Awesome. Am so thankful to you for this video. Had been searching the TH-cam for Bmw dashcam fittings and only you came out with the right video. Deeply appreciate your time spent for people like us. With perfect clarity in video and audio. Thank you loads.
Great detailed video, thanks for taking the time to create a detailed step by step video to make hardwiring with backup battery in a BMW easy to take on and complete. Will now be installing the same in my BMW 428i GC.
Thank you for this Farkle, it has been amazing help. I am installing a viofo a129 pro on my m2 comp and connecting it to a cellink. I am almost done, just have to connect the battery now. So far this video has been amazing however I was not able to snake the cable of the rear cam over that bend next to the seatbelt, the damn thing would not budge. I decided to run it back towards the window and then up the left side of the window and has worked great that way as well. Again, thanks for this, I probably would have not attempted this had I not had this video, it is a proper tutorial!
Yeah that area is a bit tricky figuring out where the supports/things blocking it behind that panel are. Glad you got it done! A129 is a really nice system for its price bracket.
@@FaRKle0079 That is good to know, I saw that you installed the Viofo on another car. Definitely seems like the best camera for the price. I considered a thinkware but I think its too nice for what I need/my budget is already blown after buying the cellink haha
Did you find the fuse selection worked as expected with only charging the external battery when the engine is running? Does the external battery remain at the correct temperature in the location you placed it under the boot liner? Will be installing my dash cam next week and want to double check these two items, thanks for your help.
@@sheffster5445 mine has been running perfectly for 7 months now. Fuse selection is good and the place the battery has been has kept the battery cool enough to operate (we did not have a super hot summer but tested it at the end of summer and never tan into problems. Good luck on your installation
Thank you for the detailed instructions on running wires on the floor. I believe this is the correct way of not impeding the air bags. However, the way how you run wire in A pillar is questionable. Ideally you would want to remove the air bag cover and run the wire behind the air bags
based on the instructions that come with the battery the orientation of the fuse extender plug matters. Seems if it's the wrong way around the battery runs on the car fuse - together with whatever else is running on that. How do you figure out the correct orientation? Also it says to use a 10Amp fuse port in the car. The battery itself uses then a 20Amp fuse.
Great install. I may purchase a G42 (2025 M240i soon) - and with that, I saw an install tutorial that showed a fuse box panel under the passenger footwell area, is this not the case? Thanks.
Yes, G-chassis cars have a passenger footwell fuse panel that you can use for dashcam. You can see this in my G26 i4 dashcam install video: th-cam.com/video/S91GnDxl884/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUaYm13IGcyNiBpNCBkYXNoY2FtIGluc3RhbGw%3D
@@FaRKle0079 Super helpful video and got everything installed., thank you. I used the front fuse box, though having to lay upside down with a flashlight in my teeth may not have been the best option.
@@ariasdesignsI used the fused box in the passenger footwell. It’s kinda up beside the glove box. You’ll need to pull the carpet down to see it. There maybe a way to hookup in the engine bay but I don’t know how.
@FaRKle0079 I'm in the middle of my install of a thinkware U1000 as well with Thinkware iVolt Mini battery, now and the only issue I ran into is that when plugged into fuse 145 with two 15A fuses, it powers on the camera with ignition/engine on but the camera does not go into parking mode when ignition/engine goes off and I do not understand why since I do have parking mode enabled on my U1000. Any ideas?
@@mik3ss735 does the hardwire from the ivolt mini to the camera have all 3 wires (acc, pwr, and grnd)? I seem to recall a Thinkware battery model that needed to have separate acc and pwr signals direct to it from the fuse panel. Double check the instructions it doesn't need a second fuse tap to tell the battery when it should be parking mode.
