What Is The Biggest Difficulty For First Time Dash Cam Owners 2025?

[DT MI]

How about now?

 

[gamesfrager]

Since we are talking about first time owners/installers challenges. I will keep it to that.
I would say hardwiring. Figuring out the switched and constant power and also routing the cables.
3 days ago I was installing the A129 Pro on my brother's car. The anaconda thick cables were really hard to deal with in terms of routing cables along the headliner.
My A139 and A139 Pro were not such a hassle since the cables are thin.

I guess camera manufactures can't really help with figuring out the fuse situation but might help the cable routing by including the thin/thinner wires as an option.

 

[Panzer Platform]

thick cables were really hard to deal with in terms of routing cables along the headliner.

I 100% agree with you about running think cables.
This is because most manufacturer’s instructional videos simply show how to stuff the cable behind trim pieces like this.
Start video at 0:36

I have always disliked this method because there are usually sharp pieces of sheet metal behind trim pieces, or worse airbag equipment.
Years of vibration will easily cut / damage loose wires between trim, and sheet metal.
Cable thickness is “never” an issue for “professional installation” because the best way is to remove trim pieces, and secure cables in place with ties, or tape like this;

Of course this adds 1-2 hours to install time, and why some people pay $300 for professional install.
But you only have to do it once, or until you upgrade. Lol

 

[gamesfrager]

I 100% agree with you about running think cables.
This is because most manufacturer’s instructional videos simply show how to stuff the cable behind trim pieces like this.
Start video at 0:36

I have always disliked this method because there are usually sharp pieces of sheet metal behind trim pieces, or worse airbag equipment.
Years of vibration will easily cut / damage loose wires between trim, and sheet metal.
Cable thickness is “never” an issue for “professional installation” because the best way is to remove trim pieces, and secure cables in place with ties, or tape like this;

Of course this adds 1-2 hours to install time, and why some people pay $300 for professional install.
But you only have to do it once, or until you upgrade. Lol

Yes, that's what I did for for the A pillar. Removed the trim, zip tied it to the existing wiring bundle behind the airbag. But then when it came to the B pillar, I would have had to remove 3 pieces of trim. Two of which are a nightmare to deal with placing them back and will most certainly break the retaining clips/plugs. I do have replacements but it's like yous said, another 1-2 hours of extra install time.

 

[Cirrus]

For a first time "installer" I would suggest using the temporary static sticker included in the box.
If you're not happy with the mounting location you can easily remove, and re-install the dash cam using the same static stickers, and same 3M adhesive pad a few times.
Once you're finally happy with the final mounting location remove the camera once a again, and re-install without the static stickers, and the spare 3M adhesive pad included in the box.

Thanks for the useful suggestions. Next time, I'll start off with a "test phase" using the static sticker (haven't ever used that).

 

[TonyM]

Difficulties for first-time owners:
- Install-and-forget, only to find it's not working when needed
- MicroSD card failure
- Unreliability

Nothing new in 2025. These difficulties have been around for years, as have most of the points raised in earlier posts.

 

[Julian23]

Thanks for the useful suggestions. Next time, I'll start off with a "test phase" using the static sticker (haven't ever used that).

I can only recommend using the static stickers.
I have mounted my first dashcams without them. Of course the 3m held on very good but it was such a pain to remove the mount without causing damage.

Now I only mount the cameras to the static stickers. I carefully clean the windshield and then put on the sticker and then put on the camera mount.
I have never had any issues with mounting them like this. Not in -10°C or in 42°C weather with the sun shining on it.
And it's so easy to remove them.
Half the size of a full sticker is even enough to support the weight of the camera well enough and is less obvious on the windshield.