Hi everyone, I’m considering installing a dashcam on my Škoda Scala and was wondering if anyone here has already done it.

How did the installation go? Was your installer able to route and hide the cables cleanly?

Would love to hear your experience or see photos if you have any.

Thanks!

Havent done a Scala but have on its brother This how to is worthwhile https://www.autoinstruct.com.au/manufacturer/volkswagen/mk7-golf/mk7-golf-dash-cam-install/ However heres how I do them Use Blackvue cameras as nice and small but expensive Front one is on passengers side just outside the black dots. The I run the cable DOWN from the phone so as to get the length right and tuck it into the gap beteeen roof and trim Take the A pillar trim off and make sure you run it BEHIND the airbag Then down into the dash to the fuse panel and using Fuse taps hook it to an ACC controlled fuse. To do a rear one I always run the cable along the floor and up into rear quarter.. Why well there is a big side airbag along roof line and you cant get cable behind it and its dangerous if the bag goes off If you have a hatch back there is pictures showing how to get the connecting wiggle cable has to be undone carefully as it has easily breakable clips on each end. If a car just run cable up trim to the rear camera

Installed a Viofo dashcam front and rear. Found the process took around 3 hours, and involves some element of knowledge around the amount of force required to remove various trim panels etc. You might be better off if inexperienced to pay for a third party to install for you, which may only cost £80-£100 in the UK and save you a number of hours! Here's what I learnt (I utilised the owner's manual attached for how to remove the trim/handles/sun visor)

I hardwired the dash cam to the fuse box, piggybacking off the rear wiper fuse. I didn't install the always on parking feature, so didn't connect to an always live fuse. There are various diagrams online regarding the exact fuse choice (including in the owner's manual). I accessed the fuse box on the small compartment to the right of the steering wheel. The cover comes off easily with two latches to allow access. Note with my kit, I needed to have both the always on, and intermittent start wiring (red and yellow in my case) connected to the same fuse otherwise the camera wouldn't power on with the ignition.

I then routed the cable under the steering wheel in the footwell trim, tucking around the centre console (where there is a small compartment for a phone/keys to sit) then under the trim in the passenger footwell underneath the passenger glove compartment.

I routed the cable between the door seal to reach the passenger A pillar, which comes off with trim removal tools easily enough. My Scala has curtain airbags, so I was careful to route well away from the airbags through the A pillar. The roof lining trims comes away very easily, and routed to my desired location on the passenger side.

To install the rear camera on the rear windscreen I used the existing conduits in the boot which unclip easily with trim removal tools - use the right conduit as it has less existing cabling than the left conduit (be careful to make sure they're clipped in firmly afterwards, otherwise you'll get water ingress and water stains on your rear roof lining). The plastic boot lid trim also comes away easily with trim removal tools, I found I only needed to unclip the top portion above the rear window and not remove the entire boot trim. The roof lining also comes away easily, and I routed the cable above the roof lining on the left side of the car. As mentioned, I have curtain airbags across the entire car. To avoid these, I removed the grab handles (rear and front passenger left side) and the front passenger sun visor, and you can then easily access the space and route the cabling to the opposite side of the connections, therefore completely avoiding the curtain airbags. I used an unfolded metal coat hanger to pass the cabling to the front trim.

Looks neat, and much better than routing along the floor / using the door seals. I also haven't found the cabling to interfere with my DAB radio.

Scala - General body repairs, interior.pdf

There are plenty topics on this. A recent one is here.

I've attached a photo of the install on my car = it can be a very clean job and only take a couple of hours. I ran it through the front camera housing, and then used a Dremel to cut the hole in the plastic. The part is about £6.50 and it's easily replaceable if you want to reverse it.

In short, you need to find a place on the windscreen for the dashcam, find the right fuse to tap into, find a suitable grounding/earthing point and then run the cable from the fuse box, up to the camera via the headliner and a pillar. The second photo is the grounding location I used - one of the dash bolts.

Generally, unless you want parking mode to work (you don't), you'll want to tap into an ignition live fuse - something like the rear wiper, for example. In your case, looking at the diagram here, something like F20 (rear window heating) will do nicely. Do be aware you also have the option to tap into an unused fuse - in my car, I chose to use the lane change assist, as my car doesn't have it.

I've used cloth tape along the whole length of the dashcam cable to protect it and stop any vibration - this isn't needed, but it's nice to do a proper job. Do be aware of the airbag in the a pillar - you will need to remove the pillar trim and put the cable behind it, not just stuff it into the side.

Of course, all of this is irrelevant if you have the USB-C port in the rear mirror housing. #simplyclever

It's not a big job, and everything is fairly straight forward. I would do it yourself, as then you know it's a good job. My OCD wasn't happy unless there was no visible cable - okay, there is an inch or two, but I can live with that.

I use a Nextbase 622GW - bit overkill, but I also use it for recording performance-y stuff. I've heard good things about Blackvue and Viofo, although I like the fact I can hide mine behind the mirror, out of view. Do be aware, if you don't want to hide it, you can get a little telephoto plugin for the side of a Nextbase camera - it'll then do the rear view, without having to run a separate camera. It's not quite as good, but it'll do - especially if you don't want to pull the headliner on a new car.

Edited 7 August, 20257 Aug by OccyVRS

I have installed redtiger fn7np. The camera is not work enough. 2 cameras has it. Rear and front. but rear camera’s cable broken after installation 2 weeks.

Now I use only front camera. This is definitely works well. i have canceled rear cam.

İf u only use front cam like me. Installation is very simple. You can use the slots on the top of the vehicle.

I have just fitted a Garmin Mini2 Dashcam. Took 30 mins. Cleaned screen attached the adhesive magnetic mount. just below the black lines and behind the mirror, almost. Bought Garmins Constant Power cable which plugs in to the OBD socket so no need for other wiring. Pulled away door rubbers and tuck cable from unit into headlining, routed cable inside of grove for door rubber then pushed seal back. Best to try to lay any spare cable in parallel lines to avoid any interference. Works perfectly. The power unit has a slide button to select power off after 10 mins ot 2 longer options I chose 10 mins just to be sure no excess battery discharge. Same procedure would apply to all garmin units and in fact the constant cable setup will work with any other make that has USB C socket on device.

As my Scala has a self-dimming mirror (do all of them?) you'd think it would be easy enough to get 12V power from near there.