[AlexK]

Originally Posted by BigMikeTwn

The only bummer for me, a Mac user, is that all the software is PC and Android....

You don't really need the included software to watch the recorded videos... And of course you can always use BootCamp to install a copy of Windows on your MacBook (or whatever you're using) - having a readily available installation of Windows can be very handy in many cases even if you're primarily an OSX user

[BigMikeTwn]

Originally Posted by AlexK

You don't really need the included software to watch the recorded videos... And of course you can always use BootCamp to install a copy of Windows on your MacBook (or whatever you're using) - having a readily available installation of Windows can be very handy in many cases even if you're primarily an OSX user

Yeah, I've seen the mpeg4 videos and they're pretty good looking. As for Windows, I don't have it on any of my 5 Macs.... I'll have to look into it.

[sith]

Hi Big Mike,

Did you install the Magic Power Pro with your Blackvue? The Magic Power Pro has to tap to the fuse box to get power so that it is powered up even the ignition is off.

Some people say an error message would pop up occasionally on the CIC as recent models of BMW cars come with current leakage detection system, which is pretty much annoying. Do you have such problems?

I have been using Blackvue for some time with my old car (not a BMW). The video quality is very good. Now, I am going to buy the Magic Power Pro as BMW cuts most of the power shortly after the engine is off.

Thanks.

[Losco]

Hey sith,

I also got BlackVue on my car so I can answer some questions.. Car will throw low battery warning about 7-8 hours into recording, so I have my magicpower to cut off at 6. kinda disappointed I can't let it record overnight. Another thing is these are apparently notoriously faulty, I got mine last june and internal battery is already dead and lens/sensor is fogged up inside so I gotta send it in for replacement.

[sith]

Originally Posted by Losco

Hey sith,

I also got BlackVue on my car so I can answer some questions.. Car will throw low battery warning about 7-8 hours into recording, so I have my magicpower to cut off at 6. kinda disappointed I can't let it record overnight. Another thing is these are apparently notoriously faulty, I got mine last june and internal battery is already dead and lens/sensor is fogged up inside so I gotta send it in for replacement.

Losco,
Thanks a lot!
I have been using Blackvue on my previous Accord for over a year but without magic power pro. It's been working fine. Since Accord keeps giving power to the lights on the headliner, I could hard wire the Blackvue to it to get power for the Blackvue so I did not need the magic power pro. It can keep running for a week with the motion sensor on.
I wonder why your car will give a low battery warning for 7~8 hrs recording as I don't think a car video recorder would draw much power. Anyway, I will think it over again before buying the magic power pro.
Thx again.

[Losco]

Originally Posted by sith

Losco,
Thanks a lot!
I have been using Blackvue on my previous Accord for over a year but without magic power pro. It's been working fine. Since Accord keeps giving power to the lights on the headliner, I could hard wire the Blackvue to it to get power for the Blackvue so I did not need the magic power pro. It can keep running for a week with the motion sensor on.
I wonder why your car will give a low battery warning for 7~8 hrs recording as I don't think a car video recorder would draw much power. Anyway, I will think it over again before buying the magic power pro.
Thx again.

I had the magicpower to shut down at 11.8V(I think) but car apparently senses continued voltage drop, and cuts all power. This might depend on models since some F10 have larger batteries. Blackvue recommends adding another small battery if you want extended operation but the wiring was too much of an hassle for me since I installed it myself. Also I think the new HD blackvue(one I have) draws more power than previous models. It runs very hot even at night, almost too hot to touch. Anyway if you wire Blackvue to your F10 without magicpower, car will definately throw power drain error on next startup.

[sith]

Losco, thanks for your advice.

[528imsport]

Originally Posted by BigMikeTwn

I finally decided to get a camera system installed and went down to the car electronics store today and picked out a BlackVue.... seeing how I wanted a camera that was compact but also HD, it seemed like the best one to get. Here are a few pics of my install today...

