Fitting an dashcam - warranty issue?

[DrivenToDistraction]

I took my Garmin dashcam out of my 7.5 before selling it with the intention of fitting it to my new 8.5.
When booking it in with Halfords for fitting next Tuesday, the lady on the reception desk suggested that I check with the VW dealer to make sure that piggy backing one of the fuses would invalidate the car's warranty. Not sure what prompted her suggestion (a specific case?), but I have emailed the dealer anyway. Still awaiting a reply.

Anyone else encountered this potential issue and, if so, what was the outcome?

Thanks

[DrG_GTi]

I've had a garmin dashcam mini hard wired in piggy backing a fuse for over a year and it's been into have warranty work multiple times with absolutely no issues from the dealer.

[jme63]

I had similar thoughts about impacting the warranty (although I think it's unlikely). I connected mine into one of the front 2 USB slots but hid the wire between the headline, down the A pillar, between the glove box and carpet and then came out at the side of the centre console and into the USB C slot.

Just check if your camera can be powered via a usb C cable, mine won't, even though the dash cam has a usb C slot. I had to convert with a short usb c male to usb a female cable and then connect the camera with a usb A to usb C 3m cable.

I also used a power bank for using the camera in  park mode; I even charge the power bank from  one one of the rear usb slots, when driving around

All in all, a little bit convoluted but saves any warranty issues or risk of running down the car battery, when in park mode.

[DrivenToDistraction]

Just check if your camera can be powered via a usb C cable, mine won't, even though the dash cam has a usb C slot. I had to convert with a short usb c male to usb a female cable and then connect the camera with a usb A to usb C 3m cable.

All in all, a little bit convoluted but saves any warranty issues or risk of running down the car battery, when in park mode.

Thanks. Yes, my Garmin 57 can be powered via USB, but Garmin recommends plugging the provided 4m cable into the supplied USB adapter, which then plugs into a 12V cigarette lighter socket. I prefer to use a hardwiring kit so the cable only protrudes about 6 inches from the headlining above the rear view mirror, so you can’t even see it from the driving position. I just hope that the fitter at Halfords has some experience with the mk 8 Golf because it seems (reading threads on other Golf forums) that connecting to the mk 8 fuse box is a bit trickier than the mk 7. I don't use park mode so that is one less technical problem to worry about.

[Beebopper]

I’ve recently fitted a Garmin dash cam with the parking mode / hardwire kit. Pretty straight forward, there are plenty of blank fuse positions to use for constant / switched power as well (no need to tap on top of an existing fuse). Everything can be hidden behind the glovebox and the cable run up the a piller into the headlining is also straight forward. Halfords should be able to handle this with no bother, providing they have a competent tech on it.

My previous car (VAG vehicle) was hardwired through the fuse box and went in for warranty work with no issues.

[DrivenToDistraction]

I’ve recently fitted a Garmin dash cam with the parking mode / hardwire kit. Pretty straight forward, there are plenty of blank fuse positions to use for constant / switched power as well (no need to tap on top of an existing fuse). Everything can be hidden behind the glovebox and the cable run up the a piller into the headlining is also straight forward. Halfords should be able to handle this with no bother, providing they have a competent tech on it.

My previous car (VAG vehicle) was hardwired through the fuse box and went in for warranty work with no issues.

You are right. I eventually spoke to the salesman who sold me the car and he confirmed that there are no warranty issues provided the kit is installed properly. I got it done today at Halfords. The guy said to allow an hour but it actually only took him 35 mins. He accessed the fuse box behind the glove box. Needed a permanent live, switched live and an earth. They charge £55 to do the fitting. The new hardwire parking cable should have cost £20 but there is an offer on at the moment so that was free. All seems to be working fine so I am happy to have the security of a dashcam with all the crazy drivers about.

[alland]

When I got my Mk8 GTI earlier this year, I transferred my Nextbase dashcam from my previous car (Porsche Macan) using the hard wire kit. Both Porsche and VW informed me there would be no warranty issues hard wiring it in, because even using using a piggy-back fuse, there is no interference with an existing circuit.

In both cases the cars had been in the dealership for service, they saw the dash cam, and nothing was mentioned.

[Beebopper]

I’ve recently fitted a Garmin dash cam with the parking mode / hardwire kit. Pretty straight forward, there are plenty of blank fuse positions to use for constant / switched power as well (no need to tap on top of an existing fuse). Everything can be hidden behind the glovebox and the cable run up the a piller into the headlining is also straight forward. Halfords should be able to handle this with no bother, providing they have a competent tech on it.

My previous car (VAG vehicle) was hardwired through the fuse box and went in for warranty work with no issues.

You are right. I eventually spoke to the salesman who sold me the car and he confirmed that there are no warranty issues provided the kit is installed properly. I got it done today at Halfords. The guy said to allow an hour but it actually only took him 35 mins. He accessed the fuse box behind the glove box. Needed a permanent live, switched live and an earth. They charge £55 to do the fitting. The new hardwire parking cable should have cost £20 but there is an offer on at the moment so that was free. All seems to be working fine so I am happy to have the security of a dashcam with all the crazy drivers about.

That is great to hear, which dashcam did you get? The Garmin I have is the mini2, really compact and hides well, just not used to having one with no screen so you need to rely on the app. The only draw back I find is having to disable Apple CarPlay to use the connection to the camera (both use WiFi).

[DrivenToDistraction]

That is great to hear, which dashcam did you get? The Garmin I have is the mini2, really compact and hides well, just not used to having one with no screen so you need to rely on the app. The only draw back I find is having to disable Apple CarPlay to use the connection to the camera (both use WiFi).

I bought my Garmin 57 about 3 yrs ago but I see that it is still on sale (£140 at Halfords, inc. 16 GB card). I got it because its is so tiny and unobtrusive and the image quality is very good. The way it attaches to the windscreen is also clever compared to the Nextbase I had previously, which would tend to fall off the screen when the weather got very hot! The Garmin has a small screen but I don't really refer to it (once it is set up). In fact I can't actually see it from the driving position. There is also a Garmin app which I don't use! If I have an issue and want to review any footage, I just pop out the microSD card and plug it into my PC.

[Beebopper]

I bought my Garmin 57 about 3 yrs ago but I see that it is still on sale (£140 at Halfords, inc. 16 GB card). I got it because its is so tiny and unobtrusive and the image quality is very good. The way it attaches to the windscreen is also clever compared to the Nextbase I had previously, which would tend to fall off the screen when the weather got very hot! The Garmin has a small screen but I don't really refer to it (once it is set up). In fact I can't actually see it from the driving position. There is also a Garmin app which I don't use! If I have an issue and want to review any footage, I just pop out the microSD card and plug it into my PC.

I looked at that series of cameras, they look to be very good and I agree the magnetic mount is a great idea, especially if you wanted to swap between vehicles. I think I will end up just taking the microSD card out when I want to review any footage properly, but it is handy having the app there for viewing something quick or if away from home and no PC access. Not had a Garmin camera before but they seem well made and have good reviews.