Can the on-board camera's be used as Dash Cams?
 

My dealer said best not to install a stand alone Dash Cam as it can interfere with the on board electronics, but is there a way to make the various camera's fitted to the car save a recording of say the previous 5 minutes before a crash / sudden stop? This should be something Volvo software engineers can come up with?

Not heard that before, did they explain what and how?

So what about charging your phone, does that also affect electrics, assuming both can be powered from or via the same source, typically the 12v socket?

(Conspiracy theory: presumably the dealer doesn’t sell dash cams)

Edit: Welcome to the forum!!

Short answer: No

Long answer: Yes. But you need to work in the Volvo design labs and alter the firmware code and the hardware to tap into the video signals and feed them digitally to some storage mechanism. Doable if you can purchase yourself a volvo design lab, all the hardware and the engineers, and get them to work for you. You'll need a few hundred million GBP.

Or you just buy a 50 GBP dashcam.

The question about dash cams has been raised before after dealer said Volvo would not agree to it. If I remember correctly a number of replies were that they had fitted dash cams with no problems.

Give it a go.

I had a camera installed adjacent to the central mirror housing by the Volvo dealers before delivery. They were happy to do it and said that Volvo will not let customers access the 4(?) system cameras for unspecified legal reasons (it perhaps affects some countries more than others. Perhaps there is also a possibility of customers' use interfering with the safety/piloting systems.).

The camera is mounted on the windscreen but the wiring is all tucked away behind trim. If I recall correctly, the power is taken from one of the fuseboxes. It is a dual camera system, there is also a rear-facing camera mounted on the rear window.

It would have been better of course if Volvo had provided a factory-fitted option. At least I got to choose the make of camera.

Thinking about this again, the DAB radio on my Lexus was next to useless - the dealer couldn’t find any fault, but when when I uninstalled my aftermarket dashcam (as above, all the wiring hidden behind trim, and piggy back hardwired in the fuse box) just prior to end of lease, the DAB was fine. I learned later that I wasn’t the only one to have this problem, and that it was something to do with the shielding.

Could that be the ‘onboard electrics’ to which they refer?

FWIW the same camera is now in my C70, no problems at all, but then it doesn’t have DAB radio either........

Dashcams
 

Halfords fitted one to my V40, no problems. Dealership removed it for me for fitting into my XC40 prior to delivery. They remarked that Halfords had fitted it correctly. Worked OK in the XC40 for about a week until the power failed. Dealership hadn’t connected it properly!

Really shouldn’t interfere with any other system as long as:

A. The cable is adequately shielded.
B. It is properly fitted.
C. It is a simple standalone system - WiFi, Bluetooth etc have more potential to cause problems.

Exmpa

Dash Cam latest (from VOLVO UK)
 

I have recently taken ownership of a XC40 T3 MHEV after part exchanging my Mercedes A250. I too asked about a Volvo approved dash cam as I did not want to invalidate my 3 year warranty. Local dealer said that they were no longer in a position to obtain one as the approved version had been removed from the catalogue. The next generation is due out towards end of June apparently. This is largely confirmed by Volvo UK who also re-iterated that if I chose to go to a 3rd party it may invalidate the 3 year warranty so I guess I'll have to be patient. In relation to the Mercedes, it had a similar front safety camera to the Volvo and for a one off payment of £300 they could flick on the switch to allow that to become a dash cam.
Come on Volvo it can't be difficult and you are missing out on money here. If anyone has other relevant information re dash cams for the XC40 please let me know as I would like to have one fitted. TAVM

I have been using my xc40 windscreen mounted dashcam for several years now with no apparent problem. Everything seems to work including the safety systems. I guess if Volvo now says "it can cause a problem" then dealers have to go along with that. Do people know whether the objections are actually coming from Volvo or the dealers?
On one occassion i got a recording of an accident that happened just ahead of me. I offered the recording to the police but alas they weren't the least bit interested with this minor incident (but involving injury). Too much trouble to deal with I suppose.