In this review, I install a FITCAMX integrated 4K dash camera into a Cupra Born. This camera will also work in a VW ID.3 without all the trouble of using fuse cables, feeding wires down interior bulkheads or using 12V sockets or USB ports.
You can buy this camera for the Cupra Born (other car brands are available) for $168 (current sale price) directly from FITCAMX – https://bit.ly/fitcamxcupraborn. The optional polariser can be purchased along with your order or separately here.
TLDR: The FITCAMX Integrated 4K Dash Cam is a sleek, OEM-style device tailored for modern vehicles. This Cupra Born and VW ID.3 model has a plug-and-play design that simplifies installation by drawing power from the rain sensor, preserving the interior’s aesthetics. While daytime footage is sharp and clear, nighttime quality and low-light performance lag behind competitors with better sensors. The app offers basic functionality but lacks some advanced features. Despite minor shortcomings, it’s a discreet, easy-to-install option for Born/ID.3 owners, though improvements like a better sensor and enhanced app functionality could make it outstanding.
As a new Cupra Born owner, I was eager to find a dash cam that would seamlessly integrate into my vehicle without disrupting its sleek interior. The FITCAMX Integrated 4K Dash Cam, designed specifically for the Cupra Born and VW ID.3, seemed to be the perfect solution. After installing and testing it, I can now share my firsthand experience with this device.
Design and Installation
One of the standout features of the FITCAMX dash cam is its OEM-style design. Crafted to match the original rearview mirror cover, the device doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view or look out of place. This attention to detail ensures it blends seamlessly into the car’s interior, appearing like a factory-installed component.
Installation was straightforward thanks to its plug-and-play setup. The dash cam draws power directly from the car’s rain sensor, avoiding the need to tamper with the A-pillar or fuse box—often required for other dash cams in the Cupra Born and ID.3 due to the lack of a 12V outlet in the front interior. This design choice simplifies installation and keeps wiring hidden, preserving the car’s clean aesthetic. If your car is a leased vehicle, like mine, this method is the least disruptive way to install a dash cam.
Since the Cupra Born and VW ID.3 power up automatically when the driver’s seat is occupied, it’s advisable to complete the cable installation from the passenger seat to prevent any errors with the car system. For my right-hand-drive car, this made things a bit more challenging, but once the camera and all the cables were connected, I could return to the driver’s seat.
The entire installation took approximately 16 minutes. A little longer than the claimed 5 minutes, but this is purely due to spending the longest part of the install attempting to unclip the rearview mirror housing. The front clips detached very easily using the provided removal tool, but the rear clips required more force than I was initially comfortable applying to a car I didn’t own. Eventually, tilting the rearview mirror downwards, holding the top rear panel and pulling directly downward on the main casing allowed both clips and side hooks to come free.
Once the panel was removed, I located the rain sensor cable. By gently pulling down on the cable’s slack with one finger and tugging on the cable connector with another finger to slide it out. With the cable removed I then replaced it with the supplied daisy-chain cable, which allows the rain sensor to function while powering the dash cam.
The camera powers up when you press the brake pedal and turns off when you exit and lock the vehicle. A red and blue LED on the housing indicates the camera’s power (red LED) and recording (blue LED) status. After supplying power to the camera, I downloaded the FITCAMX app, connected to the camera’s Wi-Fi network, and added the camera to the app to access its live video feed.
With everything functioning as expected, I carefully tidied the cables and clipped the FITCAMX housing and camera back into the rearview mirror mount. Installation complete!
Operation and Application
Once installed, the only way to confirm the camera is recording is by using the app to view the live feed or checking the red and blue LEDs. These sunken LEDs can be hard to see from the driver’s seat, but placing a finger near the holes allows the colours and sequences to reflect onto your finger tip for easier identification.
The camera features two buttons: one for taking photos (holding it resets the device to factory settings) and another for power. Holding the power button turns the camera off, while a quick press turns it on. A flashing blue LED indicates the camera is actively recording.
It would have been nice to have a voice or audible alert to indicate the camera’s status upon powering on the camera. Instead, I had to learn the LED flashing patterns. Red indicates power, while blue signifies camera operation. A solid blue light means the recording is paused, while a flashing blue light indicates active recording.
