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FitCamX -- OEM-Like Dash Cam w/ Clean, Easy Install

748K views 264 replies 42 participants last post by  creekstone  
#1 ·
I have wanted a dash cam for some time, but I wasn't going to have an exposed wire running to my lighter or a long wire tucked into my trim running down to my fuse box. Then I found a DIY video (below) a fellow Macaneer posted about the $200 FitCamX and I was sold!

It looks just like OEM and gets juice from the cabin's horseshoe-light harness. I purchased and installed mine within 2 days. There is an option for a front + rear camera, but that requires much more tuck-and-stuff wiring than I care to do.

I hope this is helpful to those of you who are also sitting on the dashcam fence waiting for the right product like I was.
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#236 ·
Yes, my front / rear camera system has been updated to their latest and greatest. Not sure if it's just a better cable, or if the camera also changed.

In my case there have been almost zero instances of the Key Not Recognized fault and I would say the updated parts have fixed that problem.

Mine is direct wired to the driver's side fuse panel.
 
#243 ·
at the time I did my install of the FitCamX (front and rear - see post #197 in this thread), I did not find other options. If this is essentially the same thing, I would have considered it based on price. So far, so good with my current setup and I like how the camera blends in with the mirror. Most folks do not know it is there unless they know to look for it.
 
#248 ·
Did you replace it? If mine (front only) tanked after three or four years I'd be OK. Only $190 and wouldn't have to open the center panel again because the wiring harness would stay in place. Probably just a 10 minute reinstall.
 
owns 2024 Porsche Macan S
#247 · (Edited)
Great front camera - most discreet available.

Installation notes for front only:

Follow this installation video - better than the manufacturer video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_otV20QDAXM&t=45s

The Porsche Spring Clamps are now included - definitely need them - don't need to buy elsewhere.

Get a Trim Removal Kit - one piece is included but other sizes make the installation easier. I used www.amazon.com/dp/B01L8GHB7O?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

The installation took about two hours because I went slowly and didn't fully understand the spring clamps. Second time around would be under an hour.

The most difficult part is lowering the center light panel. It's held in place by four spring clamps; two in front and two and in back. See photos below. To lower the panel, insert the trim removal tool to bend each front spring clamp backwards. No amount of pulling or prying will bend them to lower the panel. Put the tool where the clamp is and keep pushing up until the clamp bends open.

The spring clamps are usually single use because trying to bend them back to their original shape is dodgy. That's why four are included. For me, the two back clamps didn't bend much so I was able to leave them in place.

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The camera receives its power from the light panel. When the car is turned off and locked, power to the panel stops and the camera turns off. However, when the car is turned off but not locked, even though the lights turn off in under a minute, the panel continues to receive power for 15 minutes. This means the camera operates for 15 minutes after the car is parked if unlocked - likely when garaged or in safe driveway.

Operating Notes:

If you are using Apple CarPlay, turn off Bluetooth when using their app.

The micro SD card records in three minute increments and then immediately starts another three minute segment. When it's full, the oldest three minute file is deleted.

Once you initially play with app, you'll probably rarely open it unless there's an accident or a similar issue.

The camera is available on Amazon with one or two day delivery - faster and less expensive than ordering from the manufacturer. www.amazon.com/dp/B0986XDDYZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
 
owns 2024 Porsche Macan S
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#249 · (Edited)
I found a video that shows an easier method for dropping the overhead panel. That said, my 2025 Macan S just came in last week and I want to install a FitCamX, but I still do not look forward to dropping the overhead panel.


I am working with FitCamX to design a camera for my 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, so I will ask them if they will send me the y-cable for their "A" model camera so I can power the camera with the rain sensor instead of the overhead panel. It will save them money in the long run, if they don't have to include 4 metal clips for the overhead panel and will make installation much easier. I'll post their response here.

@wingless it appears that the plug for the rain sensor on the Macan is the same as the one for the "A" FitCamX version for Porsche. Can you confirm?

PORSCHE MACAN WINDSHIELD WIPER RAIN SENSOR MODULE WIRE WIRING HARNESS OEM 15-24 | eBay

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#250 ·
The YouTube video showed a good view of the Spring Clamps but from experience the unit doesn't lower that easy. And personally I wouldn't use metal anywhere near the plastic.

