In my 2010 W212 I used the power outlet in the glove compartment to power my V1 radar detector and hid the wiring to the detector. The outlet is gone in the 2014. Any ideas to get hardwired power in the glove box, dashboard or console area?

 

I run a wire all the way from the trunk power to the front visor, but there has to be a better solution, not sure if the following works:

http://www.valentine1.com/savvy/

 

Thanks W210. I did consider the Savvy. What I liked about my old system was using the power receptacle in the glovebox. When the V1 and supplied power/lighter plug was out of the car there was only the hidden cord left. No potential dealer problems with unauthorized equipment wired in. The glovebox is right behind the main battery for the car. I would like to find a way to get there. Another question is the wiring harness the same as before with the leads or taps for the glovebox power receptacle.

 

In most BMWs (and I suspect this must be the case with Mercs as well) there is switched power running to the rear-view mirror to support things like the auto-dim. Therefore you can tap into one of those wires by removing the overhead console and run the V1 wire out where the headliner meets the front windshield.

 

Thanks, I will look there also.

 

Cigarette lighter should be switched as well.

 

Accessing the cigarette lighter/power port wiring is the problem, disassembling the console. it looks intimidating.

 

Where do you want to mount the detector?

 

In my 2010 I would use the visor clip on the driver's side, the wire had a pigtail I would tuck behind the passenger visor when not in use. The wiring was hidden behind the molding/gasket around the top of the windshield, down the A pillar and into the passenger side of the glove box where I used the cigarette lighter/power plug in the power port in the glove box. The glove compartment power port was eliminated in 2012 or 2013. The entire wiring run except for the pigtail behind the visor and in the glove compartment was concealed. I only use the V1 on trips, never locally. My problem is I now own a 2014. I could put the detector up and remove it when we stopped.

 

So did anybody find a good place to tap the switched power to yet?

 

If good = easy... I don't think so.

For my wife's 2014, I just spent the last 2 evenings tapping into the cigarette lighter under the AC controls. I went slowly to make sure I didn't damage anything as you had to remove quite a few pieces of interior trim.

 

I don't mind removing many pieces. Care to share your experiences?

 

I mounted my RD to the left of the inside rear view mirror.

Ran the factory supplied thin round power cable (2 wire) up and under the ceiling cloth and down the drivers A post, side of dash. I removed the under dash covers just under the steering wheel. From their I grounded the correct wire on an existing screw which I verified was grounded and create a plug to fused detector wire (-12vdc) and used a new wire which I ran back out and down to the driver's lower door sill, under that and driver rear door sill. Thin plastic tool or credit card works great to moving the wire under everything.

Removed the rear seat bottom and fished the wire over to the passenger side and back to the trunk fuses. Figured out which wire was hot from the truck lighter socket, since it was switched ignition power and used a supplied 3M type connector and spade connector on the new power lead to the front of the car. The lighter socket is also fused.

Why, to me much easier than tackling the console or any other means of getting to switched power in my '14 E-250.

Took all of maybe 20 minutes to do this. None of the wiring can be seen, doubled fused and only items I needed tools was for the covers under the steering wheel. The rear seat cushion just snaps up and off.

To remove the entire wiring setup, just as simple if needed. Only thing left would be the 3M connector on the rear lighter wire in the trunk, and that can be removed also.

 

Sure, let me take some pics tonight and write it up. In the meantime, do invest in a set of these from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece...set-67021.html

And also a couple of old credit cards or hotel room cards - they are quite handy.

 

Looking forward to it!