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BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum 2017+ BMW 5 Series (G30) General Discussions Dashcam Wire Routing

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      11-23-2018, 08:48 AM   #1
Boba
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Dashcam Wire Routing

Fitting a dashcam to a UK car I want to take the wire across to the driver's (right hand) side and down to the fuse box. Not done this before. Do I just poke the wire under the edge of the headlining with a spatula then under the edge of the pillar fascia? How do I get from the windscreen side of the pillar to the door side to go down to the fuse box? Where do I put the 12v to 5v converter - will it just lie in the fuse box somewhere? Total noob at this.
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      11-23-2018, 09:14 AM   #2
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I wouldn't recommend a spatula . Use something smaller and plastic.

I found this thread very helpful: https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1457675
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      11-23-2018, 10:31 AM   #3
Boba
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Helpful article for the pillar wiring. My dashcam is 5v and the wire that comes with it terminates in a 12v-5v cigar-lighter socket gadget. Looks like I'll need to swap it for a different converter and rewire but I'm a bit puzzled where to fit the converter itself.
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      11-23-2018, 10:36 AM   #4
Johnny Grabble
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See if this helps...
http://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?...l-in-g30.2163/
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      11-23-2018, 10:44 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boba View Post
Helpful article for the pillar wiring. My dashcam is 5v and the wire that comes with it terminates in a 12v-5v cigar-lighter socket gadget. Looks like I'll need to swap it for a different converter and rewire but I'm a bit puzzled where to fit the converter itself.
You could use an inline cigar-lighter style socket that is wired directly to the fuse panel. It would probably fit underneath the dash where the fuse panel is located.
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      11-23-2018, 12:21 PM   #6
Boba
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That might be an idea. I don't know anything about electrical things so simpler the better. Can't solder though so needs to be plug together.
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      11-23-2018, 03:56 PM   #7
bickers1972
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Take a look at this excellent guide posted on another forum. I've saved it for when I decide to install one in my G31 http://www.eyephysics.com/BMWG30/bmwg30.html
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      11-23-2018, 05:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bickers1972 View Post
Take a look at this excellent guide posted on another forum. I've saved it for when I decide to install one in my G31 http://www.eyephysics.com/BMWG30/bmwg30.html
I used it to install my Blackvue front/rear dashcam. This really is an excellent guide, well-written, and quite simple to connect to an open slot in the fuse panel. Mine has another wire that goes under the right side door panels and up to the rear dashcam.

OP: If you don't want to solder, you can crimp the wire connections or seek out an electrical geek to do the soldering for you.
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      11-25-2018, 04:22 AM   #9
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I bought the halfords dash cam kit, the small transformer/converter that sits under the panel was secured using doubled sided tape to a location (easy to reach) under the foot panel. My wiring is within the dash as I didnt want to run it down the door seal and in, so managed to get a draw wire in once the pillar trim was removed and pull it through.

I used the guide attached, although I had it pretty well sussed out, I didn't realise that a screw secured the A pillar panel. It is worth buying a set of these for trim removal and/or just leverage to guide cables etc. I have had a set for years and found multiple uses for them, from trim removal to badge removals.
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      11-25-2018, 04:09 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walesy View Post
It is worth buying a set of these for trim removal and/or just leverage to guide cables etc. I have had a set for years and found multiple uses for them, from trim removal to badge removals.
I 2nd that. Take a while to browse ebay for interior trim kits. There's a few different kits around. I found one which included some wider plastic spatula pieces as well.
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      11-27-2018, 01:27 PM   #11
Boba
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To save me looking for the fusebox before I order the bits what size of piggyback fuseholder do I need (ie what size are the fuses please). There seem to be standard, mini and micro piggyback holders on eBay but none of them say what actual size they are.


AND since I'm a novice at this which way round does the piggyback need to go? ie which end is the feed from the car and which end goes to the dashcam?

Thanks

Last edited by Boba; 11-27-2018 at 01:47 PM..
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      05-19-2019, 05:14 AM   #12
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is it safe to take the side quarter panel off (where it says airbag) so i can route the wire behind
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      05-19-2019, 04:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by devil84 View Post
is it safe to take the side quarter panel off (where it says airbag) so i can route the wire behind
I just ran my wire for my radar detector yesterday.
Instead of going behind the side airbag panel, I went behind the rubber moulding where the door is. From there I went behind the space where the airbag panel meets the headliner and forward to the space between the headliner and the windshield. Didn't have to remove anything.
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      05-24-2019, 09:33 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyrider01 View Post
I just ran my wire for my radar detector yesterday.
Instead of going behind the side airbag panel, I went behind the rubber moulding where the door is. From there I went behind the space where the airbag panel meets the headliner and forward to the space between the headliner and the windshield. Didn't have to remove anything.
I did the same for my camera, I mounted the camera on the passenger side, tucked the wire just under the leading edge of the headliner, down the a pillar and then under the door rubber to get it to the bottom of the dash. From there under the dash passenger foot well and added a fuse doubler to allow the connection to a fuse which is only live when the ignition is on (to avoid the battery being run down when parked).

No soldering, no fuss, took about 20 min.
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      07-26-2020, 10:43 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by High Flier View Post
I used it to install my Blackvue front/rear dashcam. This really is an excellent guide, well-written, and quite simple to connect to an open slot in the fuse panel. Mine has another wire that goes under the right side door panels and up to the rear dashcam.

OP: If you don't want to solder, you can crimp the wire connections or seek out an electrical geek to do the soldering for you.
How did you do the wiring for the rear camera? That guide covered the front camera. I have it hooked up to the front, but need to make my way around for the rear and was likewise thinking of running under the door panels.
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      07-28-2020, 06:57 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LogicalApex View Post
How did you do the wiring for the rear camera? That guide covered the front camera. I have it hooked up to the front, but need to make my way around for the rear and was likewise thinking of running under the door panels.
I ran a rear camera in my F01 7. It was easy to slip the cable under the door sill plates, they are plenty flexible, stuffed it along the seat cushions and up to the back window. However, your 5 likely has fold-down rear seats, so you'll need to run the wire underneath some of the trim back there to avoid getting it snagged/pulled/destroyed unless of course you never fold down the seats.

It's not that difficult. If you got the front camera done, the rear is a breeze.
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      07-28-2020, 09:09 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LogicalApex View Post
How did you do the wiring for the rear camera? That guide covered the front camera. I have it hooked up to the front, but need to make my way around for the rear and was likewise thinking of running under the door panels.
Like LuvMyE92, I also ran the wire under the door panels, and then up behind the back seat. I felt better about this since I knew that nothing would interfere with the airbags. I discovered that the wire supplied by Blackvue wasn't long enough, so I bought a similar wire and the coax connectors on eBay. Had to do a little soldering. If you run into this problem, it may be easier to contact the dashcam company directly to see if they provide longer cables.
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