It’s worth pointing out that the camera’s audio recording is off by default, so I needed to connect to the camera via the app to enable this feature in the settings.
App Functionality
The FITCAMX app is available for iOS and Android devices, offering basic yet functional features such as live view, video playback, and settings adjustment. However, it lacks some more advanced options like more customisable recording intervals or being able to select higher frame rates at lower resolutions. Smaller file-size compression settings would also have been a worthwhile addition.
Browsing recordings in the app is quick though, but transferring multiple files can be tedious due to the short recording intervals and the size of files. For bulk transfers, removing the SD card and inserting it into a desktop or laptop computer will be more efficient.
Video Quality
The FITCAMX dash cam features a 4K resolution (2160P) front camera, capturing sharp and clear footage during the day. License plates, road signs, and fine details are recorded well, making it valuable for evidence in incidents. The wide dynamic range (WDR) helped balance exposure during transitions, such as entering and exiting tunnels.
At night, the video quality diminishes slightly. The footage is grainier, and streetlights and car headlights can create excessive bloom, making license plates difficult to read. Low-light performance would benefit from advanced sensors like the Sony IMX335 or Sony IMX675 Starvis 2 sensor, which I’d love to see in future iterations of this camera from FITCAMX.
I felt I had to reduce exposure to -0.3 to cater for the sensor’s rather harsh handling of overexposed skies in daytime recordings and reduce the grey and grainy quality and light bloom in nighttime recordings. Setting to -0.3 was a happy medium, whilst -0.6 felt too dark for daytime recordings.
The lack of features like parking mode, motion detection, or ADAS may disappoint users seeking continuous surveillance. However, I personally didn’t miss ADAS, as it often feels intrusive.
Storage and File Sizes
Recorded video files use the h.265 codec, with sizes ranging from:
1440P 30 @ 1 Min intervals – 111.3 MB
1440P 30 @ 3 Min intervals – 333.9 MB
2160P 30 @ 1 Min intervals – 139 MB
2160P 30 @ 3 Min intervals – 418 MB
(32Bits 32000 Hz stereo audio is included in all the above filesizes)
At 2160P 4K resolution, a 64GB SD card can store approximately 153 3-minute clips—that’s just 51 minutes of footage. While this may suffice for commuters, it’s insufficient for longer trips. Using a larger 128GB SD card increases loop recording time, ensuring full coverage for extended drives.
Build Quality and Fit
The FITCAMX dash cam feels solid and durable. It fits snugly over the rearview mirror housing, maintaining a factory-installed appearance without gaps or misaligned edges.
However, I found the LED indicators lacking in clarity, and the absence of audible or visual prompts led to a frustrating experience with my previous FITCAMX camera in my Golf. There were times I realised the camera hadn’t recorded for months, so I now check the app when I remember to do so and ensure the LED status is flashing correctly.
My Impressions
The FITCAMX Integrated 4K Dash Cam is an excellent option for Cupra Born and VW ID.3 owners seeking a discreet, easy-to-install dash cam. Its OEM design and simple installation process make it a standout choice, though its video quality and app functionality does leave room for improvement.
Adding a Sony IMX335 or IMX675 sensor and enabling more customisation options in the app would elevate this dash cam from “acceptable” to “exceptional.” For now, it’s a decent option that gets the job done but doesn’t exceed expectations. Including the optional $23 polarising lens by default would also be a welcome addition, or building the polariser into the lens housing could be a pro-level feature.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:26 – Unboxing
1:16 – Features & design
3:45 – Installation
4:25 – Sensor cover removal
6:28 – Rain sensor cable removal
7:38 – Attach bridge cable
8:21 – Attach cable to camera
8:44 – Power ON test
9:10 – Status LEDs & Buttons
9:27 – FITCAMX app Wi-Fi connection
10:46 – Final fitting
12:56 – Camera test
13:07 – Poloriser lens test & fitting
15:08 – App features & settings
16:30 – Camera microphone quality test
18:20 – Day & Night recording test
18:49 – My Impressions
20:39 – Availablity models
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