I wrote this up a while back for MotoringFile: Stealth EZPass Install (scroll down a few paragraphs)

The idea spawned from a bunch of MidAtlantic MINI messageboard discussions (before there was PhillyMINI), where people actually were talking about the problem of PA registering the early (02) car as a MINIBUS... happened to me, in fact. Eventually it was sorted out and I was issued a new registration...

 

Anyone have any experience with/mounting the exterior e-zpas tags? Any prefered locations?. I cant do the sunroof mount since I have a cabrio and was thinking of near the grill, but worry about interferance.

When I lived in NY I had one mounted to the windsheild of my blazer, but now I have my MINI and live in DE (which doesnt require a front license plate) and would like to keep the appearance clean (i.e., no white blob on the windsheild).

 

I had an idea of putting it in the well area right in front of the windshield. Sort of tuck it up and out of the way of the grill that's right there.

 

If its an inside EZ Pass do you think it would be effected by the elements? I like the idea though.

 

I just drove from upstate ny to Boston and back and just placed the ezpass on the dash when needed, worked fine. I don't think I'll stick it to the windshield, no point. When I'm not traveling distances, which isn't too often, I'll keep it in the glove compartment.

 

I still maintain that the "stealth" install in the rear sunroof is far and away the best place to put it... and it was Lawrence (lotoole3)'s write-up on MotoringFile (see post #26) that was the "eureka" moment! Thanks Lawrence!

 

Because of the rain sensor I was advised that I should use the exterior mount - but when I received it (essentially a black bar about the size and shape of those horrible chocolate bars they sell door to door for fund raisers)I determined that it would be subject to parallel parking damage and possibly even theft. I mounted mine as close to the windshield on the dash with Velcro so I could remove it to use in rental cars. I soon discovered that you have to be conscious of the arrows within the small circles on the back and have them point toward the back of the car. I discovered the orientation rule when I received a photo of my car passing through a tollbooth without paying a toll. Fortunately it did not incur a fine The black bar looks better and somewhat blends with the dash - more so then the white box.

 

Edge - You're welcome!

 

I also did the sunroof mount. Works fine there. I also painted both of my EZ Passes flat black so they're not so bloody obvious. My Jeep looks pretty ridiculous from the front: NH inspection, EZ Pass, and V1 all on the windshield, in a nice little row. At least painted black it's *slightly* less obvious...

 

I never thought of painting it. What a neat idea. We have all the inspection and tax sticker stuff on our windscreens too.

 

Instead of painting mine (after all, they aren't really ours, they are still the property of the EZPass people), I covered it in black electrical tape... except the label that includes the serial number. Since the label part is mounted towards the front of the car, it remains hidden in the nook that exists in the rear sunroof!

 

If they bîtch about it, I'll just drive over it and send them the pieces. Oops! Yes, I'm feeling a bit of animosity towards them since I got a letter saying "we caught you speeding! don't do it again or you'll pay!" Note they didn't tell me *where* they caught me, or what the posted speed was or anything like that. Hell, they didn't even tell me what STATE I was in.

The first one I just covered in paint, but the 2nd one I actually made an attempt to not cover up the bar code, which worked fairly well.

 

Been on the NJ Turnpike lately? I heard once about them using the system to track speeders. I do 99% of my toll driving on the Dulles Toll Road here in Northern VA... averaging speeds over the limit most of the time, and I've never received a letter.

I think it's up to the individual administrators of each road on whether they want to do that or not. The irony is... if they get too aggressive on it, some people will just choose to speed, pay cash and avoid the chance of tickets (except perhaps during rush hour, in which case they are not likely to be able to speed much anyway, and the "EZ Pass only" lanes are just a time saver for the transaction, nothing more).

 

The New Jersey Trunpike does not track speed on the roads but they do when going through the booths. The same goes for the Tappan Zee Bridge where they are much more aggressive about notifying you of the 15mph limit through the toll. Three times and they take the ezPass back.

That said I love the high speed tolls on the NJ Tpke and the Atlantic City Expressway.

Rich

 

Nah, this was just a nastygram about going through the booth too fast. Heck, going the recommended 10 or 15 mph is liable to get you rear-ended! Yes, I've been paying more attention to my speed through the booths, now. I've got enough trouble with deer; the last thing I need is a toll worker on my bonnet.

 

when my daddy registered my MINI after I bought it, he did it as Make-BMW -> Model-Other I drive a MINI COOPER! not a BMW Cooper!

 

LOL! Yeah, my MINI on the EZ-Pass site is a "BMW" -> "Other". C'mon, get with the times!

Actually, I purchased the "EZ-Pass Holder" at (of all places) Bed, Bath and Beyond. I put it up in my rear sunroof (comes with suction cups), so you don't even notice it. It's worked great!

FYI - those of you that may still be registered with an EZ-Pass out of NYC, they just re-issued them to everyone. For some reason, the fit was really awkward to get into the holder. They must be a slightly different size now.

 

I found these... interesting
http://www.e-zpal.com/colors.html

 

Mine is also in the rear sun roof, but mine is mounted all the way at the rear. It works just fine.

 

I have our mounted on the rear sunroof as well. Works fine.