[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

Agreed.

Here is my write up from some time ago on my F10 hardwire install:


My 9500ix install is very similar, except instead of wiring it into the Overhead Console, I installed it by separating the Rear View Mirror Housing, which easily separates in the middle at the seam, and tapping into the backside of the 10-Wire Connector Plug inside it, with +12V (Switched off the ignition) on the Brown/Green wire and Ground on the Brown/Black wire.









In case anyone is interested, the Wire I am using is a "Corvette Radar Detector InvisiCord" from Southern Car Parts.




The InvisiCord has pins soldered on the end of the two wires so they can simply be pushed into the back of the wiring harness. It comes in both 8" and 12" lengths, and while I used the 8", I highly recommend the 12" length, as there is literally no slack in my setup with the Radar Detector centered on the windshield below the mirror housing.

Also, I am using the "Escort Radar Detector SCP Mount" mount from Southern Car Parts as well.

It is much better than the the two small suction cups the 9500ix comes with, and better than the single "SuperCup Windshield Mount" sold by Escort, which I have in my other car.

I love that mount, think I'm gonna get one for my Cayman

[E92mech]

That's a great DIY. If you really want to go big, get a hardwired Bel STiR plus and a Laser Interceptor quad. I've been running this setup for a year...invisible.

[Needsdecaf]

Nice job man. I've done similar before in other cars and know how much time it takes to properly route the wires. Not hard, but a lot of steps.

Great work.

[Imola.ZHP]

Skeered to modify a car under warranty?

Yup, I remember those days...

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

Also, I am using the "Escort Radar Detector SCP Mount" mount from Southern Car Parts as well.

Sweet mount! I'll be looking into that about NOW! So tired of replacing the suction cups on my Escort mount every year...

[Karazy]

Thanks for sharing! I will not ride or drive without my Valentine.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

Agreed.

Here is my write up from some time ago on my F10 hardwire install:


My 9500ix install is very similar, except instead of wiring it into the Overhead Console, I installed it by separating the Rear View Mirror Housing, which easily separates in the middle at the seam, and tapping into the backside of the 10-Wire Connector Plug inside it, with +12V (Switched off the ignition) on the Brown/Green wire and Ground on the Brown/Black wire.









In case anyone is interested, the Wire I am using is a "Corvette Radar Detector InvisiCord" from Southern Car Parts.




The InvisiCord has pins soldered on the end of the two wires so they can simply be pushed into the back of the wiring harness. It comes in both 8" and 12" lengths, and while I used the 8", I highly recommend the 12" length, as there is literally no slack in my setup with the Radar Detector centered on the windshield below the mirror housing.

Also, I am using the "Escort Radar Detector SCP Mount" mount from Southern Car Parts as well.

It is much better than the the two small suction cups the 9500ix comes with, and better than the single "SuperCup Windshield Mount" sold by Escort, which I have in my other car.

I would have loved to do it through the mirror plug like my e90 but the wiring is totally different in the F30. So much less work the way you did it.

That is a killer suction cup, Im going to have to invest in one. I find my escort super cup still falling off time to time.

Originally Posted by ckimmel

That certainly is ambitious and well done. Escort detectors are awesome. I have that escort detector and the cordless one too. I like the corded one better, because of the constant lit display, but also hate the coiled up cord running down the dash. The down side to the cordless one is that it is heavy, won't hang on its window mount very well, and you have to change the batteries every 2-3 weeks.

The one tip I have, which may seem foolish and much, much lazier than yours, ... is to put the detector right on the dash with velcro. No bounce or rattle and lower profile without the window mount. Still works fine.

I am wondering though, Since I won't have my f30 for another few weeks I haven't figured out where to put the detector yet. It looks like the new "pseudo-pop-up" nav screen is right where I would normally attach it.

The nav screen is definetely in the way for a dash mount, but maybe you can put it next to the a pillar. Im ok with my mount for now but it does get annoying when the suction cup falls off.

Originally Posted by E92mech

That's a great DIY. If you really want to go big, get a hardwired Bel STiR plus and a Laser Interceptor quad. I've been running this setup for a year...invisible.

I was going to do a DIY on a Blinder M27 this spring when it gets nicer out. Not many lasers in my area but when I drive to work they seem to be out everyhwere lately.

Originally Posted by Imola.ZHP

Skeered to modify a car under warranty?

Yup, I remember those days...



Sweet mount! I'll be looking into that about NOW! So tired of replacing the suction cups on my Escort mount every year...

Yeah they told me if I mess with the electroncis and anything goes wrong Im screwed. Just dont wanna chance it.

[M5007]

Last time I hardwired a radar detector was in my E39. It takes time but I grew with the OP. it is so much cleaner. Thanks for sharing this.

[dannyzlo]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

I mounted my V1 display directly to the flat area on the back of the steering column. It slightly obstructs the dash display while driving (so I have to lean forward to see the odometer) but it's not a big deal to me. It made it easy to route and conceal the wire as well without tearing everything apart.

The wire runs behind the flap that covers the wheel, underneath and back up behind the two center AC vents. That panel pulls off and then I was able to feed the wire straight down to the power outlet above the footwell.

How does the detector handle not being against the windshield?

I'm shopping around for one and the passport 8500x50 manual said it had to be up against the glass

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by dannyzlo

How does the detector handle not being against the windshield?

I'm shopping around for one and the passport 8500x50 manual said it had to be up against the glass

It doesn't have to be against the glass at all. You can put it anywhere, just has to be level. But the units with the gps inside them, they highly reccomend they be somewhere mounted where a signal can be aquired to a satellite. So if its somewhere under your metal roof you may have a difficult time aquiring a sat. signal.

