Radar Detector Installation
 

Since neither of the two windshield cutouts work with my detectors, what advice can you share with respect to installers and installation. I'm hesitant to cutup a new AMG.

TIA,

Chuck
2017 S63 Sedan

What detector? I can get a R3 to work in the lower cutout.

Valentine 1 and an Escort. What is an R3?

Uniden R3, the new king of long range (sorry Redline)

X2 for the Uniden R3. I have mine in the upper cut out and it's working amazingly well. The size and mount allowed me to center it with a clear view through the cut out. I used a simple "add a circuit" to hardwire and connected through the drivers side fuse panel. Hardly noticeable with the flat cord tucked neatly away.

FWIW - I tried two different Escort products (Max and Max360) as well as the Radenso Pro SE and just couldn't get decent performance out of them. The R3 has been outstanding for both range and blind spot / collision assist filtering.

Got it, I saw it's getting great reviews + your comment is encouraging. Many thanks!

What make and model are you using it on the lower cutout? Before spending $400, I'd like to know it works for my perforated lower cutout (2017 S63)....I assume the cutout differs over the years and models.

Jenz - which mounting bracket are you using to give the R3 clear line of site through the lower cutout? I've tried for the super suction cup and the standard suction cup mounts that came with my R3 and can't get the detector low enough to be looking through that lower cut out without being angled down at the hood. Pics would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using the OEM two small suction cup mount

When placed correctly, you'll have less than a cm between the bottom of the RD and the top of the dash at the rear edge of the RD

2015 S63

I must not have had enough patience the night I tried the lower cut out. I'll give it another try this weekend to see how it works. Would need to reroute the hardwire but thats not a big deal.

btw - new R3 firmware will be out before the 15th and the updates are awesome!
Pics if you get a chance. Thnx

Does the gps function work thru the cut outs. I couldn't get my escort to work well with the shielded windshield

Yes no issues with lower cutout

Crazy thing was I mounted it in the middle of the WS (not behind a cutout) just to gauge interference and still locked onto GPS

Man, Uniden eng on overdrive cranking out the fw updates

No pics yet, vehicle is away for a bit getting some work done

My Passport Max's GPS/Speedo didn't work on my S63's. Radar was unphased though. I have the K40 RL360i radar/lasers in my current S. Works really well, I do get a lot more false alerts than the Escort though.

What do you guys mean by "cutout"? Thx

Cut outs are 2 unshieled areas in the windshield at the top and bottom, just right of midline. You have to look for them at a certain angle to see them. I use the top one for my EZ Pass/Sunpass. Stopped using my escort detector because gps wouldn't lock on a signal and too many false alarms. Going to have to seriously look at the R3.

If you're not using your cutouts, you're significantly impacting the range of your radar detector

IIRC the windshield is metalized to help cut down on heat

Thx guys...

I ordered the heated windshield on my 2018. I imagine the cutouts are the same and detectors will operate the same as well.