Hi all!
I got my Mini today and I am soooo excited!
My first mod is going to be installing my Valentine One radar detector, but even after searching and reading through a bunch of threads, I still have some questions and concerns. I'm hoping somebody can help.
I normally wire to the fuse box. My question is what would be a good fuse to tap into for power. And second, how the heck do you get to the back of the fuses to tap into the power wire?
Another question is that is sounds like i may be able to tap into some wires behind the clock which would be more convenient than running the wire down to the fuse box. But i want to tap into a wire that only gets power when the car is on. Is there a wire like this behind the clock? I found one thread that sounded like there might be, but it was hard to tell.
Thanks for any help you can give and as always, if you have any pics to go along with your ideas that would be awesome!
Thanks!

oh, and I'm so happy to finally be MINI Motorer!!!

 

This is my V1 mounted right next to my rear view mirror as I've done with my last two cars as well.

Here's how I did it:
1.) This requires running the phone wire down the left windshield column/pillar. Start by mounting the scution cup thing on the windshield and plug in the phone/power cable. Start sliding the phone cable into the headliner. It slides easily just using your fingers.

2.) I had to wedge a tiny screwdriver under the white plastic on this column between the windshield and edge of the pillar plastic, with the phone cable sandwitched under the shaft of the screwdriver and the windshield) in order to wedge open enough space to fit the cable.

3.) The cable must be laid flat against the windshield to slide it under.

4.) Use a dull tool (I used a Torx scredriver tip) to push the outward facing edge of the phone cable into the wedge you've pried open with the tiny screwdriver in your other hand. Be careful because the pillar plastic scratches easily.

5.) When you reach the base of the pillar, you'll find a convenient groove resides between the pillar plastic and the dash plastic. It's just a big enough gap to wedge the wire flat between it.

6.) Curve it around and behind the rubber door weather stripping down to the driver's foot well.

7.) Attach the plastic power connector splice thingy from Valentine into the green wire located on the windshield side of the conector on the OBD plug. This plug is easily accessible and can be seen once you have removed the huge plastic piece covering the steering column (or in my case, the euro parcel tray).

8.) Connect the ground to any available screw you see under there and you're done!



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<img src="http://members.aol.com/lovemyibook/M....jpg">

 

So you used the power wire from the obd plug? Huh, hadn't thought of that. And this is switched power, right? And the correct voltage and such?
Thanks sooooo much!!!! Your post was a MASSIVE help! :smile: :smile:

 

Yeah that green wire is switched power. I didn't test the voltage or anything, but t works very well. Just about any key-switched power works for the V1 (I've never seen one be insufficient).

As a side note, If you're hooking up the front rally lights (which I did at the same time) you can connect that yellow wire that's supposed to go to the computer on teh passenger side, into the same green wire. This allows you to run the extra fogs with or without the high beams on. I believe connecting it to the computer will turn them off when you flash your brights.

 

Brilliant!!! Thanks so much!!!! :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

I used one of the add-a-fuse kits and ran the wire off of the front of the fuse box. The kits plug into an existing circuit, adding another fuse and a fused hot wire for power, any decent parts store should carry one. I actually had more of a problem finding a suitable place for the ground wire.
V-1, Don't leave home without it!

 

Kurtster, I'm all done, everything worked out great! Thanks again for the help! :smile:

The only thing i need to figure out now is a good spot for the remote display.

 

what's a OBD plug and how did you secure the valentine...suction cups?

Thanks

 

>>what's a OBD plug and how did you secure the valentine...suction cups?
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>>Thanks

The OBD plug is under the dash above your left foot. There is a little door that pops open and reveals what looks like some kind of serial plug. The dealer plugs there OBD computer into this to read all kinds of info off the car's computer and this is how they program the options on your car like the daytime running lights and they do diagnostics. Check out http://www.ross-tech.com They were developing consumer software for the mini. I used their software for my VW's so i could do a bunch of stuff myself.

Not sure what you are asking about the suction cups. I just stuck the suction cups to the window. They stick like crazy!

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-dennis
2004 C/W MINI COOPER S

 

I just finished installing my V1 with remote. Thanks so much for the advice. When I realized I couldn't wire into the clock and use the remote I was bummed. Your tip for running the cable down the A pillar was just perfect. My V1 is installed to the RIGHT of the mirror as opposed to the left as I suspect most people do. Since I'm using the remote, visual of the display on the main unit isn't critical, although it is still completely functional where it is.

My logic was that from a cops vantage point at the drivers window, the mirror does alot to hide the detector. I've also applied a bit of "limo black" tint to the windshield which hides it from the front some what, as well as causes the black detector to "get lost" in the black background when viewed from the drivers window. The tint is really just an extension of the black of the window surrounding the rain sensor. So with the remote on and overriding the main display and the tint on the window I feel like my window mounted detector is as stealthy as it can get while placed in the most effective spot on the windshield.

Thanks again,

Stuart

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B/B MCS w/Black interior, Custom leather, 1,2,3, H/K, rain, Custom Bonnet/Boot Stripes, Aero Grille, Centerline Excel's w Yoko AVS ES 100, Alta Exhuast, Rogue shift, H Sport springs, Madness Sway, ProMini Control arms, V1 w/ remote....

 

KerMini!
Where did you put the remote?!?!!? Pics?
I have it but couldn't find a spot I was happy with.

 

I just installed my V1 with remote. I tapped the red wire running to the Volt gauge ( Aux gauge option ). The phone wire up the right A-pilar to the visor and main unit. It can be seen from behind the car so I'll be tinting the rear window. But seeing the above picture by the mirror looks like a stealthier location.

I mounted my remote in front of the tach on the column. While not as stealthy as I would like it is within an easy glance and the velco should allow for a quick removal if needed. An alternative might be to get one of those dual gauge pods and use one for an oil pressure and the other for the V1 remote, perhaps disquise it with a false gauge face.



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Chris
'04 MCS
'03 XC90
'00 V70R

 

Given the remote feature, is there a good place to acutally hide the radar detector unit such that it's still functional but out of sight?

 

I wish Valentine would offer front and rear external sensors, similar to the Escort laser/radar jamming product ( I think that's what it is ). The main unit is rather large and difficult to hide. The remote display is very nice. There was a toymaker on Audiworld.com that took apart the display and integrated the arrows into his S4 dash with a custom plastic housing. I've tried to find the thread with pictures but this was back in 2000/2001.

If that small drop down with the plastic vent (access to antenna?) behind the sunroof was low enough we might be able to mount the main unit up in there and make false fronts and rears for the sensors. The Mini doesn't really seem to have any "pockets" to hide the V1 unit in the ceiling nor the dash.

 

That's actually the housing for the motion sensor on the factory alarm. If you don't have the alarm, it's just an empty box.

>>If that small drop down with the plastic vent (access to antenna?) behind the sunroof was low enough we might be able to mount the main unit up in there and make false fronts and rears for the sensors. The Mini doesn't really seem to have any "pockets" to hide the V1 unit in the ceiling nor the dash.
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