Porsche Dashcam Installed - Review and Overview for US Taycan Owners

[madeyong]

I have to say this FitCamX is one of the best looking and integrated cameras. The only thing that puts me off is the potential impact on warranty - has anyone had any issues?

I have the same concern. I love the OEM look of the FitCamX but too worried about the potential for warranty issues. Sure maybe Porsche doesn’t care but with a car that was almost $200K new and there being many reports of battery issues, I would hate myself for life if I had a battery issue with the car and Porsche denied warranty coverage claiming I voided it by attaching the FitCamX.

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[ciaranob]

I have the same concern. I love the OEM look of the FitCamX but too worried about the potential for warranty issues. Sure maybe Porsche doesn’t care but with a car that was almost $200K new and there being many reports of battery issues, I would hate myself for life if I had a battery issue with the car and Porsche denied warranty coverage claiming I voided it by attaching the FitCamX.

This might help to ease your concerns re any perceived battery drain issues - believe me, there are none - for example:

I had my car for 6 weeks (long story!) at my customization shop getting paint and other mods done here in Houston and I had left the SD card in the camera - every single day the car was opened/closed, various parts were being taken on and off and other days simply had folk milling about around the static car such that the camera's recordings were almost constant throughout the days in the shop.

There was literally ZERO effect on the 12V battery and a minuscule decline of the HV battery over this period (the latter almost certainly to do with starting up the car's systems each day vs anything to do with the dash cam).

So the idea that the FitCamX will cause any issue with LV or HV battery drain is simply not true in my experience. In regards warranty - believe it or not but I had my car in for other tests that included std load tests etc and not only did the Porsche Techs see nothing out of the ordinary in that regard but they did not even realize the FitCamX was installed i.e. it looked so OEM it went entirely unnoticed (I am quite sure of this and they still are unaware!).

But regardless important to get whatever solution you feel most comfortable with and good thing is there are many excellent options out there.

 

[madeyong]

This might help to ease your concerns re any perceived battery drain issues - believe me, there are none - for example:

I had my car for 6 weeks (long story!) at my customization shop getting paint and other mods done here in Houston and I had left the SD card in the camera - every single day the car was opened/closed, various parts were being taken on and off and other days simply had folk milling about around the static car such that the camera's recordings were almost constant throughout the days in the shop.

There was literally ZERO effect on the 12V battery and a minuscule decline of the HV battery over this period (the latter almost certainly to do with starting up the car's systems each day vs anything to do with the dash cam).

So the idea that the FitCamX will cause any issue with LV or HV battery drain is simply not true in my experience. In regards warranty - believe it or not but I had my car in for other tests that included std load tests etc and not only did the Porsche Techs see nothing out of the ordinary in that regard but they did not even realize the FitCamX was installed i.e. it looked so OEM it went entirely unnoticed (I am quite sure of this and they still are unaware!).

But regardless important to get whatever solution you feel most comfortable with and good thing is there are many excellent options out there.

Thanks for this. To be clear, you’ve convinced me. I’m not worried that the FitCamX itself will be the cause of any battery issues. I’m worried something unrelated may happen requiring warranty service in the ordinary course and Porsche tries to deny warranty service on the basis of my having installed the FitCamX (even though maybe patently unrelated). I could replace it with the factory plastic covers each time I bring to service but that seems to be a PITA. I just need to either grow a pair and bite the bullet or move on and live without it. Still thinking about it…

 

[Pozuelo]

There was literally ZERO effect on the 12V battery and a minuscule decline of the HV battery over this period (the latter almost certainly to do with starting up the car's systems each day vs anything to do with the dash cam).

As you state, they probably started the car in multiple occasions (not necessarily moving the car, just placing the car in ready mode, forces the 800V to charge the minute 12V battery. Another matter would be if they had not done this. Just be careful, my two cents.

 

[PDACPA]

Not a lawyer, but there is protection under the law that prevents a blanket voiding of the warranty due to a modification. So if your dashcam caused your auto-dimming mirror to stop working, they could void the warranty on the mirror if you wired it to the power source, but they cannot void a suspension repair or your seat not working, etc.

Here was a fast google search that gave a layman quick answer:

https://www.autocare.org/government-relations/current-issues/Magnuson-Moss-Warranty-Act

 

[GTSCarLife]

Well then you better tell that to the U.K. I travel to Ireland and England regularly, and the cars are absolutely 100% Right Hand Drive, as are the streets.

 

[ciaranob]

As you state, they probably started the car in multiple occasions (not necessarily moving the car, just placing the car in ready mode, forces the 800V to charge the minute 12V battery. Another matter would be if they had not done this. Just be careful, my two cents.

Yes fully aware what they did and how starting up the car temporarily charges the LV but also started up dashcam recordings - but again no concerns re draw and not sure what you are referencing in respect being careful? I have left my camera with card loaded for 2-3 weeks parked a few times when traveling now with zero LV losses. And to be clear, I certainly do not intend leaving my car for 6 weeks again with anyone (most def the anomaly)! If you are referencing taking care re storing the car for over 6 weeks there is of course a no. of threads on this in the forum and a different topic altogether.