Car sitting in the installation garage


"Hiding the wires" in progress....









Picture of it from the driver's position where it's invisible:


Visible only if I lean forward to the left:


From the outside:



Comes with a mini-SD card, card USB reader, cables, etc.

nice mod
I what a set too where can I get them?

[bmwombat]

I can see more & more folks installing these over time due to road rage & generally incompetent driving issues.

[nirmalts]

I got a Blackvue last week and installed it in my F10 on the cigratte lighter jack. This of course does not stay on when the car is off. Does any one know which fuse in the glovebox gives constant power? I don't want to run a wire all the way to the battery



Thanks in advance

[badblack550xi]

installed my new BlackVue 550 2 Chan front and back it's perfect!

[528imsport]

I also got my 500 so far so good and I have sprayed it matt black so it is short of cammo and can not see it at day or night. Need to get close up to find the cam.

[Empiremotorsports]

to those who are interested n this camera i have a dedicated commercial thread for this product you can simply PM me

[nirmalts]

Finally I managed to wire it all up so that the Blackvue stays alive on my 2012 F10 even when the car is off.

There are in total 5 fuses behind the front glovebox that stays alive in my car - Nr.7, Nr.8, Nr.9, Nr.11 and Nr.13. The Nr.7, Nr.8 and Nr.9 have 30A current. This is too much for a fuse adapter which most cases takes a max of 15A. I used Fuse Nr.11 with 7.5A (Climate Control) for Battery(+) and Nr.31 with 5A für ACC(+).


For Ground, I used a bolt behind the Airbag Off Panel.



The Power Magic Pro inside glovebox after installation.


Not visible from normal angle


The beauties in the end




The Park mode works perfectly fine now

[528imsport]

nice will try to do it for my too when the magic power pro+ arrive

[CyberJudas]

Can anyone comment about the position on the rear camera (on the 550gw-2ch) with the rear roller blind? Am interested in installing a Blackvue but can't figure out where to mount the rear camera because I'm scared there isn't enough clearance once the roller blind is up...

[nirmalts]

Originally Posted by CyberJudas

Can anyone comment about the position on the rear camera (on the 550gw-2ch) with the rear roller blind? Am interested in installing a Blackvue but can't figure out where to mount the rear camera because I'm scared there isn't enough clearance once the roller blind is up...

I had the same fear too. There is however enough space between the blind and the cam. There is no way the cam would come in the way of the blind.



(Sorry for the poor quality. The flash reflected all the dirt on the car)

[CyberJudas]

Brilliant... Thanks very much for your advise (and photo) nirmalts!

Time for me to go and find my installer now..

[Losco]

Originally Posted by nirmalts

I had the same fear too. There is however enough space between the blind and the cam. There is no way the cam would come in the way of the blind.

(Sorry for the poor quality. The flash reflected all the dirt on the car)

It seems like you got the new version, not sure if it's affected by infamous fogging/battery dying. apparently fogging/battery dying = free replacement as long as you can send em back. Is there a official distributor in Germany? I also saw a Korean forum member doing self repair on fogging issue.
http://bobaedream.co.kr/view?code=accident&No=240937
(translation not really needed, lot of pics)

[Hprice1099]

Hi all, any chance anyone has an F31 with the DR550 2 chan?? If so do you know where to hardwire it so no warnings come up? I've just sold my f30 and had warning come up with that.
Cheers

[007bandido]

Hello,

I installed BlackVue DR550 2CH + Powermagic Pro and works fine. However, I could not use fuse 31 on my F11. I used fuse 3 (OBD) for batt and fuse 11 for ACC+.

Just a question: PowerMagic Pro led is always On until voltage drops below 12.0 or 11.8 with power button in 0 or 1 ? I though led would be Off when power button will be in 0.

[sith]

Hi Nirmalts,

Could you plz post some photos or describe how you run the wire for connection of the rear cam and the front cam? Did you need to remove the headliners?

Thanks in advance.