Dash Cam: Avoid the Porsche?

[Dollymite]

Hello! Just picked up my new ST 4S and it’s everything I hoped it would be, just amazing. Mostly thanks to this forum and my hundreds of hours of reading threads on how best to spec, what I needed/didn’t need etc. So thanks all, will post pics on the separate thread when I regain some energy.
Meanwhile: dash cams. I’ve tried to read as many threads on here as possible but none seem to answer exactly what I want to know - if I’ve missed something then point me in the right direction!
I had the prewiring put in for the Porsche dash cam but would have to be booked in for an install in a few weeks and so it got me searching on here for alternatives. Then I spotted a few people saying to avoid the Porsche cam. Does anyone know the reason for this?
I’m happy to research alternatives but don’t particularly want to be running wires around my brand new car and taking bits apart; does anyone reading use one of the “plug in” cams rather than hardwired?
If I don’t go with Porsche dash cam then is the wiring they’ve already done any good for hardwiring other brands?
Again apologies if any of this has been answered. Brain is fried after hours of ridiculous dead-end insurance quotes and also trying to get my head around the fact that you have to carry a tracker fob around with you as well as your keys but not WITH your keys because it invalidates your insurance… apparently… not sure how that works if someone nicks my bag with both things in it!

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[Moonstone]

The Porsche dashcam is a rebranded Audi product called the Audi UTR. The software is rubbish and very basic.

Basically it’s way over-priced for what it is just because it has a Porsche badge on it. You can buy a better camera with 4K and cellular networking capability from companies like BlackVue for similar money.

The Porsche dashcam is a substandard ripoff that people are paying for because they view it as an OEM product when it really isn’t. Infact the same company who manufacture it also manufacture the BMW Car Eye dashcam which uses the same underlying software.

File downloads are a faff. There’s no PC app so you need to remove the SD card and use something like VLC viewer to watch files. For the money it’s absolute dog-shit and if it wasn’t a Porsche branded product NO-ONE would buy the thing.

 

[Dollymite]

The Porsche dashcam is a rebranded Audi product called the Audi UTR. The software is rubbish and very basic.

Basically it’s way over-priced for what it is just because it has a Porsche badge on it. You can buy a better camera with 4K and cellular networking capability from companies like BlackVue for similar money.

The Porsche dashcam is a substandard ripoff that people are paying for because they view it as an OEM product when it really isn’t. Infact the same company who manufacture it also manufacture the BMW Car Eye dashcam which uses the same underlying software.

File downloads are a faff. There’s no PC app so you need to remove the SD card and use something like VLC viewer to watch files. For the money it’s absolute dog-shit and if it wasn’t a Porsche branded product NO-ONE would buy the thing.

Thank you! Dodged a bullet there then…

 

[Porsche-Guru]

Have you looked at FitCamX? They are as close you will get to an OEM looking solution.
I intend to get one once my car arrives….
https://fitcamx.com/collections/porsche/products/fitcamx-dash-cam-for-porsche

 

[gtm]

+1 on the FitCamX. Installed one on my Taycan and it's pretty slick. Takes all of 30 minutes to install the first time. Probably 10 minutes once you know what you are doing. Looks the way an OEM camera should look. Invisible unless you know it's there. Way better than the clunky, intrusive Porsche dashcam. You have to remove the memory card to view the video but it's easy. The app is OK, not fantastic but decent. Check out one of the YouTube videos to get an idea what it looks like and how it is to install.

Edit: I am commenting on the front camera only. I did not opt to install a rear camera. The FitCamX does offer the option of a rear camera and the wiring is run off the same source as the front camera so no splicing into the car's wiring harness or running separate power from the fuse box. Parking monitoring is possible but if I remember correctly that requires powering the units from the fuse box. Details are on the FitCam website if that option is important.

And just to throw in an editorial comment. Why isn't this function built into the car? Plenty of cameras already exist on the car. Frustrating. The car is so good in some areas and so not good in others.

 

[Dollymite]

Have you looked at FitCamX? They are as close you will get to an OEM looking solution.
I intend to get one once my car arrives….
https://fitcamx.com/collections/porsche/products/fitcamx-dash-cam-for-porsche

Thanks, this looks good!

 

[Dollymite]

+1 on the FitCamX. Installed one on my Taycan and it's pretty slick. Takes all of 30 minutes to install the first time. Probably 10 minutes once you know what you are doing. Looks the way an OEM camera should look. Invisible unless you know it's there. Way better than the clunky, intrusive Porsche dashcam. You have to remove the memory card to view the video but it's easy. The app is OK, not fantastic but decent. Check out one of the YouTube videos to get an idea what it looks like and how it is to install.

Great, this definitely looks up my street in terms of ease!

 

[Raphie]

I’ve had the fitcamX now for a couple of months - ZERO issues, cleanest least invasive install and cleanest look. HIGHLY recommended. And once you know that to do, it’s a 10min install.

 

[Dollymite]

I’ve had the fitcamX now for a couple of months - ZERO issues, cleanest least invasive install and cleanest look. HIGHLY recommended. And once you know that to do, it’s a 10min install.

The wire running to the rear cam, is it pretty unobtrusive? Just about to order!

 

[Sidicks]

There is some truth in the above, but I don’t think it’s quite as clear cut as some people might suggest:

Yes - for the cost (c. £900 installed) you can certainly buy other cameras which have more / better functionality.
Yes - the app is a bit awkward
Yes - accessing the data appears to be a pretty cumbersome process

But:
I don’t expect to be looking at the data on a regular basis, only in the event of an incident. For this purpose it does what I need.

It has the key functionality that I need - front and rear camera, with a parking mode.

From the driver‘s seat, the front camera is invisible and the rear camera is fairly discrete.

It turns on when I start driving the car and turns off when I stop driving, so I don’t have to remember to activate it (I guess this is the same with other dashcams, as I’ve not had one before).

Importantly, it was installed by my OPC utilising the pre-wiring, so no-one needed to remove trim pieces etc to hide cables. Any problems with my car, the OPC won’t be able to blame the dashcam installation and potentially avoid any warranty. Likewise it should ‘integrate’ with the 12V battery and thus avoid potential battery drain issues.

For me therefore, the Porsche dashcam was a low risk, albeit expensive option.

I have no doubt that other (better) cameras are available and, in the vast majority of cases, the potential downsides I highlighted above won’t be an issue.

 

[anonymouse]

One of the things I miss from my Tesla was a monitoring app called TeslaFi which could pull out a nice pretty route map after a week-long road trip. Do any of the dash cams do something similar? I think the more expensive Blackvue ones might keep a GPS track…?

 

[tigerbalm]

If your OPC ignores the official install instructions and places the camera up near your rear-view mirror then the install can be considered "neat enough".

But the official instructions has them placing the camera ridiculously far down on the windscreen – making for a very intrusive and prominent install. I don't know what the thinking there is.

 

[tigerbalm]

One of the things I miss from my Tesla was a monitoring app called TeslaFi which could pull out a nice pretty route map after a week-long road trip. Do any of the dash cams do something similar? I think the more expensive Blackvue ones might keep a GPS track…?

Not that I am aware – but I am working (mostly for myself) on an iOS app that does that.

 

[Speuk]

FitcamX is probably the easiest install, but it is not 4K despite the description.
I opted for the Viofo A139Pro 4k front and 1080p rear. Installation is very easy and cable to rear can is only 2.7mm dia so tucks under trim easily. App is very good and lots of options for configuring parking mode.
Blackvue is another good option but more expensive.

 

[dugbug]

Do any of the non oem cams use the prewiring?

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