DevSecOps

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I'm also not going to run wires through the firewall or drill holes for a dash cam
The fuse box is located behind the glove box. No holes or firewall penetrations are necessary. It's simply a wire that you run from the mirror, push it under the headliner, down the a-pillar and you're into the glove box. There's a ton of open fuse spots right there. It's literally that easy.
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Kamuelaflyer

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The fuse box is located behind the glove box. No holes or firewall penetrations are necessary. It's simply a wire that you run from the mirror, push it under the headliner, down the a-pillar and you're into the glove box. There's a ton of open fuse spots right there. It's literally that easy.
I'll take a look at some of the threads. Admittedly I have not looked in a long while but the pictures I saw eons ago were not using that fuse box. That solution makes more sense. As for pushing through the firewall, I was thinking of the Lighted Pony project. Is it hard? Not really. Am I going to do it? No.
 

yngwenli

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I don't discount what you have to say on this or similar solutions to powering dashcams. The last thing we need on this forum is another rash of threads where, for example, every flux capacitor is falling because of what turned out to be an ill-advised modification. On the other hand, I also rather strongly dislike many of the more conventional solutions as the wire to the most commonly used fuse box is plainly visible. I'm also not going to run wires through the firewall or drill holes for a dash cam. In the end, I either go with this solution, or something similar or forego a dashcam altogether. What it comes down to is the probability of unintended consequences. The exact probability of something going wrong can't really be answered by either of us. I haven't worked that out for myself which is why I haven't ordered this yet.

It'd be nice if manufacturers start putting plugs/fuses or usbs or whatever is needed at places like the mirror on a separate fuse for dash cams like how usb plugs now and cig lighters were common things back in the day.

I'm the same as you that I'm still not certain how to fix these in yet since I don't want an obvious dash cam, don't want to do the wiring really, don't even want to bring it to a shop to do, etc.

Maybe it's in a future car before I hop on the bandwagon of these things.
 
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generaltso

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Does anyone have an Amazon link to the Duel camera (Front & Rear) option? Does anyone know if I can add a rear later or buy separately. I prefer to share my Info and credit card data with as few site as possible, so would like to purchase thru Amazon.
Looks like they've added it.

Amazon.com: Fitcamx 4K Dash Cam Compatible with Ford Mustang Mach-E 2021 2022 GT Select Premium, Integrated OEM Style, Ultra HD 2160P Video, Built-in WiFi & APP, Loop Recording, G-Sensor, Plug & Play, 64GB Card : Electronics
 

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HuntingPudel

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The fuse box wiring harness is half the price on the FitCamX web site compared with Amazon (after shipping is added): $25 on FitCamX web site vs $40 plus $9.90 shipping on Amazon. 🤪🐩
 

Mrcon728

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TL;DR - I worked with FITCAMX to test dash cam designs for the MME. It's now available to purchase (links at the bottom of this post)

I never really thought dash cams were necessary, but then last year, somebody pulled out in front of my son (while he was driving my wife's RAV4 Prime). He successfully swerved around her, but she claimed that he hit her car and dented the bumper (even though there was zero damage to the RAV). She filed a claim against our insurance company, which was ultimately denied due to lack of evidence, but it would have been a whole lot quicker and easier if I had dash cam footage.

But I really don't like the look of aftermarket accessories hanging from the windshield or visible wires snaked around. My research led me to FITCAMX, which is a Chinese company that makes replacement mirror surrounds with integrated dash cams. I installed one in the RAV4 and was very impressed with the OEM look. Then I installed one in my son's Jeep Renegade and was equally impressed.

Sadly, FITCAMX didn't list one available for the Mach-E. I reached out to them in April to see if one was planned, and they said that they had a prototype based on a Chinese market Mach-E that I could try. Of course, I agreed, and they sent it my way. Right off the bat, I could tell that it was not the same as the mirror surround in North American MMEs. It was a little bigger, had an opening on the side for a USB port, the vents were different, and one of the clip mounts was in a different location:

1662924130465.png

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Another issue was that the plug for the pass-through that pulls power from the rain sensor had a little plastic tab on the wrong side.

1662924366219.png


I trimmed that tab off, and I was able to get it to fit.