@FaRKle0079 yes it does have all 3 wires and as a matter of fact because I even extended the wiring by soldering some in indeed. Instructions for iVolt Mini do not mention it needing another fuse to tell the battery when to go into parking mode since the battery and as most of the they're supposed to do that themselves. I even went as far as hooking up my first cellink B battery that I've used previously with my U1000 and f800 or 750 to check if parking mode works with it but the problem there is different, it would not power the camera at all (which my guess is it was completely dead, light was lit indicating charging and I was doing all that in garage with engine running but the car hasn't been driven yet. The only thing I can think of is I hooked up to 15A fuse (deceived by the supplied 20A fuses) and then read on ivolt thinkware install guide that the fuse should be 10A or less, I wonder if that somehow fried the battery or damaged it. I'm a bit clueless now. Thank you so much for quick reply.
@@FaRKle0079also the wiring they provided for the ivolt mini had only a ground with the ring terminal and the ACC power that you add the add-a-fuse holder to.
Thanks for producing an excellent video. I have occasionally considered a dash cam but never got around to researching the installation. Now nothing is holding me back! Have you done anything that describes your process for choosing a particular dash cam?
Very good video. QUESTION: Sometimes my car (BMW 850) is stationary in my garage for several days or even up to two weeks. Even an external battery will run out during this time. Is it possible to connect the external battery to a power outlet in order to preserve the integrity of the Dashcam during this time? Thank you...
You have a couple of options for your scenario. The most "hands off," but expensive method is to double/triple up on external battery packs. Products like the cellink neo extended battery pack (www.blackboxmycar.com/products/cellink-neo-extended-battery-pack ) let you daisy chain additional batteries for longer life. Additionally, you can do what you envisioned by plugging the battery into your home power source. You'll need an inverter to cigar lighter adapter though (like this: www.blackboxmycar.com/collections/battery-packs/products/blackboxmycar-power-inverter ). For me personally, I just let my battery backup run out of power. I'm not too worried about it since the car is in my garage, and it doesn't harm the dashcam at all.
@@FaRKle0079 A good thank you for your response. To clarify, my car is not parked in a private garage ... but rather in a garage of a complex of 180 condos. I will look into the inverter. BTW, your links send me to a 'Page Not Found'.
@@italianskygod111 Ah, not a private garage changes things! For the links, it looks like TH-cam added the end-parentheses to the link. I fixed the links so they should work for you now.
@@FaRKle0079 I have an M4 and I tried to instal my blackvue today, but on the rear window of my car, when running it through the edges of the window, I can’t get my wire between the window and the panel, it just seems as if there’s not enough space and I’m stuck, not sure what to do..
@@FaRKle0079 the rear passenger window, not the after the B pillar, I just can’t get the wires tucked away there. I do have a trim/pry tool, I have a whole set of them, it might be because of an extended leather package? It seems so tight there, there is just no room for the wire to be tucked
It shouldn't unless you specifically mess something up horribly because of it (and then it'd only apply to what you messed up). Using add-a-fuses is pretty low risk. Just have to make sure the fuse you tap into is one rated for a decent amount of amps (>5-10).
Btw have another doubt. Are all the fittings similar in Bmw. As am buying the M630 I (2021 model) right hand. Also how was the camera review. Cuz of you I have too decide for the same camera.
Hi FaRKle0079, in this video you are running the wire by tucking it in on top of a-pillar, IMHO that would place the wire over the air bag, don't you have to remove the a-pillar to run the wire behind the airbag?
Awesome. Am so thankful to you for this video. Had been searching the TH-cam for Bmw dashcam fittings and only you came out with the right video. Deeply appreciate your time spent for people like us. With perfect clarity in video and audio. Thank you loads.
Great detailed video, thanks for taking the time to create a detailed step by step video to make hardwiring with backup battery in a BMW easy to take on and complete. Will now be installing the same in my BMW 428i GC.
Thank you for this Farkle, it has been amazing help. I am installing a viofo a129 pro on my m2 comp and connecting it to a cellink. I am almost done, just have to connect the battery now. So far this video has been amazing however I was not able to snake the cable of the rear cam over that bend next to the seatbelt, the damn thing would not budge. I decided to run it back towards the window and then up the left side of the window and has worked great that way as well. Again, thanks for this, I probably would have not attempted this had I not had this video, it is a proper tutorial!
Yeah that area is a bit tricky figuring out where the supports/things blocking it behind that panel are. Glad you got it done! A129 is a really nice system for its price bracket.
