got it to work. surprised no1 chimed in...:sigh:

 

so where did you mess up?

 

thought it was the ground, but apparently it was the new hardwire kit i ordered from their website. i reused the hardwire kit i used in my bmw and it powered it just fine. i have no clue what happened....

 

We I went a little different route. I installed the escort hardwire kit (called the smart cord). First I took apart the circuit case and tried to drill a hole in my dash cover for the button. But I found out the hard way that the button needs the circuit casing to allow the button to work. If you just insert the button through the dash (or other location) and epoxy the curcuit behind, the button will rest on the inside of the dash in the engaged position.

So... I took the whole unit and mounted it in my dash panel like this.



I think it turned out great and since I am using the whole control unit it should last forever. I have it sticking out about an eighth of an inch from the dash trim panel.

I then ran the phone wire up through the A-pilar. You can take this piece off your car real easily. Look for the cap that says "airbag" you can carefully stick a screwdriver in the door-side corner and press toward the middle to try to "bow" the cap and it will unfasten itself. take the screw out from behind and the a-pillar will just snap out. Then it is easy to zip tie your telephone/power wire up and into the headliner. I took my power from the cigarette lighter under the console. It was pretty easy to get to and powers up when the ignition is turned on.

 

What is a Light'NSight?

 

Thanks for the great instructions crucial_fiction.

I just installed my new Valentine V1 with rearview mirror mount in my 2010 John Cooper Works Mini.

 

I ran the telephone line under the headliner and down the A pillar to the fuse panel on the passenger side. With just removing the fuse panel cover, where can I attach the ground wire for the V1? If you have done this and have a picture, that would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

What is PDC and what # fuse is that, to many fricking acronyms. I am going to hook up a new valentine 1.

 

I wired a V1 into a 2010 MCS today and the PDC circuit was turned on/off with the car turning on/off. The car didn't have the PDC option.

I used the bolt on the right side of the glove box, visible when the glove box is open.

PDC is Parking Distance Control. In a 2010 MCS, it was fuse 32 I think. The label on the inside of the fuse box cover shows it with a P symbol with curved lines to indicated radar.

 

another countryjoyofcrafts mount, modded to be closer to the windscreen
got the parts from a bicycle shop: 2 bolts, 6 chainring nuts.



I also used the purple wire for power but it stopped working after 2 weeks. Works fine from the fuse panel now.

 

First of all, Thanks for the great instructions crucial_fiction!

If anyone is running a Passport 9500IX and you are running power the same way, check the colors... the power is Green and ground is Red... they reversed them on the smart power cord... You don't have to spend $29 dollars... save your money go buy a telephone line same color as your headliner then strip the wires then put two connectors as needed and spend your savings on cold beer... save the smart power cord just in case you have to drive your wife's car that one day.
It took me 15 mins to do the job.
Thanks

 

Thanks for the how-to on the install! Made it very easy. I also ran another cord down the pillar for the remote display for my V1. Very easy, very clean. Good work my friend

 

wait so where do you store the piece from the V1 to the power cord? (the little black box looking thing)
And how does the V1 stay up there and in place? (does it ever fall out?)

 

But dfo, my wife's car IS the JCW.

Crucial, you ROCK!

 

Thanks for the write up. I just did this tonight and works great. It seems to turn on and off with the car on my 09 JCW.

Thanks!
Erich

 

Installed my V1 according to the OP's instructions tonight, and it worked great. On my 2010 Clubman S I did notice that the fat purple wire didn't have the blue stripe, but the skinny one did. I went ahead and used the fat wire. Mine has stayed on after the car was off, but I'll check it in the morning to see if it is off by then. Thanks for the write up!

 

Looking for the hole used for the ground wire. Anybody have a pic of the locstion? I have an 07 MCS with sunroof. Found the 2 torx screws but haven't removed them yet. Is the ground hole located beneath the black chunk of plastic? Can I secure the ground wire to one of the torx screws or does it screw into plastic?

 

Its located to the left front corner when you remove the over head light stuff... take a flash light and look... and don't forget to scrap the paint off to get a good ground.
Its real fast and easy
Derek

 

OK, I found the ground hole and almost tapped into the wire but, when I tested for power, I found 2 purple wires. One was a skinny purple wire with a blue tracer, the other was a fat purple wire with what looked to be a grey colored tracer. The skinny purple wire goes dead when you shut the car off and open the drivers door. The fat purple wire stays powered for a longer period of time. I'm guessing due to the thickness of this wire it is the one that controls the sunroof motor. I'm wondering if using the skinny purple wire with the blue tracer is a better or at least an acceptable alternative?

 

I just found out that the fat purple wire on my 07 MCS remains hot at all times. Not a good choice for the detector. Seems like the skinny purple wire may be the way to go. I did find a small box of T-Tap connectors at Autozone for about $3, so at least I won't have to hunt around for those at the last minute.

 

The fat wire dies after 30Mins... for me that works the best for my Passport 9500IX.
crucial_fiction did a great job explaining and pics ... that's the lead I followed.

 

For those who ran the cord to passenger side fuse box, Did the 8ft V1 cord make it?

Before i begin the install, i did't want the cord to be short

 

Thanks for the great picts. Just put an X50 in my 2010 R56. There is a hole in the metal roof frame just left of the headliner opening. Waiting to see if it shuts off in 15min.

 

So i ran the wire to the passenger fuse panel and took 20 minutes.
Very easy to do and now the radar works like it should,ON with the key...OFF with no key!

*Note to others*- DO NOT USE dollar store telephone wire!!
They had black so i said cool, installed it and it made my radar not go through the self test correctly.

Also found a very easy and SURE ground. Its like a foot along the fuse box under the kick plastics.

Also a 7ft cable reached just fine!

 

I hardwired my BEL RX65 to the passenger fuse box as well, using an add-a-fuse connector to #32 (PDC). I utilized the #25 TORX screw at the glove box for ground.

Unit is secured with suction cup mount high and left of rearview. Works great and is on/off with ignition.

By the way, car is 2011 Clubman S.

Jeff