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      08-08-2014, 09:05 AM   #1
smckenna
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M4 Dash Cam reccomendations?

I'm interested in picking up a dash-cam for my M4, and I was wondering if someone who has already done this and is happy with theirs could tell me which kind to buy and where to get it.
I would like it to plug into the cigarette lighter plug and just stay recording all the time that the car is on.
And YES, I already searched this topic up on this M4 forum and didn't find much.
Thanks in advance!
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      08-08-2014, 09:24 AM   #2
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Check out: dashcamtalk.com

They have reviews, recommendations and buyers guides. Lots of options like gps, 2channel (front and rear), etc.
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      08-08-2014, 10:01 AM   #3
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BMW has one under accessories.

Here it is + sample vid. Quality looks good!

http://www.bmw.de/de/topics/service-...ryId=9872.html

[u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47gyQ9Zdi60[/u2b]

PS: We have one in each car and are very pleased with it. Has helped twice already for small issues with insurance.
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      08-08-2014, 10:08 AM   #4
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Do you want one to record you as you operate the controls? I would say get a GoPro and find some way to mount it behind you.

Or do you want something to record just the road and traffic from the windshield? In that case I always liked the Blackvue DR-550. It has great HD quality and is actually two cameras -- one for the front windshield and one for the back. You would want to hardwire this in. If you care for only one camera for the front then the DR-500 will give you that. There are others in this category that some like better: like the FineVu CR 2000 or CR 500.

If you want one cheaper and that you can take with you in other cars then look at the Mobius.


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      08-08-2014, 10:26 AM   #5
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I have the BlackVue DR500GW-HD in all four of my cars. They will do a lot like sound recording and recording while parked but I have everything turned off except the record while the car is on function. They have GPS, show speed, date & time and map your location. I also put one in my son's car and my daughter's car. I hardwired most but tapped into the fuse box on my wife's Mini Cooper.

With the exception of having a 16 GB mini card going bad I have had no issues. They are small and fit tight at the top of the windshield.

They have several models out now and it can become overwhelming when you start shopping. And, like anything else, opinions abound. The last one I bought was $230 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/BlackVue-Wi-Fi...s=Dr500gw%3Dhd

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      08-08-2014, 10:32 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ersin View Post
Do you want one to record you as you operate the controls? I would say get a GoPro and find some way to mount it behind you.

Or do you want something to record just the road and traffic from the windshield? In that case I always liked the Blackvue DR-550. It has great HD quality and is actually two cameras -- one for the front windshield and one for the back. You would want to hardwire this in. If you care for only one camera for the front then the DR-500 will give you that. There are others in this category that some like better: like the FineVu CR 2000 or CR 500.

If you want one cheaper and that you can take with you in other cars then look at the Mobius.


Cheers.
Just the front view for me no need for the camera to record over my shoulder or what I am doing. Thanks for the tip on the Blackvue cam. I'll check it out.
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      08-08-2014, 10:42 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarball View Post
Check out: dashcamtalk.com

They have reviews, recommendations and buyers guides. Lots of options like gps, 2channel (front and rear), etc.
This. Lots of info there.

