Integrated Hidden Dash Cam Setup [Updated with DIY]

Pawlin · 01-21-2015, 07:18 PM

[UPDATE: Here is the DIY! http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...#post18752337]

I hate obvious dashcams and radar detectors mounted on the windshield right in your face, so I put together my very own! I went for oem styling and integrated design.

With the camera hardwired, I have 24/7 motion detection, 12 hours of 1080p at 60fps, and playback on an ipad using a camera connector kit.

Sample Clip:

Update:

Added an LED indicator on the housing to blink when the camera is recording! Since the camera is enclosed, I had no idea if it was still running or if something happened. With this blinking indicator, I can easily see from inside and outside the car when my dashcam is recording! The indicator looks very much like the blinking led from an alarm system.

This was prompted when I checked up on the camera and realized it wasn't recording due to the battery overheating. I also connected the circuit board differently so that it makes contact with the metal rear view mirror arm and uses it as a heat sink.

deeLow · 01-21-2015, 07:29 PM

Genius.

I was talking to a friend of mine about integrating a dashcam/radar detector in one last week. Even had a feature plan to go along. Damn I should get to work on one of these....

If anyone knows how to start some type of startup doing this, well let me know!!

Pawlin · 01-21-2015, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeLow

Genius.

I was talking to a friend of mine about integrating a dashcam/radar detector in one last week. Even had a feature plan to go along. Damn I should get to work on one of these....

If anyone knows how to start some type of startup doing this, well let me know!!

Funny, I showed this to a buddy and he is serious about starting something with these. If there's enough interest, I could try to put some sort of kit together.

07chupacabra · 01-21-2015, 08:03 PM

Looks great, definitely interested, even more so in a DIY. If you do end up making a kit please go with a blackvue dual channel cam.

MTTH · 01-21-2015, 09:00 PM

Make A Kit!

mump · 01-21-2015, 09:02 PM

Are u running a Power Magic? If so, what are u tapped into?

PTinVT · 01-21-2015, 09:23 PM

How on earth did you do that housing? Modify the existing one, add on to it, replace the whole thing?

xquisit · 01-22-2015, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTinVT

How on earth did you do that housing? Modify the existing one, add on to it, replace the whole thing?

+1

richard_tricky · 01-22-2015, 04:04 AM

the housing is from a car with auto main beam function. i have it.. downside is i cant install a dashcam there

jdamore · 01-22-2015, 06:38 AM

How are you connected to power and over coming the "increased battery discharge" warning if you are running 24/7?

deeLow · 01-22-2015, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawlin

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeLow

Genius.

I was talking to a friend of mine about integrating a dashcam/radar detector in one last week. Even had a feature plan to go along. Damn I should get to work on one of these....

If anyone knows how to start some type of startup doing this, well let me know!!

Funny, I showed this to a buddy and he is 100% serious about starting something with these. If there's enough interest, I could try to put some sort of kit together.

I was looking at your pics some more, do you have a radar in there as well? I couldn't tell really but it doesn't appear so.

My idea for a 2-in-1 device would be sweet but fitting that hidden in a mirror housing would be tough

blackturbo · 01-22-2015, 11:49 AM

Wow that looks amazing. Are you able to come up with a diy?

Pawlin · 01-22-2015, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07chupacabra

Looks great, definitely interested, even more so in a DIY. If you do end up making a kit please go with a blackvue dual channel cam.

I checked out the blackvue camera but the lens were integrated into the circuit board and the entire thing was too long to fit in the housing. Also, it was quite a bit more expensive than my camera ($80) which required all the features I needed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Make A Kit!

Kit or DIY, whichever one people are more interested in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mump

Are u running a Power Magic? If so, what are u tapped into?

No, I'm running just a normal hardwire kit with integrated fuse tapped into my fusebox. Many people use fuse 73 (door lock), for dashcams for it's constant on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTinVT

How on earth did you do that housing? Modify the existing one, add on to it, replace the whole thing?

