axchung

Just finished hardwiring my escort 8500. Very easy install,took less than 30 minutes. I hardwired it to the cigarette lighter because i wanted an ignition power, meaning it would only be on if i started the car.It works perfectly, when i start the car it comes on, when i turn off the ignition it goes off.



I made a special bracket and used double sided tape instead of the suction cups(it looks a lot cleaner). I tucked the wire under the headliner, ran it down the passenger side A pillar(it pops right out), under the dash and snaked the wire inside the cigarette lighter drawer. To remover the drawer, there are two torx screws on both side of the drawers.



Unscrew and the drawer slides right out:



Behind the drawer there is a plug. I tapped right after the lighter before the plug. Ground is the black/yellow wire, positive is the brown wire. Put everything back and that's it.



Very clean install, very happy with it.(Sorry about the crappy pictures)


By axchung

MKW

"Ground is the black/yellow wire, positive is the brown wire"

Is that correct ? Isn't ground usually the brown wire ?

axchung

Oops. MKW is right. Ground is brown, black/yellow positive. Sorry, guys.

ReachWest

Good looking install - I certainly prefer it to the suction cup - wires hanging off the unit option.

smayshusband

Thinking about getting the V1 etched into the rearview mirror

cablvr

axchung,

Tell us about the bracket you made. Also, does the IR glass have any influence on the reception of the detector?

BJ021

Very clean install, very happy with it.(Sorry about the crappy pictures)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually quite solid pics! You're never going to get that good of direction from an install sheet! Let us know how the unit performs. I like how you have it "hid' near the RV mirror vs. the suction cups...I've never liked having a detector hanging from the window - too easy for HP's to see...

Thanks!

Stumblefoot

How does that work? I've got the V1 too and I would love a cleaner look, but don't understand what it means to etch it into the RV.

Thanks!

way2evil

look at this post
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....9&postcount=12

Stumblefoot

Thanks way2evil. I'll check it out!

oknish

OMG................I had no clue that could be done. WOW.......Brian if you do pursue it, keep us posted. I haven't used detectors much but this one is just way too cool.

I am impressed.

aolsen

does it get any better signal being up there? I keep my detector up there, but it's still plugged in to the cig thing.

MJ50

nice install!
only downside is u can't flip the visor all the way...

axchung

I have a GL550, thank God no IR glass. The bracket was just modified, using the same bracket that comes with the radar i removed the suction cups and attached to a flat piece of plastic to look like one piece.

axchung

lkchris

Too much trouble for little benefit IMHO.

The battery-powered Escort--Solo--works fine.

2thfixr

Is there enough of a cutout in the IR glass up there? I'm too lazy to go in the garage and check but if I recall correctly, the cutout by the rear view is only large enough for a small toll booth transponder and the larger cutout is at the base of the window right in the middle. I have my V1 sitting just above the park distance display because of the IR cutout.

gordongl450

2thfixr,

Does the 2007 GL450 Premiere Edition have 3 Zone Climate Control? I don't remember?

The reason I ask, if there is not 3 zone climate control, then it should not have IR Glass and then you should not have to worry about the IR cut out size and postion in the windshield.

Gordon

2thfixr

Yes, mine has the 3-zone climate control. The interesting thing is that my wife's S500 has the IR glass as well but the lower cutout in the IR is not at the middle base of the windshield. It's about 3-4" to the right so a radar detector has to sit in front of the passenger side!

rayleiwu

Thanks for sharing the tips! I just installed my radar detetor.

For better maintenance in the future, I tapped into the black male socket(the power source) instead of the lightblue female one, this way the lighter trash tray can be removed w/o cutting off the wires and re-tapping.

HJZ06

I also did a hard wire install. I tied into the switched wire for the rear view mirror. In place for almost 3 years. I use a Valentine detector, have no IR windshield, but did have the glass replaced and the DA installed an IR type. 100' from radar and would not signal. They got it right on the 3rd try!

sbkim

Has anyone tapped into the fuse box (piggy back) off of fuse that's on with ignition vs. splicing into factory wire? Thanks