Dash cam help on 2017 A7 [Archive]

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Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:08 PM

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:11 PM

Yeah here’s a link : just installed my blackview dash cams on my RS7

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d93reJHwyeQ

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Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:21 PM

Yeah here’s a link : just installed my blackview dash cams on my RS7

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d93reJHwyeQ

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

Thanks for sharing! I also came at this video, but the issue I’m having is it doesn’t tell what fuses to tap into. 2nd, fuse names change between S7 and RS7.

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:23 PM

So your looking for a Constant 12 and a ACC?

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xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:26 PM

214833
214834
Gateway and horn

Gateway is your 12
Horn is the ACC

This diagram is for your 2017 A7

Looks like both are on panel A

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Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:29 PM

So your looking for a Constant 12 and a ACC?

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Correct! Here is my mapping from the manual. Also I could be wrong with the fuse listings, but it didn’t work when I tried my respective214836 Horn and Gateway.

214835

Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:32 PM

214833
214834
Gateway and horn

Gateway is your 12
Horn is the ACC

This diagram is for your 2017 A7

Looks like both are on panel A

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

Thanks for this! When I tried horn it didn’t work and also on the volt meter it still would light up when the car was off!

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:34 PM

Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:36 PM

That’s weird, what kind of cam is this? You could tap into the mirror feeds as well, even the OBD2. When you checked with your meter and power was still present, did the horn still sound?

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I’m using a BlackVue dr900x 1 channel. I’m with you, I was surprised I was having this much trouble. I thought it was ground but the multi meter said the ground was good. I didn’t hit the horn to be honest, just went by my the volt meter.

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:38 PM

I have the same unit, where are you grounding it? I also thought I had a good ground before with a screw near the fuse area, but it wasn’t.

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Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:44 PM

I have the same unit, where are you grounding it? I also thought I had a good ground before with a screw near the fuse area, but it wasn’t.

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I’ll definitely double check! Here is my ground location. 214838

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:47 PM

Yup that was my first location and didn’t work lol (not sure why, but the cam didn’t like it.

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Ro7

01-08-2021, 09:52 PM

Yup that was my first location and didn’t work lol (not sure why, but the cam didn’t like it.

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What did you go with?

xutmc

01-08-2021, 09:56 PM

Ro7

01-08-2021, 10:03 PM

A screw on the right side of the fuse box, if your playing around with it now, wire your horn and gateway (power and ACC) then pull your old ground off, while the ACC is on the car. Touch the screw towards the right of the fuse box and the 3 lights on the cam should start flashing again. I think you just have a bad ground on the A7 you might have the screw in talking about under the dash.

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Thanks man! Any chance you can send a pic sometime tomorrow? Most of the BlackVue help comments have mostly come down to the ground being bad, so I def don’t doubt what you’re suggesting! I used a meter so I didn’t question it.

Audisthesia

01-09-2021, 04:09 AM

Hi Audizine gang!

Anybody hardwire install a dash cam specifically on a 2017 A7? If so what fuse did you use for your ACC and battery? Also what side fuse port, driver or passenger?

I ask because I’m having no luck following other threads on different models (A6) and years. My wires and cam are already hidden and in place so I’m trying to finish this myself.

I have no issue paying a pro if need be, but giving this a shot before going that route.

Thanks for reading and giving any advice in advance!

-Ro

I added my own switched and unswitched fused circuits to the drivers side fuse panel using oem repair wires. No splicing, tapping, cutting, or add-a-fuse needed. When done it now looks OEM.
This way my dash cam is not riding on the same fused circuit as anything else.

Ro7

01-09-2021, 05:00 AM

I added my own switched and unswitched fused circuits to the drivers side fuse panel using oem repair wires. No splicing, tapping, cutting, or add-a-fuse needed. When done it now looks OEM.
This way my dash cam is not riding on the same fused circuit as anything else.

Sounds like a great setup! Any chance you can drop a picture of it?

Audisthesia

01-09-2021, 06:31 AM

Sounds like a great setup! Any chance you can drop a picture of it?

I chose the newer X series from blackvue for my install. One major reason is the X series does NOT require the extra power magic pro (PMP) module, all of that technology is built into the X series line now. What this means is you have 3 wires to do, +12V switched, +12V unswitched, and ground (all of which can be done drivers side fuse panel area. The PMP allows you to have parking mode recording, motion activation, and under voltage protection (meaning it will automatically turn off the camera is battery voltage drops below a certain level, so you'll never be left with a dead car from a dash cam draining the battery). A second reason was blendmount makes a mount for their cameras which I wanted. Finally, I have a single channel blackvue in my VW Passat for 3 years now, never had a single issue with it, so in my personal experience the brand is very reliable... Many cameras don't do well in the heat, and I'm in Florida.