@@FaRKle0079 That is good to know, I saw that you installed the Viofo on another car. Definitely seems like the best camera for the price. I considered a thinkware but I think its too nice for what I need/my budget is already blown after buying the cellink haha
Did you find the fuse selection worked as expected with only charging the external battery when the engine is running?
Does the external battery remain at the correct temperature in the location you placed it under the boot liner?
Will be installing my dash cam next week and want to double check these two items, thanks for your help.
@@sheffster5445 mine has been running perfectly for 7 months now. Fuse selection is good and the place the battery has been has kept the battery cool enough to operate (we did not have a super hot summer but tested it at the end of summer and never tan into problems. Good luck on your installation
@@oficina_moomoo thank you for confirming, that is super helpful, always worry when electrics are involved.
Amazing that you have to route the wires all the way to the trunk. Thanks for showing us how!
Awesome. Deeply appreciate you for producing this video. With so much of clarity. Thank you loads.
excellent video
Exactly what I was looking for!
Thank you for the detailed instructions on running wires on the floor. I believe this is the correct way of not impeding the air bags. However, the way how you run wire in A pillar is questionable. Ideally you would want to remove the air bag cover and run the wire behind the air bags
Thanks for the great video.
This video is really great !!! It is really very helpful to me put the dash cam in my F22 220!!
Hi, any idea, sugestión how to install BMW Advance Car Eye 3.0 Pro in an M2 Competition.
based on the instructions that come with the battery the orientation of the fuse extender plug matters. Seems if it's the wrong way around the battery runs on the car fuse - together with whatever else is running on that. How do you figure out the correct orientation? Also it says to use a 10Amp fuse port in the car. The battery itself uses then a 20Amp fuse.
this video is gold! thank you so much
Great Video, but did you not put the cable over the airbag when pushing it into the seam on the A pillar?
It was routed over the airbag going out towards the door jamb.
Great install.
I may purchase a G42 (2025 M240i soon) - and with that, I saw an install tutorial that showed a fuse box panel under the passenger footwell area, is this not the case?
Thanks.
Yes, G-chassis cars have a passenger footwell fuse panel that you can use for dashcam. You can see this in my G26 i4 dashcam install video: th-cam.com/video/S91GnDxl884/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUaYm13IGcyNiBpNCBkYXNoY2FtIGluc3RhbGw%3D
Perfect video. I just bought the dash camera and have the same series car 😂😂😂 it might only be a 230i bust same series
Yup, should be the same for you!
@@FaRKle0079 Super helpful video and got everything installed., thank you. I used the front fuse box, though having to lay upside down with a flashlight in my teeth may not have been the best option.
@@BobTweeterShow Hey! Im also trying to install a dashcam. How did you run the wires from the engine bay to the cabin?
@@ariasdesignsI used the fused box in the passenger footwell. It’s kinda up beside the glove box. You’ll need to pull the carpet down to see it. There maybe a way to hookup in the engine bay but I don’t know how.
@@BobTweeterShow Didn't know there was a fuse box in that location. Will give it a try. Thanks!
@FaRKle0079 I'm in the middle of my install of a thinkware U1000 as well with Thinkware iVolt Mini battery, now and the only issue I ran into is that when plugged into fuse 145 with two 15A fuses, it powers on the camera with ignition/engine on but the camera does not go into parking mode when ignition/engine goes off and I do not understand why since I do have parking mode enabled on my U1000. Any ideas?
@@mik3ss735 does the hardwire from the ivolt mini to the camera have all 3 wires (acc, pwr, and grnd)?
I seem to recall a Thinkware battery model that needed to have separate acc and pwr signals direct to it from the fuse panel. Double check the instructions it doesn't need a second fuse tap to tell the battery when it should be parking mode.
