Author Topic: Dealer fit dashcam  (Read 8709 times)

Offline Exonian

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #10 on: 07 April 2023, 22:32 »
Meant to post up a couple days ago, I checked the headlining and A pillar trims a few afternoons ago.
I’d hazard a guess that once the cable is unplugged from the camera you’ll be able to tease it out from under the headlining easily enough as there is a few mm gap between it and the windscreen, and the same for the A pillars. The A pillar trims are hard plastic not cloth covered as in the mk7 but are basically the same part.
With a trim removal tool you’ll probably be able to prise the pillar trim slightly proud enough to easily remove the cable (pulling the cable towards the windscreen and downwards). In earlier cars there’s an airbag in the region of the top of the A pillar trim but there’s no airbag badge on the mk8 A pillar trim so I don’t know if it’s sat behind the trim or in the headlining above it. The cable should be well clear of any airbags anyway.
The only tight bit is between the bottom of the A pillar and where the cable would be routed into the top of the dashboard before dropping into the fuse box. Again, with the A pillar trim lifted very slightly I’d imagine access will be much easier.
Once you’ve removed it from the Golf you’ll see exactly how to fit it into the Audi.
If you can restore older Audis, removing a dashcam from a Golf will be a doddle.
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Tractor Dave

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #11 on: 08 April 2023, 07:11 »
Thanks very much for that. Yes, I am quite experienced with old Audi's and would pull an A pillar on an Audi 80 in 5 minutes no problem. Newer cars frighten me and have brittle clips and covers that snap when you breath on them. Canbus wiring, computers controlling everything and scratchy plastics that err, scratch easily  :sad:

Online monkeyhanger

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #12 on: 08 April 2023, 10:17 »
Meant to post up a couple days ago, I checked the headlining and A pillar trims a few afternoons ago.
I’d hazard a guess that once the cable is unplugged from the camera you’ll be able to tease it out from under the headlining easily enough as there is a few mm gap between it and the windscreen, and the same for the A pillars. The A pillar trims are hard plastic not cloth covered as in the mk7 but are basically the same part.
With a trim removal tool you’ll probably be able to prise the pillar trim slightly proud enough to easily remove the cable (pulling the cable towards the windscreen and downwards). In earlier cars there’s an airbag in the region of the top of the A pillar trim but there’s no airbag badge on the mk8 A pillar trim so I don’t know if it’s sat behind the trim or in the headlining above it. The cable should be well clear of any airbags anyway.
The only tight bit is between the bottom of the A pillar and where the cable would be routed into the top of the dashboard before dropping into the fuse box. Again, with the A pillar trim lifted very slightly I’d imagine access will be much easier.
Once you’ve removed it from the Golf you’ll see exactly how to fit it into the Audi.
If you can restore older Audis, removing a dashcam from a Golf will be a doddle.

Yes, it should be that easy. The tricky part (which isn't that tricky) is popping off the side cap to the dash (a "D" shaped piece, that will probably have the switch for the front passenger airbag attached) on the side with the fuse box, usually behind the glove box opening. There'll be a 13mm bolt there on the metal chassis of the dash that mist installers will use as an earthing point, so will need to slacken that off and remove the earth wire), then remove the piggy back wiring into the fuses - a switched live, and (if the dashcam has a monitoring function) a permanent live.

Headlining edges are overlapped by the rubber A pillar seals or meet with the A pillar coverings, all tuck back in tidy - piece of cake.
Whey ya bugger! It's finally arrived after an 8 month wait....
MK7 R 5 door, manual, Lapiz Blue, Prets.

Online monkeyhanger

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #13 on: 08 April 2023, 10:25 »
Thanks very much for that. Yes, I am quite experienced with old Audi's and would pull an A pillar on an Audi 80 in 5 minutes no problem. Newer cars frighten me and have brittle clips and covers that snap when you breath on them. Canbus wiring, computers controlling everything and scratchy plastics that err, scratch easily  :sad:

The A-pillars have multi part clips that fall to bits when you disassemble and have to reassemble to clip back. If the wiring has been tucked in, it should pull straight back out, and you'll have to tuck the edges back or make sure rubber door seals are sitting properly for overlap of the headlining or A-Pillar edges. Fitting a rear cam is more involved, having to pull or screw tailgate trim off and the trim capping where the headlining meets the tailgate and you have to feed it through the rubber gaiters between the back of the body and the tailgate, where the tailgate wiring goes through.

I'm hoping to get my S3 in the next few weeks, and one of the first jobs will be refitting the Thinkware dashcams. I'll take some pics for you if you don't need yours doing in the meantime.
« Last Edit: 09 April 2023, 10:48 by monkeyhanger »
Whey ya bugger! It's finally arrived after an 8 month wait....
MK7 R 5 door, manual, Lapiz Blue, Prets.

Offline Tractor Dave

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #14 on: 08 April 2023, 12:20 »
Thanks. Very useful.
My car is due end of the month   :cool:

Offline Exonian

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #15 on: 08 April 2023, 21:59 »
Thanks very much for that. Yes, I am quite experienced with old Audi's and would pull an A pillar on an Audi 80 in 5 minutes no problem. Newer cars frighten me and have brittle clips and covers that snap when you breath on them. Canbus wiring, computers controlling everything and scratchy plastics that err, scratch easily  :sad:

Yep, I’m right with you on that!  :grin:
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Tractor Dave

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #16 on: 26 April 2023, 20:23 »
I removed the camera today and it was very easy. Just as you guys said.
They used a fuss piggy back to take power.


Now while I was in there I was rather concerned to see this surface rust on a brand new car!



Offline Exonian

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #17 on: 26 April 2023, 20:49 »
That’s not good to see.
I’ll check mine at the weekend.
Thanks for the heads up.


Did you have to loosen the A pillar trim to remove the power cable or was it even simpler than that?
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Tractor Dave

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #18 on: 26 April 2023, 21:15 »
I was able to gently lever it back and remove the cable. There is an airbag in there but I couldn't see a warning. I had to feed the cable behind it.

Offline Tractor Dave

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Re: Dealer fit dashcam
« Reply #19 on: 26 April 2023, 21:18 »
I was wondering if these cars have been built a while ago and sat in a compound waiting for chips but most of the trim and fittings have 2022 dates on them