A word of safety advice... When running your wires around the headliner areas ALWAYS be certain to route ALL WIRES above and behind the air bags. God knows you don't want your wires to hinder airbag deployment! I have seen many people just jam/tuck the wires between the door gaskets/pillar trims and headliner... Which is EXACTLY where the curtain airbag are going to explode out of.

Routing the wires properly and safely was the most time consuming portion of my entire install.

Drivers side fuse panel with circuits added.
These were added in open/unused slots in panel/row A and B.
Note there are still 2 available slots open on panel B.
Panel/Row A is switched, panels/rows B&C are unswitched.
You can verify this with a simple test light.

Red arrow (Panel/Row B) - unswitched +12V
Yellow Arrow (Panel/Row A)- switch +12V
https://i.ibb.co/CzqQVmN/IMAG7841.jpg (https://ibb.co/TkZtPYp)

Front camera mounted with blendmount. These are highly adjustable and extremely stable.
I used this method as my entire windshield is tinted and I'm not about to mount a dashcam to the tint.
https://i.ibb.co/4NDSXDr/IMAG7842.jpg (https://ibb.co/YjKd1Ks)

Rear dashcam, mounted to 3rd tail light.
(My car is a 6 series, you will have to do something different to mount a rear cam to a 7 series due to liftback)
https://i.ibb.co/fCYhcrr/IMAG7845.jpg (https://ibb.co/8jDWhPP)

Audisthesia

01-09-2021, 06:54 AM

THIS (https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/734454-Dash-cam-setup-questions?p=12013300&viewfull=1#post12013300) is how one forum user mounted his rear camera in a 7 series.

Cazt51

01-09-2021, 01:22 PM

Blendmount FTW!!!! I have a blendmount for my radar and dashcam and you cannot beat it! Absolute must and makes everything the cockpit look very clean.

Ro7

01-10-2021, 07:32 AM

I chose the newer X series from blackvue for my install. One major reason is the X series does NOT require the extra power magic pro (PMP) module, all of that technology is built into the X series line now. What this means is you have 3 wires to do, +12V switched, +12V unswitched, and ground (all of which can be done drivers side fuse panel area. The PMP allows you to have parking mode recording, motion activation, and under voltage protection (meaning it will automatically turn off the camera is battery voltage drops below a certain level, so you'll never be left with a dead car from a dash cam draining the battery). A second reason was blendmount makes a mount for their cameras which I wanted. Finally, I have a single channel blackvue in my VW Passat for 3 years now, never had a single issue with it, so in my personal experience the brand is very reliable... Many cameras don't do well in the heat, and I'm in Florida.

A word of safety advice... When running your wires around the headliner areas ALWAYS be certain to route ALL WIRES above and behind the air bags. God knows you don't want your wires to hinder airbag deployment! I have seen many people just jam/tuck the wires between the door gaskets/pillar trims and headliner... Which is EXACTLY where the curtain airbag are going to explode out of.

Routing the wires properly and safely was the most time consuming portion of my entire install.

Drivers side fuse panel with circuits added.
These were added in open/unused slots in panel/row A and B.
Note there are still 2 available slots open on panel B.
Panel/Row A is switched, panels/rows B&C are unswitched.
You can verify this with a simple test light.

Red arrow (Panel/Row B) - unswitched +12V
Yellow Arrow (Panel/Row A)- switch +12V
https://i.ibb.co/CzqQVmN/IMAG7841.jpg (https://ibb.co/TkZtPYp)

Front camera mounted with blendmount. These are highly adjustable and extremely stable.
I used this method as my entire windshield is tinted and I'm not about to mount a dashcam to the tint.
https://i.ibb.co/4NDSXDr/IMAG7842.jpg (https://ibb.co/YjKd1Ks)

Rear dashcam, mounted to 3rd tail light.
(My car is a 6 series, you will have to do something different to mount a rear cam to a 7 series due to liftback)
https://i.ibb.co/fCYhcrr/IMAG7845.jpg (https://ibb.co/8jDWhPP)

This is awesome and thanks for the very detailed write up!!

The reasons you listed for the getting the x series were mine as well. Although I went with the single channel. I didn’t want to have the power magic mounted in my car and215116 read a bunch of negative reviews. Had no idea about the blendmount, so I’m definitely changing to that option!

