V8 Vantage - Dashcam recommendations?

[MJ_V8V]

Hi all, having just renewed my insurance for the Vantage they have stipulated that a dashcam has to be fitted (a new one on me). Naturally i want something discreet and preferably wireless as i dont fancy taking the lovely alcantara trim apart and trying to hide cables, Has anyone fitted likewise recently? Assume bluetooth is a thing with them now? but how is it charged up? Older dash cams relied on a cable to the cigarette lighter socket.

I did try the search but they date back to 2017 and things have moved on somewhat since then.

I do euro trips so a dashcam forward and rear is no bad idea anyway.

[AMV8Stuart]

I fitted a blackvue, it has a front facing main unit right up against the roof to the side of the centre binnacle (no screen) and a rear unit at the top of the rear screen. Yes it does have to be wired but honestly no need to remove trim, it just pops into the gaps and can't be seen.

[Simpo Two]

AMV8Stuart said:

I fitted a blackvue...

Jeepers: https://blackvuehd.co.uk/product/blackvue-dr900s-2...

[Import]

Looks like a nice unit….

[kevin_cambs_uk]

That looks like a seriously good kit, so you stick the camera under the mirror at the front, one at the back window, and then the battery goes somewhere?

Thanks

Kev

[AMV8Stuart]

You only need the battery if you want monitoring when not driving. I ran power from the passenger footwell fuse box up the A pillar and across above the roof lining at the windscreen to the centre binnacle. You don't need power to the rear, just the comm cable connecting the 2 cameras.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Can't say enough good things about the Viofo A129. Clear high quality video, and a neat little form. Very reasonable price too, the only thing I'd say is get it hardwired, that way you can take advantage of the "alert" function whereby it provides overwatch and records anything or anyone walking infront of your car when the car is parked up.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

AMV8Stuart said:

You only need the battery if you want monitoring when not driving. I ran power from the passenger footwell fuse box up the A pillar and across above the roof lining at the windscreen to the centre binnacle. You don't need power to the rear, just the comm cable connecting the 2 cameras.

Thanks for that
Much appreciated
Kev

[MJ_V8V]

Thanks for replies gents, must say the BlackVue kit looks lovely (and discreet) though its quite the outlay for a dashcam. Could be a good long term option though.
The other cam mentioned is bulkier than the one i already own and needs wiring.

I'm surprised its mentioned that the cable is easy enough to hide, my first glance was that it would be tough to hide without removing trim and even harder to try and thread through the dash somehow. (but i havent looked that hard yet). Ideally i dont want to run any cable through to the rear camera so prefer a wireless option for that if possible.

[BiggaJ]

Blackvue are very pricey but you can get it way less than linked above. You could look at Road Angel and Thinkware, I have the Thinkware fitted to my other car and it gives very good quality footage. Ring (the door bell/camera people) were also supposed to be releasing their dashcam but I cant see it for sale anywhere yet.

[MJ_V8V]

wow yes, £483 from Amazon, £300 on ebay! Oh its the battery pack that is expensive, an additional £349. Would we really need a battery pack with the size of our battery fitted to an Aston ? Cant have that much drain, especially if you use a battery conditioner when laid up longer term. Guess if car is parked for a couple of weeks on a holiday it could drain.

[geresey]

MJ_V8V said:

Hi all, having just renewed my insurance for the Vantage they have stipulated that a dashcam has to be fitted (a new one on me).

Which insurance co? Hasn’t this being an ask as yet. What a pain if it gets more prevalent, as I guess is inevitable. Hopefully wireless ones would be an option if so

[MJ_V8V]

A-Plan (Now Howden) and yes i expect it will very soon be asked by all the insurers for premium cars at least.

[LTP]

MJ_V8V said:

A-Plan (Now Howden) and yes i expect it will very soon be asked by all the insurers for premium cars at least.

A-Plan (now Howden) aren't insurers - they are brokers. They re-quoted Ageas for my V8V in February this year - no mention of a dashcam. As it happened I went elsewhere

[BiggaJ]

Found this video earlier, it may help in trying to decide on camera choice.

The video is a few years old now however, if you move towards the end at about 54 minutes in James at Aston Installations gives his recommendations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F1SBY4XmhY

[alscar]

MJ_V8V said:

A-Plan (Now Howden) and yes i expect it will very soon be asked by all the insurers for premium cars at least.

Various Insurers have offered premium discounts for dash-cams for about a decade.
Unlike the requirement of Trackers which are usually insisted on when the value goes above £50k irrespective of the Insurer , I’ve not seen much mention of a dash -cam being insisted on ( yours is the first mention actually I’ve seen ) so might well be very Insurer specific.
As has already been asked who is the Insurer as Howdens should have been able to find alternatives without such a need.

[Omaruk]

Given the police have pretty much decriminalised vehicle crime I’d just go for the cheapest most discreet unit. Sadly even if you give the police the footage they won’t do anything with it.