Lexus fitted Dash Cam….thoughts?

[larryadler]

I am waiting delivery of my new RX, and I am considering having dash cam fitted. I was wondering if anyone has gone down this route, and any reviews/ observations.

I know it’s quite a discreet Nextbase unit, £275 front and £375 with rear as well fitted?
is the rear cam worth the extra £100?

[Herbie]

In my personal opinion, both the camera prices and the fitting prices are way over the top.

There are many, many dashcams out there and all do the same job. Personally, I went with the Viofo A129 Duo which, as the name suggests, is a front and rear system. Very small and discreet it can be left in situ 24/7 and is hardly noticeable from outside at all.

I fitted it all myself and it's an easy job for any reasonable DIY'er. I can understand that you may not want to start dismantling a brand new car so if you don't want to DIY, just take it to a good auto-electrician or car audio specialist. There's nothing Lexus-specific about dashcams - all cams will work in all cars.

[Gliderpilot]

As Herbie says, price is way over the top. I fitted a Nextbase cam to the front and rear and it was easy. Needed the removal of some trim from the doorsills to route the rear cam but very easy. OK the rear cam cable doesn't got via the boot flexible tube but it wasn't worth the hassle, it just dangles down a bit when the boot is closed. It records both front and rear in 1080p to an SD card. The two cameras were £150 total.

[flookyk]

I have both front and back fitted by the Lexus dealer and for me it was worth it.

If it was a few years ago I would have fitted them myself but not these days.. it would have put me in bed for the next day trying.

Having one on the front only would not help if someone rear ends you so if it was me I would go for front and back.

[Tel]

I had the Dealer fit mine before delivery & they did a perfect job as you would expect.

The good news also is that  rear camera is just noticeable through the tinted glass by the drivers behind in slow moving traffic & all tend to back-off .

Tel

[Julncamp54]

I have had my Lexus dealer fit front and rear dash cams prior to delivery. Certainly in this day and age having dash cams fitted is surely a must . Can understand u not wanting to fit yourself on a brand new car as both fiddly and possibly could invalidate the warranty if something goes array.

I was fortunate as when discussing the car deal I included the request for the dash cam system so it became part of the overall car cost which had discount.

[Moleman]

13 hours ago, larryadler said:

I am waiting delivery of my new RX, and I am considering having dash cam fitted. I was wondering if anyone has gone down this route, and any reviews/ observations.

I know it’s quite a discreet Nextbase unit, £275 front and £375 with rear as well fitted?
is the rear cam worth the extra £100?

The cameras look good and operate well, would certainly have front and rear. Price is personal, if you do not want to install yourself then dealer fit is a good option. Personally I did not want the hassle of fitting myself and the risk of damage. Others may feel more confident. The dealer fit is very good.

[LenT]

13 hours ago, larryadler said:

I am waiting delivery of my new RX, and I am considering having dash cam fitted. I was wondering if anyone has gone down this route, and any reviews/ observations.

I know it’s quite a discreet Nextbase unit, £275 front and £375 with rear as well fitted?
is the rear cam worth the extra £100?

As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, we’re mainly dashcam fans around here!  Definitely go for the rear cam set up as well.  You’re just as likely to get rear-ended these days.

Nothing wrong with Nextbase - just ensure that it has a Parking Mode, so that it will record incidents with the ignition off.

Personally, as you’re already buying a new Lexus, I would get the Dealer to do the whole job.  It saves you the trouble and they are responsible for any problems.  And surely the cost is insignificant compared to the purchase of the car!

The only suggestion I would make is to replace the standard mini SD Card supplied with the largest one the system will accommodate- probably 128 GB  - and keep the supplied card as a spare.  That way, in the event of an incident, you can safely store the main card as evidence, but still have a working camera.

Meanwhile, all the best with your new Lexus. 😊

[Moleman]

55 minutes ago, LenT said:

 

The only suggestion I would make is to replace the standard mini SD Card supplied with the largest one the system will accommodate- probably 128 GB  - and keep the supplied card as a spare.  That way, in the event of an incident, you can safely store the main card as evidence, but still have a working camera.

Meanwhile, all the best with your new Lexus. 😊

Yes to a larger card but make sure it meets the required specification. These cameras are very particular about the card used especially if you have the front and rear system.

[larryadler]

A big thank you for all your replies. 
I certainly take on board Herbies comments of cost, if fitted by the dealer. I also agree with LenT, that the camera / fitting cost is minimal given the overall car costs!
There was a time when I would have a go at fitting myself, but not these days. I am well known for my DIY skills, as when the job is done, I am in profit, as I seem to have bits left over. 
I am tending to think that a professional fit by the dealer is my best option, to avoid the worry of someone else pulling my new baby to bits!
I need to confirm the actual unit that will be fitted, before I cost and make final choice, I do have until August before delivery!
from the research I have done, the Nextbase units are very good, but their App comes in for lots of complaints. On the other side, the Lexus/ Toyota App is highly commended, but don’t know if I can use that etc?
it’s a bit of a minefield, need to lay down.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated 👍

[Moleman]

17 minutes ago, larryadler said:

from the research I have done, the Nextbase units are very good, but their App comes in for lots of complaints. On the other side, the Lexus/ Toyota App is highly commended, but don’t know if I can use that etc?
it’s a bit of a minefield, need to lay down.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated 👍

In three years I have never had a problem with the next base app.

[Moleman]

2 minutes ago, Moleman said:

In three years I have never had a problem with the next base app.

I use the one called Cam Viewer.