For the install itself I made sure to properly hide the wires while not interfering with the A-pillar airbag. I’m going to try your recommendation for the two spots.

Last question, if I’m using fuse taps in empty slots, do I need to add a fuse to complete the connection?

ZaubA6

01-10-2021, 08:16 AM

Last question, if I’m using fuse taps in empty slots, do I need to add a fuse to complete the connection?

Yes. You actually need two fuses there. One is for the original connection, and the other is for your new circuit

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

Ro7

01-10-2021, 12:54 PM

Yes. You actually need two fuses there. One is for the original connection, and the other is for your new circuit

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

Thanks!!

Audisthesia

01-10-2021, 03:33 PM

This is awesome and thanks for the very detailed write up!!

The reasons you listed for the getting the x series were mine as well. Although I went with the single channel. I didn’t want to have the power magic mounted in my car and215116 read a bunch of negative reviews. Had no idea about the blendmount, so I’m definitely changing to that option!

For the install itself I made sure to properly hide the wires while not interfering with the A-pillar airbag. I’m going to try your recommendation for the two spots.

Last question, if I’m using fuse taps in empty slots, do I need to add a fuse to complete the connection?

Yyou can use a fuse tap in an empty spot, if oriented properly. There is only a connector on one side of the slot if you look closely. Pull a fuse from an neighboring slot and you will see the difference. One side of the empty slot will have power. If your tap doesn't work one way, rotate 180 and try again before giving up.

https://i.ibb.co/2Y420Y4/1609857818665.jpg (https://ibb.co/CsGdpsG)

In case anyone looking to do it the way I did for OEM look, here are repair wire part #s:

Terminal size - 1.2mm
000 979 035 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 160 E - 1.0mm2

Terminal size - 2.8
000 979 022 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 134 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 226 E - 2.5mm2

Terminal size - 4.8
000 979 024 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 136 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 228 E - 2.5mm2
000 979 307 E - 4.0mm2

ZaubA6

01-11-2021, 10:02 AM

Not sure you can use a fuse tap in an empty spot. There is only a connector on one side of the slot if you look closely. Pull a fuse from an neighboring slot and you will see the difference. One side of the empty slot will have power. It will depend on how the fuse tap wiring is designed on whether it works or not. If your tap doesn't work one way, rotate 180 and try again before giving up.

https://i.ibb.co/2Y420Y4/1609857818665.jpg (https://ibb.co/CsGdpsG)

In case anyone looking to do it the way I did for OEM look, here are repair wire part #s:

Terminal size - 1.2mm
000 979 035 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 160 E - 1.0mm2

Terminal size - 2.8
000 979 022 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 134 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 226 E - 2.5mm2

Terminal size - 4.8
000 979 024 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 136 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 228 E - 2.5mm2
000 979 307 E - 4.0mm2Tap a fuse will work in the empty slots, you're just drawing power from that one side. However, I definitely like the repair wire idea. That's how I'm doing mine.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

Audisthesia

01-11-2021, 10:41 AM

Tap a fuse will work in the empty slots, you're just drawing power from that one side. However, I definitely like the repair wire idea. That's how I'm doing mine.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

Yeah, they pop in pretty easy from back of fuse panel and make nice clean oem install.

https://i.ibb.co/gPKgTYx/IMAG7810.jpg (https://ibb.co/P9HChkd)

Ro7

01-11-2021, 01:42 PM

Ro7

01-14-2021, 02:42 AM

I chose the newer X series from blackvue for my install. One major reason is the X series does NOT require the extra power magic pro (PMP) module, all of that technology is built into the X series line now. What this means is you have 3 wires to do, +12V switched, +12V unswitched, and ground (all of which can be done drivers side fuse panel area. The PMP allows you to have parking mode recording, motion activation, and under voltage protection (meaning it will automatically turn off the camera is battery voltage drops below a certain level, so you'll never be left with a dead car from a dash cam draining the battery). A second reason was blendmount makes a mount for their cameras which I wanted. Finally, I have a single channel blackvue in my VW Passat for 3 years now, never had a single issue with it, so in my personal experience the brand is very reliable... Many cameras don't do well in the heat, and I'm in Florida.

A word of safety advice... When running your wires around the headliner areas ALWAYS be certain to route ALL WIRES above and behind the air bags. God knows you don't want your wires to hinder airbag deployment! I have seen many people just jam/tuck the wires between the door gaskets/pillar trims and headliner... Which is EXACTLY where the curtain airbag are going to explode out of.

Routing the wires properly and safely was the most time consuming portion of my entire install.

