Hi all
Quick admission - been with BMW for a few years but now back in a sport

Have been toying with getting a dash cam for a while but not got around to doing anything.
Today one of my children was involved in an accident, thankfully no injuries and not their fault.
So that's made me decide i need to do something.

Anyone got any advice or views on what to get - or not

Also i would be getting it fitted professionally but would it impact on the approved warranty ?

Grateful for any input

Ive got a Thinkware 770 & its very good in my mind as it also has wifi to download info from cam to fone real easy. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

I have the Qvia AR790 in my RRS (front and rear), and am generally very pleased with it. I then had a Thinkware F770 (f&r) installed in my wife's MINI and that also has a(n updatable) speed camera database in it which is useful.

Both talk to an iPhone easily and I'd buy either again.

Ta for that
i've been looking at Blackvue and the Thinkware looks very similar but a bit larger perhaps
Didn't realise there were that many options

How does it cope parked overnight ?

hafman wrote:

I have the Qvia AR790 in my RRS (front and rear), and am generally very pleased with it. I then had a Thinkware F770 (f&r) installed in my wife's MINI and that also has a(n updatable) speed camera database in it which is useful.

Both talk to an iPhone easily and I'd buy either again.

i was doing a search on that topic myself last week.

there are a lot of write ups on here if you search Thinkware 770
seems to be the most popular and anyone with it seems very satisfied. 2007 TDV6 RRS HSE..now gone
2012 3.0 SDV6 RRS HSE

Thinkware X550 front and rear here, been superb. Great for parking mode and time lapse also  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

Anyone have any issues with over night parking or battery drain ?

Speaking with Blackvue they have a gadget that monitors the battery voltage and turns the unit off if voltage drops or there is an expensive battery pack that charges from the car or take out of car and charge from the mains, not sure how good the charging from car would be with my short journeys and auto stop/start, the guy i was speaking with even said that the battery might be a better option
Before i started looking i thought these things were pretty simple and trouble free, maybe not..........................

The Thinkware F770 has a battery monitoring feature built in to the camera, which you can set if battery drop below specific voltage camera turns itself off. Never had any issues with flat batteries with either Blackvue or Thinkware over the years. Had the F770 for at least three years now never been any problem at all

Cheers
Col

Last edited by Col on Thu Mar 07 2019 8:23pm. Edited 1 time in total

I have just this week had the BlackVue installed, 2 channel front and rear. Currently installed with the power magic pro that helps preserve the battery whilst in park mode, ie it switches the cameras off when it recognises the battery has gone below a certain level (~12V). I have it hard wired vs. using the cig’ lighter.

Tonight I’m expecting delivery of the battery pack as I would rather not risk a dead battery. Reviews seems to be very good on the battery pack and it was also suggested by the Blackvue tech support. You can use an app to view its charge level if needed also. I have that installed on Saturday and the power magic pulled out.

My SVR is currently with the dealer after only owning it for a few days for a dodgy rear washer pipe that was leaking (ON THE INSIDE) .... if they can sort that I get the car back tomorrow (Friday)

Any questions just pm me, also happy for you to call or check out my install if your local (London)

+1 for the Thinkware F770. As stated, it will turn off from parking mode if the car battery level falls below a certain value which you can set in the menu. It does give warnings of both fixed and mobile speed camera's (can get a bit wearing at times). You can choose if you want the GPS speed recording on or not depending on the weight of your right foot (I have mine on).
I fitted it myself, really quite easy; a switched live, a permanent live, and an earth all of which can be found in the fuse box under the glove box.

If I remember right the F770 also has a basic Lane Departure and Forward Collision warning system fitted which can be switched on or off as required, mine is turned off as I got fed up with all the "bing's and bong's". I also think it gave a warning at mobile speed camera location even if there was not a camera there, which as stated was annoying.

Cheers
Col

Any views on whether a dash cam install (hardwired) impacts the warranty (question in the Op)

Thinkware 770  In Spain - 2018 F Pace - Frightened away from the Sports due to crank failures
Gone - A couple of RRS, A couple of Disco's. However thinking of another Sport.

Thanks for all the above input/comments, seems there's more to this than meets the eye

@svr fan yeah the Blackvue guy is steering me towards the battery option - this adds another few hundred on the cost, which isn't too cheap to begin with BTW have you spoken with your stealer re the warranty ?
Seems a bit of a "faff" though having to probably take the battery out of the car to charge (given my short journeys )

Still undecided as Blackvue and Thinkware are very similar, more delibarations req................