It's actually an oem part for auto high beam assist, never seen it in one of our cars. If you have that feature, there's actually a camera in there. Why not just put a dashcam in there instead

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_tricky

the housing is from a car with auto main beam function. i have it.. downside is i cant install a dashcam there

You are correct! I saw people doing auto highbeam retrofits and thought that housing was perfect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdamore

How are you connected to power and over coming the "increased battery discharge" warning if you are running 24/7?

I'm tapped into the fusebox like all other constant on dashcams. I drive my car daily and the 500mA current being drawn from the camera when it's actually recording (compared to standby motion detection mode) would take weeks or months to kill my battery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeLow

I was looking at your pics some more, do you have a radar in there as well? I couldn't tell really but it doesn't appear so.

My idea for a 2-in-1 device would be sweet but fitting that hidden in a mirror housing would be tough

No I don't unfortunately, no space in there with the circuit board. I could however put an extension ribbon on the lens and move the board into the light housing. How big is the radar detector component? I know people hide them in the rear view mirrors to get a display through the glass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackturbo

Wow that looks amazing. Are you able to come up with a diy?

Still working out some kinks!

Ali-E90 · 01-22-2015, 01:49 PM

This is awesome! You say you used an $80 camera... can you share which one?

Nafy · 01-22-2015, 02:48 PM

Wow amazing acheivement! Would like to see a diy and/or a diy kit manufactured

W37V · 01-22-2015, 02:49 PM

SO MUCH WANT!!!

jdamore · 01-22-2015, 02:51 PM

Not that I don't believe you about it lasting weeks or months, but try leaving your car parked for a couple days.

I'm questioning this because I was under the impression that the battery protection circuit monitors (after 30 minutes / doors locked) mA and anything over 80mA will trigger the warning (battery dead or not). I struggled with this for a while connecting my AndroidPC.

Can you show me where you tapped into the Fuse panel? I appreciate the help!

StevenY. · 01-22-2015, 02:52 PM

This is awesome! Interested in doing this for sure.

m9bm · 01-22-2015, 05:22 PM

some cheap dashcams overheat when left in the sun all day and drop frames. it probably won't be an issue now since it's winter. make sure this doesn't happen with yours

VMRWheels · 01-22-2015, 06:01 PM

WOW that's awesome. Well done!

