Dashcam Recommendations

[DarkKnight]

Hi, I was looking to buy a front/rear dashcam for the Lexus IS and was wondering what are some good products that can be fitted seamlessly into the lexus without noticing the wiring?

Which dashcams would you recommend?

[IS300FSPORT]

Blackvue 2CH dashcam, highly recommend it. Looks stealth  unlikely to attract theifs reducing chances of a break in & can be hardwired to having parking mode. 

Had mine for 5-6 years not a single issue been very reliable. & we have it in a few other cars within the family. Fitted just behind the mirror with a sticky gel pad supplied with the kit out of the box.

Example.

https://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams/blackvue-dr590x-2ch-front%2Frear-dash-cam-with-32gb-microsd-card-461702.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=iaixxlmit&istBid=t&&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17253794308|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:9450517387123089780|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9046656&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvfJb7rlV1ANQ61l4RwBwVIuXPavIS1XHHA9NzegOiHS8gHC1NqhXCRoC-3gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[LenT]

I’ve had BlackVues almost since they were launched and can endorse AI’s recommendation - and for much the same reasons. But much depends on how much you’re prepared to spend.

Placed between the screen and the rear view mirror and they are very hard to spot.  Which means chummy will unknowingly activate the proximity sensor while giving your motor the once over.

They don’t have a built-in screen but will connect to a smart phone and will do so even when you’re not in the car eg when sitting in a restaurant with the car in the car park!

This also means they should be hardwired so that they can be activated with the ignition off.  Some models now have a voltage control facility built-in, but for other models, the Power Magic Pro does the job.

https://blackvue.co.uk/products/power-magic-pro/

How good the wiring in is rather depends on who’s doing it.  A good auto electrician would be my choice of installer.  My other recommendations would be to go for a two camera setup and buy - as an extra - the biggest SD Card the system will take and keep the smaller supplied card as an emergency spare.  So if possible you can swap it for the main card in the event of an emergency, thus preserving the evidence at the time.

Finally, as with all such systems,  it’s recommended to reformat the card every few weeks, depending on usage and capacity.  This is because constant rewriting tends to introduce errors into the recording.

Incidentally, it’s surprising how satisfying it is knowing that the moron in front who nearly caused an accident has been caught in the act - and equally how knowing that improves your own driving as well!

[In_a_state]

Been using the 70mai from Xiaomi on all my cars, hidden in front of the mirror. 

[DarkKnight]

On 6/7/2024 at 12:54 AM, IS300FSPORT said:

Blackvue 2CH Dashcam, highly recommend it. Looks stealth  unlikely to attract theifs reducing chances of a break in & can be hardwired to having parking mode. 

Had mine for 5-6 years not a single issue been very reliable. & we have it in a few other cars within the family. Fitted just behind the mirror with a sticky gel pad supplied with the kit out of the box.

Example.

https://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams/blackvue-dr590x-2ch-front%2Frear-dash-cam-with-32gb-microsd-card-461702.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=iaixxlmit&istBid=t&&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17253794308|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:9450517387123089780|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9046656&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvfJb7rlV1ANQ61l4RwBwVIuXPavIS1XHHA9NzegOiHS8gHC1NqhXCRoC-3gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

18 hours ago, LenT said:

I’ve had BlackVues almost since they were launched and can endorse AI’s recommendation - and for much the same reasons. But much depends on how much you’re prepared to spend.

Placed between the screen and the rear view mirror and they are very hard to spot.  Which means chummy will unknowingly activate the proximity sensor while giving your motor the once over.

They don’t have a built-in screen but will connect to a smart phone and will do so even when you’re not in the car eg when sitting in a restaurant with the car in the car park!

This also means they should be hardwired so that they can be activated with the ignition off.  Some models now have a voltage control facility built-in, but for other models, the Power Magic Pro does the job.

https://blackvue.co.uk/products/power-magic-pro/

How good the wiring in is rather depends on who’s doing it.  A good auto electrician would be my choice of installer.  My other recommendations would be to go for a two camera setup and buy - as an extra - the biggest SD Card the system will take and keep the smaller supplied card as an emergency spare.  So if possible you can swap it for the main card in the event of an emergency, thus preserving the evidence at the time.

Finally, as with all such systems,  it’s recommended to reformat the card every few weeks, depending on usage and capacity.  This is because constant rewriting tends to introduce errors into the recording.

