MBc230

Well its about that time for me to start my first project on the car. New Valentine V1 w/ concealed display adapter should be coming in tomorrow. Through searching the forum, everyone had great ideas on hardwiring the radar to the vehicle. Well I'm gonna go an extra step with my project and hardwire the radar + integrate/fabricate the LEDs into the center console

I noticed I have several unused buttons on the center console and felt it would be the perfect place to "stealth" the radar LEDs. I'm gonna take apart the Concealed adapter to use those LED parts for the console and wiring and then hardwire the radar and mount it on the center bottom front of the dash (or top mirror, whichever looks better). I haven't attempted to take out the console yet but can anyone tell me if:

1) those extra buttons are semi-transparent? If so, then it would be beneficial for me not having to cut and install the LEDs onto there.
2) any space behind the trim allowing to run the wires?
3) I'm using all the threads that show how to remove the center console (from previous model years), is there anything different with the new 2005 c230 SS I should know about?
4) anyone has any preference to which location the radar should be placed best? I see if placing too low or too high can block the rear sensor?

Well I'm hoping to do this this weekend and post some pics for everyone to see, so I'm pretty pumped up about it. Hopefully all turns out good, if so, I don't mind sharing the DIY with everyone!

vishaL iZ mE

Where did you buy your v1 at? And yea, some pictures would be great .. reason I am asking .. I am going to downtown LA on friday .. to get some video lcd screens, and the v1 cause stuff is so dirt cheap! And what version is it? If you have pictures .. and I like what I see ... i wouldn't mind paying somone to do the same thing!! Thanks!

nlpamg

where in DTLA? I want to get a V1 or Escort X50 too. Let me know, thanks!

MBc230, that's a GREAT idea! let us know how it goes. be careful with removing the dash, you may damage your center speaker. the monkeys at the dealership removed and replaced my dash to "fix" the a/c smell, and they messed up my center speaker...

vishaL iZ mE

Umm. I am not sure .. a buddy of mine has being going to these audio places .. that they sell stuff @ whole sale cost w/o the whole sale license. It is a bunch of car audio and much much more .. its like there own neighberhood basically! Let me find out where it is, and if I can get some #'s to the places. I am guessing they will have it there .. cause they have everything, from what I have heard, that comes to people and mod'ing there cars!

nlpamg

cool, cool, let me know what you find! if they have radars there at a good price, I'm down. thanks!

MBc230

You guys should order the V1 directly from www.valentine1.com . No tax and shipping is dirt cheap ($7-$25, depending on how fast shipping is). Plus they currently offer the most up to date one with the Pop2 warning upgrade included. I noticed alot of the "shops" that sell the V1 goes for about $450-$499, which is a total ripoff when you can buy direct from the manufacturer for a cheaper price! Plus I also noticed some shops are still selling some of the older versions of the V1. Go the V1 website, you can't lose!

As for the center speaker, that's only for cars with the premium sound upgrade correct? But I'm definitely gonna document what I'm doing b/c I gotta do the same for a friend of mine with the same car (in white) afterwards!

2k5C230

where did you end up putting your valentine one?

BklynBenz

best v1 mod is to intergrate it into the rear view mirror. some guy has a website about it, let me see if i can find the link

BklynBenz

just remembered there was another guy that integrated the v1 into his comand and had the display come up right on the comand screen, that was sick

naidd

There are places that can etch your V1 display in the rearview mirror, but they charge $900 for the install ('05 SS), which I think is ridiculous.

peet

Stay away from the mirror display thing. First it's $900 second it puts the lights squarely in the view of the cop that's BEHIND you. Think about it - the whole point is to move the lights off the front windshield area to a place where they can't be seen from behind.

I put my standard display in the lower right hand corner of the windshield - looks semi stock.

Integrating it into a cluster would be the ideal though - not center console as that requires eyes off the road (too far below horizon).

Either way, please post pix when you're done!