Substance

Any recommendations on radar detectors? brands and types?

I dont know if it matters to know but I live in Massachusetts and drive to New York almost everyweekend. I would be interested in the type of detector to defend myself from MA and NY troops.

Hook

You will get as many opinions about radar detectors (& laser diffusers) as people who will answer this post. You might want to search for threads on this topic on the boards on mbworld. You might also want to visit radardetector.net & start reading their forums.

Many people (including me) swear by Valentine. I find the directional arrows very useful. I know there are quite a few Valentine users on the E55 forum.

If you're willing to spring for it, you can also go with a very cool stealth install with the display in your rear-view mirror :p . I have this & love it.

--
Hook

Chappy

I'm happy with the V1.

L8Apex

V1.

AMG BLISS

V-1 for me. I suggest doing a search on the forum, you will get more info than you ask for.

SLK55R

just ordered mine a minute ago online.

The ability to see where the radar is coming from is invaluable.

I wasn't going to buy one but lately I've been seeing way too many cops around n. cali.

dsc

Valentine 1 saved me about 5 time in the first 6 weeks I had it. Great system!

merc655

V1 til the day I die. Had a passport but I missed the arrows

zoink

Watch out..... cops in norcal, especially east bay, don't use radar.... they follow you in stealth mode

Seriously..... if you want to speed, better take the most right lane..... at least that's what I've been doing

C32 MIA

valentine 1 or K40 for sure, the k40 install in my car is awesome and it has saved my *** a few times just in two months
you cant see that its even in my car, two LEDs mounted flush near trhe speedometer- perfect, no cords hanging around

hikejohn

No questions...
Valentine One is the answer....and for me the interesting and most useful feature is its ability NOT to go off at every building alarm...works great....
Have used them for over 5 years...

John

Bigdot

i have the Solo S2 wireless.

i love it

mark.

i got it becasue i dont have a 12V in my car any more

mark again

traumadoc

You must not have had it turned on :p
Those Miami cops are tough.

I have the V1 and when it's turned on, it's invaluable!

CCIE

V1 for me, but be aware that if you don’t pickup laser refractions from another vehicle a laser detector will only inform you of how you got busted. Also, a buddy of mine got a ticket on I-90 west of Ellensburg WA from a plane. I know they also pace you in traffic without radar. If they have an X band radar gun turned on it is like this huge beacon coming from the cop. You can detect them a long way off. I think most cops are aware of this so don’t keep it turned on full time.

blazinginder

Escort Passport 8500 X50 Blue...great display and for saving over $100 over the V1...its well worth it..my buddy has the V1..the number of false detections becomes so annoying and since it doesnt have the control thing on the adapter ($40 extra)...which the Escort comes with...its hard to mute it easily

KarlE55

I used the v1 on my previous 208 CLK55 and the performance is outstanding. But, I really like how my MB dealer installed the Passport SRX on my 06 e55. I have laser shifters in the front and back, remote mute button, light indicator and the whole installation feels factory.

SJRAMROD

Yes.......I have 2 of them and they're great! I'm really surprised that most of the folks just love that V1 unit! Does it really matter if the radar is on the right, or the left? I just don't "get it". Also.....it's pretty easy to tell if the radar is coming from behind you without "arrows"! They'll never try to get you from behind anyway! It's not accurate and won't hold up in traffic court!

glennbaz

Sorry to say, I believe you are quite incorrect about "radar from the rear". It is in fact just as accurate as front radar and there is judicial notice as to its accuracy. The principles of Doppler shift radar are the same for both types.

blazinginder

going back to what was said about the direction of which the detection is coming for...my position is this, if my radar detects pop or Ka band which is basically what the jake's use generally..i dont care where its coming from im going to slow down to speed limit till the detection is gone and im in the clear...hence no need for arrows...just my opinion

Can Drive 55

V1

relisysj4

v1

R. Range

The situation in which the arrows are really useful is with multiple sources of radar. Let's say you pass by a cop on the side of the road with radar on, and the alert signal starts to fade as you put some distance between you and the patrol car. About that time you get hit with a stray signal from another patrol car over the rise in front of you, and this guy turns his radar back off waiting for the next car to top the rise--in other words, you. Without the arrows, most people would assume the last signal was from the now irrelevant car you passed a mile or so back and would begin speeding up (if they weren't doing so already). With the arrows, you know the brief hit you just got came from in front of you and you act accordingly. There are numerous variations on this scenario and others in which the arrows could be the difference. Now if you're an extremely patient person who is self-disciplined enough to assume that every single beep may have come from anywhere regardless of what you have seen, and you are willing to observe the speed limit for a mile or two from the last beep no matter what, maybe you don't need them. But I don't think that describes 99% of regular speeders out there.

Tony007

Just ordered 2 - V1's the other day..

Vetluver

V1. I have 4 hard wired into all my cars. Way cheaper than a ticket and increased insurance rates. Use L mode and you'll get excellent range and virtually no false alarms. No tickets in 10 years despite driving E55s, Vette, and 3 M3s. You can beat V1, period.

brt3

V1 (x3)