What you see there on his steering column, is the concealed display so he never has to look at the detector, So all the info is right there in front of you.

[dannyzlo]

Originally Posted by dd1981

It doesn't have to be against the glass at all. You can put it anywhere, just has to be level. But the units with the gps inside them, they highly reccomend they be somewhere mounted where a signal can be aquired to a satellite. So if its somewhere under your metal roof you may have a difficult time aquiring a sat. signal.

What you see there on his steering column, is the concealed display so he never has to look at the detector, So all the info is right there in front of you.

Oh! Is that the case only for the V1 or all detectors?

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by dannyzlo

Oh! Is that the case only for the V1 or all detectors?

I don't think the v1 has GPS that I know of, like I said the GPS n
Units like the escort 9500ix need a good view towards the sky so you probably want it more towards your windshield. But pretty much any mounting point on your dash you will be fine. Mine is right underneath my rear view mirror, and I never lose sat. Signal.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by ckimmel

That certainly is ambitious and well done. Escort detectors are awesome. I have that escort detector and the cordless one too. I like the corded one better, because of the constant lit display, but also hate the coiled up cord running down the dash. The down side to the cordless one is that it is heavy, won't hang on its window mount very well, and you have to change the batteries every 2-3 weeks.

The one tip I have, which may seem foolish and much, much lazier than yours, ... is to put the detector right on the dash with velcro. No bounce or rattle and lower profile without the window mount. Still works fine.

I am wondering though, Since I won't have my f30 for another few weeks I haven't figured out where to put the detector yet. It looks like the new "pseudo-pop-up" nav screen is right where I would normally attach it.

I've run my V1, for 8-10 years, clipped to the front side of my sun visor. V1 comes with a visor clip. It is not as easily seen...it is easy for the driver to see...and it is out of the sun. I've found its range is extremely good....even though it is looking through the top of the windshield.

[ckimmel]

I would actually think that it might work better up higher..? I may have to try that.

I assume most of the time I am hit with radar and it matters, it is from the front of the car too. I also feel like laser detection isn't that important. Most departments around here have the radar tech still. I would think that if you are running a budget for the department do you buy a laser or use the radar guns that you already own that can give out tickets all day long.?

The laser gun/units in our area seem to operate in the same intersections almost all the time or at least same general area, so you just kinda learn where they are.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by ckimmel

I would actually think that it might work better up higher..? I may have to try that.

I assume most of the time I am hit with radar and it matters, it is from the front of the car too. I also feel like laser detection isn't that important. Most departments around here have the radar tech still. I would think that if you are running a budget for the department do you buy a laser or use the radar guns that you already own that can give out tickets all day long.?

The laser gun/units in our area seem to operate in the same intersections almost all the time or at least same general area, so you just kinda learn where they are.

Height doesn't matter much. I've seen units mounted inside rear headrests for concealing purposes (v1). I've even seen mounts down low in the bumper for a passport 9500ci with the conceal display. I have a high truck for a daily and it makes no difference if I mount it up by the mirror or lower on the dash, it works the same as if it was in my BMW.
Radar is a type of a pulse wave once it hits your car, no matter where the detector is it will capture the signal and will go off. For mounting the most important thing is if like I said in the above post you have a unit with GPS make sure it has a good view to the sky and its not somewhere under your roof.

Yes laser is rare like you said and most departments won't pay for it. In Indiana usually the state boys rock those. Once your detector goes off its too late anyway unless you run a jammer . It's the truth though once you learn your route to work and back you pretty much figure out where they sit and you can even go without your detector. I don't because I like the warning ahead of time

[inChargeOfIT]

Thanks for the write up! My biggest issue was getting the A Pillar cover back on, other than that it was fairly straight forward.

Hard to tell from the pics, but I mounted my mute button right above the mirror with some small velcro tabs. Pretty easy and since I keep the radar to the right and slightly out of reach, it's nice to just reach up and press the button.


Pics:

[topcat87]

when wired to the fuse box does it drain current with ignition off?
will the idrive prompt battery discharged every morning and switch off comfort access

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by topcat87

when wired to the fuse box does it drain current with ignition off?
will the idrive prompt battery discharged every morning and switch off comfort access

No, it works off the home link which only gets power when your power button is pushed. Once you shut the car off the detector shuts off as well. No power drain.

[SwampCat84]

Is there seriously no fuse panel in the cab of our cars!?!?! My A3 had one in the dash... so easy to hardwire my V1 into that car....

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by SwampCat84

Is there seriously no fuse panel in the cab of our cars!?!?! My A3 had one in the dash... so easy to hardwire my V1 into that car....

No. It the trunk only. But if you want to tap into the 12v acc under the passanger dash board, you can. Others prefer this to the add a fuse as its in the cab and requires shorter wiring.

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by dd1981

No. It the trunk only. But if you want to tap into the 12v acc under the passanger dash board, you can. Others prefer this to the add a fuse as its in the cab and requires shorter wiring.

Not sure about F30, but on F10, you can hardwire it into the Mirror Housing,

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

Not sure about F30, but on F10, you can hardwire it into the Mirror Housing,

I haven't seen it yet on an f30 as the gauging of the wiring is different by the mirror housing. It doesn't mean it hasn't been done, just no one has posted about it yet.

[inChargeOfIT]

It's really not hard to wire from the trunk. Just thread it through the back seat and tuck under the trim along the bottom of the doors.

Taking the a-pillar cover off and on was the pain.