When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I purchased a Uniden R3 that I'd like to direct wire rather than deal with using the rear seat cigarette lighter plug (I don't have one in the center console on my car). Also thinking of purchasing a dashcam and would like that direct wired too.
Has anyone done this on their E63 yet? I looked at the trim a little, but have no idea how difficult it will be to route the wires.
The only place to pull power when starting is from the cigarette lighter behind the centre console facing the back seat. It’s easy to do and I have my dash cams wired that way. There is a company that has wiring kits for radar detectors that pull off the rear view mirror but given the amount of hardware in there I’d rather leave it alone
For the radar detector, power when starting is OK, but for dashcams, I'd think it would be nice to have power full time as some of these do continuously monitor video and have impact sensors, so they can store a sequence of video if someone hits the car.
Wiring to the fuse box is often how people do this in other cars (if mirror power isn't available).
I did power the radar detector from the plug in the rear of the center console on my trip from MD to CA using the provided coiled cord. Kind of a stretch for it, and a bit of a pain to have it strung across the car.
Interestingly, the radar detector never alerted a single time the whole trip even though I did pass through a few obvious speed traps. Waze was useful as a heads up in many cases, but mainly I just kept the speed to the limit plus a small fudge factor. So, the detector has been sent back to Uniden for a check-up to confirm it's actually working.
having a dash cam on 24/7 will cause problems without a voltage regulator to monitor when it drops. Your better off wiring in a battery for this. You can pick your power off the lighter from behind. Not by actually plugging anything into it.
I have both a Passport Max 360c and Thinkware F800 Pro direct wired. Wires had to run into the trunk fusebox for the for the switched fuse. The Thinkware camera has it's own battery management while our Blackvue cameras have the PowerMagic Pro. Both cut-off properly but for long recording while parked but a backup battery would be the way to go. Either way, the trunk is a good location as the battery is quite large...
I would find a reputable aftermarket stereo/electronics installer and have them hardwire your devices. As far as using an additional battery for a dashcam's "parking mode" setting, I would think they could incorporate that as well.
As far as your Uniden unit, I'm sure it's a fine unit, but I'd return it if possible and get (spend almost twice as much) an Escort Max 360 with front and rear detection. With the arrows you can discern if you're coming up on a bogy, one's coming up on you, or if you've just passed one that was in front of you. Sometimes, especially at night, I'll be coming up on a LEO with radar and not ever see it, but know that I just passed it (perhaps on the other side of the highway) as I see the front arrow change to the rear arrow. In fact, it happened to me just this afternoon. I never saw him but realized at a point that I had passed by him.
Now, if you want a cost no object option: My new wagon is in for an Escort Max Ci 360 install, which is a professionally installed laser/radar detector with laser shifting (jamming) that can be deactivated to just detection if you're state doesn't allow laser shifting. This is a $3500 package not including installation. I'm also having the Thinkware 800 Pro dashcam installed at the same time. Today I drove to the shop to sit in my car and determine where I'd like the placement of the controller and display. I'm picking the car up tomorrow.
Now, if you want a cost no object option: My new wagon is in for an Escort Max Ci 360 install, which is a professionally installed laser/radar detector with laser shifting (jamming) that can be deactivated to just detection if you're state doesn't allow laser shifting. This is a $3500 package not including installation. I'm also having the Thinkware 800 Pro dashcam installed at the same time. Today I drove to the shop to sit in my car and determine where I'd like the placement of the controller and display. I'm picking the car up tomorrow.
In my opinion these windshield units are a complete waste of time because they won’t protect you against laser enforcement. Basically it offers the delusion of protection against speeding tickets. I have run an installed detector and laser jammers on every car I have owned since 2009 and I haven’t had a ticket in all that time. And I always drive triple digits on highway.
I’m having the Escort Max CI360 installed plus an extra ZR5 jamming system to give me 3 jammers on the front and 3 jammers on the rear which is what is needed to beat the latest Dragoneye gun. It’s $4500 installed and worth every penny to protect my freedom to drive my German car in the German way.
Can you post pics of your install when completed. I don’t know where to put the controller and display. Also did you consider the midcity integration option?
Last edited by stealth.pilot; 02-15-2018 at 11:53 PM.
In my opinion these windshield units are a complete waste of time because they won’t protect you against laser enforcement. Basically it offers the delusion of protection against speeding tickets. I have run an installed detector and laser jammers on every car I have owned since 2009 and I haven’t had a ticket in all that time. And I always drive triple digits on highway.
I’m having the Escort Max CI360 installed plus an extra ZR5 jamming system to give me 3 jammers on the front and 3 jammers on the rear which is what is needed to beat the latest Dragoneye gun. It’s $4500 installed and worth every penny to protect my freedom to drive my German car in the German way.
Can you post pics of your install when completed. I don’t know where to put the controller and display. Also did you consider the midcity integration option?
And do you have the IR laminated windows in the Sun Protection Pkg? As other folks have noted with the EZ Pass problems, there are only a couple spots where IR gets through. Stealth Pilot, I like the set-up you're going to run. In the NYC area, the best installers (from my experience) are the guys at AI Design in Tuckahoe.
Cheers
In my opinion these windshield units are a complete waste of time because they won’t protect you against laser enforcement. Basically it offers the delusion of protection against speeding tickets. I have run an installed detector and laser jammers on every car I have owned since 2009 and I haven’t had a ticket in all that time. And I always drive triple digits on highway.