Incidentally, it’s surprising how satisfying it is knowing that the moron in front who nearly caused an accident has been caught in the act - and equally how knowing that improves your own driving as well!

Thank you both for your replies.

I will look into BlackVues, but they do seem a bit pricey.

I was looking at the VIOFO A129 with dual cameras, would that be a good option? Can see it has good reviews. 

14 hours ago, In_a_state said:

Been using the 70mai from Xiaomi on all my cars, hidden in front of the mirror. 

How are you finding this dashcam? And did you get it fitted professionally?

[DavidCM]

I bought the Viofo dual camera a couple of years ago and it has performed faultlessly ever since.Other members are similarly satisfied.

I eve managed to hardwire it myself, surprisingly,as Frank Spencer was modelled only DIY skills.The kit included a voltage regulator to prevent excessive drain on the 12v Battery.

It has not been used "in anger" yet,apart from reporting to the Police, Stevie Wonder driving a bus out of a side road in front of me.

Viofo are good to deal with.the UK agent was helpful

[LenT]

1 hour ago, DarkKnight said:

I will look into BlackVues, but they do seem a bit pricey.

They are!  They’re in a group that includes such as Nextbase, Road Angel, Thinkware and others that are all more than the Chinese-made systems you can get for around £50.

And there’s many owners here who will tell you that those systems are just as good and they’re very happy with them.

With most items, my attitude is to buy the best that I can afford rather than the cheapest.  Fortunately, I can afford BlackVue - and as I say they were one of leaders in the field when launched so I’ve simply found it easier to stay with the brand.

 But in considering its cost I also assess its value to me.  Before I had the Lexus, I had a Honda Accord - or I did until an HGV wrote it off on a motorway.  The other driver’s Insurers were disputing the claim until I was able to extract the relevant files from the BV - which clearly showed the HGV undertaking, then pulling back and out into my lane, hitting the rear wheel.

Within days the claim was settled in full without further comment.  The difference meant that that one claim alone paid for the camera setup many times over.  And also paid for the Lexus!

Now of course a cheaper unit might have been just as effective.  But what I invested in was the confidence that when it came to the crunch the BV could be relied upon to deliver high quality, dual camera evidence.

In my case, the initial cost was insignificant compared to the potential loss.

[Normski]

I bought this for my Dad's UX - works brilliantly! The quality is superb and the app is excellent to use. I also bought the hard-wire kit for it at the same time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CL68VNVR?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k1_1_7&amp=&crid=KFLEODEMPU0Z&amp=&sprefix=dashcam

I also had the Blackvue (single channel) in her RX. Loved the stealth look. Quality of video has come leaps and bounds since then but the costs have too... 

[DarkKnight]

21 hours ago, LenT said:

They are!  They’re in a group that includes such as Nextbase, Road Angel, Thinkware and others that are all more than the Chinese-made systems you can get for around £50.

And there’s many owners here who will tell you that those systems are just as good and they’re very happy with them.

With most items, my attitude is to buy the best that I can afford rather than the cheapest.  Fortunately, I can afford BlackVue - and as I say they were one of leaders in the field when launched so I’ve simply found it easier to stay with the brand.

 But in considering its cost I also assess its value to me.  Before I had the Lexus, I had a Honda Accord - or I did until an HGV wrote it off on a motorway.  The other driver’s Insurers were disputing the claim until I was able to extract the relevant files from the BV - which clearly showed the HGV undertaking, then pulling back and out into my lane, hitting the rear wheel.

Within days the claim was settled in full without further comment.  The difference meant that that one claim alone paid for the camera setup many times over.  And also paid for the Lexus!

Now of course a cheaper unit might have been just as effective.  But what I invested in was the confidence that when it came to the crunch the BV could be relied upon to deliver high quality, dual camera evidence.

In my case, the initial cost was insignificant compared to the potential loss.

Thank you, you are right, you might be convincing me to get BlackVue!

Did you install/hardwire it yourself? I am not too confident on doing it myself and so was looking at Halfords, but they are expensive (£80 for installation).

Also for app/cloud connectivity do you need to be close to home with WiFi or get one of those 4G car routers?

I came across some in Halfords that I would like your opinions on please:

There are 2 Nextbase ones (Option 1, Option 2) which seem slightly less expensive, but not sure if it is a step down from the BlackVue's?

There is also a Road Angel (Option 3) which seems okay for the price, again not sure what its missing?

