Fitting dash cams

[JonathanRyan]

Yes, I know there have been a couple of threads about dash cams....

Anyway, I want to fit a dash cam to my Smart car. Because I'm terrible at doing anything in cars (srsly, it would all end up in a ball of duct tape) and I want it to work, I'm llooking at fitting servcies. It seems they start at about £99 and really cost about £150. Has anybody used one they are happy with? Any recommendations?

Also, Halfords charge £30. I'm assuming they subsidise that by ripping you off on the camera but I've been looking at a Blackvue and Halfords prices for their kit are actually cheaper. Should I just go to Halfords and get them to do it?

Oh, one more question.....could I (don't laugh if you've never driven one) fit one that's also a reversing camera to a Smart? Most of them use massive mirrors which may not avtually fit the car.

 

[Steep]

Of course you can fit (have fitted) a reversing camera, mine feeds to a 4.3" display sitting on the dashboard. It's only ever used for checking there's no obstructions and for the last few inches of travel when reversing though, never use it instead of the mirrors.

If you're going to Halfords, get the Nexbase 402G dashcam, it's half the price of some roadhawks and will do the job just as well.

 

[Harriers9]

If you do get a Nextbase be aware that it will only work from the supplied cigar lighter adapter and not via USB.

I found out when I tried to use it with my USB only car and couldn't get it to work. Took it back to Halfords thinking it wasn't working and then found the replacement wasn't either.
I contacted Nextbase and they said that Halfords should have known the problem and pointed it out to me that I would need a USB driven cigar lighter thing that fits into the cup holder.

As for paying them to fit it. Why? It's an easy job once you have the correct connection system. Just thread/poke/hide the cable all the way from your connection to where the camera is.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Of course you can fit (have fitted) a reversing camera, mine feeds to a 4.3" display sitting on the dashboard. It's only ever used for checking there's no obstructions and for the last few inches of travel when reversing though, never use it instead of the mirrors.

If you're going to Halfords, get the Nexbase 402G dashcam, it's half the price of some roadhawks and will do the job just as well.

Thanks. The Nexbase looks pretty big. I'm anxious to avoid adding something that I either need to put away every time I park the car or that might get my vehicle broken into to steal. I think ultimately this means I would choose one without a screen so it can be mounted more discretely. Of course that means it can't be used for reversing.

It also looks like it won't work when the vehicle is unattended. My friends in insurance tell me that's a really useful feature.

As for paying them to fit it. Why? It's an easy job once you have the correct connection system. Just thread/poke/hide the cable all the way from your connection to where the camera is.

Because I know my limitations I'm quite happy to have a go at any amount of DIY jobs but the 2 things I stay away from are major bits of plumbing (anything that needs flames) and anything to do with cars. i can change a tyre etc but I'm quite happy to pay somebody to do a neat and tidy job for me.