SkinnyVanilla

Anyone hardwire for the V1? I like to put it up high by the rearview mirror. Its not something I would tackle myself, but wondering if anyone has done it or had it done.

mg-E550

Havent and just suctioned mine to the glass. I found that the wire (I have a long telephone cord for power) conceals nicely between the dash and windshield and then runs in between seams to the globe box charger. Not perfect.

My problem is with distronic and the constand K band. I just found out how to turn off K band on V1 so it'll do till I find a better solution.

DHI

I'm not too familiar with Radar Detectors (illegal here in Quebec) but I did peruse this site which has some impressive specialized peripherals for radar and MBenz... give it a glance.

http://www.midcityengineering.com/

SkinnyVanilla

Thanks. I'll try the glove box route again - I found it was closing too tight to leave a gap for wire - but I only tried with the coiled cord.

mg-E550

Remember any telephone cord will also work as power cord for the v1. (not sure if this varies from different model years). So you can go to radio shack or whereever and get a color that better blends in and is not coiled and long enough. (typing in iPhone so sorry for typos). I love v1!!!!

SkinnyVanilla

So here's my quick and dirty "install." The wire tucks (as mg-E550 said) pretty well between the glass and dash. Just about 10" exposed along side but not bad for $3.49 phone wire.

If I want hidden better or up by rearview mirror, I think professional help is needed. That's how I have it my 911 (Last pic) but it cost me $$. The other reason to hardwire it in the 911 is you have to have it wired in to a line that is off when the car is off because the cigarette and accessory plug are always hot.

The_Brit,

I have the V1 with the concealed display, I remove the ashtray, remove the chrome insert, trimmed it with snips, curled it back under and re-installed it.
I ran the cable under the gear-lever,into the front of the armrest and brought it down by the RHS kick panel, removed the under tray by the steering wheel.
I installed the V1 as close to the mirror as possible and at about the same height, I ran the cable from the V1 down the "A" pillar and under the steering wheel, with the concealed display you get extra cable length, so the two cables connect roughly above the gas pedal and then they are cable tied securely to the under tray. I took a 12v ignition feed from the brake light switch.
Now when I turn on the V1 both the V1 and the concealed display run through the test pattern, then all the display is done on the display in the ashtray and not on the main unit, this way I don't get people following close behind me reading the display, Also this is good because when I remove the V1 I tuck the cable behind the sun visor and close the ashtray.
There is one fallback you cannot use the sun visor and the V1 at the same time, So I wear a good pair of Oakleys and watch for cops

xyzzy

The 12V outlet in the glove box makes this one of the easiest installations in a MB I have done in a while. I do these myself, and if you are at all handy it is pretty easy. Takes less than an hour and you need a V1 hardwire kit. I always order a few extra of the blue "wire clamps" as well as I only think it comes with 1 and you need 2 (going to pick up ground as well from a wire, not from chassis.)

You need to remove 2 plastic trim pieces: the plastic shroud around the rear view mirror (gently pull down); and open the passenger door and there is a plastic trim piece on the "side" of the glove box and dash (pull away gently as well.)

You then can get to the back of the 12V adapter in the glove box. Use a pliers to pull it's wires forward through the side that is now exposed. There is plenty of slack. There is a brown wire and a pink wire, I am sorry I dont remember which is positive and negative, hopefully someone else does.

Run the hardware power cord (which is a black RJ11 phone cord) around and under various trim to get down to the side of the glove box. It takes a few minutes but can easily be hidden.

Use the included connectors to "clamp on" to the power. There is plenty of space to stash the big V1 power connector beside the glove box.

The only real difficult part is you need to be comfortable taking off trim pieces - there is always a bit of an art to figure out how they snap off. Otherwise it is very straightforward.

Clubrcr

I just want to let everyone know I installed my V1 this weekend on my E63. I found these posts helpful. When installing mine this weekend, I was surprised that I didn't need to remove any trim pieces, and I was able to hide my cord completely even where skinnyvanilla's picture show his cord. I was able to hide it under the rearview mirror and run the cord along the windshield. If anyone is having any issue, I would be happy to help.

gadgets

I had to bring this thread back to life and say thanks!

It took me easy 15 min. with these excellent instructions, although I did not really 'hardwired' it, I found it easier and more useful to run the RJ11 cable along the panels to the side of the glove box as instructed, and use the 12V socket in the glove box for the power.

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Johnny Mo

I haven't done it on my E yet, as it is not expected to arrive until 8/16...but I did do it on my GL, and similar results, although I opted to loosen the A pillar trim and run it (needed to be careful as this is where the side/front airbags are housed) and snaked it through into the footwell and then into the fusebox (couldn't find a single "switched" outlet there). It works fine though - I also ran the wire up along ht eheadliner and to the driver's side of the rearview mirror. I anticipate doing the same with the E when it arrives.

I was able to confirm that the V-1 will interact (false alarm) with the Driver Assistance Package - I was near an S class with it - maybe 3-4 car lengths, and I was getting 3 false radar readings from it. These guys better have gotten my special order correct or I am not gonna be happy.

mg-E550

I have distronic and blind spot on my e550 and it constantly set off my v1. I basically disabled k band detection on my v1 and now use the v1 only for laser/ka and x. Not optimal but it still picks up most of the cops in my area.

i7iceguy

How do you guys keep the unit stabilized on the windows? My suction cups give out after 10 minutes... and this morning it gave out and landed on my center console area and made a huge scratch

mg-E550

I haven't had the problem with the e550. I did have it in my BMW and it turned out there was a tiny hole in one of the suction cups. A little crazy glue solved the problem

mg-E550

.....I shod clarify that I put crazy glue over the pinhole in the suction cup...I did not glue the v1 to the window.

i7iceguy

How do you remove crazy glue from the windshield if you need to take it off?

Johnny Mo

If the suction cups aren't working -at the risk of stating the obvious, just check to make sure you aren't putting them too close or overlapping the "dotted" sun-visor area of the windshield.

If that is not the case - you can order a new set of scution cups from V-1...just a drop of water to moisten them and set it and forget it...never had an issue with mine...10years - 3 different vehicles.

i7iceguy

I did ordered the suction cups from V-1. They are working very well.. the ones you order from V1 comes with bigger suction cups as well. Working well!