Just finished the hard wire of my radar detector in my 04 CL55 and I thought I would share with you how I did it. I didn't take pictures so I am not sure how useful my information will be but here goes.

I was struggling with where to pick up the power I needed. My previous car was a 2000 E55 and I found a switched line right under the dash so it was easy. In the CL, after dropping the bottom of the dash, I found nothing. Finally I settled on picking up power from the fuse box located in the right rear passenger foot well.

So the first step was to remove the rear seats, very easy, just push the button. Then buy moving the carpet a bit I was able to thread a line from the fuse box under behind the carpet at the back of the rear passenger foot wells and under the rear passenger glove box storage thing.

Once I got to the drivers side of the car, I removed the drivers side door sill (just pull it out, no bolts). Then I pulled up the weather stripping that seals the door when it is closed. Next, using a straightened coat hanger I was able to threat the wire under the carpet to the rear of the now exposed door sill. Push the wire under the carpet that is under the door sill and run it up to the underside of the dash, replace the weather stripping, the door sill and the rear seats.

Now you have to drop the bottom of the drivers side dash. There are 3 screws to remove and a white plastic "holder" and the dash will lower but not come out, but you don't need it out. I found a bolt to use as a ground and wired up the power supply for the Valentine One radar detector. I found an open area towards the back of the dash to stuff all the wire.

Now I have to run the wire from the radar detector. I decided to put the detector at the top of the dash just to the right of the rear view mirror. I mounted it so that it was to the right of the windshield banding so that it would get the best reception.

Now I ran the RJ11 wires that came with it along the top of the windshield and just tucked the wire under the header, there is plenty of room there and this is quick easy. I rand the wire over to the drivers side A pillar.

Now it was time to remove the cover to the A pillar. Just remove the "SRS" plastic badge towards the top of the pillar and remove the 8mm nut that is underneath. Then the cover will come off, its a bit tricky but will come off. Now you just route your wire down the pillar, using tape to keep in place, then to the underside of the dash and your done!

I know this would be better if I had pictures but I dont. If you have any questions, or I can be of any help, please let me know and good luck!

 

You dont have a fuse box on the side of the dash?

 

I could be wrong but the fuse boxes are in the rear seat and under the hood. The underside of the dash is buttoned up pretty tight. I did drop them and found nothing.

 

Sounds like a sweet install! I hope to see some pix if you snap some.

 

correctomundo, i will post pics of my install in a bit, my buddy stuart tapped the fusebox on the side of the dash, total install time should only take about 20 minutes.