[e90328isf]

Hi,

I have the surround view camera option on my 2021 X5. Does this also record while you are driving as a dash cam or can it be made to do so? If so where can I see the recordings?

If this option can not be used as a dash cam, what dash cam would you recommend for the car? Thanks

[TurtleBoy]

Check your ConnectedDrive account, you should be able to subscribe to Drive Recorder.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by e90328isf

Hi,

I have the surround view camera option on my 2021 X5. Does this also record while you are driving as a dash cam or can it be made to do so? If so where can I see the recordings?

If this option can not be used as a dash cam, what dash cam would you recommend for the car? Thanks

Are you referring to what BMW calls Drive Recorder? Like what Turtleboy replied to? If so, then the answer is yes...and...no

Yes in that it does record while you're driving and no, it's not like a traditional dash cam in that it will only record about 40 seconds of video per incident. It's always recording as you drive but it will not "save" all that video. It's really made to record accidents, near accidents, etc and has two modes, you can manually trigger it or have it trigger upon an accident. If you are looking for a traditional dash cam, this isn't it.

Here's a video that shows how it works, how to activate it and how to see and download the videos to a USB drive.

[e90328isf]

Thank you all for the input and the video. This is a weird set up, why not just make it as a dash cam, it seems like it covers my use case as it is mostly for accident recording. also it seems that I can record 40 seconds at a time on demand which seems ok if I want to capture something else, just wish it kept recording.

also, do these cars come with some dash cam pre-wiring?

also curious what dash cams people recommend for x5s? thanks

[BlkGS]

I'm confused how the incident recording it does is different from a regular dash cam?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by e90328isf

Thank you all for the input and the video. This is a weird set up, why not just make it as a dash cam, it seems like it covers my use case as it is mostly for accident recording. also it seems that I can record 40 seconds at a time on demand which seems ok if I want to capture something else, just wish it kept recording.

also, do these cars come with some dash cam pre-wiring?

also curious what dash cams people recommend for x5s? thanks

I agree with you and wish someone would figure out a hack to accomplish that, I mean after all it is in fact always recording, it just must write over its recordings till you or it initiates the save.

I do not believe nor have ever heard of the X5 coming with a dash cam prewiring. BMW sells a dash cam and when looking at the install instructions, there isn't any prewiring to take advantage of. You might want to search this forum for dash cams, there have been several posts showing what owners have bought and installed.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

I'm confused how the incident recording it does is different from a regular dash cam?

The basic diff is that a dash cam records till its memory is filled up and provides the full length recording for you, maybe you get an hour or more depending on the size of the memory card and the resolution of the video. Drive Recorder only gives you a total of 40 seconds on the pre LCI and I think 60 seconds on the LCI and won't even give you that unless you manually trigger it or it triggers due to an accident. All the rest of the footage is lost. Unlike a typical dash cam though, it records the left and right sides in addition to the front and rear.

[e90328isf]

I feel 90% of what I need is covered from the BMW system - wondering if this can be changed by a software update, obviously they are recording already

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by e90328isf

I feel 90% of what I need is covered from the BMW system - wondering if this can be changed by a software update, obviously they are recording already

Be careful what you ask for, a software update will create multiple changes of which you may not be happy with some. Just saying.

[e90328isf]

I meant a dealer update, do you mean that some of these have caused issues previously?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by e90328isf

I meant a dealer update, do you mean that some of these have caused issues previously?

Yes, there are often changes/issues with an iDrive update that people don't want.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by e90328isf

I meant a dealer update, do you mean that some of these have caused issues previously?

Yeah, what TB said. What I meant by a hack is that it would be great if someone figures out how to recode only the Drive Recorder software to allow it to constantly record onto a USB drive that you plug into one of the USB ports. It should work like a dash cam in that it should continue recording till the USB drives full capacity and then simply record over the oldest footage.

I highly doubt BMW will change the way it presently works in an OTA or dealer software upgrade to iDrive and to be honest, even if they did, I wouldn't take the upgrade because it never comes for free, there is always a price to pay in either some feature gained you don't want, some feature removed that you liked or some feature changed and you end up not liking the change. I mean it's no different than doing a software upgrade on your phone, tablet or computer. You never really know everything that's in the upgrade, you have to take it all or none and you can't go back if you end up not liking the update. Know what I mean?

[e90328isf]

Interesting stuff, not sure why they tried to do something different than what people are used to with a dash cam