Installed a Fitcamx dash cam in our 2023 Premium

[Anton]

I thought about it when I installed my Thinkware dash cam.

My thoughts in the end:

1. Normally, any rear-ended accident is presumed to be the following car's fault, so the presumed culpability is there, rear dash cam or no rear dash cam.

2. At night, all or nearly all a rear dash cam will capture under usual driving conditions is headlight glare and blackness.

3. "...difficulty of the install".

Based on 1 thru 3, I stopped at the front dash cam.

Thanks. You like the Thinkware? Which one would you choose if comparing to Fitcamx?

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[21st Century Pony]

Thanks. You like the Thinkware? Which one would you choose if comparing to Fitcamx?

I do like the Thinkware. It is the F70 model (I think) and I've had it on since about June or July.

It does not have Wifi, unlike my "Fitcam"-like Chinese dash cam on my old Ford Fusion. IMHO, that makes it easier becuase phone(s) in the car don't immediately try to connect to the camera WiFi.

This Thinkware is listed on Ford's accessories page but DO NOT get the optional OBDII power wiring loom - that loom won't work on the Mach E. I wired the Thinkware directly into the rear view mirror with the aftermarket slide-in power taps from the people who also make that cool radar mount.

The Thinkware is a solid, basic dash cam. I added the optional GPS mushroom and the optional glare lens. The videos and individual pix are really high quality, and frankly, that's all I need as a hopefully never-to-be-used insurance policy in case of an accident. The GPS mushroom mounts on the dotted upper part of the windshield BTW or it won't work. With the GPS mushroom, the Thinkware warns me audibly about known speed or red light cameras, etc.

This Thinkware also has a parking mode and it also automatically monitors the car's 12V battery and will shut itself off rather than drain the car battery. All automatic.

I later bought a SD Card reader at Best Buy so I can take the Thinkware SD Card out and stick it into the SD reader and plug it into my phone, in case I need to show a cop on the scene something important after any accident etc.

 

[Neil4Real]

I do like the Thinkware. It is the F70 model (I think) and I've had it on since about June or July.

It does not have Wifi, unlike my "Fitcam"-like Chinese dash cam on my old Ford Fusion. IMHO, that makes it easier becuase phone(s) in the car don't immediately try to connect to the camera WiFi.

This Thinkware is listed on Ford's accessories page but DO NOT get the optional OBDII power wiring loom - that loom won't work on the Mach E. I wired the Thinkware directly into the rear view mirror with the aftermarket slide-in power taps from the people who also make that cool radar mount.

The Thinkware is a solid, basic dash cam. I added the optional GPS mushroom and the optional glare lens. The videos and individual pix are really high quality, and frankly, that's all I need as a hopefully never-to-be-used insurance policy in case of an accident. The GPS mushroom mounts on the dotted upper part of the windshield BTW or it won't work. With the GPS mushroom, the Thinkware warns me audibly about known speed or red light cameras, etc.

This Thinkware also has a parking mode and it also automatically monitors the car's 12V battery and will shut itself off rather than drain the car battery. All automatic.

I later bought a SD Card reader at Best Buy so I can take the Thinkware SD Card out and stick it into the SD reader and plug it into my phone, in case I need to show a cop on the scene something important after any accident etc.

Does parking mode work if you tap into the mirror? I thought you had to have it tapped into the fuse.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Does parking mode work if you tap into the mirror? I thought you had to have it tapped into the fuse.

Oh wow... I installed the Escort radar detector and the Thinkware dash cam all back in June or July.

One is fuse box - wired, the other is mirror tap - wired... kill me if I remember today which is which haha.

But whichever is however wired, the Thinkware does tell me verbally that it is going into parking mode as soon as I shut the car off.

