FitcamX - did they sell me the wrong thing?

[eisenb11]

Hi all, need some here verifying something. I ordered a FitcamX Model A 4K for my Taycan. Front cam only. Had it professionally installed yesterday. The installer couldn’t get the polarization lense to fit. I bought the correct lense that the company recommended.

Poking around the forum today and I noticed that other Taycan Fitcams are looking different than mine. I compared model numbers on the sticker and they’re both the same nondescript “HD2”.

See the attached pic, mine looks like the one on the right with the vent holes. Many of the pics I’m seeing on this forum don’t have vent holes (like on the left).

Am I comparing different versions (like 2K vs 4K) or did they pull a fast one on me and sent old stock and I wasted another $85 paying someone to install it?

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[MrJones02]

I made that picture well I didnt take the pictures but I combined them to show the difference in the fitcamx thread here on the forum. There are indeed 2 shapes, the internals are probably identical.
I also got the one on the right from fitcamx on amazon ... while the pictures showed the one on the left. I personally didnt like the style (and I also dont like to be sent a different product that what they show in the pictures), so I returned it. Then got one in the styling on the left from aliexpress for half the price of the fitcamx.
Since you've had it installed already, unless its really bothering you, you probably dont want to go through the hassle of having it uninstalled.

 

[eisenb11]

I made that picture well I didnt take the pictures but I combined them to show the difference in the fitcamx thread here on the forum. There are indeed 2 shapes, the internals are probably identical.
I also got the one on the right from fitcamx on amazon ... while the pictures showed the one on the left. I personally didnt like the style (and I also dont like to be sent a different product that what they show in the pictures), so I returned it. Then got one in the styling on the left from aliexpress for half the price of the fitcamx.
Since you've had it installed already, unless its really bothering you, you probably dont want to go through the hassle of having it uninstalled.

I was going to post my own pic, but then saw yours and that's exactly what I'm trying to sort out so I borrowed it.

The problem I'm having with it is that the polarization lense doesn't fit as it was designed for the other model. Without the lense there is significant reflection of the center console into the video. On top of that, I think the other version is more compact and doesn't obstruct as much of the window.

I reached out to the company to see what's up and am waiting to hear back from them. Their tech support seems pretty responsive but they work on China time so it'll be a bit before I get an answer.

I'm not very happy about this. I even ordered both the cam and the lense from the same store on Amazon so this is absolute BS that they're potentially pushing old stock and that the lense doesn't fit.

 

[BigBob]

I put a FITCAMX in a month or 2 ago.
I tried to order the polarising lense for the Taycan, while I was on chat with a rep. Basically they said it doesn’t fit / isn’t compatible with the Taycan, though it does come up on their website as an option.

So I’d send them a chat and I bet they’ll say send it back, sorry.

edit
I bought direct from them rather than via Amazon or whoever.

 

[eisenb11]

I put a FITCAMX in a month or 2 ago.
I tried to order the polarising lense for the Taycan, while I was on chat with a rep. Basically they said it doesn’t fit / isn’t compatible with the Taycan, though it does come up on their website as an option.

So I’d send them a chat and I bet they’ll say send it back, sorry.

edit
I bought direct from them rather than via Amazon or whoever.

Which version of the cam did you buy? Does yours look like mine (vents) or the other one (no vents)? As far as I can tell, the filter is compatible with the no-vents version as there is a thread here on the Taycanforum where someone has the no-vent plus filter installed successfully.

 

[BigBob]

No vents. I think the innards are probably the same, as it’s basically an empty plastic cup with a small camera in it. So not sure u can tell if it’s 4k or 2k or whatever. I think there was a discussion on the bigger FITCAMX thread about whether it was a true 4k etc.

the box had a 4k sticker on it and it was the model A.

 

[eisenb11]

No vents. I think the innards are probably the same, as it’s basically an empty plastic cup with a small camera in it. So not sure u can tell if it’s 4k or 2k or whatever. I think there was a discussion on the bigger FITCAMX thread about whether it was a true 4k etc.

the box had a 4k sticker on it and it was the model A.

Odd, your camera looks like the one that's supposed to be compatible with the CPL-7708 filter.

