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@securityguy Well, today I got off early and started my installation. Here are a few pictures:
First off, getting that pillar off was a b*tch! I used the pry tool that came with the cameras, and the center clip popped off fine. The upper clip was a nightmare to figure out. Of course, I had no idea what to expect. It's some sort of 2 part clip. Eventually I found that the pillar actually slides up which removes it from the clip, which stays with the car. So for future installers, pop the center, pull out and up and the pillar will come off. Be careful not to pull too far as the ELS speaker is connected to the pillar, and can be easily disconnected once you have the pillar off. (Press the release and it will disconnect easily. Don't press the release and it's not coming off)
Here is a look at the airbag and internal wiring with the pillar cover removed:
As you can see, there is no way to cross the airbag with wires, so I went down and up/down, like this, following the existing wiring harness, then running across the bottom area where there are no obstructions:
The wiring to the back camera was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I followed the door seals and the seams in the interior. It turns out you can get the wire to the back with no wiring exposed in the cab at all! And once you get to the hatch, it's way easier than you might think. If you pop the panel with the hinge off (which comes off very easily), you can run the wire right along the existing wiring harness. I tie wrapped it at the top, and like Acura, used electrical tape and the bottom of the hinge. See below:
To each their own guys.. Some people (present company included) are a bit more neurotic in wiring than others. At the end of the day, it's your car and if it doesn't bother you, who cares indeed
In the picture in Post #83 above, you can see the camera wire slack floating in mid air in the back seat area. What I did with that was tie wrap it all tightly, then shove it into the hollow area above the hard panel between the roof and the back window. You can pry it down with the plastic tool. It's how the wire gets to the back and there is nothing in that space to mess up by having it stuffed in there.
So, other than that top clip or the front window pillar, running the wiring really isn't as bad as it may seem. I suppose that technically I should have removed the pillar cover from the area between the front and rear doors to get the wire around the airbag, but I think I can live with it the way I (and everyone else) did it.
BTW - I still haven't gotten that front window pillar back onto the car all the way. I just can't seem to get the top clip engaged. I may just take it to the dealer and have them do it. It's a royal pain, trust me.
To each their own guys.. Some people (present company included) are a bit more neurotic in wiring than others. At the end of the day, it's your car and if it doesn't bother you, who cares indeed
Dude, it's 20 degrees out. I'm not in sunny California. Maybe this summer I will fix it. Until then, honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit. Who sees it anyway?
you may have malformed/broke the garnish clip and it may not be sticking anymore. Or when you removed the pilar, the clip is still in the hole.
They look similar to this. If it's still in the hole, then remove it, attach the head end back onto the pillar garnish , and then snap it back onto the a pillar itself
the 2019 aren't on the website yet so here' what it sort of looks like on the 2017:
...BTW - I still haven't gotten that front window pillar back onto the car all the way. I just can't seem to get the top clip engaged. I may just take it to the dealer and have them do it. It's a royal pain, trust me.
I thought I read somewhere (maybe even this thread) that the top clip is not reusable and has to be replaced.
Good info here - thanks. If/when I get tired of testing cams and do a permanent install I'll definitely be using this for reference.
I did order some clips, they just haven't gotten here yet. It would make sense that the clip left on the car has to come off and the new clip is slid into the slot on the cover and then snapped in. Here's a look at the pillar cover from the back. The old clip probably has to be broken off the car, then the new clip slid into the slot shown in the picture.
Well it sure was a lot easier when you do it right! I got the clip in the mail. You pretty much DO have to destroy the existing clip to get it out (unless there is a special tool). I snipped the "tail" off the clip with a pair of diagonal cutters, then carefully used a small tweaker screwdriver to try and press in the tabs to pull out the clip. It's not easy, but it can be done.
Once you get it out, there is a rectangular hole in the body pillar, that's your target. The rest is easy. Slip the new clip into the pillar cover, oriented properly, push the two tabs back into the dash board and the two clips just about pop themselves in. You're done!
THIS IS THE CLIP IN THE CAR AFTER YOU PULL OFF THE PILLAR COVER
One last thing. A big thanks to securityguy, OliveBread, and pgeorg for their trail-blazing and information. Without their posts I would have brought the thing to the dealer to do.
Just installed b1w ( which comes with the hardwire kit) to mine, thank you for sharing the instructions
I did further research online, and found out that Blueskysea b1w does not have wire trigger option (Parking Mode is trigger by software, "Timer + G-sensor) , so I disconnected the yellow wire!!!!!!! (ONLY red wire connect to constant 12 v source)
Some dashcam support this option such as mini 0906, then keep yellow wire connected!!!!