Finally the BlackVue ones are more pricier but came across these 2 products: Option 4 & Option 5.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

[In_a_state]

On 6/8/2024 at 11:15 AM, DarkKnight said:

How are you finding this dashcam? And did you get it fitted professionally?

Very reliable and decent footage. Haven't had any issues with any of the 3 I've had so far. 

But I do have an issue with the software, no downloaded footage ever had sound, submitted a bug report but no success. 

Mounted it myself, for the Lexus I didn't connect it directly to the fuses as the lid at the driver's legs wouldn't fit anymore. 

I've routed the cable around the passanger side into the console into the USB ports. 

[IS300FSPORT]

To install a dashcam it is fairly straightforward look on youtube for a guide. Worth buying a 12v socket extension of Amazon/Ebay so you have extra socket for a phone charger etc

Plug & play out of the box

It's just a matter of plugging into the 12v cigarette socket inside the arm rest & routing the cable under the plastic trim past the passenger footwell & up the rubber strip upto the roof liner any excess cable just tuck it into a safe gap or make adjustments ideally closer to the 12v socket so you dont get cable overhang. . Power it up with ignition on position it where you want it to be mounted (don't put the sticky pad on yet) ensure clearance so that you can press the WIFI button & remove the SD card without a struggle. If you opt for the 2 channel the cable supplied will connect to the front dashcam again simple as rooting the cable past the roof liner to the mid section of the rear windscreen. Just be careful not to stick over the heater element on the visible lines removing the sticker at a later date can potentially damage the rear heat demister from functioning.

If your on a budget go with a simple setup. On eBay the official Blackvue store sell new & refurbished units. I have purchased a refurb for my family member 3 years ago & it's still going so just abit of reassurance.

Again recommend the Blackvue without the cloud setup there may be a subscription  cost. The simplest option is one that has a WIFI connectivity if your ever in an incident you simply download the recording to your phone via the Blackvue app or you also have the option  to remove the SD Card & put it into another device to view like a laptop etc. This is the most simple setup.

Now where it gets technical is when you want to record whilst away from the vehicle. Known as parking mode where (impact is detected) this setup can be configured from the settings adjust sensitivity or motion  sensor which is useless unless your car is in a garage it records any moving object so I disabled it.  This option will need to have the dashcam hardwired into the cars fusebox.

The blackvue power magic pro is an add on power management device that will stop recording once it detects voltage drop below certain parameters I.e 11.8v Or after a set timeframe 24 hours it can be configured from the box slightly complex to understand the switch settings. Keep in mind the LEXUS 12v Hybrids use a small capacity Battery to begin  with so having parking mode active permanently won't do it any favours as you have high risk of a no start situation  due to a flat Battery, but it's useful to have when parking in suspect places. Although blackvue also sell Battery packs which are expensive so no need to tap into the fuse box.

Need to have an understanding of which wire to tap into the fusebox switched vs permanent & a suitable ground location. 

Here you go a few pics from my installation if it helps.

 

 

 

[LenT]

1 hour ago, DarkKnight said:

Thank you, you are right, you might be convincing me to get BlackVue!

Did you install/hardwire it yourself? I am not too confident on doing it myself and so was looking at Halfords, but they are expensive (£80 for installation).

No I didn’t do the install.  I already knew of a good local auto electrician who’d installed phones and parking sensors in other cars for us and was increasingly doing dashcams.  I also had a Power Magic Pro to add in order to provide a parking mode facility.

Personally, I wouldn’t let anyone from Halfords near my cars!  

I haven’t actually bothered with other features regarding cloud connectivity and although I have one of the 900 series I really only use the basic functionality - but that suits me.  I only recently got myself a ‘smart’ phone and probably cut off as many callers as I manage to answer!

[LenT]

6 hours ago, DarkKnight said:

I came across some in Halfords that I would like your opinions on please:

There are 2 Nextbase ones (Option 1, Option 2) which seem slightly less expensive, but not sure if it is a step down from the BlackVue's?

There is also a Road Angel (Option 3) which seems okay for the price, again not sure what its missing?

Finally the BlackVue ones are more pricier but came across these 2 products: Option 4 & Option 5.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Well, as I’m sure they would all do the job, I would start by making some basic choices.  So personally I dislike anything that intrudes into my vision on the screen - which means I would find a camera dangling below the mirror a distraction and something that creates a blind spot.  When I use my Garmin GPS it’s positioned slightly off the screen and I prioritise the verbal instructions anyway.