I’m having the Escort Max CI360 installed plus an extra ZR5 jamming system to give me 3 jammers on the front and 3 jammers on the rear which is what is needed to beat the latest Dragoneye gun. It’s $4500 installed and worth every penny to protect my freedom to drive my German car in the German way.
Can you post pics of your install when completed. I don’t know where to put the controller and display. Also did you consider the midcity integration option?
It's a bit idiotic to make these broad statements.
Installed RD's definitely work better than any windshield unit but neither allows you to avoid a ticket if the cop actually wants to clock you. It just stops the lazy ones. Laser jammers are illegal in the state here and cops seem to know just fine when they are being jammed. They just pull you over and inspect the car for jammers and then you have a court date; not for speeding but for your jammers.
In daily traffic I found that Escort Live has been a really helpful indicator since there appears to be a sufficient amount of Escort owners. The Escort 360c is actually doing a much better job tracking the signals despite the acoustic glass.
Btw. driving triple digits on highways where half the people don't know how to drive or bother to use the rearview mirror or turn signals is not "the German way". Actually quite the opposite...
It's a bit idiotic to make these broad statements.
Installed RD's definitely work better than any windshield unit but neither allows you to avoid a ticket if the cop actually wants to clock you. It just stops the lazy ones. Laser jammers are illegal in the state here and cops seem to know just fine when they are being jammed. They just pull you over and inspect the car for jammers and then you have a court date; not for speeding but for your jammers.
In daily traffic I found that Escort Live has been a really helpful indicator since there appears to be a sufficient amount of Escort owners. The Escort 360c is actually doing a much better job tracking the signals despite the acoustic glass.
Btw. driving triple digits on highways where half the people don't know how to drive or bother to use the rearview mirror or turn signals is not "the German way". Actually quite the opposite...
I would find a reputable aftermarket stereo/electronics installer and have them hardwire your devices. As far as using an additional battery for a dashcam's "parking mode" setting, I would think they could incorporate that as well.
As far as your Uniden unit, I'm sure it's a fine unit, but I'd return it if possible and get (spend almost twice as much) an Escort Max 360 with front and rear detection. <snip>.
Thanks, as much as I like doing work my self, I have never done any front trim work and have been thinking about going to a professional shop to get a clean installation.
Thankfully I haven't had a speeding ticket in 30 years even without the use of a radar detector. Mostly I try to drive reasonably within the limits around town and with the flow of traffic on the highways and Interstate. That's not to say I didn't wick it up on my bikes regularly to triple digit speeds, but that was mostly on back roads and for short bursts.
The R3 was well rated and reviewed, so hopefully its performance will live up to it. I am concerned about the windshield blocking the IR and some of the RF signal. During my trip I was careful to make sure it was mounted behind one of the three spots on the windshield designed for that purpose. Still not a peep out of it. Even held it out the window one time while passing through one of the speed traps - hence the concern that it was defective.
I'll probably keep it off most of the time and use it mainly on trips just as I did Waze.
Yes you shouldn't be surprised by my lack of response. I'm sure you're used to being ignored given your basic lack of politeness and etiquette.
Interesting comment coming from someone who calls OP's installs a waste of money. Your setup sounds very nice and I am glad it works well where you live but unfortunately RD's and Jammers are handled quite differently by state. Different setups will work for different people.
If you recall, the topic was related to a direct wire question, not your opinion about it
I had a Valentine One professionally installed. Wired to back seat lighter. Took about an hour. No issues so far.
If you're going to stick with the V1, then you might consider putting the concealed display, which is an option with that unit, in the rear view mirror. I went a bit further. V1 is on the bottom, 9500ci is on top.
[QUOTE=bluesea;7383815]If you're going to stick with the V1, then you might consider putting the concealed display, which is an option with that unit, in the rear view mirror. I went a bit further. V1 is on the bottom, 9500ci is on top.
Has anyone installed an Escort Max Ci/360 and where did they place the display and controllers? Looking for pictures for a stealth install. I like the rear view mirror option and have done that through Radar Mirror. Thanks.
Has anyone installed an Escort Max Ci/360 and where did they place the display and controllers? Looking for pictures for a stealth install. I like the rear view mirror option and have done that through Radar Mirror. Thanks.
i am having my Max CI360 installed this Friday. I decided to go for the midcity engineering integration option which eliminates the display and controllers in favor of full integration with the factory controls and displays/HUD. Have a look below.
Enhance the best radar detector in the world with our instrument cluster and steering wheel control interface – Use your instrument cluster as your display and your steering wheel as your controller to go completely stealth!
This integration is amazing. Not only does it give you alerts in the instrument cluster but also in the Head-up display. And control via steering wheel. Check this out.
How much is the cost of your installation? I am thinking of doing the same.
So the price will vary based on who does the install and how much equipment you install.
Options with the Escort include:
Front radar only ($2000)
Front and rear radar ($2500)
Front radar and 2 laser jammers ($2500)
Front and rear radar and 4 laser jammers ($3500)
Front and rear radar and 6 laser jammers ($4350)
Midcity Engineering integration with factory controls ($450)
I am getting front and rear radar and 6 laser jammers plus the mid city engineering integration package (which gives you integration with steering wheel controls, instrument cluster and HUD). So my total package with installation will be $5k plus tax.
02-15-2018, 01:56 PM
Will look into it. Thanks.
