Mk2 Tiguan VCDS Tweaks

**Delewin** · 13-03-2017, 10:33 AM

Hi All,

I have a question to put.

Can you use the front and rear cameras as a "Dash & rear Cam" via some VCDS tweak?

If so, where would you connect the recorder?

Thank you,
David

**IsDon** · 13-03-2017, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Delewin

Hi All,

I have a question to put.

Can you use the front and rear cameras as a "Dash & rear Cam" via some VCDS tweak?

If so, where would you connect the recorder?

Thank you,
David

No. Nice thought though.

Eventually dash cams will be integrated into the vehicle as they are becoming so common these days. At the moment there's no way or recording the video feed.

The standard cameras on the front/rear/mirrors are optimised for the 360 degree top down camera system, and they work well at that. There's probably no technical reason why they couldn't be integrated as a dash cam as they are fish eye lenses, like dash cams but they're a long way behind as far as resolution goes.

If they could increase the resolution and incorporate some sort of recording system then this is probably the next step.

**Delewin** · 13-03-2017, 04:38 PM

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

Then where/How do you fit a dash cam and how do you power it?

Off the 12v socket?
Elsewhere?

I do not want to obstruct any sensors, driver or passenger view??

Could it be mounted in the front grill?

Just thinking aloud.

What have other people used as solutions?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

**TheTig** · 13-03-2017, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Delewin

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

Then where/How do you fit a dash cam and how do you power it?

Off the 12v socket?
Elsewhere?

I do not want to obstruct any sensors, driver or passenger view??

Could it be mounted in the front grill?

Just thinking aloud.

What have other people used as solutions?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I decided to get one fitted by the dealer, a blackvue DR650S-2CH which is front and rear 1080p with Wifi it also includes a power magic pack so it doesn't drain the battery and professionally fitted so no wires hanging around.

Never had one before but considering the investment and all the crazy people on the roads, think it can only help in the case of an accident or the movement detection for car park incidents, at the very least it could make for some interesting movie nights watching stupid drivers doing stupid things on the roads.

**veew** · 13-03-2017, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by TheTig

I decided to get one fitted by the dealer, a blackvue DR650S-2CH which is front and rear 1080p with Wifi it also includes a power magic pack so it doesn't drain the battery and professionally fitted so no wires hanging around.

Never had one before but considering the investment and all the crazy people on the roads, think it can only help in the case of an accident or the movement detection for car park incidents, at the very least it could make for some interesting movie nights watching stupid drivers doing stupid things on the roads.

How much did the dealer charge for the dash cam and installation?

**IsDon** · 13-03-2017, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Delewin

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

Then where/How do you fit a dash cam and how do you power it?

Off the 12v socket?
Elsewhere?

I do not want to obstruct any sensors, driver or passenger view??

Could it be mounted in the front grill?

Just thinking aloud.

What have other people used as solutions?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Now that I can help you with.

I've fitted a Blackvue 650GW-2CH to my A6 Allroad and have a brand new 650S-2CH waiting for the delivery of my wife's Tiguan in May.

Couldn't be happier with these cameras. They're absolutely brilliant.

They've got a great accompanying app which utilises the cloud so you can track the cars progress in real time via a live video feed. I'm currently in Dubai watching my wife drive my daughter home from gymnastics in Sydney. Brilliant!

As for fitting. The Audi has a fuse block on the end of the dash where the drivers door closes. I expect the Tiguan will be similar. This provides very easy access for a switched 12V (acc) using a fuse tap. I then have this switched power supplying a Cellink-B lithium polymer battery which fast charges at 7A. This supplies power to the front camera and, through an umbilical, the rear camera.

Yes, you have to be careful with where you put the camera. Mine sits beside the mirror housing on the drivers side. This puts the camera lens as close as possible to the centre line of the car without blocking any sensors from the mirror itself, which is on the passenger side. Running the cables is very easy. Along the windscreen, down the A pillar and then along the door rubbers to the back. You have to be careful with how you negotiate the boot hinge and make sure you leave enough cable so the action of opening/closing the boot doesn't leave the potential for stretching or cutting the cable.

Overall the fitment is very easy with basic technical skill.

I recommend using a seperate battery if you wish to take advantage of recording while you're parked. Yes, it is more expensive than the other option of a Powermagic Pro, but there is no possibility of you flattening your car battery, and the Cellink will generally provide a longer recording time than your car battery would.

You can't mount on the front grill as the cameras aren't water proof. They must be inside.

I expect installation in the Tiguan will be as straightforward as the Audi install was.

The Audi does have a SIM card and a wifi hotspot for the camera to connect to the cloud. The VW doesn't. There are options for providing a standalone wifi hotspot in the vehicle which I'll be investigating.

**TheTig** · 13-03-2017, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by veew

How much did the dealer charge for the dash cam and installation?

To much considering you can pick up this model for around $500 of the net. But all up including 64Gb memory card, fitting and the capacitor charger it was just over $1000. The main thing I was interested in was the dealer fits it so warranty is carried over as well..

**IsDon** · 13-03-2017, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by TheTig

To much considering you can pick up this model for around $500 of the net. But all up including 64Gb memory card, fitting and the capacitor charger it was just over $1000. The main thing I was interested in was the dealer fits it so warranty is carried over as well..

Man, this warranty paranoia annoys me. Exactly how is fitting a dashcam going to affect your warranty?

You can get the DR650-2CH with a 64G card here for just over $500 after the discount with your email address. https://www.linelink.com.au/collecti...r650s-2ch-64gb

The Powermagic is about $30-40. So less than $600 for your setup.

The first time I fitted my camera took me about an hour.

It was VERY easy.

I don't think paying the dealer $400 for an hours work is good value personally. And I'll bet I took a great deal more care and time fitting it than they would have.

**Delewin** · 13-03-2017, 05:29 PM

Thank you for these good replies. I already have a dash cam which I could fit at the rear. It is a street guardian. Full hd Sony sensor. 128 Gb as card capacity with 64Gb installed. Touch screen. Built in gps.
Has other features that I cannot remember atm. I also have the power magic pro adaptor but I did not fit it in my XTrail.

I like the idea of a separate rechargeable battery to power the camera when the car is parked. What size is the battery?

Getting the power from a fuse link is also an excellent idea.

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**IsDon** · 13-03-2017, 05:43 PM

The Celllink-B is $300 here. https://www.linelink.com.au/collecti...-for-dash-cams.

It is a 76.8 Wh battery which is the highest capacity I could find. Charging at 7A (hard wired) it will charge from dead flat to full in 1 hour. That will give you 19 hours charge with a front and rear setup like the Blackvue, or nominally 34 hours with a front camera only.

You can also add a second battery in a daisy chain arrangement to double your capacity. The expansion battery is $250.