My next project is a radar detector. I have lived dangerously for ten years but with the E55 that would be too dangerous.

I am looking at the escort. Any advice?

Any convenient alternatives to using the cigar lighter? I don't like the idea of wires dangling.

Any place in the Chicago area where they install detectors -- that you would recommend? I am a bit nervous of splicing inot hte electircal system givne how finniccky the car is (the dealer says I should not evne change hte horn).

 

Valentaine 1 is the best!

 

I have done so much reading on this very same topic it's unreal! I was the same as you. Have been lucky for quite some time. Traded in my E500 a month ago, and knew I needed to do something. My car is going in Wed. for the install. Stealth was a big consideration for me. I did not want wires hanging around either. I didn't ever want to see the unit. So, here's what i'm doing. I'm getting the Valentine V1 radar detector and having the display laser etched into my rear view mirror. They will be building a "pod" somehwere in the car (deck lid, headliner) wrapped in the matching fabric. The on-off knob of the V1 will be mounted up into the map light underneath the mirror! Very slick. Now, that's only half of it. You also need a laser JAMMER (not a detector, because once you DETECT laser, you're toast). i'm getting the lidatek LE-30 which is also stealth and controlled by the V1 knob in my map light. This unit jams for 5 seconds and goes into a stand by mode for 30-60 secs. I forget exactly how long. What this does is give you 5 seconds to slow down, trying not to aler the cop he's been jammed. This project is not cheap, running around 3K. The other option I considered is the escort SRX radar/laser combo. The BEL unit is identical to the escort and very good. It will also be half the price of what i'm doing, around $1,500. There is still a display that needs to get mounted somewhere with the escort/bel. do a search here, there's lots of info. Pablo has a pic. of his BEL in his CL 55 here so you can see it. also lots of info. on the M5 board. If you would like, I can e-mail you the picture of the V1 in the mirror of an E55. The shop doing my car just sent me a pic of another E55 that they did. Of course, you can buy the 8500 or V1 and have it hard-wired to your car. You would still have the unit hanging, most likely high, and to the right of your rear view mirror. That is certainly the least expensive way to go. Between the 8500 and the V1, they each have their fans and detractors. Again, just be aware of laser. You need a jammer for that.

 

No question about getting the Valentine...get the remote display too, all for less than $500.

No question about a laser jammer either. The lidatek list is about $350.

Go to a car stereo installer and let them hardwire the system with the displays and switches in the ash tray. Its a lot easier for them to take off the trim pieces and find the right wires to connect.

 

Drive slowly

 

V1 and LE30 are the best equipment. However, would the V1 display at the rear view mirror be too visable to cars (especially cops) outside when it goes off?

 

Thank you all for the detailed information.

My problem now is to find someone who would not mess up the car. It has been trouble free so far! Touch wood!

Anyone in Chicago had something like this done?

 

just send me a pm and i will give you the name of the guy we use, just had him put a dvd nav system in a 05 clk, and it works great. if you live in the city you are close.

 

We Can't!

 

yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I guess we'll see how that goes.

 

i'll go for valentine 1 also.

 

I go BEL all the way. BEL 985 and BEL Laserpro 904- roughly $200 each plus $150 for the install. 90+% as good as the V1 for radar and superior to any laser jammer possibly except for the Escort.

Best bang for the buck!

 

I go with the Escort Passport 8500 x50!!! Awsome radar detector for range and sensitivity...especially around curves and hills. I upgraded from my first generation 8500 (which I put the two 8500's I have in the ML and the S).

 

You know, another option would be to install the concealed display unit and mount it lower (in your center console storage area for example).

 

Is this a remote detector? Can you tell me what the display is like and where it is located? Thanks for hte advice.

 

That is hte one I had been htinking of when I posted. Of course hte wires bother me.

 

I appreciate the advice from everyone. I only hope I can keep it straight.

 

Then go with the escort SRX. No wires and laser jamming. Go to escort's website to see the unit.

 

I called my installer and asked him about this. He said you will be able to see from outside (behind), but no more than any dash mounted unit, and probably a little less. Saw an M5 with the laser etched V1 mirror yesterday and it is SwEEEEEt! Actually, the display is much smaller than I thought, so maybe being able to see it from outside won't be much of a problem.

 

The 904 is remote with 2 grille mount units and one rear transceiver. I mounted the display (2" x 3/4") beneath the parking brake release. It starts jamming when it encounters a laser signal but doesn't shut off after 5 seconds. You manually shut it down if you want when you slow to the speed limit. All laser jammers are ineffective at short range. The 985 is on par with the passport 8500 and is not a remote unit. Remote detectors do not have as good a range or sensitivity as non remotes, or that's what all the reviews seem to indicate. The Escort remote detector/jammer units integrate with each other whereas the BEL doesn't. But the Escort costs twice as much.

It is unlikely any more expensive combo than these two BEL units will save you in a situation where the BEL fails (ie instant on radar, laser from close range, aircraft, pacing, etc). What the V1 gives you is upgrade ability, but at a significant cost.

If money was not tight I would go with the Escort radar det/laser shifter system.

Avoid K40 radar det and diffuser as it is very old technology with inferior capabilities.

 

...........has anyone seen or had the passpoport SRX installed with the display etched inside the rear view mirror? It is indeed a thing of beauty. I have had it done to two cars that I own so far. I was just wondering what was the big deal with the stealth installation of the Valentine..........Do people just not know about the stealth installation of the Passport SRX?

Ted

 

Ted, I can't tell you how much reading I've been doing on this topic the last few weeks. I never heard of the SRX being laser etched into the mirror! I was torn between the SRX or the V1/lidatek. Do you have any pics of the escort on the mirror? I may have went with the escort if I had known this

 

Escort Passport 8500 or Solo 2 (which is cordless) are the best choices. The V1 is overpriced IMO and I have the 8500 in my C32 and havn't gotten a ticket since. The Solo 2 is in my Viper GTS -- no real problems besides replacing the batteries every few months.

Go Escort!

 

Opinions are like . . . well, you know -- everybody's got one.

I know lots of folks who've switched from Escort to V1, but don't know anyone who has switched the other way and stayed.

 

Have 2 V1 s and 1 Escort 8500. I only now use the V1s. Hard wired with remote in ash tray. Will post pics.