I have itronics itb-100hd. Works great, wide angle of view records everything out the windshield, good low light performance, gps, speed data recording. I have mine hard wired and mounted in front of mirror under rain sensor, can't even notice it's there but it auto records every second the car is on, and can even set it with optional blackvue power adaptor to record when off too.
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      08-08-2014, 11:40 AM   #8
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Barring residence in Russia, why the need for the dash cam?
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      08-08-2014, 12:23 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by F80JMcD View Post
Barring residence in Russia, why the need for the dash cam?
I have it for video evidence in case of an incident. Got pulled over a couple months ago and police said I didn't stop on red light, but I had a green. It got resolved right there anyway but if it didn't I had proof. What actually prompted me to get one was when a guy caused an accident with my wife by turning left from the right lane and tried lying about what happened to police and made accusations, etc. That got resolved on the spot too, but it got me thinking what if? It's one of those things I hope I won't need, but might come in useful.
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      08-08-2014, 12:37 PM   #10
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How often do you have to delete the memory from the dash cam?
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      08-08-2014, 12:39 PM   #11
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Why is nobody suggesting the GoPro here?
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      08-08-2014, 01:07 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Powaup View Post
How often do you have to delete the memory from the dash cam?
It automatically overwrites oldest data on the SD card. So the included 8 gb card holds something like 6 hours. I also format the card every once in a while.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSpy View Post
Why is nobody suggestion the GoPro here?
I don't have a GoPro so I'm not familiar with its capabilities but would it auto start recording when you turn on the ignition or would you need to press a record button? Would it be hard wired to have an infinite power supply? Would it be as discrete so as to not tempt a break in just for the camera? Also would you be tempted to take it out and use it for other purposes and possibly not put it back for when you need it?
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      08-08-2014, 01:50 PM   #13
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GoPro is not a viable automated solution. It is larger, more visible and required manual intervention to record/stop.
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      08-08-2014, 02:30 PM   #14
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I just got the mobius, you can see my thread about it here there's video reviews there about how to use it for a dash cam

TL;DR is $80, super small, mounts hidden anywhere, super flexible - you can use it for anything. Has auto-start/stop, looping, everything you'd need for a dash cam. For the price I was skeptical but the video quality is great even in fast-switching light/dark environments.
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      08-08-2014, 02:41 PM   #15
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I'm interested in getting a dashcam as well. Any place in the Bay Area that does professional installations?
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      08-08-2014, 02:55 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony_YYZ View Post
GoPro is not a viable automated solution. It is larger, more visible and required manual intervention to record/stop.
It maybe a bit larger, but you can control it through the iDrive now with BMW apps.
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      08-08-2014, 03:52 PM   #17
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Found this on ebay, heard good things about it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271392357799...84.m1555.l2649
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      08-08-2014, 04:51 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
I just got the mobius, you can see my thread about it here there's video reviews there about how to use it for a dash cam

TL;DR is $80, super small, mounts hidden anywhere, super flexible - you can use it for anything. Has auto-start/stop, looping, everything you'd need for a dash cam. For the price I was skeptical but the video quality is great even in fast-switching light/dark environments.
The mobius is a good cam. But what you get for more money with the others are things like GPS tagging and wifi (so you can use your smart phone to aim the camera better).


Cheers.
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      08-08-2014, 05:39 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ersin View Post
The mobius is a good cam. But what you get for more money with the others are things like GPS tagging and wifi (so you can use your smart phone to aim the camera better).
Well, just an fyi, you can aim the mobius via smart phone by just plugging in a usb cable. True that it doesn't have wi-fi or GPS, but I use my smart phone for that stuff so I wasn't looking for those features in-camera. My 6D has both GPS and Wi-Fi but I found that I never use them due to battery life and not adding much.

For aiming on car mounts I usually just get the cam positioned and then plug in the usb cable for fine tuning. For recording over 1hour it needs to be plugged in anyway, though.

I was heavily considering the Sony due to its image stabilization and low-light capabilities but I've found I don't need that and the Mobius is $220 cheaper.
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      08-08-2014, 06:14 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrussGott View Post
Well, just an fyi, you can aim the mobius via smart phone by just plugging in a usb cable.
I didn't know that, thanks. I'm actually considering picking a couple of these up for the wife and kids. I'm getting a DR-550 for myself.


Cheers.
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      08-08-2014, 09:59 PM   #21
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I would like to get one, but I am already going to hardwire my V1, I am not sure how else I can hardwire another gadget onto the car.
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      08-08-2014, 10:38 PM   #22
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I would like to get one, but I am already going to hardwire my V1, I am not sure how else I can hardwire another gadget onto the car.
use the savvy for your v1, just run the cable up the a pillar - takes 2 minutes tops and is invisible (you can also get the bluetooth module which I use for trips)

Then hardwire a usb by your mirror
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