@FaRKle0079 yes it does have all 3 wires and as a matter of fact because I even extended the wiring by soldering some in indeed. Instructions for iVolt Mini do not mention it needing another fuse to tell the battery when to go into parking mode since the battery and as most of the they're supposed to do that themselves. I even went as far as hooking up my first cellink B battery that I've used previously with my U1000 and f800 or 750 to check if parking mode works with it but the problem there is different, it would not power the camera at all (which my guess is it was completely dead, light was lit indicating charging and I was doing all that in garage with engine running but the car hasn't been driven yet. The only thing I can think of is I hooked up to 15A fuse (deceived by the supplied 20A fuses) and then read on ivolt thinkware install guide that the fuse should be 10A or less, I wonder if that somehow fried the battery or damaged it. I'm a bit clueless now. Thank you so much for quick reply.
@@FaRKle0079also the wiring they provided for the ivolt mini had only a ground with the ring terminal and the ACC power that you add the add-a-fuse holder to.
Nice video. Q: Did you test for which is the hot side of the fuse before adding the piggy back fuse holder?
I don't think a dash cam should be "covert" or discrete. So long as it doesn't hinder driver visibility a dash cam can be considered a deterrent.
Thanks for producing an excellent video. I have occasionally considered a dash cam but never got around to researching the installation. Now nothing is holding me back!
Have you done anything that describes your process for choosing a particular dash cam?
Very good video. QUESTION: Sometimes my car (BMW 850) is stationary in my garage for several days or even up to two weeks. Even an external battery will run out during this time. Is it possible to connect the external battery to a power outlet in order to preserve the integrity of the Dashcam during this time? Thank you...
You have a couple of options for your scenario. The most "hands off," but expensive method is to double/triple up on external battery packs. Products like the cellink neo extended battery pack (www.blackboxmycar.com/products/cellink-neo-extended-battery-pack ) let you daisy chain additional batteries for longer life.
Additionally, you can do what you envisioned by plugging the battery into your home power source. You'll need an inverter to cigar lighter adapter though (like this: www.blackboxmycar.com/collections/battery-packs/products/blackboxmycar-power-inverter ).
For me personally, I just let my battery backup run out of power. I'm not too worried about it since the car is in my garage, and it doesn't harm the dashcam at all.
@@FaRKle0079 A good thank you for your response. To clarify, my car is not parked in a private garage ... but rather in a garage of a complex of 180 condos. I will look into the inverter. BTW, your links send me to a 'Page Not Found'.
@@italianskygod111 Ah, not a private garage changes things!
For the links, it looks like TH-cam added the end-parentheses to the link. I fixed the links so they should work for you now.
@@FaRKle0079 Yeah... it's a private garage shared with many co-owners :). Thanks for the fix. Got it now.
Why not run the wires through the top/side of the car? Running it through the floor requires removal of a lot more items?
To get to the fuse box I don't think going through the top is that much different than the bottom. No issue with wanting to go a different path.
@@FaRKle0079 I have an M4 and I tried to instal my blackvue today, but on the rear window of my car, when running it through the edges of the window, I can’t get my wire between the window and the panel, it just seems as if there’s not enough space and I’m stuck, not sure what to do..
@@rishabhsharma4079 The rear side window or rear facing window? Do you have a trim/pry tool?
@@FaRKle0079 the rear passenger window, not the after the B pillar, I just can’t get the wires tucked away there. I do have a trim/pry tool, I have a whole set of them, it might be because of an extended leather package? It seems so tight there, there is just no room for the wire to be tucked
Hi Farkle, will tinkering with the fuse box void BMW warranty?
It shouldn't unless you specifically mess something up horribly because of it (and then it'd only apply to what you messed up). Using add-a-fuses is pretty low risk. Just have to make sure the fuse you tap into is one rated for a decent amount of amps (>5-10).
Btw have another doubt. Are all the fittings similar in Bmw. As am buying the M630 I (2021 model) right hand. Also how was the camera review. Cuz of you I have too decide for the same camera.
M630? As in a 6-series GT?
Hi FaRKle0079, in this video you are running the wire by tucking it in on top of a-pillar, IMHO that would place the wire over the air bag, don't you have to remove the a-pillar to run the wire behind the airbag?
Airbags have enough force for the wire to not be an issue if routed over. You can pull the A pillar trim to route over if you like.
@@FaRKle0079 Thank you
This camera is terrible I have one on my car always issues, apps never work well. I would recommend buy a different brand