Dr. G

I just bought my beast and need some protection. I used to have a V1 wired into my RS6 with a custom dash display and mute button on the back of the turn signal. Worked GREAT.

So I called my local dealer to find someone to do a comparable V1 install for me, and has suggested a guy. This guy does K40 installations. He seemed to think that windshields in the E63's contained some metal (or some-such) that interfered with windshield mounted systems like the V1. I am not looking for a laser diffuser, I just want the senstivity, directional I had in the V1. I've been just hanging it from the front windshield, plugging into cig lighter, which is non-elegant...

Is this true? Know of anyone who makes a trim peice that would integrate these? Also I have heard of having these etched into the rear view mirror. Any contact info on how/where to do that?

Dr. G

I am most familiar with and biased towards the V1, but if the K40 is as-good, then I'd pay the $1300 for installation. i have read some threads here where people hate their K40's, but hardly nobody bashes the V1. Really I guess what I would be most compfrtable with is making the V1 as inttegrated and stealthy as possible.

Dr. G

OK, search is a good thing. I just found some references to the rear view mirror etched install, but cant help but wonder, does it work as well having the head unit installed in the rear center headrest? Woudl seem that you'd have much weaker fron laser protection, no?

Dr. G

this is what it was like in the RS6. very elegant imho. too bad the car it was installed in sucked compared to the E63

see images: 1st opic shows the modified trim peice you drop pop in, and image 2 shows it installed

MJ50

since u have 09 model, u can get module from mid city engineering (sponsor here) and integrate V1 into your instrument cluster!

g.smiley

A laser detector without jammers is useless for protection. The LEO will have a reading on you milliseconds after (probably even before) your LD goes off. Laser must be pointed right at you, so you wont even know if the car beside or ahead of you is getting the treatment unlike radar. All your doing is getting a device that tells you: "yes, you are now busted, pull over" before the cop puts his Xmas lights on.

Dr. G

Thanks for the info MJ50. Looks like a winner, integrating the info from the V1 into the existing display and also providing for seamless muting. In this scenario, I woudl probabbly mount on upper front windshield, near rear view mirror and have it hard-wired there.

g.smiley. I understand that, and have gotten by the last X years without jamming and am prepared to continue doing so, at my own risk of course.

Dr. G

Any truth to the claim that the windsheild on the E63 contains metal that woudl attenuate any windshield mounted system?

I Like Soup

Well, I drive an E55 so I don't know what "advances" have been made to the windshields...however, I would have to call BS. He is probably steering you towards a K40 install in the front of the car or something more expensive. I've been very happy with my Valentine. Also, do a search for a thread I did on a DIY install of a Valentine in the upper part of the windshield and hardwired in. I connected the power to a constant on power source in the upper lamp area. Some folks run it down the pillar to the ashtray area for a source that turns off with the ignition.

Dr. G

i also call bs. i will look for your thread. thanks. you guys are very very helpful to this n00b

g.smiley

Yes. I was just reading about it today. The new windshields are created with a heatresistant coating that can mess up the reading of your unit, let me try and find the link to that.

Only some cars have it though. It seems to be specific to the model not the brand.

look through www.radarjammer.net i think that's where i read it this morning.

EDIT: Here is the exact link. It's the athermic glass on some model lines that may cause and issue.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...icle-list.html

Dr. G

g.smiley, thanks so much for the link. All references to this athermic coating show a purplish or at least darker tint, and fortunately mine has no such tinting. Furthermore, driving through all the 'usual k-band security areas in the E63 is similar, alert-wise to in the other cars (E36 M3, RS6) I have used my V1 in. Finally E63's dont figure anywhere on these lists of cars with it.

Anyway, I am sold on the mid city engineering (see page 7 of the attachment - item: V1MBFT). I'll hardwire the unit in the front windshield, just to the right of the rear view mirror.

http://www.midcityengineering.com/pd...atalog_web.pdf

thanks again for all the help!

DFW01E55

How about installing the display in your mirror?
V1 in the mirror

nismorg

I've got my V1 mounted dead center on the windshield and have no issues. My Infiniti on the other hand has laser cruise control and It throws the V1 off and the V1 starts beeping with false laser alerts at random. Not sure if benz with distronic have the same issue.

Benz-O-Rama

The V1 is great for radar detection, no doubt about it. But what happens if you get hit with laser? Then the V1 becomes nothing more than a ticket detector.

I have the K40 in my E and my SL. It has the laser defuser so obviously it's going to be more effective against laser. And the slick stealth install is second to none.

You can also go with the V1 in conjunction with a stand alone laser jammer and you'll be fine.

Here's some pics of the install on my E-Class:

Dr. G

Again thanks for the links and pics of the slick etched V1 displays and K1 installs.

I am chosing not to get the laser diffuser for personal reasons. I know of someone locally who had pretty painful legal hassles related to it. I know that's a rare ocurrence, but I really would rather avoid even the risk of some additional legal pain (in MN the infraction can be elevated from petty to full misdemeanor, and some a-hole cops have threated to impound cars when these are detected.) Ultimately, I know a lawyer could help and that its not any serious legal trouble to be caught with one, but as a doc I have to keep my nose extra clean, affirming every year that I do not have any legal infractions (aside from traffic violations), so its just not worth the heartache and worry each time I see a cop, even when I am going the speed limit, that his his misreading of my speed on his laser gun might give him cause to pull me over and start that hassle.....

Furthermore, I can get by without it. I drive predictable routes with known laser hot spots that i slow down around, i use other cars as shields, i live in more of a Ka area, and generally speaking dont speed but for relatively short bursts. I KNOW I AM EXPOSED to laser hits, but can live with it

On the etched display, personal preference. I dont like having visible redlights near the rear view mirror, esp at night, and want to keep the car as stock as possible for now. The control unit kills the light on the head unit (which would mount just to the right of the rearview mirror), and displays them on the existing console, AND allows you to mute it with existing control (not sure which one). this is fully revertable to stock. the image below is from the midcity engineering site:

jbrinkley

I believe the windshield on the 63 doesn't affect anything. In my 740 my radar didn't work at all with a stock windshied, but worked well after a new one was put in. fwiw

g.smiley

Dr. G, I agree fully. Drs gotta stay squeaky clean. It wouldnt look good if whoever made a fuss about it. Plus, here in fla it's legal. If I lived in a State where it werent, I wouldnt have this same set up.