XSeries-forum

Parts:  1 x IPIXI Winycam V300D with GPS, with fitting kit and 16gb card.
            6 x minicrimp male and female terminals.
            1 x on/off micro toggle switch
            12" of heat shrink tubing.
            1 x flying lead fuse.

I have recently fitted a dash camera to my X5 , got it from IPIXI , although made in Korea it is supplied by UK company (Ipixi) so have someone in UK to relate to if anything goes wrong and has a 12 months warantee.

I wanted to fit the camera without wires running around windscreen, down the pillar, under dash to 12v pickup or cigar lighter, I also wanted to be able to independently switch on/off.

Here we go :  disconnect battery or pull fuse/s in glove box to interior light cluster at windscreen goes out.

1.  See schematic wiring diagram and fully understand before starting job.

  Remove interior mirror cover (pulls apart).

  Remove front interior light cluster (Slide credit card or similar under rear of cluster to release tags).

  Remove square black blanking plug between roof switches.

2. Drill hole (cable width) through mirror halves (tape mirror halves together and drill hole in centre. and run wire from camera  through or as I did  cut 2 half holes where it joins together, route wire into cavity where light cluster fits and pull through, cut this cable to leave about 18 inches hanging through.

3. The light cluster has several wires connected via connector plug. Squeeze plug tabs together and disconnect plug from light cluster.  Put cluster aside, not required until reassembly.

4. Amongst the wires attached to the plug is a Brown wire (negative) and a red/yellow wire (positive) this red/ yellow wire is a constant live.


                                        THE WIRING UP.

  Cut Brown wire about 3" from plug and fit a male mini crimp --the other cut Brown lead - join negative lead from camera to it and crimp both wires to a female crimp - you should have 1 male lead from plug and 2 wires via female crimp (otherside of cut Brown lead and the neg from camera), don't forget to loose fit a piece of shrink tubing. (shrink later).

I use heat shrink tubing to double insulate crimps and negates accidental disconnection.

  Now the positive connections : it is all shown on the schematic drawing , but I will run through it anyway .

Cut red/yellow about 3 inches from light cluster plug and fit FEMALE crimp other side fit male crimp to other red yellow wire and 1 side of fuse.
Other side of fuse connect to 1 side of switch.
Positive wire from camera goes to other connection on switch.
Don't forget to cover crimps with shrink tubing.


  Refit fuses/ battery and test,  some cameras take up to 20 seconds to fire up and get gps fix (it will be in camera instructions).

  Refit Plastic plug (with switch attached), light cluster and mirror shroud, having located wire from camera into hole in both halves of the mirror.

                        JOB DONE    SWITCH ON AND ENJOY.


  as an aside , my camera is 12 volt and was suitable for hard wiring.  If any other camera is used CHECK VOLTAGE as some use a step down transformer in the cigar lighter plug and if plug is cut off  and hard wired it WILL cause terminal damage to camera.
  If not sure the input/output voltage should be stated on cigar lighter plug.

I have used the cigar plug fitting on  other mods by soldering wires to centre pin of plug and sprung side pieces, insulated well.
But there may not be room in the cavity above blanking plate if you go down this road. Check first.


This worked for me, but obviously you do mods at your own risk.

Enjoy.

LEZ

Great job Lex, I'd be interested to see some footage of the camera.

Don

Very useful.  One thing that bothers me about the X6 (may apply to the E70 as well) is that so much more of the electrics shuts off when the key is removed (12V sockets etc).

I'm leaning more and more towards fitting in of these cameras myself and like you did not want to have to trail wires around half the car to find a 12V feed.

Does your camera activate if there is an impact whilst parked?  Some have internal power for that reason.

Richard

nice mod. now i'm tempted  :-[

so its manually switched on/off with teh toggle switch? btw  u need a sleeker on/off button mate lol

[quote="jaynana"]
nice mod. now i'm tempted  :-[

so its manually switched on/off with teh toggle switch? btw  u need a sleeker on/off button mate lol
[/quote]

Yes, manual on/off, with battery drains we get I do not want to risk flat battery, and switch looks great with the rubber boot, could have fitted on off button but prefer the mini micro.

Lez

[quote="X5Sport"]
Very useful.  One thing that bothers me about the X6 (may apply to the E70 as well) is that so much more of the electrics shuts off when the key is removed (12V sockets etc).

I'm leaning more and more towards fitting in of these cameras myself and kike you did not want to have to trail wires around half the car to find a 12V feed.

Does your camera activate if there is an impact whilst parked?  Some have internal power for that reason.

Richard
[/quote]

Hi Richard, yes there are various programmes that can be set, and I am still playing with.

I would imagine if your interior lights come on when you open doors (no key in ignition) as mine do, ther is a permanent live to the cluster.

Lez

Nice job.

I now have front and rear Blackvue cameras which are both wired to the rear of the nearest lighter socket, and connected via cig lighter extension leads fed behind the dash/rear window covers.  Once Blackvue start shipping their new anti battery drain devices to the UK, I will bung 2 of them in line too as there is a parking setting for carpark shunts.

Oh and I also bought wifey a brand new Blackvue 400HD which she doesn't want (grrrr) so if anyone wants to make an offer??

I have spoken to a UK company that as well as selling Blackvue, have developed their own brand, Mi Witness HD.  They have a system that monitors the battery power, and if it feels that the battery is getting low, will shut off the camera.  This allows the camera to operate in a motion detection mode and makes a recording if shunted while parked.  However one downside was it was recording at 720, were I would prefer a higher resolution.

Don

how about a camera (or 2 actually front and rear) like this:

- works off a separate rechargeable battery
- gets charge when the car is running
- comes on automatically when the car starts
- goes off either (switchable) when the car stops or when its own battery reaches a minimum voltage

basically it needs to run when the car is in motion plus when its parked apart from at home. yet it can't drain the battery down. also needs to be auto - can't be switching it on and off.

Hi Lez have been looking on amazon for the dropper we spoke yesterday at Cosford as yet I haven't managed to find one, is it possible you could send me photos of the ones you have or a link for them on Amazon or  EBay
Malc


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Malc, will sort something tomorrow, just got home after a family birthday party/get together.
Lez

Hi lezmtaylor i have now fitted my dash cam following your instructions ,  I also fitted the 12 to 5 volt dropper, what did you use to cover your switch ?, at the moment mine is silver it doesn't look right so I was thinking of spraying it satern black , we spoke at Cosford , Malc



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Hi Malc,
Send me your address and I'll send a cover foc.
Lez