[B6WAF]

I've specced Parking Assistant Plus on my next car (coming soon) which includes Drive Recorder. Apparently this records the 20 seconds before and after a detected collision, and can also be started manually. Up to 10 x 40 second videos can be saved on the hard drive.

If you've got this option, do you still feel the need for a full time dashcam as well ?

[Nadz]

I had the recorder in my previous 5 series. The camera quality was great. In my current 340i i do not have it and have a dashcam instead. Key differences are:
- Drive recorder will only save a clip in the event of a crash (this is fine as that is when you will most need it)
- manual recording is possible by holding the camera button near the gearstick for a few seconds
- recording is limited to 40 seconds (i think).

So for everyday use the drive recorder is excellent as you do not even know it is there and if you have surround view, it will take a feed from all cameras. However, the benefit of a dedicated dashcam is that it will record all the time and overwrite the footage when required. So, for example lets say you were driving and an incident happened (that did not result in a crash) like someone brake checking you or cutting you up, accident on other side of road, you will likely not have enough time to have hit the button to start recording. This is where the dashcam is superior in my opinion.

However, all boils down to whether you need footage only in the event of an crash affecting your car or you need it running all the time.

Sorry i could not give you a definitive answer!

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by Nadz

I had the recorder in my previous 5 series. The camera quality was great. In my current 340i i do not have it and have a dashcam instead. Key differences are:
- Drive recorder will only save a clip in the event of a crash (this is fine as that is when you will most need it)
- manual recording is possible by holding the camera button near the gearstick for a few seconds
- recording is limited to 40 seconds (i think).

So for everyday use the drive recorder is excellent as you do not even know it is there and if you have surround view, it will take a feed from all cameras. However, the benefit of a dedicated dashcam is that it will record all the time and overwrite the footage when required. So, for example lets say you were driving and an incident happened (that did not result in a crash) like someone brake checking you or cutting you up, accident on other side of road, you will likely not have enough time to have hit the button to start recording. This is where the dashcam is superior in my opinion.

However, all boils down to whether you need footage only in the event of an crash affecting your car or you need it running all the time.

Sorry i could not give you a definitive answer!

If you press the record button, it will auto save the previous 20 seconds, giving you plenty of time

[willougs]

I have Drive Recorder. It's nice to have there silently running in the background, however as stated above, it is limited. By the time you've finished swearing, gesturing and arguing with the moron that's almost killed you, you've left it too late to capture any evidence.

I would also argue that in the event of a very minor collision not detected by the car, I'd even remember it was there and press the button to save.

That said, I don't have any other dashcam.

Oh, and the novelty of Remote Camera View soon wears off.

[Seaford]

I decided front and rear dashcams were a must for me many years ago….ironically I haven’t had to call on them since then!

Other than to review an incident that caused the police to pull me over……would have been useful in court if it had got that far as (somewhat understandably) the officer had misinterpreted what had happened (I was the victim rather than the offender!) and I would have been a free man!!

[srbs73]

Parking mode is an absolute must for me. It's saved me from footing the bill on two occasions where my car was hit when parked. Both times I wouldn't have even realised until possibly several days later.

[RichardM]

I have the drive recorder coming on my new car but I still plan on fitting a dedicated from and rear dash cam

[B6WAF]

Originally Posted by srbs73

Parking mode is an absolute must for me. It's saved me from footing the bill on two occasions where my car was hit when parked. Both times I wouldn't have even realised until possibly several days later.

Is parking mode a function of Drive Recorder, or are you referring to that function on a normal dashcam ?

[Funboy78]

Originally Posted by B6WAF

Is parking mode a function of Drive Recorder, or are you referring to that function on a normal dashcam ?

I was wondering the same, I have Drive Recorder but not aware of this feature?

[Tam the Bam]

Originally Posted by B6WAF

Is parking mode a function of Drive Recorder, or are you referring to that function on a normal dashcam ?

Afraid not with drive recorder.

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by B6WAF

Is parking mode a function of Drive Recorder, or are you referring to that function on a normal dashcam ?

No it's not. I've got a Thinkware T700 with a Cellink battery pack. 2 years ago, I was at a BBQ when I got an alert on my watch, checked the footage and saw the neighbour reverse into my car, open the door to quickly check for damage and then drive off! I went out and saw cracks and scuffs on the bumper that I wouldn't have noticed until I washed the car.

She was very shocked when she returned and I knocked on her door. That one incident covered the cost of the camera.

I am surprised only Tesla offer this parking mode capability out of the factory.