This photo blog will show how we installed the all new Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 mirror dash cam into a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. If you're considering installing a dash cam, we recommend the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Kit. The BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and other handy tools to make the hardwiring and installation process more manageable.
The Mirror Cam 3 (M3) is Vantrue’s latest 3-in-1 triple-channel system: a 12” rearview mirror, 2K QHD dash cam, and waterproof reverse cam all rolled in one to give you a crystal clear view of everything inside and outside, making it the perfect solution for taxis, Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing instances, or for drivers who want full coverage of their driving.
We installed the Vantrue M3 2K mirror dash cam into a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 rear camera is IP67-rated for water-resistant and weather-proof, and comes with 2 rear camera mounting options:
If you are using the Vantrue M3 rear camera as a reverse/backup cam, you will need to connect the rear camera to your car’s reverse light to automatically activate the rear camera feed on-screen when you put the car into reverse.
The M3 rear camera in this installation was installed on the rear windshield inside the vehicle.
Always refer to your vehicle’s owners manual
The owner of this Hyundai Santa Fe requested an installation with parking surveillance. Just like a regular dash am, there are a couple of different ways to install a mirror cam for parking mode recording. For this Santa Fe, we went with a hardwire installation. The first step is to locate the fuse panel.
The fuse panel in the Santa Fe is located in the instrument panel on the driver’s side. Simply remove the panel cover to access the panel. You can use the pry tool inside the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Kit to open the side of the fuse panel.
If you want parking mode recording but do not want to tinker with the car’s fuse panel(s), we strongly recommend getting a dedicated dash cam battery pack. The BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Battery is slim enough to be stowed inside the vehicle, and you can always plug it into a 12V outlet (i.e., a cigarette lighter socket) in your car.
The Vantrue M3 mirror camera is designed to clip onto your existing rear-view mirror
Just like the Vantrue M2, the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 is designed to clip onto your existing rear-view mirror. The installation process takes less than a minute - all you need to do is secure it with the rubber straps provided inside the box.
The main unit is simple enough to attach to your car’s mirror – but it doesn’t replace the mirror. It fits over the top with a pair of stretchable rubber straps. If your vehicle’s mirror is a strange shape, then the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 might not fit properly.
The main unit is simple enough to attach to your car’s mirror – but it doesn’t replace the mirror. It fits over the top with a pair of stretchable rubber straps. If your vehicle’s mirror is a strange shape, then the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 might not fit properly.
The Vantrue M3 interior camera comes in a separate casing to offer maximum flexibility in mounting position.
Now, let’s put up the interior camera. The Vantrue Mirror Cam 3’s interior infrared camera is 360-degree rotatable, allowing the highest level of flexibility to capture the required angles for your and your passengers’ security.
Plug the cables into the mirror camera’s GPS unit and front cam. Again, there are a lot of wires here so make sure you secure them properly.
Use the provided trim removal tool to gently pull back the panel cover
Take the 3-wire hardwiring cable and plug the adapter end into the power port on the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3. Tuck the hardwiring cable along the headliner and A-pillar on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Always, always route the hardwiring cable behind the airbags. Cable-tie your power cable along the back side of the existing cables that run down the A-pillar. Run the power cable down the A-pillar, until you reach the fuse panel.
Always refer to the vehicle’s owners manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your vehicle.
The hardwiring kit for the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 is a 3-wire cable. The red one is for the ACC, while the yellow is for the Constant fuse. Make sure to read the labels on the hardwiring kit to confirm, and don’t get them mixed up because this is very crucial in order for you to activate parking mode.
The black wire with the C-shaped connector is the ground wire, which should be grounded to an unpainted metal bolt or stud in the vehicle. You always want to start off with this.
Using the circuit tester in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package, our installer looks for the ACC fuse, which stands for Accessory, and the Constant fuse. You can easily differentiate these fuse types. If it lights up - even when your car ignition is turned off - it’s a Constant. If it doesn’t light up, then it’s an ACC.
Using the circuit tester in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package, our installer looks for the ACC fuse, which stands for Accessory, and the Constant fuse. You can easily differentiate these fuse types. If it lights up - even when your car ignition is turned off - it’s a Constant. If it doesn’t light up, then it’s an ACC.
You can look for the empty fuse slots or ones you can piggyback off using the add-a-fuse kit included in the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Kit. The fuse tap that you choose is dependent on the car that you use, from ATO, Micro2, Low-Profile and Mini-Fuse. Consult your user manual to find which one is right for you, and also, make sure the fuse tap you’re adding is equal to or lower than the fuse tap you’ve chosen - that’s the number here. For the 2013 Santa Fe, we used the Low Profile fuse.
Always refer to the Fuses section in the vehicle's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots pertaining to certain safety features within your car.
Before you start hiding the wire, you should turn on the ignition to see if the dash cam’s power is enabled and completely works.
While the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 comes with two mounting options for the rear camera, we installed it on the rear windshield for this Hyundai Santa Fe. Plug the rear camera connecting wire into the front unit.
Route the rear camera connecting wire through the A, B and C pillars.Carefully remove the side weatherstrip from the front and rear doors. Use the trim removal tool to lift the pillar trim slightly, and remove any mounting clips under the pillar by gently pulling the panel cover.
Remember, don’t just stuff the cable under the rubber seal because it will create a little gap that might prevent the door from sealing properly - you will get wind noise, or worse, water can seep into the car.
Mounting the rear camera in a vehicle with a rear liftgate does require a few extra steps, and the best way to run the cable is to go through the hoses between the chassis and liftgate. Typically, there are 1 or 2 hoses that connect to the liftgate, and it's best to give them a squeeze to check which one has more wiggle room before attempting to run the wire. You can also use a long zip tie, a coat hanger, or any variation of a long wire to guide the front-to-rear cable through the headliner and the rear hatch grommet before connecting to the rear camera.
The rear connecting cable has two separate wires. This is a cool feature of the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 in that the rear camera can also be used as a backup camera as well. All you have to do is connect this red wire to your reverse fuse, and your backup cam will automatically activate when you put your car in reverse. We won’t be doing that today and just install it as a rear camera.
The rear connecting cable has two separate wires. This is a cool feature of the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 in that the rear camera can also be used as a backup camera as well. All you have to do is connect this red wire to your reverse fuse, and your backup cam will automatically activate when you put your car in reverse. We won’t be doing that today and just install it as a rear camera.
We installed the Vantrue M3 2K mirror dash cam into a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
Start the car to make sure that the connection works. And now that it is, it’s up to you how you want to adjust your three-channel system camera angles. And there you have it - the Vantrue Mirror Cam 3 installed in the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Planning on installing a dash cam in your car? Check out our Step-by-Step Dash Cam Installation Guide and our selection of handy installation accessories. And if you ever need a hand during the installation process, just call us; our dash cam specialists are available to help!
Looking to have your dash cam professionally installed, we do offer installation services at our Richmond BC location.
Please see some of our other dash cam installations in the BlackboxMyCar Dash Cam Installation Gallery.