Once you can see the spring clamps, inserting the trim removal piece straight up to bend the clamp open will immediately lower the panel. I didn't need to open the spring clamps near the windshield. By lowering the panel, those clamps will bend a little bit to provide enough access.[/QUOTE]
 
owns 2024 Porsche Macan S
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#253 ·
Has anyone used its front-and-rear cameras? Its quality control is so bad and my received cameras doesn't work as their user manual description. The front camera flashes red and blue light together, which never appears on the user manual. Their customer service refuses to send a new functional set to me. Instead, they meanly prefer to send parts one by one, and ask me to replace the parts one by one. It means I need to wait for parts one week by one week, and go to the professional week by week just for diagnosis, and pay the labor and transportation fee every time. Do they have basic professional ethics to respect customers' time and money?
 
#259 ·
I never stated that the cameras needed to be powered by the rain sensor. At this point, the cameras can either be powered through the overhead console OR the fuse box. Getting power from either one of those sources is more time consuming than connecting the cameras to the rain sensor. That's why I am working with FitCamX to develop a cable to power the cameras via the rain sensor.
I never stated that the cameras needed to be powered by the rain sensor. At this point, the cameras can either be powered through the overhead console OR the fuse box. Getting power from either one of those sources is more time consuming than connecting the cameras to the rain sensor. That's why I am working with FitCamX to develop a cable to power the cameras via the rain sensor.
Agree
 
#260 ·
I installed my FitCamX front and rear cameras yesterday in my new Macan. They sent me a y-cable to use the rain sensor as a power source, but after looking at the potential complication of R/R the rear view mirror and getting to the rain sensor, I bailed on that idea.

Dropping the overhead panel was pretty straight forward, especially since I had done it before. I did run into a problem reinstalling it. The clips for the overhead panel that FitCamX supplies with the camera are not the same as the OEM clips. They have a few subtle differences that are just enough that the overhead panel will not fully seat up against the headliner. I used all four of the clips (two separate install attempts), thinking that I did something wrong the first time. I went to my local Porsche dealer this morning and bought a couple of clips. The OEM clips worked perfectly and the overhead panel snapped tight against the headliner. Another thing...I had to modify the left half of the camera housing because it would not snap together because there's not enough room for the two camera cables to exit the housing. Pics below.

If you buy the FitCamX, do yourself a favor and buy OEM overhead clips...it does make a difference and it will save you from wasting a bunch of time.


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#261 ·
My MY23 Macan battery died after not driving for 10 days. Voltage <11. It was daily driven before the inactivity. I have the Fitcam connected to the fuse box. Not sure if it’s the Fitcam but battery did not die when I previously left it for 2 weeks when I had the Fitcam connected to the overhead console. I may just remove one of the fuses that keep constant power.
 
#264 ·
I've been following this thread for a while, and installed a Fitcam on my 2025 Macan GTS a few days ago. Thank you to all who've contributed to this thread for all the excellent information here.

Thought I'd pass along some info on an item I didn't see covered much, which is the option to power the camera with an OBD cable.

The OBD install is actually a little easier then the fusebox cable install, since you just have to plug it into your OBD port. The reason to consider the OBD cable is that it lets you set the camera to 24hour record mode, which you might want to use if you have to park in a sketchy location. With 24 hour mode, you'd have video loops of everything that happens in front of the car rather than just videos that start a few seconds after the camera detects an impact.

I was interested in that because my main reason for wanting a dashcam is that someone smashed my previous SUV in a parking lot and just took off, after causing $3,000 of damage.

You wouldn't want 24 hour mode always running because it would drain your battery. Unfortunately, to switch between 24 hour mode and regular parking mode, you have to flip a tiny dip switch on the side of the OBD plug. Practically, this means unplugging the OBD connector each time, and it's both located in an awkward location and not at all easy to plug back in.

I may have received a defective OBD cable, and FitcamX support (who are excellent, btw) offered to send me a new one at no charge. For whatever it's worth, my experience with the OBD cable was that if I put the Macan on a battery tender, the camera would keep recording loops no matter what, even when 24 hour mode was off, and even if I turned the camera off with its power switch. It also did some of that (though less) when the Macan was off, locked and not connected to a battery tender.

In the end, I opted to switch to a fusebox cable install, and everything's been working fine since. But I no longer have access to 24 hour recording mode.