So the BV style shape is more appealing and has the additional benefit of being very inconspicuous from outside the car.  Of these options, what attracts me to the more expensive BV is the 60fps of the front camera.  By rights, this should greatly improve the clarity of vehicles approaching and thus aid number plate recognition.

To me, this only has to prove decisive once and it will have paid for itself.  I note it also comes with the largest standard SD Card at 64Gb - although I would still advise using the biggest Card it will take and saving the supplied Card as an emergency replacement.  It may also have some additional features regarding Cloud and App connectivity if that’s useful to you.

Now I don’t know if that’s really any help because it’s very easy to spend someone else’s money!  But if I buy products that have to operate reliably on the rare occasions they’re put to the test - brake pads, tyres and parachutes come to mind - then would get the best I could afford.  And I probably wouldn’t get it off eBay or from China!

But like yourself, I’d be interested to hear other views.

[DarkKnight]

8 hours ago, IS300FSPORT said:

To install a dashcam it is fairly straightforward look on youtube for a guide. Worth buying a 12v socket extension of Amazon/Ebay so you have extra socket for a phone charger etc

Plug & play out of the box

It's just a matter of plugging into the 12v cigarette socket inside the arm rest & routing the cable under the plastic trim past the passenger footwell & up the rubber strip upto the roof liner any excess cable just tuck it into a safe gap or make adjustments ideally closer to the 12v socket so you dont get cable overhang. . Power it up with ignition on position it where you want it to be mounted (don't put the sticky pad on yet) ensure clearance so that you can press the WIFI button & remove the SD card without a struggle. If you opt for the 2 channel the cable supplied will connect to the front dashcam again simple as rooting the cable past the roof liner to the mid section of the rear windscreen. Just be careful not to stick over the heater element on the visible lines removing the sticker at a later date can potentially damage the rear heat demister from functioning.

If your on a budget go with a simple setup. On Ebay the official Blackvue store sell new & refurbished units. I have purchased a refurb for my family member 3 years ago & it's still going so just abit of reassurance.

Again recommend the Blackvue without the cloud setup there may be a subscription  cost. The simplest option is one that has a WIFI connectivity if your ever in an incident you simply download the recording to your phone via the Blackvue app or you also have the option  to remove the SD Card & put it into another device to view like a laptop etc. This is the most simple setup.

Now where it gets technical is when you want to record whilst away from the vehicle. Known as parking mode where (impact is detected) this setup can be configured from the settings adjust sensitivity or motion  sensor which is useless unless your car is in a garage it records any moving object so I disabled it.  This option will need to have the dashcam hardwired into the cars fusebox.

The blackvue power magic pro is an add on power management device that will stop recording once it detects voltage drop below certain parameters I.e 11.8v Or after a set timeframe 24 hours it can be configured from the box slightly complex to understand the switch settings. Keep in mind the LEXUS 12v Hybrids use a small capacity battery to begin  with so having parking mode active permanently won't do it any favours as you have high risk of a no start situation  due to a flat battery, but it's useful to have when parking in suspect places. Although blackvue also sell battery packs which are expensive so no need to tap into the fuse box.

Need to have an understanding of which wire to tap into the fusebox switched vs permanent & a suitable ground location. 

Here you go a few pics from my installation if it helps.

 

 

 

Thank you for the write up!

Still confused about the hard wiring though. Will look into this a bit more.  

3 hours ago, LenT said:

Well, as I’m sure they would all do the job, I would start by making some basic choices.  So personally I dislike anything that intrudes into my vision on the screen - which means I would find a camera dangling below the mirror a distraction and something that creates a blind spot.  When I use my Garmin GPS it’s positioned slightly off the screen and I prioritise the verbal instructions anyway.

So the BV style shape is more appealing and has the additional benefit of being very inconspicuous from outside the car.  Of these options, what attracts me to the more expensive BV is the 60fps of the front camera.  By rights, this should greatly improve the clarity of vehicles approaching and thus aid number plate recognition.

To me, this only has to prove decisive once and it will have paid for itself.  I note it also comes with the largest standard SD Card at 64Gb - although I would still advise using the biggest Card it will take and saving the supplied Card as an emergency replacement.  It may also have some additional features regarding Cloud and App connectivity if that’s useful to you.

Now I don’t know if that’s really any help because it’s very easy to spend someone else’s money!  But if I buy products that have to operate reliably on the rare occasions they’re put to the test - brake pads, tyres and parachutes come to mind - then would get the best I could afford.  And I probably wouldn’t get it off eBay or from China!

