Light cluster MOT question

[jakesmith]

Hi this will probably sound a little odd but I am trying to come up with somewhere to mount my rear facing dashcam in my little Smart car. it is convertible and the rear window doesn't work as a location as it folds away when the roof opens. The rear roll hoop isn't great either as it is quite far from the window and is quite obscured

My question is - it looks like the rear light cluster dismantles quite easily & the dashcam is only small. Could I put it in there without inuring MOT issues? It would go in without affectin the light function.

[addz86]

As far as I’m aware, the lights only have to work and shine the correct colour to pass a MOT so might well work, could always get a spare light to change over for MOT time if not.

[kambites]

I think it'd be fine. The only issue might be falling foul of this rather vague reason for failure: "A lens defective such that the emitted light is adversely affected" if the camera blocks proper visibility of the indicator from a particular viewing angle.

[drjdog]

Wouldn't it get hot in there?

[jakesmith]

drjdog said:

Wouldn't it get hot in there?

Could swap the bulbs for LEDs, the car is so basic it doesn't have CANbus
New cluster for MOT is a great idea!
Only other issue is whether footage is admisable if camera is in a dodgy spot - I know for front winscreen you have to stay out of swept area for example

[Little Pete]

I’m assuming you are going to drill a hole in the lens? Be careful not to use the reflector. It may look like a part of the lens that hasn’t got a bulb but it is an MOT requirement.

[jakesmith]

Thought I’d just leave it in place to start and see if the footage is any good. Sometimes when you’re close enough to something it doesn’t block the view like when you look through railings, it’s the light cluster railing effect. I’m not planning on drilling holes in the plastic

[hersh]

Wouldn't the camera be compromised as soon as you used the brakes/reversing light/ indicators etc etc ?

[Scrump]

jakesmith said:

Only other issue is whether footage is admisable if camera is in a dodgy spot - I know for front winscreen you have to stay out of swept area for example

I thought the issue with cameras in the swept area was nothing to do with admissible footage, it was about obstructing the driver's view.

[Little Pete]

Scrump said:

I thought the issue with cameras in the swept area was nothing to do with admissible footage, it was about obstructing the driver's view.

You’re correct, an object or sticker has to significantly affect the drivers view to fail.

[RazerSauber]

Little Pete said:

You’re correct, an object or sticker has to significantly affect the drivers view to fail.

I thought this too, otherwise wouldn't all rain sensors cause issues? They're a "camera" in a swept area of the screen.

[Howard-]

jakesmith said:

I know for front winscreen you have to stay out of swept area for example

No you don't. As long as it's not right in front of the driver's view.

You'd be silly to mount a front-facing camera too high out of the wipers' swept area, as it'll become useless when it rains.

[Pupbelly]

My only comment is - brilliant idea, a nice stealth install. I'd go for the cluster swap at MOT time if you were overly concerned, it's easy enough to swap over and install a tidy push fit connector for the camera and it's all good. Love it!

[bluezedd]

I could be wrong here, but if I was fitting it in the light cluster I would have concerns about it (or more importantly, the SD card) getting crushed and damaged in a rear end collision.

[Howard-]

bluezedd said:

I could be wrong here, but if I was fitting it in the light cluster I would have concerns about it (or more importantly, the SD card) getting crushed and damaged in a rear end collision.

That's a very good point.

[jakesmith]

Howard- said:

bluezedd said:

I could be wrong here, but if I was fitting it in the light cluster I would have concerns about it (or more importantly, the SD card) getting crushed and damaged in a rear end collision.

That's a very good point.

Oh. OK well that's it then, next option is to somehow fabricate a mount for the roll over bar that I can swing up when I open the roof, where's that Meccano set!

[Howard-]

I'm sure I've seen dashcams with both a forward and a rear-facing lens in the same enclosure that mounts to the windscreen as usual. It probably wouldn't work so well in a larger car but in a weeny little thing like a Smart, it'd probably work fine?

[gmaz]

Would a number plate surround not be suitable? Perhaps it would be too low but its at about the same height as the light cluster?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Viewing-Waterproo...

[jakesmith]

Rear facing really only works within a foot of the back of the car or the angle is too narrow

That number plate surround would be perfect but it’s only a backup camera not a dashcam sadly.

If I was any good at electronics it could possibly be rigged to work though