Who's got their radar hardwired?

Looking for some pics of where people have mounted their hardwired radars. I want to harwire my V1, but I don't know where to mount it. I don't want it suctioned to the windshield because it has trouble sticking in the cold and it's illegal. There is a mounting point right above my mirror, but there is the mirror mount and dotted windshield center visor in the glass that I'm affraid will affect my front view effectiveness.
Here's that picture.
1st pic shows the mirror mounting on the windshield, just so you can see what could in fact be a blocking factor.


2nd pic shows it mounted.


So I'm trying to come up with an alternative mouting spot. Unless you guys don't think it will be an issue to mount it here.

 

Didn't know they were illegal in MN, from what I understand if you don't mount it on the windshield it is not as effective.

 

They are not illegal, but sticking anything to your windshield in this state is illegal.

 

No the radar is not illegal itself. What's illegal is mounting it or anything for that matter on the windshield

 

You beat me!

 

they are not illegal in MN, they are illiegal to have mounted on the windshield, obstruction of view or whatever, same thing if you have something haging from your rear view mirror


Before i sold my 04, i hd mine mounted on the driver side right above the mirror, i never had those dots though

 

That is exactly what I did with mine, in my mind the convenience of having it always there outweighs any reduction in sensitivity. The location behind the tint and the fact that it isn't plastered directly to the windshield keep it less visible from outside. I'd be willing to bet there essentially zero intereference with radar detection, hell, the V1 will still go off even if you throw it on the floor. Laser I could see being more of an issue, but if you get hit with laser it is too late anyway.

 

lol, we all must have been typing at the same time, 4 same answers lol

 

Lol it seems you're right!

 

Subiedave, I have mine mounted in this spot, but mine is a 04. Maybe you could try putting it just to the left of your mirror, it's almost out of view then

 

^thats exactly where i had mine mounted in my 04

 

How did you mount it?

 

if you felt it needed, you could always silicone the cup on too

 

Mines hardwired, and I have it suctioned right next to the driver's A-pillar. I've been pulled over a couple times, and cops don't care, or don't notice... I'll post a pic later...

 

So how much would you bet, really. Windshield tint is not the same as actual paint on/in the windshield. And yes, a radar detector as good as the V1 will be affected. It may still go off, but that doesn't mean its nearly as effective as it should be.



Honestly, I've had mine right below the rear view mirror and so have a couple friends for year(s) and never have been bothered. You spent that much on a good detector, why would you want to give it a handicap?

 

This is where I want to mount mine.

psuedo thread jack: Is there a how to post about how to get the power through the dome lights?

 

I just used the suction cups that came with it. This is where all the cool kids mount their radar detectors.

 

did you guys know its illegal to have anyting mounted on your windshield?

 

No way! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

Yes,

But rader detectors and gps's are not... Anyway if you mount above the rearview its hard to spot, gives the detector its best range in the car.

I would also guess that you could sucessfully fight a 'visibility' ticket in that location. Unless you are 11 feet tall...

 

I have mine mounted above the mirror, but I dont have that strip you do on the windshield.

 

Not to be a d1ck, but I struggle with the value of detectors. I've never seen a friend that owns one be "saved" by one. They just seem to alert you to when you might get ticketed.

I drive about 30k miles a year for my job alone and have never felt compelled to get one. I also have no speeding tickets on my record even though I'm a chronic speedrazer. Oh yeah, I'm 34yo so I have a bit more mileage in my history than many of you young guns.

Then again, I like gadgets. V1 or ???? I'd like to remote dash mount mine where my AUX-in is on my 07 wagon.

 

Yes they are, anything on your windshield is, but who really cares.

Here is the wiring diagram for the way I did it. Hopes this helps

 

like vinyl!

 

THats where i have my passport escort. But i ran the cord up the pillar and under the front of the headliner.

 

one miilllion dollars....

I have driven past radar sources and moved the V1 around, behind the tint, and with a clear shot... no difference. Plus the suction cups don't work worth a damn in the heat, in the cold, under a full moon, or during periods of high sunspot activity. And they just look kind of junky.

 

I have a Escort X-50, and I really like it. I have been saved multiple times, where if I wouldn't have slowed down...I would've been SOL!

