In the summer we are drawn to Italy for our annual vacation. Pack the car and head south. The rough area we usually determine in advance, where exactly we pitch our tent and how long, we decide on the spot.

In the meantime we were in almost all regions of Italy, which are at the sea. But only almost. That's why this year we're going to Campania, i.e. Naples and the surrounding area. But the area is not exactly considered the safest in Italy and I wanted to do something more for our safety: I bought us a dashcam.

The choice of dashcams is huge and many of them are surely junk. From 30 € to over 300 € you can find something for every budget. But it was important to me that the dashcam records both the traffic in front of and behind our car. But I also did not want to spend so much.

I decided then for some Chinese model (I guess) with good reviews and 40 € discount:

Now I wouldn't exactly call myself a talented handyman and to be honest I was a little worried about the "installation". The main camera goes on the windshield and the rear camera logically goes on the rear window. Then the main camera has to be powered via the cigarette lighter and additionally the rear camera has to be connected to the main camera via cable. Many cables, which should not disturb.

I then mounted the main camera on the right behind the rear view mirror, so that it does not bother me. The suction cup is easy to use and holds firmly to the window. Then the search began: How and where do we lay the cables? With fingertip feeling I went around the edges of the interior trim and looked for the flexible cracks. After 30 minutes of fumbling I had both cables somehow pressed under the plastic parts or rubber lips. The power cable could have been 30-50cm longer, it was just enough.

The cable of the rear camera is long enough for my BMW 1 series. Since I didn't want to screw the rear camera, I simply attached it to the inside of the trunk lid with a PowerStripe. My cheap double-sided tape would not hold. Theoretically, you could still clamp the camera to the rear light, then the screen would automatically switch to the rear camera. Was me then but too much work, especially since the driver does not see the screen. I stick with my mirrors and beeping parking assist.

First round driven, all works and my girlfriend is happy about the clear view to the rear. She sees the display as a passenger. The settings are simple: language, date/time, loop recording (I chose three minutes) and done. So now the cameras always record the last three minutes - including GPS position - and save them automatically when shaken or at the push of a button.

Since I don't dare to do a full wiring I can't use the parking monitoring. For that, the camera would have to go directly to the battery. Supposedly it then records whenever it registers motion. So it just shuts down as soon as the ignition is off.

Attached are two more pictures of the camera:

I can recommend the AQV Dashcam Car Front and Rear Car Camera 4K with GPS, 310° Wide Angle, G-Sensor, Loop Recording, WDR, Parking Monitoring, Motion Detection* so far without hesitation. I wonder if it will deliver what it promises when we really need it. I hope we never have to find out. But it does feel good.

Stay fluffy!