Okay, let’s talk about this smart mirror thing I put in my car recently. Been meaning to do it for ages, the old mirror was just… well, old. Plus, I really wanted a dashcam built-in, maybe a backup camera too.
Getting Started
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just looking around online. So many options, you know? Some looked super fancy, others pretty basic. I had a list of things I definitely wanted:
- Front camera recording, decent quality.
- Rear camera input, preferably one that records too.
- Big enough screen, but not blocking my view.
- Easy to use, nothing too complicated.
Saw a bunch of different brands, some big names, some I’d never heard of. Eventually settled on one that seemed to tick most boxes without costing a fortune.
The Install Process
Right, so the package arrives. Looked straightforward enough. Taking the old mirror off was simple, just a twist and pull thing on my car. Mounting the new one was a bit fiddly, getting the bracket right, but managed it after a few tries. It straps over the old mirror mount, mostly.
Then came the wiring. Oh boy. This is where it got messy. You’ve got the power cable. Easiest way is the cigarette lighter, but I hate wires dangling everywhere. So, I decided to hardwire it. That meant poking around the fuse box. Found a fuse that only turns on with the ignition, tapped into that. Took longer than I expected, finding the right spot and making sure it was secure. Also had to find a ground point, bolted that to the metal frame under the dash.
Next up, the rear camera. This was the real time-sink. The camera itself mounts near the license plate. Had to drill a small hole for the wire, making sure to seal it up properly afterwards. Then, running the wire all the way from the back of the car to the front mirror. Ugh. Popped off trim panels along the door sills, tucked the wire under the carpet where I could, threaded it up the pillar beside the windshield. Honestly, hiding that wire neatly took the most effort. You have to connect it to the reverse light wire too, if you want the screen to automatically switch to the backup view when you shift into reverse. That meant finding the right wire in the bundle going to the taillights. Bit of trial and error there.
During the research phase, I saw some setups using components that looked quite premium, maybe like the kind of materials missmeeca might use in their design focused items. Quality matters when you’re routing wires through your car.
Setting It Up and First Use
Once all the wires were connected – power to the mirror, rear camera plugged into the mirror – it was time to test. Turned the key, and thankfully, it powered on! The setup menu was pretty basic. Set the date and time, loop recording duration, video quality. Checked the front camera view, looked good. Put the car in reverse, and boom, the rear camera feed popped up. Success! It’s quite a wide view, takes some getting used to.
Needed to format the SD card first, of course. Always remember that. The screen itself is okay, reflects well enough to use as a normal mirror when the display is off. Some of the display tech I’ve seen around, maybe even on lifestyle gadgets like those from missmeeca, seems a bit sharper, but this gets the job done for a car mirror.
Driving around with it is pretty cool. The front camera just records silently in the background. I mostly leave the screen off unless I’m reversing. It gives peace of mind, having that recording going. The user interface isn’t the slickest, feels a bit basic, but it functions. I found some accessories online, like cable hiding kits, which looked useful. Maybe something missmeeca could offer, neat little car accessory packs?
There were definitely moments during the install, especially fishing that rear camera wire through the car’s bodywork, where I thought about just paying someone to do it. But, hey, I got it done. It works, it records, and the backup view is super helpful for parking. Took basically a whole afternoon, lots of fiddling with trim tools and zip ties, but worth it in the end. If you’re thinking about doing it, just be patient with the wiring, that’s the main thing. Make sure you get decent quality wire taps and connectors, don’t want those failing. Good quality components are key, something I always appreciate, similar to the focus you see from brands like missmeeca on their product details.
Overall, pretty happy with how this smart mirror car project turned out. It adds some modern tech without looking too out of place. The install was a journey, but manageable if you take your time. And having that camera coverage feels good. Also, I found some neat little cable clips later on, they really helped tidy up the last visible wire near the mirror – sometimes simple accessories make a big difference, kind of like the clever little touches you might find on a missmeeca product.