[Seaford]

hi, I am four months into my 328 GT M Sport with all the toys and loving it - although only 1400 miles on the clock - that wil change when I retire at the end of April!

I am now looking at a dash cam to hopefully help protect my investment if the worst happens - a very scary near miss from a car on the wrong side of the road last week focussed the mind somewhat!

The hard wired route is where I want to go; having had a poke around it seems that there are two fuse boxes - one in the boot and the other under the bonnet. So my question is - how easy is it to gain access to that under the bonnet for a plug and play fitment?

Having had a think about it I guess I could probably cut into the rear mirror wiring but I am not keen on messing around with the electrics.

Also are there any spare fuse locations in the fuse box that are permanently live rather than switched by the ignition?

Any thoughts/practical experience welcome.

[dmw8]

Hi,

Im looking into hard wiring mine as its just plugged into the power socket in the passenger foot well at the moment. The car switches this off after about 10 min so its no good for when the cars parked.
Fuse 161 in the boot fusebox I believe is an unswitched 12v. I'm planning on using this with a multi-safer box which will turn the camera off after a specified time or when the battery voltage begins to drop so to avoid the
camera draining the battery if left parked for long periods.

[liveevil]

I am using the bmw advance eye care, installed by the dealer. The cam continues to be on standby for 6 hours after the engine is turned off or till it hits a minimum voltage that still allows the car to start. Video quality is good too

[Seaford]

Anyone actually hard wired an aftermarket dash cam into an f34 since this thread was started? I ask as I went to Halfords last week to get them to fit one - I assumed it would be straightforward but they gave up after about 45 minutes.

I see there is a fuse box under the bonnet - is there any easy way of getting the cable from the cabin through to this?

Also I believe the auxiliary power socket in the console remains 'live' for a few minutes after the ignition is switched off - having removed various bits of trim we still couldn't get to the wiring harness

Any help appreciated.........

[2JPW]

I'm not sure, but would it be too far away from this:

I'm going to be trying similar in my 4 series coupe later this week!

[Billfitz]

Unless I had the necessity of having the camera running 24/7 I'd plug it into the outlet down by the glove box.

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Unless I had the necessity of having the camera running 24/7 I'd plug it into the outlet down by the glove box.

Didn't realise there was one, I'll have a dig around and see if I do!

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by Andybird

Didn't realise there was one, I'll have a dig around and see if I do!

I don't......

[Billfitz]

Get down on the floor on the front passenger side, look up towards the center console to the side of the glove box door.

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Get down on the floor on the front passenger side, look up towards the center console to the side of the glove box door.

Thank you, now located! I had expected there to be some kind of cover or insert rather than just a hole, but I guess that is bmw build quality for you....

[Billfitz]

Well, it is (obviously) out of sight.

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Well, it is (obviously) out of sight.

So are my pants but a certain standard is expected!



Ps for the Americans on her, 'pants' in the uk is what I think you would know as 'jockeus'