But like yourself, I’d be interested to hear other views.

Thank you for your reasoning, will research more into these dashcams.

[Notamech]

Heres another thread that might help with installation. 

 

[matt8]

Recommend Thinkware. My camera installed in Feb 2017 is still going strong. And doesn’t need the extra box some Blackvue ones do, to turn itself off at a particular voltage drop on the 12v Battery. It’s built in!

[John Nooij]

I installed the FitcamX front and rear dash cam.  There's a IS300 version that fits perfectly in the car.  And the quality is very good.

See this topic and the photo's of both camera's I posted there:

https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/133301-anyone-experience-with-fitcamx-dash-cam/#comment-1239261

 

[DarkKnight]

On 6/10/2024 at 8:01 AM, matt8 said:

Recommend Thinkware. My camera installed in Feb 2017 is still going strong. And doesn’t need the extra box some Blackvue ones do, to turn itself off at a particular voltage drop on the 12v battery. It’s built in!

That's amazing! What model did you get? I was actually looking for dashcams where we don't have to get that extra Battery protector box. Would also love to hear your experiences with Thinkvue?

 

@LenT @IS300FSPORT

I was thinking of getting BlackVue Dash Cam DR750X-2CH. Do I need to get the Power Magic Pro in order to use the dashcam in parking mode? I can't find any reputable place that sells it though?

[IS300FSPORT]

For parking mode yes it needs to be hardwired to the fuse box.

Surprised no stock on Amazon/Ebay

Quick Google search found these sellers 

https://blackvueuk.co.uk/product/blackvue-power-magic-pro/

https://www.dashwitness.com/shop/accessories/blackvue-power-magic-pro-2/

[LenT]

51 minutes ago, DarkKnight said:

I was thinking of getting BlackVue Dash Cam DR750X-2CH. Do I need to get the Power Magic Pro in order to use the dashcam in parking mode?

Apparently not!  I found this explanation on the blackvue.co.uk website:
 

BlackVue X-series models (DR770X and DR970X) have in-built power management circuitry that ensures that your camera will never deplete your vehicle’s Battery when operating overnight, switching-off should the car’s Battery level drop below a pre-set level. BlackVue models such as the DR750-2CH LTE and DR750S/900S/590 require the addition of the optional Power Magic Pro to provide Battery protection.

This was the distributor’s web address that I bought from many years ago, but they were then called Boros Technology.  I think it also now has a different name and physical address, so cannot really comment about them as they may have changed personnel as well as location.

I do recall that blackvueuk.co.uk were also a distributor at that time.  You.could always contact them directly to clarify the situation.  

[matt8]

1 hour ago, DarkKnight said:

That's amazing! What model did you get? I was actually looking for dashcams where we don't have to get that extra battery protector box. Would also love to hear your experiences with Thinkvue?

 

@LenT @IS300FSPORT

I was thinking of getting BlackVue Dash Cam DR750X-2CH. Do I need to get the Power Magic Pro in order to use the dashcam in parking mode? I can't find any reputable place that sells it though?

Thinkware F770 but it’s an old model now. But still getting speed cam updates. Can’t recommend any newer ones as I’ve not tried them. I worry lots of new models come with unnecessary features like cloud storage and probably some AI nonsense.

I helped a friend fit a budget Garmin dash cam recently. He had the hardwire kit that cost £20 and as part of that kit, it included a voltage protection setting on the hardwire kit control box. No extras and only £20 for the whole hardwire.

Spending serious money on Battery protection seems unnecessary in 2024, and comes across as exploitative to me. Manufacturers charging top dollar for extras that aren’t complicated at all!

[IS300FSPORT]

LenT has a have a very good point the older Blackvue dashcam had no power management features to detect voltage drop hence why it was regulated by the Power magic pro (anicient looking device) it looks like they have since progressed developed power management software within the dashcam. You no longer need  the Blackvue power magic pro kit just a simple 12v cable hardwired to the Fuse box as it will still need to be powered when the ignition is off. 

You can find it on amazon for the X Series decent price in comparison to the powermagic pro.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BlackVue-Hardwire-Cable-X-Series/dp/B0CW21SDSV/ref=asc_df_B0CW21SDSV/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=691938792676&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5221880813021227624&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046656&hvtargid=pla-2306779403507&psc=1&mcid=81d2d9bc0d553f6797bfece84289fbee&th=1&psc=1&gad_source=1

 

[DarkKnight]

4 hours ago, IS300FSPORT said:

For parking mode yes it needs to be hardwired to the fuse box.

