ickdeep

Hey guys,

I was driving my friends E46 M3 last weekend and he had installed his radar detector to the side of his rear-view mirror. He said that he had just taken power from the rear-view mirror consoles that's up there. I have a radar detector and I really want to do that same install but I was wondering if anyone less has done this before so I have some kind of guide to work off of.

Thank you,

ilumunus

I can't personally say anything, but a lot of guys on the C63 AMG forum have done it successfully, and so has my dad on his S65

so you might wanna search on the AMG forum because those guys use it a lot more than the regular W204 folk haha

rookiezxc

All you need to do:
1. Drop down the center head console using a credit card (Super easy, just slide it in).
2. Tap one of the cable (Need to look on a guide made in the C63 forum sections).
3. Put the ground cable into one of the nuts that hold the sunroof motor.
4. Guide the cables through your headliners into the area just next to your sun visor (Removing the sun visor holder might be required if you got big hands).

xjaymzzx

i've been alot of people do that. if you don't want to hardwire it to the electrical system. i just put it next to the rear view mirror, hid the wire, ran it down the A-piller under the carpet to the cigerette lighter in the rear seats. you can't see the wires, its clean but i don't have anybody ever sit in my rear seats.

edgalang

While this may be easier, one have to be cautious to make sure the wires DO NOT cross any airbags. I've seen a few sloppy installs where the A-pillar run crosses the side curtain airbag. If left alone and by chance the airbag blows, it'll essentially yank the radar detector off the windshield and knock someone on the head making the accident even worse.

Now for the OP...unfortunately I did not document which wire I tapped into (I used a volt meter to find it though). But having gone through both, A-pillar vs console, my vote goes to the console.

Here's a few threads to inspire you.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...hcams-all.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tine-c300.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...detectors.html

Antique-Ace

I have my radar detector mounted to the windshield to the left of the rear view mirror. I spent a lot of time considering where to power it from.
IMO the easiest and cleanest looking way to do this in a W204/C204 is to tap power from the vanity mirror light. In post #23 of this thread I explained how I did it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...hcams-all.html

xjaymzzx

Didnot think of that edalang