Valentine is probably one of the best, but I couldn't pass the price of my X-50.

 

Cool. Thanks for the info. The V1 pricing is brutal...looking for options.

 

What is illegal is obstructing your view
Obstruct the hood scoop and have a case
169.71

As I've noted before, I've never seen a V1, escort (8500+), or high-end bel get a ticket with radar (I'm sure it happens in places that use instant on)
All others get owned
Laser? Everyone gets caught.

 

Not everyone, but Laser Jammers are illegal. Laser shifting is not illegal in MN as far as I know, but the only radar equipment I know that currently supports it is the Escort Custom kit, which has a retail of $1500...

 

I have mine stuck to the bottom of the windshield, right in the middle. They shoot laser at the license plates so its more likely to pick it up there, and like stated earlier, anything blocking your vision is illegal. Mine is only blocking my vision of my SCOOP. I explained that to a cop, and have never been bothered about it since. I pulled power from my cigarette lighter.

 

Damn.

 

I want to eliminate the suction cups all together, which is why I want to find a permanent place to mount it. I don't want the cups. Plus like some of you stated, the cups really only work some of the time. I'm sick of it falling off my windshield when it's cold.

A while back, South Florida Performance had a custom three gauge center pod made where it would house three gauges, like the ati and defi pod, but it also had a flat surface molded into it on top of the gauges for a boost controller, tein damper adjuster or whatever you want to put there. That would be a perfect spot to mount the radar and it would be in the best spot for maximum performance. Plus it would not be an illegal place to mount it.
If I could get my hands on one of those or get one custom made, I would totally do that. Then all I would have to do is put down some velcro sticky to the platform and to the radar so I could take it in and out of the car as needed. I would just need to figure out how to wire it into the clock and find someone who is good with fiberglass. Maybe a new thread is needed!!

What do you guys think of that idea?

Oh and for the guys that have their radar suctioned to the windshield, I have gotten a warning for having it there. It was suctioned right under my mirror for the least amount of vision obstruction. But he still gave me the lecture of it being illegal to have anything on the windshield.

 

Mine is above my mirror. Has it's best field of view up there.

 

I'm assuming you dont have the mess of dots above the mirror like I do.

 

anyone realise that one reason that it is probably illegal is the fact that in an accident that piece of equipment will become lodged in your forehead due to air bag deployment !!!!

 

Nope
169.14

Read it again. A laser jammer or shifter is a "radar jammer" under MN law and is illegal.

No, its illegal because it blocks the view. If it doesn't block the view the law doesn't care
A radar detector, sirius radio and anything not bolted down will become a projectile.

 

No sir, no dots.

 

If I didn't have the dots, that's where it'd be on mine too!

 

I've never had a problem with the suction cups, neither has Derek or Paul. Maybe they just like me? I doubt it.



I like the V1 for the pure fact that I know when the fuzz actually have their radar on. So many times I've driven by them all worried, watching the rearview to see if he's turning around. Not anymore.

 

I have mine right above my wipers as I have a strip of tint across the top of my windshield, and that does not do any favors to picking up the signal. Mine has saved me 6 times since I bought it this last summer.

 

so i got a beltronics rx65 with the bmw..havent hooked it up yet. anyone know if its any good?

also, i've never really messed with radar detectors....how do i power it if i dont have the power cord? i guss i have a wire coming out of the a-pillar by the windshield that is supposed to be used for a radar detector. i have a telephone wire input on the decector..do i just find some kind of converter to go from the bare wire to the telephone wire style plug?

 

Yea, mine is a dream too. It's saved me several times. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

It stuck on the windshield fine until the weather got uber cold and then it just falls off, which is why I want to do that deed and just get it wired in. Less worry. If all else fails, I'll just mount it above the mirror and see how that works. I've heard other people say that it works just fine there, but there is always some debate.

 

I think whipsack has that radar. He loves it. PM him. I've never used anything except my V1.

Beltronics should have a website where they should sell hardwiring kits for your specific model. As far as mounting on your car, I'm sure there is information on a bimmer forum for specific wiring.

 

I've never had an issue with the suction cups on my 9500i
As long as the glass is clean