[springerdrive]

This is the first dashcam I've owned or installed. The scariest and hardest part was gathering information specific to the g20 and trying to grasp, in the abstract, how everything would work. I'm extremely grateful to all the good folks at dashcamtalk.com and at BlackBoxmyCar who patiently answered all my newbie questions. Additionally, I found information on the web specific to the g20.

The Viofo A229 is powered by a Cellink Neo Battery located in the trunk (boot). The Cellink is charged from a connection to the fusebox (F273), also in the trunk (boot) that powers off about 7 minutes after the car is turned off. I've added a Cellink Extended Battery and now have approximately 50 hours on parking mode. With a power cable and a rear camera cable running on adjacent sides from the front to the rear, all cabling is 99% hidden. I was amazed that I accomplished this on my first try!

Front Camera:

I could have hidden the front camera behind the mirror, but with this location, it's much more accessible.

Rear Camera:

The rear camera was originally mounted higher (more stealthy), but I was getting an antenna wire at the top of the frame. You'll notice in the video below that there's still a fuzzy horizontal line in the frame. I could not find a location that would eliminate that.

The Viofo A229 menu, through the front camera or the wifi-connected app, is very useful for making adjustments, downloading videos, and turning parking mode on and off when it's needed and when it's not. The Cellink Neo's Bluetooth app is also very useful to check the battery status and charge level.

[AkiraT]

I bought exactly the same dash cam today and plan to install it over Xmas. How's your experience so far with it?

Any reason you're powering the dash cam off the battery pack rather than the car's battery? I was planning to use Viofo's hardwire kit and have power cut off if the car battery falls below 12.2v

[peelerec]

Thanks for sharing. I have been meaning to purchase a front and rear dashcam but have been putting it off in prioritizing other modifications. Hope to join you all soon in purchasing this bundle as well.

You mention 50 hours on parking mode. Is this referring to how many hours you can film before battery/power cuts off?

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by AkiraT

I bought exactly the same dash cam today and plan to install it over Xmas. How's your experience so far with it?

Any reason you're powering the dash cam off the battery pack rather than the car's battery? I was planning to use Viofo's hardwire kit and have power cut off if the car battery falls below 12.2v

So far, I love it! The only issue I had was with the Samsung Pro Endurance 256GB that I bought not knowing that this card is notorious for not working with Viofo dashcams. Mine crapped out after 2 weeks. I replaced it with a SanDisk 256GB MAX Endurance and all is well.

I chose to use a dual battery pack (12,800 mAh total) instead of the car's battery because I've read lots of horror stories of folks ending up with dead car batteries, especially BMWs. The battery pack does not put unnecessary strain on the car's battery (only charges when the car is running- provided you use the right fuse) and has a longer run time in parking mode (+/- 50 hours).

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by peelerec

You mention 50 hours on parking mode. Is this referring to how many hours you can film before battery/power cuts off?

Yes. The dual Cellink Neo battery packs (12,800 mAh total) run the camera in low-bitrate parking mode when the car is turned off- approximately 50 hours, and charge when the car is running. It requires the Power Output Cable w/ Spliced Viofo USB-C (T130/A229) Hardwire Kit, which you can get from BlackboxMyCar.

[Sandpiper]

springerdrive How did you decide on the Ext7 model for the battery pack? I see they have quite a few other types on the link you posted.

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper

springerdrive How did you decide on the Ext7 model for the battery pack? I see they have quite a few other types on the link you posted.

The Cellink Ext7 is made specifically as an extension for my main battery, the Cellink Neo6. You can't add any extension battery- it has to be the right one.

[Sandpiper]

Originally Posted by springerdrive

The Cellink Ext7 is made specifically as an extension for my main battery, the Cellink Neo6. You can't add any extension battery- it has to be the right one.

In that case how did you decide on the Neo6?

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper

In that case how did you decide on the Neo6?

It's an established brand with a reliable reputation. For that matter, most of these batteries are made by the same company: Egen, in South Korea.

[Assassin]

Hi there, what route did you use for the wiring from back to front?

[springerdrive]

Originally Posted by Assassin

Hi there, what route did you use for the wiring from back to front?

I did the wiring pretty much the way the guy in the video below did it, including the use of the same fuse in the trunk- rear camera cable on the driver's side, power cable on the passenger side. However, I went behind the A-pillar trim on both sides, at the top, and above the airbags. For the pillar between the front and rear windows, I was able to bury/hide the rear camera cable in that seam, however, the power cable was too thick, and I didn't want to booger up the trim, so that is visible like the guy in the video.