 

[eisenb11]

OK, update - I managed to get ahold of their tech support... kind of...

So it turns out that the 2 units are the same, but with different covers. They say that the internals are the same, otherwise.

If you got the one without the vents, the polarization filter is CPL-7708. That's what they told me to order, but it doesn't fit on my vented one.

If you got the larger one, like mine, with the vents, then the correct part number for the polarization filter appears to be CPL-3390.

This is really ticking me off. I found out they didn't give me the same unit as pictured after paying $85 to get it installed when the installer went to put the CPL-7708 filter on and told me it didn't fit. It's going to cost me another $85 if I want to remove the camera or swap it.

I have half a mind to try to do a charge-back over this. Although, I may complain to Amazon first. Neither their website nor the Amazon site show the larger vented version... I'm not going to eat two install fees over this.

 

[BigBob]

Surely easiest just to get a refund on the filter and move on? Picture is fine without it.

 

[eisenb11]

Surely easiest just to get a refund on the filter and move on? Picture is fine without it.

Yeah, but I wanted the smaller body of the unit in the picture. Imagine the unit you have, but 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.

 

[BigBob]

Yeah, but I wanted the smaller body of the unit in the picture. Imagine the unit you have, but blocking another 1/2" of your window when you're driving. It kind of sucks.

I’ll avoid a crude comment about 1/2 inch making all the difference, but do you think you’ll really notice it, and are you sure it’s actually smaller?
I absolutely get you want what you ordered and if the pic is wrong that’s not good. But will when you’re driving the car i doubt it would register if a replacement was a tiny bit smaller? I’d think from driver’s perspective it will appear more like 1/4 inch?

 

[eisenb11]

I’ll avoid a crude comment about 1/2 inch making all the difference, but do you think you’ll really notice it, and are you sure it’s actually smaller?
I absolutely get you want what you ordered and if the pic is wrong that’s not good. But will when you’re driving the car i doubt it would register if a replacement was a tiny bit smaller? I’d think from driver’s perspective it will appear more like 1/4 inch?

Even a 1/4" makes a difference! (works for both the crude and non-crude comment, ha ha)

Just out of curiosity, is there any chance you could measure the height of your unit? From the top to the lowest point? I guess that'll be the easiest way to see if I'm making too big an issue of this.

- Edit -

I did a photoshop analysis and I estimate that the vented unit hangs about 1/2" under the mirror. I believe the non-vented hangs about 1/4" under the mirror. It doesn't sound like much, but that portion of the windshield already lacks visibility due to the mirror being there.

 

[BigBob]

Even a 1/4" makes a difference! (works for both the crude and non-crude comment, ha ha)

Just out of curiosity, is there any chance you could measure the height of your unit? From the top to the lowest point? I guess that'll be the easiest way to see if I'm making too big an issue of this.

- Edit -

I did a photoshop analysis and I estimate that the vented unit hangs about 1/2" under the mirror. I believe the non-vented hangs about 1/4" under the mirror. It doesn't sound like much, but that portion of the windshield already lacks visibility due to the mirror being there.

Here you go. Take the measurements with a pinch of salt as it’s a bit tricky doing the measurements. I’ve used mm as increments work better than the old fashioned ways. But these are hopefully helpful.

I’ve also added a photo of view from drivers seat (on correct side of car ?). Seat all the way back. I’m 6 foot and my top of my head was 50mm from the pano roof. Guess that measurement different if you’ve a metal one.

 

[eisenb11]

Thanks for the pics and measurements! I took one of my own to compare. It's what I see from the driver's seat - roughly the same scale as yours. I'm about 2 inches shorter than you.

I'm thinking that the part that I see would be about half as much (1/4") with your cam.

As for measurements, my lowest point is about 82.5 mm (3.25") at about the center.

I might see if they'll do a cam swap for me... although that means I'll have to eat the install fee again. Ugh.

The trade is that while the vented one is larger, I suspect that the vents may help with heat dissipation... but, on the other side, from my perspective in the driver's seat, the visible area in the center of my window is about 6 of those 1/2"-ish portions. Reducing a 1/4" would get me about 9% more visibility which isn't insignificant.

Thoughts on the trade?

 

[BigBob]

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.

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