headhunterz · 01-22-2015, 06:43 PM

LOL i did the same thing

d1saster · 01-23-2015, 01:26 AM

What camera has been used? The cover is available for about $10

01-21-2015, 07:18 PM	#1
Pawlin First Lieutenant 62 Rep 377 Posts Drives: E92 N51 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Jose iTrader: (4)	Integrated Hidden Dash Cam Setup [Updated with DIY] [UPDATE: Here is the DIY! http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...#post18752337] I hate obvious dashcams and radar detectors mounted on the windshield right in your face, so I put together my very own! I went for oem styling and integrated design. With the camera hardwired, I have 24/7 motion detection, 12 hours of 1080p at 60fps, and playback on an ipad using a camera connector kit. Sample Clip: Update: Added an LED indicator on the housing to blink when the camera is recording! Since the camera is enclosed, I had no idea if it was still running or if something happened. With this blinking indicator, I can easily see from inside and outside the car when my dashcam is recording! The indicator looks very much like the blinking led from an alarm system. This was prompted when I checked up on the camera and realized it wasn't recording due to the battery overheating. I also connected the circuit board differently so that it makes contact with the metal rear view mirror arm and uses it as a heat sink. Last edited by Pawlin; 10-15-2015 at 04:59 PM..
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01-21-2015, 07:29 PM	#2
deeLow DOPE 160 Rep 767 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Genius. I was talking to a friend of mine about integrating a dashcam/radar detector in one last week. Even had a feature plan to go along. Damn I should get to work on one of these.... If anyone knows how to start some type of startup doing this, well let me know!!
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01-21-2015, 08:03 PM	#4
07chupacabra First Lieutenant 43 Rep 354 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Looks great, definitely interested, even more so in a DIY. If you do end up making a kit please go with a blackvue dual channel cam.
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01-21-2015, 09:00 PM	#5
MTTH Captain 237 Rep 738 Posts Drives: '11 328xi \|'18 440xi GranCoupe Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Staten Island, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00]	Make A Kit!
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01-21-2015, 09:02 PM	#6
mump First Lieutenant 37 Rep 354 Posts Drives: '11 E93 335is/'01 986S/'13 F30 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western PA iTrader: (6)	Are u running a Power Magic? If so, what are u tapped into?
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01-21-2015, 09:23 PM	#7
PTinVT armchair enthusiast 1093 Rep 1,344 Posts Drives: E31+F30+G29 = ☺ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Burlington, VT iTrader: (3)	How on earth did you do that housing? Modify the existing one, add on to it, replace the whole thing? __________________ '25 Z4 M40i 6MT Portimao/Cognac -- '18 340i xDrive M-Sport 6MT Estoril Blue 2/Dakota -- '93 850Ci 4AT Oxford Green/Parchment '71 Buick Riviera, 455 V8 3AT Land Yacht Past: E46 325Cic, E92 328xi, F06 640xi
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01-22-2015, 04:04 AM	#9
richard_tricky Private First Class 21 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wales iTrader: (0)	the housing is from a car with auto main beam function. i have it.. downside is i cant install a dashcam there
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01-22-2015, 06:38 AM	#10
jdamore Captain 439 Rep 858 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	How are you connected to power and over coming the "increased battery discharge" warning if you are running 24/7? __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 --
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01-22-2015, 11:49 AM	#12
blackturbo Captain 59 Rep 645 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: vancouver iTrader: (1)	Wow that looks amazing. Are you able to come up with a diy?
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01-22-2015, 01:49 PM	#14
Ali-E90 Colonel 392 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 323i (Cdn) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [8.00] 2007 BMW 323i [8.50]	This is awesome! You say you used an $80 camera... can you share which one? __________________ Check out my Mod Thread Here
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01-22-2015, 02:48 PM	#15
Nafy Lieutenant 51 Rep 431 Posts Drives: 11 328i sedan Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	Wow amazing acheivement! Would like to see a diy and/or a diy kit manufactured
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01-22-2015, 02:49 PM	#16
W37V [Oo=\|\|=oO] 1137 Rep 2,471 Posts Drives: e92n52 & f15n57 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: DMV iTrader: (0)	SO MUCH WANT!!!
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01-22-2015, 02:51 PM	#17
jdamore Captain 439 Rep 858 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	Not that I don't believe you about it lasting weeks or months, but try leaving your car parked for a couple days. I'm questioning this because I was under the impression that the battery protection circuit monitors (after 30 minutes / doors locked) mA and anything over 80mA will trigger the warning (battery dead or not). I struggled with this for a while connecting my AndroidPC. Can you show me where you tapped into the Fuse panel? I appreciate the help! __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 --
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01-22-2015, 02:52 PM	#18
StevenY. ///M 227 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 10' SG e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	This is awesome! Interested in doing this for sure. __________________
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01-22-2015, 05:22 PM	#19
m9bm Bad Driver 61 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335d fake M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (10)	some cheap dashcams overheat when left in the sun all day and drop frames. it probably won't be an issue now since it's winter. make sure this doesn't happen with yours __________________ 2010 Space Gray 335d
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01-22-2015, 06:01 PM	#20
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2133 Rep 25,971 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	WOW that's awesome. Well done! __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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01-22-2015, 06:43 PM	#21
headhunterz Lieutenant 59 Rep 503 Posts Drives: E92 335i M/T Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: 98230 iTrader: (4)	LOL i did the same thing
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01-23-2015, 01:26 AM	#22
d1saster Captain 60 Rep 676 Posts Drives: F15 N55 & E93 N51 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	What camera has been used? The cover is available for about $10
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