Surprised no stock on Amazon/Ebay

Quick Google search found these sellers 

https://blackvueuk.co.uk/product/blackvue-power-magic-pro/

https://www.dashwitness.com/shop/accessories/blackvue-power-magic-pro-2/

 

3 hours ago, LenT said:

Apparently not!  I found this explanation on the blackvue.co.uk website:
 

BlackVue X-series models (DR770X and DR970X) have in-built power management circuitry that ensures that your camera will never deplete your vehicle’s battery when operating overnight, switching-off should the car’s battery level drop below a pre-set level. BlackVue models such as the DR750-2CH LTE and DR750S/900S/590 require the addition of the optional Power Magic Pro to provide battery protection.

This was the distributor’s web address that I bought from many years ago, but they were then called Boros Technology.  I think it also now has a different name and physical address, so cannot really comment about them as they may have changed personnel as well as location.

I do recall that blackvueuk.co.uk were also a distributor at that time.  You.could always contact them directly to clarify the situation.  

Yeah I think you are right, maybe that's why the power magic pro is not really on sale in much places now. 

3 hours ago, matt8 said:

Thinkware F770 but it’s an old model now. But still getting speed cam updates. Can’t recommend any newer ones as I’ve not tried them. I worry lots of new models come with unnecessary features like cloud storage and probably some AI nonsense.

I helped a friend fit a budget Garmin dash cam recently. He had the hardwire kit that cost £20 and as part of that kit, it included a voltage protection setting on the hardwire kit control box. No extras and only £20 for the whole hardwire.

Spending serious money on battery protection seems unnecessary in 2024, and comes across as exploitative to me. Manufacturers charging top dollar for extras that aren’t complicated at all!

Thank you, I am thinking of Thinkware F200PRO, it seems it has the built in Battery protection too? What are your thoughts on this?

1 hour ago, IS300FSPORT said:

LenT has a have a very good point the older Blackvue dashcam had no power management features to detect voltage drop hence why it was regulated by the Power magic pro (anicient looking device) it looks like they have since progressed developed power management software within the dashcam. You no longer need  the Blackvue power magic pro kit just a simple 12v cable hardwired to the Fuse box as it will still need to be powered when the ignition is off. 

You can find it on Amazon for the X Series decent price in comparison to the powermagic pro.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BlackVue-Hardwire-Cable-X-Series/dp/B0CW21SDSV/ref=asc_df_B0CW21SDSV/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=691938792676&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5221880813021227624&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046656&hvtargid=pla-2306779403507&psc=1&mcid=81d2d9bc0d553f6797bfece84289fbee&th=1&psc=1&gad_source=1

 

Yh I think they do. I can't see myself having to pay another £70 for the PMP on top of the dashcam, if I have to might go with the Thinkware one.

Also do we need to get the hardwire kit? I came across this from eBay and it seems like they come with the hardwire kit?

[IS300FSPORT]

22 minutes ago, DarkKnight said:

Also do we need to get the hardwire kit? I came across this from ebay and it seems like they come with the hardwire kit?

Out of the box majority of them will come with a 12v male socket to plug & play. 

The hardwire kit is required for parking mode where you will need to tap into the fuse box for a constant power supply it doesn't matter which dashcam you opt for as long as it has a power management feature where it will cut the power when your 12v Battery drops below a certain parameter. That link you shared is a decent price enquire with the seller if which cable they supply just for confirmation.

[DnG]

Not sure if you've made your mind up but I use 2 70mai cameras on 2 different cars.

I use the 70mai A500s on my BMW and the 70mai A810 on my Insignia both with rear cameras but only the BMW is wired to keep the camera on while the car is off (you can configure the wires as such).

There's only 2 cables coming from the main front camera, the power and the wire going to the rear camera. The box on the wire that manages voltage and shut off when the Battery is low (to avoid draining the battery) is very small and it's relatively easy to install.

The A500s isaround £89 with wiring kit and rear camera and the A810 (4k) with all of the kit for £155

Both have GPS and speed display and they're decent for the price. They're on AliExpress, you can find them on UK sites but why pay the inflated price when you can buy directly from the source. Most products nowadays are from china anyway.

A500s > https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32931282121.html

A810 > https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005784770916.html

 

Also, if you don't like dash cams with screens and you want something more premium, a lot of people online seem to recommend the VIOFO A139 > https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002038738438.html