your post really doesn't make sense, and I am willing to bet if you installed the v1 only it would false all day long because it is doing it's job correctly. I tried the ez pass access with the v1, k-40, old school cobra... it doesn't work

it is actually an additional module that i designed and built.

i agree with jbondox... some people have attempted to disable K band which is fine except that something like 70 percent of radar guns are still K band. otherwise you dont have distronic plus.

- purchased 12/28/2001 ($360 approx)
- installed "disguised" receiver in the ashtray cavity
- power from cigar lighter/center console spliced in - off when key is off
- wires running under dash to front grill area
- did not install the laser... detectors (did not trust their "old design"... prior to 2001)

Unit has functioned in 360 degree mode flawless and warned successfully.
(sorry, forgot how to attach a picture of the installed unit)

Rob,

I need an integrated install on my new S63. I sent you a private message with contact information.

Regards,

Z

Very interesting radar discussion. Im convinced I better do something.
Would appreciate any PMs with installation ideas for my Sl550 2007.

Btw have i got distronics, or distronics plus?
Or where both available?
tanx

Wash state.

Hey Rob, I did do a CAN conversion so it will work on speeds over 35, it still occasionally falses'. I had a customer tell me his Escort doesn't false when he uses it also.... my reply, roll down your window and hold the radar detector out the window... when it starts glowing you might as well toss it in the trunk... they forget about the windshield filter... though to think about it, it is nice to know that you can drive without being radiated... well at least in the x,k, ka bands according to the detector.

I am almost done with my new interface... be prepared... I still like the old one better but people want cruise control.

excellent... the network interface business is going to be *big* as they continually move them into just about every vehicle nowadays..

im finally getting the K40 interfaces out but the environment testing took forever, especially to get the device working 100% in cold temperatures. once the processor clock gets cold it goes out of tolerance fast and then its all bells, blinking lights and warnings. have you looked at the 08 cl/sl yet? there is some really interesting stuff going on with them... i had to do alot of work to get everything into compliance just for 08.

here is some quick video i shot of the K40 distronic interface last night. its lousy but you get the idea...

K40 Distronic Interface

Hey, I see you got the unit to turn on when PA goes off... closer to my secret... looked at about 25 you had it come on, was the 3 chirps residual radiation from the rear PA sensors? That is great Rob, still need the blue LED's. how about taking the whole cluster screen and flashing it red or blue ... did you see the video input to it from the night vision camera? I haven't checked yet, although i did notice when had it out it was just a big LCD...

Later

If you are near the Seattle area, go to Benchmark Motoring, ask for Anthony and have him call me, they will get it done for you

here is some much better video:


part 1

part 2

yes, i actually bumped it up to almost 30 mph now because the radar picks up residual oscillation as the distronic sensors are shutting down. one of the issues is that if you stomp the gas the radar picks up the tail end of the warning but a programmed delay should fix that.

the front display is just a normal 75 ohm input activated from the night vision assist switch so it shouldnt be too much to get it to switch at will. there looks to be a graphics mode to the clister display which would allow a bigger more colorful warning but i havent decoded it yet.

Rob or Jim: Want to try my RAM sleeves to correct the distronic (and the Spectre) problem?

Lots of info in this thread but I am still a bit confused. I just got my 2008 s63 and also struggling with how to properly use a radar in the car. I have always been very happy with my valentine in the past but aware of the issues with it in this car. Regarding distronic which I have in the car, I have been driving for a week with the v1 dashmounted and I dont find the disronic setting the radar off at all ? Also do we know for sure that the glass reduces the aility of the radar by 95% ? If 95% is true I will install a remote mounted escort unit and give up my V1 which has saved me so many times in the past. Since the escort unit is mounted like the k40 outside the car I assume this solved some of the issues ?

Just switching to a remote mount unit will not fix your problems. I believe AFAIK that you need the interface module + the radar detector to keep the radar from going off all the time.

As far as your V1 not going off a good test that I have seen done is taking the radar detector and holding it out the window with the vehicle on and the detector should be going off like crazy.

yeah it doesn't matter what unit you try to install you need to be interfaced.

Rob , how can I get in touch with you about one of these custom installs can you pm me ?

You have to go to the midcityengineering.com site and they have the contact info there.

so I read all the threads on this topic but for the life of me I dont understand 2 things. Why when I plug my valentine into my 2008 s63 and yes the K bank is active, why does mine NOT false at all and I do have distronic plus ? Also when I tested the radar up on the glass with a radar gun I got full strength reading as opposed to a weak signal from the coated glass ? Basically to me it seems to be working but I dont understand why only my car would work when nobody else can get it to work w/ distronic plus ?

Maybe because you have a Valentine and everyone else seems to have other brands?

Is this a problem only with Distronic+ or with the glass/coating on the S-Class itself? I don't have Distronic+ and HOPE I don't run into this problem with my Escort 9500i.

Im pretty sure the reason why he is not getting the interference IS because of the glass coating. My Valentine One in my C Class goes off anytime I am near an S class at the dealer, even the brand new ones...

The interference issue is only with Distronic Plus. If you have regular distronic or dont have distronic at all then there is no interference. The coating issue is a seperate issue with all S classes which limits the radar recption if you have any window mounted detector. Alot of people are going with the remote mounted units like the K40 or the passport (I think its called SRX) because the front and rear mounted antennas do not have this problem.

make sure you have someone you trust install the K40, it can be tricky and i know especially with Distronic. I know there is only 1 guy I know to trust to install the K40. I have had him install it on 911s to Bentley GTCs.