 

[satchel prefect]

Is it worth it to also record the back? Heard that adds to the difficulty of the install

One option, if installing a rear camera, is to use it for a digital rearview mirror in addition to recording front and rear:

The one I described here has worked well for me and others I've installed it for. The front camera is also pretty unobtrusive, though not OEM looking like the fitcamx:

Good description of running a rear camera cable here, though I should point out that I went along the bottom of the doors instead of along the headliner like many others have. The hardest part is removing the rubber accordion conduits at the top of the hatch, followed closely by replacing the A-pillar cover if you remove it during the install.

Also, regarding glare at night, this particular product does a very good job IMO:

 

[21st Century Pony]

Oh wow... I installed the Escort radar detector and the Thinkware dash cam all back in June or July.

One is fuse box - wired, the other is mirror tap - wired... kill me if I remember today which is which haha.

But whichever is however wired, the Thinkware does tell me verbally that it is going into parking mode as soon as I shut the car off.

OK the answer came to me in my sleep at night... yes I did wire the radar detector with mirror taps and the Thinkware dash cam with a long power wire down to the fuse box. I (obviously) don't need the Escort radar detector on when parked, and the Thinkware while parked does operate until the car battery draws down too far.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I thought about it when I installed my Thinkware dash cam.

My thoughts in the end:

1. Normally, any rear-ended accident is presumed to be the following car's fault, so the presumed culpability is there, rear dash cam or no rear dash cam.

2. At night, all or nearly all a rear dash cam will capture under usual driving conditions is headlight glare and blackness.

3. "...difficulty of the install".

Based on 1 thru 3, I stopped at the front dash cam.

...and of course let's add the how WInter and inclement weather driving results in a scuzzed-up rear window top during right below the roof rear overhang - if the rear camera, once installed, is filming thru the rear window on the inside, it will either get its view obstructed with window dirt or will protrude into the limited sweep area of the rear wiper blade, obstructing some of the driver's wiped vision.

 

[MachEMaster]

OK the answer came to me in my sleep at night... yes I did wire the radar detector with mirror taps and the Thinkware dash cam with a long power wire down to the fuse box. I (obviously) don't need the Escort radar detector on when parked, and the Thinkware while parked does operate until the car battery draws down too far.

Which fuse locations did you use for your Thinkware install? Thanks.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I'll have to look.

 

[sgriffin130]

I opted for the Thinkware camera(s), front and back because I wanted to have detection when parked. I had it wired to a battery pack then to the panel. I like the OEM look, but wanted the parking sentry feature.

 

[MachEMaster]

I opted for the Thinkware camera(s), front and back because I wanted to have detection when parked. I had it wired to a battery pack then to the panel. I like the OEM look, but wanted the parking sentry feature.

Did you go with the Thinkware U1000? I am wondering if I can attach it to the plastic rear view mirror housing, instead of the windshield? The shape looks like it will be awkward to hide out of the way and still have a good camera image.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Did you go with the Thinkware U1000? I am wondering if I can attach it to the plastic rear view mirror housing, instead of the windshield? The shape looks like it will be awkward to hide out of the way and still have a good camera image.

However I mounted the Thinkware F70 camera (it's small compared to the complex Thinkware ones) I remember it took no special effort, unlike my Escort Passport radar detector which did take some special effort with safety wire and drilling holes etc. Here's two pics of them both, together... they have lived like this since last Summer with zero problems. BTW - the round black mushroom on the left is the optional Thinkware GPS receiver. The Thinkware F70 camera is barely visible with the green LED light just below the mirror.

 

[21st Century Pony]

However I mounted my F70 Thinkware camera last Summer, I remember it was just no problem at all. Unlike the Escort Passport radar detector, which did take some effort and safety wire and drilling holes to hold its mount in the black plastic shroud. Here are two pics of the Thinkware and the radar detector, from the side and from the driver's point of view. The black mushroom to the left and above the mirror is the Thinkware's optional GPS receiver.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Eeeh, double post but you get the idea...

 

[MachEMaster]

Eeeh, double post but you get the idea...

Ok cool! Thanks! I am gathering up the courage to do the install.

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