BMW i3 - Low Hanging Fruit (improving aerodynamics)

[Snax]

I have given up on my 'plan B' for side view cameras at this point. Sadly, there is just no easy way to make an extension wire to get the cameras I was trying to use to work. For whatever reason, either there is too much voltage drop or interference, so I end up with no signal on the relocated camera from the front of the main mirror/DVR housing.

Still going to use the side pods as already detailed. It will all just need to be different hardware to mount and work how I want it. I think I have that sorted out without having to jerry-rig stuff together though.

Fortunately, it is not too much lost on expenses with repurposing what I have to use as a front / rear dashcam for my Flex. Just too much time running in circles is all . .

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Snax

I have given up on my 'plan B' for side view cameras at this point. Sadly, there is just no easy way to make an extension wire to get the cameras I was trying to use to work. For whatever reason, either there is too much voltage drop or interference, so I end up with no signal on the relocated camera from the front of the main mirror/DVR housing.

Still going to use the side pods as already detailed. It will all just need to be different hardware to mount and work how I want it. I think I have that sorted out without having to jerry-rig stuff together though.

Fortunately, it is not too much lost on expenses with repurposing what I have to use as a front / rear dashcam for my Flex. Just too much time running in circles is all . .

We, on the sidelines have learned a lot from your work in the trenches. Really appreciate all your effort. We're richer for it all.

[freebeard]

"Fail early, fail often". You [hopefully] can't not learn from a failed experiment.

[Snax]

LOL. Trying not to make too many financial missteps without backup uses for the failures . .

Still fun learning what I do not know.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Snax

... Still fun learning what I do not know.

Absolutely.

[Snax]

New HD monitors in their permanent locations. I will still be refining the mounts to be solidly fixed to the doors and losing the suction cups.

This setup, along with the better true 1080p cameras, provides far better resolution and dynamic range without blacking out shadowed areas in bright lighting - and should be much more usable at night. The only real functional problem left is that the lenses are too wide at about 120 degrees edge to edge. 90 degree lenses would be perfect.

More pics in and out in this link.

[Ecky]

I had no luck extending mine, either. Couldn't say why.

[Snax]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I had no luck extending mine, either. Couldn't say why.

I think there is just too much voltage drop. I figured that people were able to do a similar extension with Raspberry Pi cams, so it would likely work.

Regardless, the new setup is easily as good as the extended DVR cam would have been - except for omitting the DVR. I'm sure there is an easy solution for that with a little more work on it, but I don't really feel like it is necessary with the wide views of the front and center cams already recording.

I also just took the car for a spin in full darkness, with no moon and overcast sky, and the side cams are outstanding, bettering what I can see with my eyes directly. The monitors are a touch too bright on the lowest setting however, and I may put a light tint over them to tone it down, but the power connector has a switch on it to turn them off on darker roads. They are fine however in street lighted conditions.

[Snax]

Final (?) iteration of side pods.

I think I have it worked out how to permanently mount the monitors inside to make it more attractive and theft resistant as well.

[Snax]

Nearly done on the inside. I just need to dress up the mounts a bit.

Aaaand, vinyl over ABS for the camera pods does not work well.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TEKhCHwpgMnf2xPTA