 

[Glassdome]

So it looks like the best option is the FixCamX and plugging that into the dimming mirror connector. That will give the most OEM look. Then if you want parking, either hardwiring to the fuse box, or using an OBDII connector. I assume with the OBDII route there is less chance Porsche can claim impacts to the warranty then if wiring to the fuse. Will be interesting to the see the post on the FixCamX dual camera that @Hirschaj is fitting shortly

 

[whitex]

The Porsche OEM dashcam looks more aftermarket than Blackvue, which comes with 2 cameras, front and rear. Blackvue installation takes from 30 minutes to maybe 2 hours (hatchbacks take longer as you have to find a way to feed the wire to the tailgate). I've installed BV's in all of our family cars, all wires are hidden except right next to the camera. I treat dashcams like airbags, hope to never use them, but really glad they are there. I also consider front+rear a must. Only had to use it once for something serious, but when we did, it was the rear camera which saved the day, proved the other driver's fault, so that we saved on $900 deductible and our insurance did not go up since without it, it would have likely been ruled "no fault" which means both parties at fault and than means full deductible and insurance goes up next renewal. Without the dashcam footage, there would have been no proof who veered into whose lane. Here is the video:

The above accident totaled one of our Model S - it was barely a year old then. Just this one accident probably covered the cost of all dashcams in all of our family cars. As for other uses, my daughter once used hers to prove who wrote some derogatory slogans on her windshield while parked at her school. Nothing that couldn't be cleaned up with some cleaner, but there was some satisfaction in catching the perpetrators.

Someday, when Porsche figures out out how to build me a Taycan, I plan to install 2CH 4K blackvue solution, unless they have something better by then. Too bad the Porsche dashcam is such an afterthought, Had they planned ahead, they could have created a front and rear (possibly side) camera "taps" (digital repeaters) which could have been used by the Porsche dashcam product. It would have been completely invisible as with such a solution it could be hidden out of sight.

 

[Hirschaj]

So it looks like the best option is the FixCamX and plugging that into the dimming mirror connector. That will give the most OEM look. Then if you want parking, either hardwiring to the fuse box, or using an OBDII connector. I assume with the OBDII route there is less chance Porsche can claim impacts to the warranty then if wiring to the fuse. Will be interesting to the see the post on the FixCamX dual camera that @Hirschaj is fitting shortly

Quick update, I finally received the dual FitcamX yesterday. I was a little confused after opening the box to not see a hardwire kit for the fuse box. After reading their website more carefully it appears you need to contact the company to order a fuse box hardwire kit separately. The dual FitcamX as ordered off of the website gets connected to the rain sensor plug just like a single FitcamX and comes with a “hardwire” (that is the term they use) that runs from the front camera to the rear one. In this configuration I won’t have parking mode unless I order the fuse box hardwire kit from them separately.

 

[Speuk]

Quick update, I finally received the dual FitcamX yesterday. I was a little confused after opening the box to not see a hardwire kit for the fuse box. After reading their website more carefully it appears you need to contact the company to order a fuse box hardwire kit separately. The dual FitcamX as ordered off of the website gets connected to the rain sensor plug just like a single FitcamX and comes with a “hardwire” (that is the term they use) that runs from the front camera to the rear one. In this configuration I won’t have parking mode unless I order the fuse box hardwire kit from them separately.

Yep it is $25 on their website see screenshot

 

[Hirschaj]

Yep it is $25 on their website see screenshot

I’m only going to install the front cam for now on my current (temporary) CT4. I’ll add the fuse box cable and the rear cam to my custom order CT4 that is supposed to arrive in mid August. I’m just feeling lazy.

 

[Speuk]

I’m only going to install the front cam for now on my current (temporary) CT4. I’ll add the fuse box cable and the rear cam to my custom order CT4 that is supposed to arrive in mid August. I’m just feeling lazy.

Roger that

It seems of you want to hardwire they supply a different model with a different pcb, I expect the pub I'd the same but power lead has different connector. See their response to me. Nothing to stop you cutting off the connector for the rain sensor and using your own hardwire cable to fuse box or old socket.

 

[Hirschaj]

Roger that

It seems of you want to hardwire they supply a different model with a different pcb, I expect the pub I'd the same but power lead has different connector. See their response to me. Nothing to stop you cutting off the connector for the rain sensor and using your own hardwire cable to fuse box or old socket.

Interesting, the diagram that came with the camera makes it look like you can just swap out that power cable. I guess I’ll have to decide if I really want parking mode or not.

 

[TDinDC]

So I purchased an aftermarket Dashcam that I had planned to install myself, but now I am having a few doubts about installing myself. I have seen posts about how to remove the mirror cover, but nothing about a-pillar, etc. I have searched both here and generally and have not seen anything.

I have the proper interior tools, but I don’t want to undertake this job if the risk of breaking or damaging trim parts is too high. Anyone know of any good installers in the DMV area?

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