Those little additions to your M car? (Cameras, Speed radar)

[Tonyc32]

I'm not talking about options, but rather those little things you think are essential in your M car.

1.) Cameras. I have bought two Mini 0801 cameras. One for the front and one for the back.

http://dashboardcamerareviews.com/mini-0801-ambare...

Great quality, great price. Getting this because i've had quite a non-fault few close calls in various cars and also recently someone went into the back of a friend months back....they claimed he reversed into them and it went 50/50

2.) Speed Camera alert. A little, cheap GPS device that beeps at you when it detects you are close to a fixed camera or popular laser spot. Just the job - the size of a big USB stick, no screen, nice and simple. Unlimited free updates.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inforad-K2-Camera-Warning-...

Anyone else have any additions to their car?

[JMBMWM5]

Yep front facing BlacKvue Video Camera and Static Speed Camera detector. Both a must have.

Also Tracker fitted.

[M3greg]

Shame that little GOS thing doesn't work with a Mac. :-(

[JMBMWM5]

M3greg said:

Shame that little GOS thing doesn't work with a Mac. :-(

GOS Thing!!!!!! Whats that.
The BlackVue works on Mac as I have one.

[M3greg]

Doh. Fat thumbs, I meant GPS.

[Rick448]

Do insurance companies actually look at this type of footage? We are looking at getting them fitted to our response cars but it is more for checking on our drivers rather than apportioning blame.

[zeduffman]

Rick448 said:

Do insurance companies actually look at this type of footage? We are looking at getting them fitted to our response cars but it is more for checking on our drivers rather than apportioning blame.

I would've thought camera footage with a timestamp would be considered more reliable than an eyewitness account - and we've heard about the scams going on at the moment.

[Tonyc32]

Rick448 said:

Do insurance companies actually look at this type of footage? We are looking at getting them fitted to our response cars but it is more for checking on our drivers rather than apportioning blame.

Absolutely yes. Having a dash cam footage is typically an insurance companies wet dream.

Even front facing cameras (which don't capture the accident directly) have been used to settle rear end collisions.

[Tonyc32]

Just wanted to say I bought this little speed cam GPS detector mention in the top post - Inforad K2. £50

It's Awesome because I don't have it mounted anywhere - it's fits perfectly in the glove console while plugged into the USB charger.

Although it has a battery it's perfect in there - I can easily hear it as long as music isn't on too loud. Great buy

http://i.imgur.com/dXMYqH9.jpg

[RichardM5]

I have a VelentineOne remote display in the rear view mirror, totally invisible when you want it to be, quite clear when you don't.

Off


Power up test


On

[Tonyc32]

OOO That's pretty nice.

How much did the whole set up cost? I take it the rear view mirror is some kind of aftermarket one?

[M3CS]

I'd have thought it's the case that one or two people here occasionally drive 'enthusiastically'. Perish the thought....

So, let's say you had a big accident that was your fault and plod looked at the video while you're laid up in a hospital bed... you've given them the rope to string you up with.

I'd love one of these cameras personally (because of the same reasons OP highlights) but I'd be afraid of it 'biting me' if I was the one at fault. Are plod allowed to look at the video on them without your permission? Are there cameras which save the video in an encrypted format?

[JMBMWM5]

M3CS said:

I'd have thought it's the case that one or two people here occasionally drive 'enthusiastically'. Perish the thought....

So, let's say you had a big accident that was your fault and plod looked at the video while you're laid up in a hospital bed... you've given them the rope to string you up with.

I'd love one of these cameras personally (because of the same reasons OP highlights) but I'd be afraid of it 'biting me' if I was the one at fault. Are plod allowed to look at the video on them without your permission? Are there cameras which save the video in an encrypted format?

With the "Blackvue" the police can NOT view the video anyway.
You need a computer and a program on it to show anything.
You do NOT have to disclose you were running a video either.

[M3CS]

JMBMWM5 said:

ith the "Blackvue" the police can NOT view the video anyway.
You need a computer and a program on it to show anything.
You do NOT have to disclose you were running a video either.

What's to stop them having bought that software? In a potential death by dangerous driving case, I suspect they might go to some decent lengths if they thought the video would secure a prosecution.

[RichardM5]

Tonyc32 said:

OOO That's pretty nice.

How much did the whole set up cost? I take it the rear view mirror is some kind of aftermarket one?

It's the standard mirror modified by Radar-Mirror in the USA. http://www.radar-mirror.com/ Cost for the remote display and fitting it inside the mirror, plus fitting the Valentine One in the centre rear head rest was £400 including shipping the bits back and forth but not including the Valentine One itself, that was another £300.

[JMBMWM5]

M3CS said:

What's to stop them having bought that software? In a potential death by dangerous driving case, I suspect they might go to some decent lengths if they thought the video would secure a prosecution.

IF they look for a camera in the car, my wife was hit from the rear on a slip road, knocked into the fast lane on a duel Carriageway , hit again, car was written off, she ended up in hospital, camera in her Car.
Police never even looked in her car never mind look for Cameras.
Point made I think, they look at the road and mark that out end of story IME.

[-Z-]

RichardM5 said:

It's the standard mirror modified by Radar-Mirror in the USA. http://www.radar-mirror.com/ Cost for the remote display and fitting it inside the mirror, plus fitting the Valentine One in the centre rear head rest was £400 including shipping the bits back and forth but not including the Valentine One itself, that was another £300.

Isn't radar barely used these days? All mobile laser or Truvelo type fixed ones?

[Rich_W]

-Z- said:

RichardM5 said:

It's the standard mirror modified by Radar-Mirror in the USA. http://www.radar-mirror.com/ Cost for the remote display and fitting it inside the mirror, plus fitting the Valentine One in the centre rear head rest was £400 including shipping the bits back and forth but not including the Valentine One itself, that was another £300.

Isn't radar barely used these days? All mobile laser or Truvelo type fixed ones?

YEp. Obsolete in the Uk for several years.

ukspeedtraps is pretty up to date iirc with what's being used

[RichardM5]

Gatsos, for example the cameras on the 'managed motorways' like the M25, M42, M1 round Nottingham etc., use radar. It's quite interesting to see which cameras are active as you come up to the gantries.

Obviously nothing is going to help you with the SPECS type average speed number plate recognition type cameras used a lot in road works, except maybe a James Bond style revolving number plate.

[2010spy]

Just bought one of these Cameral Alerts but won't let me download software on my Mac - is that a problem others have seen?

Tonyc32 said:

I'm not talking about options, but rather those little things you think are essential in your M car.

1.) Cameras. I have bought two Mini 0801 cameras. One for the front and one for the back.

http://dashboardcamerareviews.com/mini-0801-ambare...

Great quality, great price. Getting this because i've had quite a non-fault few close calls in various cars and also recently someone went into the back of a friend months back....they claimed he reversed into them and it went 50/50

2.) Speed Camera alert. A little, cheap GPS device that beeps at you when it detects you are close to a fixed camera or popular laser spot. Just the job - the size of a big USB stick, no screen, nice and simple. Unlimited free updates.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inforad-K2-Camera-Warning-...

Anyone else have any additions to their car?