VoyagerDude

I know this is not really W203 related, but still:

Where can I buy a Bel 980 radar detector for reasonably cheap? On-line? Canada? US?

Please help.

JustinTRW

Go to Yahoo shopping and a 980 can be had for under $250. Click the link below:

Link to Bel 980 prices

Flashman

For $325-$350 you can get the Escort Passport 8500 on Ebay.

BlackC230Coupe

i got the bel 946i cordless and it works great. it also looks good because there are no wires.

VoyagerDude

Hi BlackC230Coupe

What is the expected battery life with this unit?

Flashman

Keep in mind that in all reviews the cordless units have resulted in a reduced detection capability, due to their lower power consumption (in an attempt to preserve batteries).

You can just hardwire a regular detector and not have to deal with any batteries. My Passport 8500 is wired directly to the trunk fuse box (where there are several switched fuses that turn on/off with the car). It's a relatively easy do-it-yourself job, or any stereo install place can do it in 30 minutes or less.

VoyagerDude

Thanks Rick,

I will also hardwire the radar detector. I can't seem to find the front fuse box
I know that it has only hot fuzes, but i think that's OK.

Thanks

VoyagerDude

Hey, look at this, with 75 posts I became a Member once again

BlackC230Coupe

so far its 3 months old and i havent replaced the batteries yet and it still picks up very strong signals.

columbus

I was looking into getting the Valentine One. Looks like it beats the pants off the Passport 8500 and all the others, according to test reviews. Any comments?

Davidta

I use the Valentine one and love it, I have found cops hiding in place I would have never dreemed they could be. My Farther has used them in his cars of the last 6 years and loves it too, I strongly recomend it, I have never heard a complaint.

MB-BOB

VoyagerDude, I bought my Bel 980 from Sounddomain.com. $239.95. Some time ago, so I don't know their current price.

I like the ability to de-program X-Band from the unit (no one in my area uses X-Band anymore). and the Voice alert is quite handy in getting my attention. Valentine One has neither of these features, yet costs quite a bit more money.

I have owned Passports in the past, and the Bel 980 is every bit as good, IMO. Reviews vary on which is best, but the Valentine One, Bel 980 and Passport 8500 are always considered to be in the same league, so you probably can't go wrong with either. I liked the Bel's price best... by far.

It's not difficult to hardwire the unit to the fusebox in the trunk, so you don't have to remember to turn it on/off. Search the forum for instructions.

njoyaz

Has anyone wired to the sunroof switch which is convenientlly located or
is there a problerm?

Davidta

The newer Valentine one models allow you to select three differnt computer modes, where the detector decides whitch signals to report to you based on what it feels are the probablity it is that it is detecting a police radar source, on its highest level you are basically filtering out all of the X band.

Flashman

There's a fuse box on the left side of the dash, covered by the door when closed. But all the fuses there are hot. However, running a wire down the left side of the car to the trunk isn't that hard.

jack230

To those with Valentine Ones, is it really worth almost twice the price of other high-end detectors? I'm considering the purchase of one, but it's quite a bit of cash.

rrf

I just bought the Bel980 online from Digital Foto NY.
www.digitalfotoclub.com

218.00
241.00 delivered 2-days

No problems with the vendor. Arrived on schedule.

Had it a couple of weeks. In the C32 the unit is great. Love the ability to turn off X-band. Can leave the unit on all the time in San Jose, CA (in sensitive Highway mode) with very very few false alarms. You will be happy with it.

VoyagerDude

Thanks a lot guys for all the ideas.
I would most likely order the Bel 980 from one of the sites you listed, provided they ship to Canada, and shipping rate is reasonable.

VoyagerDude

Rick, isn't your detector in the way of your sun-shade, they way it' shown on the photo?

C230K

You can find a good deal on ubid.com, bought by a Escort passport 6800 for $85.00, they also have other brands to bid on. Good luck

Flashman

I guess it is... Proves how little I use that feature.

Actually, I can just pass it 'around' the radar detector without much problem. The radar detector is still held by suction cups and has enough slack I can move it in 2 seconds too...