1662924588650.png


Although it wasn't a perfect fit, I installed the Chinese version and confirmed that it functioned as expected.

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Since they didn't have access to a US version of the MME in China, my contact at FITCAMX asked if I would be willing to send my original mirror surround to their 3D scanning partner in Florida so that they could digitally scan it to create a mold that would be a better fit. I agreed and shipped it off to Florida. After scanning, they were able to overlay the Chinese and US versions in their modeling software. The red shading shows the dimensional differences between the two:

1662925320597.png


With the digital scan, they were able to create a new model and 3D print a prototype for me to try. The color was horrible, but the fit was much better. Here's the new prototype next to the Chinese one:

1662925625562.png


And mounted in the car:

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After sending them pictures, including a screen grab to show the angle of the camera, they sent the design off to the factory for mass production.

1662925866108.png


The original estimate was about a month to have the first production units roll out of the factory, but they ran into an issue with the mold that took an additional few weeks to resolve.

I received word last week that the production version was finished and one was being shipped my way to test and photograph for installation instructions. I was planning to wait for that before posting my story here, but it appears that FITCAMX has already listed them for sale on their website and their Amazon store. Since owners are already reporting placing their orders, I figured I'd get this out before they start arriving. All in all, this process took about 4 months. I don't get any kickbacks or anything, so I take no responsibility for the product if you don't like it. But I will be so happy to not have to look at the ugly cream colored mirror surround anymore!

FITCAMX Purchase Link

Amazon Purchase Link
Thanks for all your effort, now we will all benefit.
 

JohnFoxeSheets

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The fuse box wiring harness is half the price on the FitCamX web site compared with Amazon (after shipping is added): $25 on FitCamX web site vs $40 plus $9.90 shipping on Amazon. 🤪🐩
If you decide to do that, be sure to order directly from Fitcamx. They need to modify the system since it seems the connector that comes on the fuse box harness isn't the same as what's on the dash cam. I chatted with them about it and they told me to notify them of my order so they can do the modification.
Ford Mustang Mach-E My Journey with FITCAMX (Dash Cam with OEM look) Screen Shot 2022-09-15 at 1.54.46 PM
 

HuntingPudel

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If you decide to do that, be sure to order directly from Fitcamx. They need to modify the system since it seems the connector that comes on the fuse box harness isn't the same as what's on the dash cam. I chatted with them about it and they told me to notify them of my order so they can do the modification.
Ford Mustang Mach-E My Journey with FITCAMX (Dash Cam with OEM look) Screen Shot 2022-09-15 at 1.54.46 PM
They sent me an email asking which camera I had. I told them it was the new system for the MME. I hope that was enough. 🤪🐩
 

21st Century Pony

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I had installed something similar on my Ford Fusion Energi. Looked exactly like OEM factory... blended in so well hardly anyone noticed. Also a bump molded into the bottom of the rear mirror trim.

WIsh this was around before I bought and mounted the Ford Accessories Thinkware F70... (on another thread). Oh well...
 

TTT

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Why do people do it this way:

Cheaper and/or they are lazy (easier). Not bashing on either, but it's the truth.

Why is it bad:

The car was engineered with every circuit to handle a load designated by the fuse that it uses. Adding additional load to that circuit is not was it was designed for. Additionally, if that circuit (and I don't know what the mirror and rain sensor are paired with) is paired with a critical component and you have a failure of the camera or the fuse you could lose something that's critical to the cars safety (i.e. emergency brake assist).

Some manufacturers have gone to the extent of warning people not to do this as it has fried other components on the same circuit.
True. Your bad luck notwithstanding though, one advantage to a plug in system like this though is that you can take if back out while you are still under warranty and just shrug when you take it to the dealer...
 

DevSecOps

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True. Your bad luck notwithstanding though, one advantage to a plug in system like this though is that you can take if back out while you are still under warranty and just shrug when you take it to the dealer...
That's no different that a fuse tap. Arguably a fuse tap is much easier than pulling apart your mirror assembly.

The concern is for critical safety components, not how easily you can bamboozle the dealership.
 

BigMach-E

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I'd love to do this, along with the fuse box kit, but I wonder about running the cable back to the rear camera, and how clean I can make the install.
 
 




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