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dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:20 pm
by superlightr
Before I get a dash cam for mr RS6 due next week, has anyone had any issues with the RS6's sensors that are fitted to the car and installing a dash cam - Im concerned that having a dash cam behind the rear view mirror will obstruct the sensors for the matrix lights?
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:23 pm
by drgav2005
Yep, interested in this too. One issue I'd heard was that it could possibly interfere with DAB radio reception.
Which dash cam are you thinking about getting?
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:39 pm
by John@mk
I do belive that Ross runs a dash cam on his RS4 hopefully he can give us some more info.
Which dash cams were you going for - front or front and rear ?
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:49 pm
by superlightr
John@mk wrote:I do belive that Ross runs a dash cam on his RS4 hopefully he can give us some more info.
Which dash cams were you going for - front or front and rear ?
that's another headache to decide on that as well !!! K1S is an option for a front and rear cam or a Transcend 220 for just the front or Nextbase 512g front.. Not so keen on all the wires for the K1S and wife for the gps. Transcend just seems easier and simpler to set up and go. Keen to buy via Halfords as get a discount and also somewhere to return the item if it stop working ! although K1S would be via amazon etc.
I use an old roadhawk in another car which is behind the mirror but fancy a new toy to go with the RS6 but thought about the matrix lights and their sensors.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:45 am
by scottie1979
im using a mini 0806. Small as it is, as you say it cant sit behind the left (passenger side) rear view mirror as there is a sensor right there. I have just located a little further left. means you can still see the screen to adjust the setting if required but out of your immediate fov
It is easy to run the cable around the door frame in the rubber seal then into the 12v socket in the center console.
but if you go for one of the bigger models then it becomes more problematic to position - hence why i went for the smallest i could find with decent reviews and GPS
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2015/7/5/t ... 3#comments
I got it from the below rather than ebay so i at least have a solution if there are reliability issues.
https://www.accidentcameras.co.uk
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:09 am
by Eddie555
As ex car alarm and multi media installer can I just remind everyone that there is a side airbag curtain that runs from the bottom of the A post all the way up and over the length of the side of the roof. I just need to make everyone aware that all cables/wiring must run BEHIND the airbag as any thing in front of the airbag will cause it to not work properly in the event of an accident. Im not saying anyone is stupid but I feel like I just need to remind people.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:09 pm
by HF25
I have also looked into this, but much like Eddie555 says the issues with wiring and positioning have put me off a DIY job, would want all the wiring properly positioned and then hardwired into the electrics. I am surprised this isn't something that the manufacturers have picked up on to build into the vehicles and offer as an option, would be a much neater and more discreet fit than the aftermarket fits. Probably just a matter of time I guess. Does anyone have any pictures of the fit in their cars? Cheers.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:20 pm
by superlightr
Went for a Transcend 220. Halfords doing a deal + 10% off British cycling org card. £95 total. Wiring easy to do - its just to the left of the rear view mirror so not to interfere with any sensors. Will get a pic up later.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 3:49 pm
by Bamf
I haven't got any experience with in car cameras and integrating them into the car, but has anyone gone down the route of seeing of the front and rear view cameras used on the parking assist can be coded to record whilst on the move using the built in hard drive or an external hard drive to record to.
I might be talking total bolloks. if so please ignore me and carry on.

Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 4:52 pm
by wildbore
Bamf wrote:I haven't got any experience with in car cameras and integrating them into the car, but has anyone gone down the route of seeing of the front and rear view cameras used on the parking assist can be coded to record whilst on the move using the built in hard drive or an external hard drive to record to.
I might be talking total bolloks. if so please ignore me and carry on.

It's not bolloks - it seems like a great idea to me, but it would be something that Audi would need to engineer in, it isn't going to be a simple VCDS fix. I suspect that the issue here will be one of liability since footage recorded by a camera would then (inevitably) be used in a legal dispute and might be used in a court of law. What if the write-to-disk failed? What if the camera image was too poor to read the plate? The owner would probably hold Audi responsible; that would be enough to discourage most manufacturers from offering such a facility. People seem to accept a system failure of a £300 piece of kit bought from eBay (and made in Korea or china) without demur but they will kick up merry hell if the same tech fails them in a £80K car.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 5:28 pm
by Bamf
good point regarding the possible legal implications.
I'd imagine the easiest solution/money spinner from a car manufacturers perspective would be to provide the option of having the required standard of cable needed for the cameras fitted as a factory option. Then a recommended third party specialist to install post purchase. Dash cameras are becoming quite a common thing to have so i suppose its only a matter of time the manufacturers offer something.
it's an interesting thread though and a good point of reference for future use. I'm interested to see how superlight and other members get on with their installs and how they work around the issues. It sounds like eddie might have a few handy pointers too, with his background in alarms and multi media. Always good to learn a few tricks of the trade, can save a lot of time finding out the hard way.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:21 pm
by Bit_evl
I am certain that none of us would consider breaching any of the laws of the road. So the possible concern around having it all perfectly documented on the system does not raise a concern. Police already obtain your phone information to see if you were on a call during the period around an accident.
Should I have a camera for protection I would prefer to be able to manage it. I certainly think it is good to have one these days considering a lot of people on the road have clearly been unable to read the specsavers ad's and help themselves.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:11 pm
by MikeFish
It's a great idea but I imagine the image quality of the built in cameras will not be a patch on a decent dedicated camera. You can bet your bottom dollar the front facing camera that is designed to detect if a headlight is coming towards you or you are following a taillight is not going to be HD. And the reverse camera is designed to work with the reverse lights on in low light conditions, so if recording at night without the reverse lights on (i.e. when driving normally or parked) then the low light level will make the picture quality low. One of the best things about thedecent dash cams is their ability to record decent quality video in low light.
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:28 pm
by koruki
Sort of related question but how do we know if we have the Matrix lights, I have the 2015 Facelift and there isn't an option to add matrix on the spec sheet, nor does it mention if it already comes with it by default.
http://www.audi.co.nz/content/dam/ngw/n ... 202015.pdf
Re: dash cam behind the rear view mirror?
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 11:18 pm
by MartayMcFly
koruki wrote:Sort of related question but how do we know if we have the Matrix lights, I have the 2015 Facelift and there isn't an option to add matrix on the spec sheet, nor does it mention if it already comes with it by default.
http://www.audi.co.nz/content/dam/ngw/n ... 202015.pdf
The facelifts all have matrix lights