FitcamX - did they sell me the wrong thing?

[eisenb11]

I did the install myself and I would swallow the different shape rather than having to do it again! One very fiddly bit!

As for vents/heat, I can’t see it would make a lot of difference. Tiny camera and big void, though I guess potentially gets a lot of sun etc.

I’d have a (online) chat with Amazon. In my experience in the UK they are pretty good (maybe I just buy a lot of stuff from them!). Sort of thing they may refund the purchase without requiring the part back or something. Doubt they’ll cover a third party expense though.

personally I’d leave it and think you’ll forget it’s there, once it’s stopped annoying you.

Yeah, I tried to install myself, but didn't like messing with the trim pieces. Ended up going to an installer after I had trouble trying to get the first piece off! Not sure how hard doing it in reverse will be.

I noticed that the cam was very hot the first time I used it and I touched it after I parked. The specs say it's good for up to almost 200 degrees though. Needs to last another 2.5 years to make it to the end of my lease! Then I'll need to remove it.

I checked with Amazon, but they have little they can do since it's shipped by them, but not offered by them - so I have to deal with the seller directly for things like that.

I decided to give it a day to see if it annoys me when I drive. If it does, it may be worth paying for another install just to get some piece of mind! ha ha

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[BigBob]

Yeah, I tried to install myself, but didn't like messing with the trim pieces. Ended up going to an installer after I had trouble trying to get the first piece off! Not sure how hard doing it in reverse will be.

I noticed that the cam was very hot the first time I used it and I touched it after I parked. The specs say it's good for up to almost 200 degrees though. Needs to last another 2.5 years to make it to the end of my lease! Then I'll need to remove it.

I checked with Amazon, but they have little they can do since it's shipped by them, but not offered by them - so I have to deal with the seller directly for things like that.

I decided to give it a day to see if it annoys me when I drive. If it does, it may be worth paying for another install just to get some piece of mind! ha ha

Yes, was my first ever trim removal exercise. Wasn’t too bad once you got your head around the cracking noises! I also practiced on my other car first, so went in with a little more confidence, albeit a completely different install. Their YouTube fitting video definitely skips the 1 or 2 most fiddly bits as well. Putting back together is a lot harder than taking to bits.

 

[whitex]

blocking another 1/2" of your window when you're driving. It kind of sucks. The blocking of the view is more annoying to me than the filter issue.

Given that, I would suggest a Blackvue dashcam as it can be hidden completely behind the mirror. It looks like this from the driver's position on my Taycan:

Minimal obstruction, and it uses Taycan pre-wire intended for a dashcam (4K front camera plus you can also install 2 channel version with a rear camera using using the same pre-wire, like I did - see this thread for details). If I wanted to be pedantic, I could even hide the two wires slightly visible above the top right of the rear view mirror, by tucking them behind the mirror.

 

[MrJones02]

Even the "smaller" version is still visible, give it a day or two and you will stop noticing it.

Those things do tend to get hot, I took out the sd-card the other day right after a 1 hour drive and the card was pretty hot.

 

[whitex]

I took out the sd-card the other day right after a 1 hour drive and the card was pretty hot.

That is why you never use the cheapest SD card you can find - use ones rated for extreme environment (temperatures, accelerations) and continuous recording.

 

[eisenb11]

That is why you never use the cheapest SD card you can find - use ones rated for extreme environment (temperatures, accelerations) and continuous recording.

I swapped the included card out as soon as I got home with a Sandisk Extreme endurance card - forgot to touch the cam this morning when I got to work to see if it was as hot as the "free" card.

 

[whitex]

I swapped the included card out as soon as I got home with a Sandisk Extreme endurance card - forgot to touch the cam this morning when I got to work to see if it was as hot as the "free" card.

I've been using the Sandisk Extreme / Sandisk Extreme PLUS in all our family car dashcams for over a decade now. They've been holding up well.

 

[eisenb11]

@BigBob Just to close the loop on this. I slept on it to let things calm down then drove around like normal today. While the other body style will be less intrusive, the 1/4" probably won't make much of a difference.

In the end, I'd rather not keep fiddling with the panel covers until it becomes a rattling mess and the extra ventilation might help the unit's longevity bit. I didn't notice the camera much once I stopped fussing over it.

This also saves me another installation fee to swap cams and FitcamX was pretty cool and offered to send me the correct polarization filter in lieu of changing to the other body style so I'll have one that fits now.

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