Another question: Q: Is the 16GB Micro SD Card adequate or should I go for something with larger capacity. Please advise. Thank you.
It will likely be on the small size. A single channel 1080p at 30FPS dash cam creates roughly 16Mbps of data which equates to a bit over 2 hours of video on a 16GB card. So if the BlackVue really is as efficient as claimed on Amazon you can probably expect to get less than 1 hour of dual channel video.
I bought the Blackvue 128GB card and suggest you do the same. This information is from Blackvue but should apply to all dash cams @1080p and 30fps. Some cams run at 60fps like my DR750S.
Last edited by securityguy; 12-10-2018 at 02:52 PM.
Thanks for your replies. As with the 2019 Acura RDX and dash cams, I am a small pup running with the big dogs to all this new tech. If I were to go with the 128GB SD card, is the BlackVue brand the way to go or are there aftermarket SD cards that will do the job? Please advise. Thank you.
You can use aftermarket cards that meet the same specs as the Blackvue. However, with that being said, if you have recording or formatting issues with your card and don't have a Blackvue SD card, you will not get much support. I have a SanDisk card in my Audi's Blackvue and have had no issues but got a great deal on the Blackvue 128GB card when purchasing my wife's cam and bought that for her vehicle. If you are going to go dual-cam and want parking mode active, do the 128 and don't look back.
It looks like the BlackVue 128GB SD card is the way to go. Should I order from Amazon.com - $133.99 & FREE Shipping or do you recommend another source? Please advise. Thank you.
It looks like the BlackVue 128GB SD card is the way to go. Should I order from Amazon.com - $133.99 & FREE Shipping or do you recommend another source? Please advise. Thank you.
The reason I am going with a dash cam is a few weekends ago, I was driving my 2019 Acura RDX at night, crossing an intersection. Although I had a green light and right of way, a small boy raced across the crosswalk. I nearly hit the poor bastard. Believe me, the jeweled headlights and brakes worked very well. If I had hit the kid, I'm sure his parents (not paying attention to their child and standing on the sidewalk) would have claimed I was speeding and killed their offspring. That convinced me, albeit pricey, a good dash cam would have been PRICELESS and saved me in Court.
Pretty much the same reason I got my first dash cam. I was driving through a local shopping center and a young lady was coming out of one of the stores with her face stuck in her phone and came within inches of walking into the side of my car. She was with a few of her friends so there's no doubt how the eyewitness testimony would have gone if anything had happened.
Q: When installing the BlackVue front camera, is the body of the camera centered under the rearview mirror or is the camera lens centered under the rearview mirror?
Q: When installing the BlackVue rear camera, is the body of the camera centered in the top center of the rear window or is the camera lens centered in the top center of the rear window?
I always try to get the lens as close to center as possible directly behind the rear view mirror so when you are sitting in the drivers seat, you cannot see the camera at all. You just need to stay clear of any light sensors in the mirror that face the road ahead so they remain unblocked by the camera.
Lenses should always be center and not the body of the camera.
For those who are looking for an alternative to BlackVue cards - I have been using 128GB Samsung Pro Endurance card with my BlackVue DR900S-2CH and it is less than half the price of BlackVue card. Pro Endurance cards are specifically designed for applications like a always running Dash Cam and has a 5 year warranty. Just make sure you format it when you insert in the BlackVue for the first time.
I have a SanDisk card that meets the same specs and works great. Just understand that, if you have an issue and need tech support, and you don't have a BlackVue SD card, they will not support you. I am OK with that.
I always try to get the lens as close to center as possible directly behind the rear view mirror so when you are sitting in the drivers seat, you cannot see the camera at all. You just need to stay clear of any light sensors in the mirror that face the road ahead so they remain unblocked by the camera.
Lenses should always be center and not the body of the camera.
When my BlackVue DR900S-2CH arrives, I will install the front and rear cameras per your recommendations. Thank you.
For those who are looking for an alternative to BlackVue cards - I have been using 128GB Samsung Pro Endurance card with my BlackVue DR900S-2CH and it is less than half the price of BlackVue card. Pro Endurance cards are specifically designed for applications like a always running Dash Cam and has a 5 year warranty. Just make sure you format it when you insert in the BlackVue for the first time.
It's good to know this SD card is a working alternative. Thanks for sharing.
It looks like the BlackVue 128GB SD card is the way to go. Should I order from Amazon.com - $133.99 & FREE Shipping or do you recommend another source? Please advise. Thank you.
FWIW I've been using this in my SGGCPro+ Dual Channel without any issues at all.
12-06-2018, 02:13 PM
.. what a rip off 
