Mazda MX-5 Miata 2 Channel BlackVue Dash Cam Install
Our customer Lew shared some pictures of his dash cam setup in his brand new ND Mazda MX-5. He has the BlackVue DR650S-2CH dash cam paired with the multi safer that is hardwired for parking mode. Having a camera record while the car is parked is important for these small sports cars due to the low front end. Taller cars like trucks and SUVs often back up into these small cars as the nose of the MX-5 can’t be seen in their rear view mirror.
Rear Camera on a Convertible?
Because Lew has the 2 channel version of the BlackVue DR650, he also has a rear facing video feed. It’s always tricky finding a spot for the rear camera in a convertible as the window is small and low down, making it hard to read license plates from behind. It can still be useful for proving fault in an accident and catching potential vandals who may damage the soft top. The camera on this car was mounted on the wind deflector. As the wind blocker is in a fixed spot, it does not matter whether the top is up or down.
Installation Tips
- Our customer removed as many panels as possible to gain easy access for running the wires. You can see where the factory wires are run and run the new ones alongside.
- Once panels were removed, it was easy to find room to store the excess cable. Most 2 channel dash cams come with more than 20 feet of cable for the rear camera so there will be a lot of excess in a small car like this.
- The ND Generation MX-5 uses low-profile add-a-fuses. The fuse box is in the driver's side foot well.
- Adhesive mounting clips were used to keep the wires neat when running up the wind blocker
- A Cellink Battery B might be recommended for these vehicles as they tend to have smaller batteries that can't keep the camera running for too long
Installation Pictures
A picture of Lew's car (note camera not installed)
With the A-pillar trim removed it's easy to see where you can run the wire
Here's the multi safer installed next to the MX-5's fuse box and the two low-profile add-a-fuses
By removing the door sill trim, there's a clear pathway towards the rear wind blocker
Just behind the driver's seat, there's an opening underneath a trim panel with a lot of room for the excess cable
With some adhesive mounting clips the camera wire can be run neatly
Sample Screenshots
Here's what you can expect with the rear camera mounted in the position shown by Lew.
Other Resources
Here are some other links that might be helpful if you're looking to install a dash cam in a convertible:
- BMW M4 Cabriolet 4 Channel Dash Cam Installation
- BMW 4 Series Cabriolet 2 Channel Dash Cam Installation
- Cellink Battery B for Sports Cars