This photo blog will show how we installed a BlackVue DR900X Plus 2-channel dash cam into the 2022 Porsche Macan GTS. 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.
While Porsche’s dash cam may pique the interest of some, we would expect high quality and ongoing support for the amount Porsche charges for the Front-only 2K QHD camera. However, the Porsche dash cam appears to be another generic camera Porsche rebranded, just like the Audi Universal Traffic Recorder dash cam, which conveniently looks identical.
We installed the BlackVue DR900X-2CH Plus dash cam into a 2022 Porsche Macan GTS.
The DR900X-2CH Plus is BlackVue’s top-tier dash cam that delivers 4K UHD front and 1080p Full HD rear video quality and boasts one of the best Cloud services in the industry.
Always refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
The owner of this Porsche Macan requested an installation with parking surveillance. There are different ways to install a dash cam for parking mode recording, and for this Porsche, we went with a hardwire installation. The first step is to locate the fuse panel - and the best way is to consult the logbook of your Porsche Macan.
There should a few fuse panels inside the car you can use: the under the dashboard on the driver’s side, and under the dashboard on the passenger side. There’s also a fuse panel in the engine compartment, right next to the car battery.
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 ideal place for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror.
The ideal place to mount the forward-facing camera is behind the rearview mirror because it hides the dash cam from the driver’s line of sight and avoids any obstruction while driving. Luckily, BlackVue’s signature slender cylindrical shape makes it easy to position the DR900X Plus behind the rearview mirror.
Don’t forget to check how far the wiper goes because if you mount the front-facing camera above the wiper's reach, it will not have a clear vision. You don't want to have your dash cams installed in an area outside of the range of your windshield wiper coverage; else, on a rainy or snowy day, the camera lens will not be able to capture video. Clean the windshield from the inside of the car to ensure the camera sticks properly and to clean off any marks or smears that might affect the video quality of your footage.
Take the 3-wire hardwiring cable and plug the adapter end into the power port on the side of the DR900X Plus dash cam. Tuck the hardwiring cable around the console, then along the headliner to the A-pillar on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Removing the headliner and panel covers in the Porsche Macan can be tricky - the clips and tabs are metal and are easy to break when they are straightened and refolded during removal and refitting. Take your time and be gentle, or seek professional assistance.
Removing the headliner and panel covers in the Porsche Macan can be tricky - the clips and tabs are metal and are easy to break when they are straightened and refolded during removal and refitting. Take your time and be gentle, or seek professional assistance.
Use the provided trim removal tool to gently pull back the panel cover.
A pin and clip hold the A-pillar at the tip. Some suggest you pull on the A-pillar until you can’t pull further and use a flashlight to see where that clip is. Others suggest you push the headliner toward the roof instead of pulling the trim away from the A-pillar. Perhaps a combination of both will allow you to see into the clip's A-pillar trim, and once the clips are released, the trim slides up and out.
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 passenger footwell.
Always refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your vehicle.
The hardwiring kit for the DR900X Plus is a 3-wire cable. Connect the red wire (the ACC wire) to a constant fuse (12V power) and the yellow wire (the Battery wire) to an ignition switch (12V source). 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.
Always refer to the Fuses section in the vehicle's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your car.
Using the circuit testing in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package, locate a suitable continuous power fuse for the red/ACC wire and an ignition fuse for the yellow. You can look for the empty fuse slots or ones you can piggyback off using the add-a-fuse kit included in the Essential Install Package.
Take the extra cable and hide it in the passenger footwell. We recommend using zip ties and wire tape to keep it all tidy.
Because we need to run the wire through the rubber grommet on the right, we ran the rear connecting cable along the ABC pillars on the right side of the car.
Plug the rear camera connecting cable into the front unit, run the cable along the headliner, and straight down the length of the car to 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.
Do not mount the rear camera against the headliner because the rear wiper does not reach that far up.
Mounting the rear camera in a vehicle with a rear liftgate requires a few extra steps. You can run the rear camera cable to the rear windshield, depending on your tools. Some people have cables from the C-pillar right onto the rear windshield. While that works, you must be careful when opening and closing the trunk, as the cable can get tangled up, loose, or exposed to water damage.
We recommend taking the time to do it properly, through the rubber grommet between the chassis and the liftgate, so the cables are all nice and tidy - the cable will then run through the grommet and onto the rear windshield. Typically, 1 or 2 hoses connect to the liftgate, and it's best to squeeze them to check which one has more wiggle room before attempting to run the wire.
Plug the connecting cable into the rear camera and power your car to turn on the BlackVue DR900X Plus. You will hear the BlackVue greeting prompt. Suppose you haven't done so, download and install the BlackVue mobile app on your smartphone.
Once your BlackVue is powered on, enable the built-in WiFi and then connect to the dash cam using the app to check the angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust as needed.
Use the Live View feature to check the viewing angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust if needed.
Our BlackVue DR900X-2CH Plus dash cam installation - is completed! From the outside, looking in from the front of the vehicle, the BlackVue DR900X Plus front-facing and rear-facing cameras blend in well with the car.
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.
