What have you done to your MK 7 today ?

[matchboy]

Just a 1 week report on the new dashcam. After a previous foray into Dashcams with the Blackvue 650 which fried itself within a week, I held off replacement.

MH, do you run a lead from the dashcam into the 12v socket?  If so, what did you use to affix the wire along the headliner?  Getting myself a dashcam for Xmas so any tips would be appreciated 

I pretty much followed the original guide for blackvue fitment (there's reference to it in a much earlier thread which I think takes you to VWROC forum for the full guide) with one notable exception - with no need for a magic box (thinkware F770 has built in voltage monitoring and shut down), you can take the power lead straight along the windscreen and down the passenger side to the fuse box and tap into 2 places with piggy back leads. The permanent positive (yellow lead) goes to the empty trailer control fuse location (fuse 44, I think), with the switched live (red lead) going to the 12v plug fuse (fuse 40, I think).

Placement of front camera is slightly offcentre towards drives side so the lens is in the middle of the dash, just below the rear view mirror's windscreen fixing.

I put a notch in the plastic cone of the mirror's windscreen fixing so the front-back lead and power lead go in (tidy - it'll cost £7 to replace that part in future when you remove the cam to get rid of the car). The leads tuck in up to where the mirror electrics housing meets the headlining.

From there, the leads tuck into the lip of the headlining and then poked into the gap where A pillar meets the headlining, then behind the rubber lip of the front door seals, with the front/back lead tucking into the B pillar trim top where it meets headlining, and then along the top rubber lip where the rear door frame seal meets the headlining (if you have 3dr you probably don't have that rubber lip and will have to tuck into headlining). You then get to the back trim behind the headlining that clips out on metal spring clips (this is a good place to store the excess length. Pop the trim (again, metal spring clips) on the inner top bootlid (which hides the high level brake light electrics). Then go through the rubber sheath that runs from the back of the car into the boot lid (these are a bugger to remove without breaking a clip). Poke the rear camera lead through the sheath with the plug taped to a metal coathanger or pipe cleaner (the longest, fiddliest part of the job). Fix the camera with the adhesive pad between top and 2nd line of heating elements of the rear screen. Tape/cable tie the excess lead and clip your trims/sheath back in.

Run camera front/back lead down drivers side and power down passengers side - less girth to poke/hide than running 2 leads the same side.

You can hide every trace of lead if you do it right.

As always, excellent detail - thanks for you time MH, appreciate it 

[monkeyhanger]

Matchboy: i'll take some pics when it is light at a time when i'm in the car and it isn't pitch black. From the outside the F770 is no more visible than the BV650 as it has the same size front profile, side on it is a little deeper, but can't be seen behind the rearview mirror when driving. Not sure where is cheapest for it right, the place I got my 2 from has put the price back up from £209.99 to £249.99. I suspect it can still be had somewhere for £229.99.

[matchboy]

Matchboy: i'll take some pics when it is light at a time when i'm in the car and it isn't pitch black. From the outside the F770 is no more visible than the BV650 as it has the same size front profile, side on it is a little deeper, but can't be seen behind the rearview mirror when driving. Not sure where is cheapest for it right, the place I got my 2 from has put the price back up from £209.99 to £249.99. I suspect it can still be had somewhere for £229.99.

Thanks mate.  I've already bought the cam, its the Nextbase 512G, I think it was around £150.  It got really good reviews, and as its the first time I've had a dash cam I didn't want to go any higher on the price (I am an accountant after all #tight  ) But as its an Xmas pressie I'm not allowed to have it till the 25th so I can't even have a look and see what's what - it's pretty dinky though so I'd imagine just like yours it will fit just behind the rearview mirror.  My concern was the lead showing, but as you've said it can be run under the headliner etc, so looks like that's my Xmas day sorted fixing that in place!

[Mike J]

Matchboy,
You will not be disappointed with the 512G.

I had one for last chrissie and its been superb, until I took it out when I sold the car.
Now just waiting for a decent day to try and put in in the new space shuttle, if its too much of a hassle someones due for a visit 

When they can install proximity radar its dissapointing they cannot do the same with front and rear cameras?

[asm1]

Drove it. Lots. Mostly town stuff yesterday but did take it for a midnight blast down the motorway for an hour. Was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I could make things go backwards in the rearview mirror. Quite enjoy driving at night if the weather is decent (dry and clear) spent 20 mins partying about with car net, and then took my SD card into the flat to update the nav maps. Looking now for a firmware update (if there is one)

[matchboy]

Matchboy,
You will not be disappointed with the 512G.

Awesome, that's good to hear! 

[Booth11]

Sun visor label badgeskins arrived today. Still covered with all the protective film, but I peeled a bit back for a peek and really like them, they are perfect for subtly covering the airbag labels. Will try to get them on this weekend. 
 
http://www.badgeskins.com/store/p161/VW_-_12273_-_Visor_warning_label_badgekin_set.html

These are Matt black background with gloss black VW and R emblems.

[Booth11]

^^ I've fitted these now, please see my R thread to see how they look if interested.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=275792.msg2554601#msg2554601

[monkeyhanger]

Rebecca - can you stop sending pics like that? You're making me feel guilty that my Lapiz R is so dirty, it looks like it has a slightly dirty steel grey paint job. 

[Booth11]

Haha, sorry MH but it had to be done.