a Power Magic Pro hardwiring kit (not recommended). I am assuming that the mirror tap taps into a power supply that will turn off at some point after the ignition is turned off. If it is attached to a constant power source, the camera will not turn off (even though it will shift to parking mode), and the battery would be drained and cause other types of electrical gremlins to show up.

I use a battery backup for my dash cam and is the recommended way to go in modern BMWs with their very intricate electrical systems. IMO, the best way to power a dash cam system is to tap directly to a switched fuse in the fuse box using a battery backup system. I wired mine using an unused, switched 12V fuse spot in the rear fuse box on my F80.
Thank you for the helpful answer.
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      05-19-2019, 09:29 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jokinawa View Post
Thank you for the helpful answer.
No problem Below is a thread I posted where I documented my F80 dash cam install. Inside that thread is a link to the other thread I made about how to tap into the fuse box using factory wiring inserts.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1575590

Obviously not the X7, but the basic process of how to run the wiring and taking apart interior tim pieces is the same. Also, since the BMW repair procedures are available online, all of the correct resources are available to do a quality job (I used those same procedures to do my dash cam install).

Admittedly, I have not decided if I want to install an aftermarket cam in an X7 as I usually prefer leaving things looking OEM in the cabin. The new factory camera features coming to the X5/X7 may even allow the factory cameras to perform more like an aftermarket dash cam, which would be preferred for me if the functionality is up to par. Only time will tell I guess.
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