Drivers side fuse panel with circuits added.
These were added in open/unused slots in panel/row A and B.
Note there are still 2 available slots open on panel B.
Panel/Row A is switched, panels/rows B&C are unswitched.
You can verify this with a simple test light.

Red arrow (Panel/Row B) - unswitched +12V
Yellow Arrow (Panel/Row A)- switch +12V
https://i.ibb.co/CzqQVmN/IMAG7841.jpg (https://ibb.co/TkZtPYp)

Front camera mounted with blendmount. These are highly adjustable and extremely stable.
I used this method as my entire windshield is tinted and I'm not about to mount a dashcam to the tint.
https://i.ibb.co/4NDSXDr/IMAG7842.jpg (https://ibb.co/YjKd1Ks)

Rear dashcam, mounted to 3rd tail light.
(My car is a 6 series, you will have to do something different to mount a rear cam to a 7 series due to liftback)
https://i.ibb.co/fCYhcrr/IMAG7845.jpg (https://ibb.co/8jDWhPP)

Thanks again for your help. Just wanted to know which blendmount model did you go with?, BBV-2015?

Ro7

01-14-2021, 03:10 AM

Thanks again for your help. Just wanted to know which blendmount model did you go with?, BBV-2015?

Found it, it’s the BBV-2025. I have to return my Amazon one and order directly from them.

Ro7

01-14-2021, 03:19 AM

Not sure you can use a fuse tap in an empty spot. There is only a connector on one side of the slot if you look closely. Pull a fuse from an neighboring slot and you will see the difference. One side of the empty slot will have power. It will depend on how the fuse tap wiring is designed on whether it works or not. If your tap doesn't work one way, rotate 180 and try again before giving up.

https://i.ibb.co/2Y420Y4/1609857818665.jpg (https://ibb.co/CsGdpsG)

In case anyone looking to do it the way I did for OEM look, here are repair wire part #s:

Terminal size - 1.2mm
000 979 035 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 160 E - 1.0mm2

Terminal size - 2.8
000 979 022 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 134 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 226 E - 2.5mm2

Terminal size - 4.8
000 979 024 E - 0.5mm2
000 979 136 E - 1.0mm2
000 979 228 E - 2.5mm2
000 979 307 E - 4.0mm2

I was finally able to get my buddy, a former Best Buy installer, to take a look. He got it to work with the fuse taps. Now I’m waiting to get the right Blendmount, since I ordered the wrong one. The ones for our cars isn’t available on Amazon.

Again thank you for taking the time to reply back beach time.

-Ro

Audisthesia

01-14-2021, 09:09 AM

I was finally able to get my buddy, a former Best Buy installer, to take a look. He got it to work with the fuse taps. Now I’m waiting to get the right Blendmount, since I ordered the wrong one. The ones for our cars isn’t available on Amazon.

Again thank you for taking the time to reply back beach time.

-Ro

Yeah, I had to order mine direct from blend mount.. They have pictures of the audi mirrors so getting the correct one is easy

blklude98

01-19-2021, 05:55 AM

I tapped mine on the mirror wires with an Invisicord. Mine was custom made so it's one plug for both my V1 Radar detector and my Dash cam.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50214822103_8f638ee3bd_b.jpg

Finished Product
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50215599412_14f1654b3e_b.jpg

Ro7

01-24-2021, 08:56 AM

Ro7

01-24-2021, 08:58 AM

The finished product! Thank you everyone who added their 2 cents! 217271

WhiteA7

10-12-2021, 06:08 AM

I've read a lot of posts about dashcams and everyone says be careful around the airbags on the A pilars and to route the cord behind the airbags but which side is behind the edge that lines the windshield or the edge that touches the door?

Audisthesia

10-12-2021, 07:31 AM

The side airbags deploy along the the door gasket seam between it and the headliner

WhiteA7

10-13-2021, 06:06 AM

Audisthesia

10-13-2021, 05:06 PM

Thanks for the reply. I'm really dumb and need it spelled out clearer. Do I place the cable along the seam between the weatherstripping for the door and the A pillar and do I place it along the seam between the A pillar and the windshield?

No, the airbag comes out at the seam between weatherstripping and headliner. You want to put it above the airbag as the bag deploys downward.. Like, towards the roof.

WhiteA7

10-14-2021, 07:10 AM

I really do appreciate your replies but I asked a either or question and not a yes/no question. There are only two sides of the A pillar to route the cable. Which is it?

WhiteA7

10-14-2021, 01:20 PM

I found a video that shows it better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg9di5T3xtY