Here's a pic for all of you how have asked about harwiring radar detectors. I got the hardwire kit from valentine1.com ($19) and a local car audio place installed it in about half an hour. Most any semi-competent car audio place can hardwire a radar detector with ease. Cost about $30 for the install and worth every penny to not have that anoying cord dangling down to the cigarette lighter.

Enjoy

 

Jealous am I.

Can't afford to push the limit and risk a ticket, so no radar for me. Would just taunt me into triple digits.

R

 

any idea what did they wired it into?
Did they remowed any upholstery?
Thanks :smile:

 

OOOOOOOOO. Pretty. How much does that radar unit cost. What did it cost you to have i installed?

 

From the few times I have glanced over into the install room while one of my cars has been hardwired it appears that they remove the panel on the outside of the driver's side of the dash that covers the fuses. Then I think they tap into that. Try doing a search on google for hardwiring a radar detector and there should be some decent how to's out there. I'll try to dig some up for you.

Blake

 

On my company car Taurus, I just take a fuse out (one that only operates with the ignition on (so your detector does not have to be turned on and off manually) and push the bare wire (hot) into the protected side of the two slots with the fuse.

With an inline fuse, you are now doubly protected.

Then find a suitable ground. Usually have to loosen a dash bolt, slip the wire in there and tighten.

On the Tauruses I had over the years, the "A" piller had a big rubber flap running up it, so I just ran the wire there, pushed it over the plastict top where it meets the headliner. Where the headliner meets the windshield, there is uaually a small void where you can run the wire across.

On older cars you had to unscrew the "A" pillar covering.

I have been doing this since the mid 1970's, and it is nice to not even think of the detector...it just goes on when you are ready to motor! And I have had them all; The VI is the finest out there. Pays for itself in reduced insurance bills!

Motor On!

 

With the hard wire, could you have gotten a permanent bracket instead of the window suction cups?

 

The "V1" sure is an ugly bunch of business, lol.
Have one also though, works incredible.
Wish that it could detect "flaky" chics too :smile:

 

>>With the hard wire, could you have gotten a permanent bracket instead of the window suction cups?

Those suction cups are pretty permanent! My last set have lasted 5 years.

You can take the whole thing off, but they will last even longer if you leave the bracket up there, and just pull the VI out the back.

Besides, you may park in an area where you do not want to leave a trace of tempting "goodies" ie: sunglassess, radar detectors, etc!

 

>>Jealous am I.
>>
>>Can't afford to push the limit and risk a ticket, so no radar for me. Would just taunt me into triple digits. :smile:

 

very true red. alot of people forget about the whole reckless driving thing. Regardless if a cop has a radar gun in his car, if he sees you blaze past the speed of traffic he will pull you over and give you a ticket. But, with some restraint/good judgement you can avoid those instances. Where it shines is on the speed traps which is were it is needed most. I avoided a handful of speed traps on the way back from dallas to california, the V1 has paid for itself ten fold.

Blake

 

I heard that the v1 is a really good radar detector. Worth the money? Be honest

 

I got my V1 back in 1999 or so. I stopped counting the number of times it saved me at 15. Even if insurance premiums didn't rise with speeding tickets, that's still $100+ * 15...so, yeah, it pays for itself.

It's nice to know when everyone in front of you is about to dive on their brakes, too.

Get the remote display, too, so that the revenue patrol don't see a light display on your window.

 

well worth the money, I've had mine since '98 and haven't looked back since. Like most things, it's a hit upfront, but if you plan on keeping it for more than 6 months it pays for itself. Just break open the piggy bank and belly up to the bar, you won't regret it/

Blake

 

To reiterate what everyone else says, the V1 makes everything else seem useless.. I’ve has one for about 4 years and its paid for itself many time over. Does anyone have any hardwired pics with the remote display? I’m also interested in where people are getting power from ( e.g. exactly what fuse, etc. ) Pics are welcome!

 

The V1 is definately worth the money....I borrowed my brothers this last weekend to go up to Gainesville and it saved me from 3 definate ticket situations...all of which I had plenty of time to react to. In one situation I was driving fast in front of a BMW, my V1 goes off, I slow down, pull to the right, he doesn't believe me his Escort hasn't gone off yet...a mile down the road an FHP Camaro going the opposite way pulls a U-turn and chases down said BMW after gunning him. I'm definately getting one as soon as I get money. It has jumped to the top of things to get for my MINI before getting upgrades!

 

i'm sold.

 

My V-1 is in the exact place. I love it

16,800Mi in MCS -

Kesh

 

I want a V-1

I think i'd have to go for the remote display tho, dunno where to put it...yet

 

>>I want a V-1
>>
>>I think i'd have to go for the remote display tho, dunno where to put it...yet

Don't recall where I saw the post, but someone mounted the VI on the rear parcel shelf with velcro (where it still can "look" front and back, and then ran the remote display on the dash. I thought it was very cool.

But I still will go for the windshield. Unfortunately, the MINI does not have any room over the mirror, so it has to be offset as in the great picture at the beginning of this post.

 

It is funny that this company that seems to be all about speed
offers no support for any race teams. If you have a Valentine and
haven't gotten a speeding ticket you've been lucky. End of story.
I don't have one....never gotten a speeding ticket.

 

>>It is funny that this company that seems to be all about speed
>>offers no support for any race teams. If you have a Valentine and
>>haven't gotten a speeding ticket you've been lucky. End of story.
>>I don't have one....never gotten a speeding ticket.

Well 2minis, you have a point: If you don't go over the speed limit, you can't get a speeding ticket!

 

>>It is funny that this company that seems to be all about speed
>>offers no support for any race teams. If you have a Valentine and
>>haven't gotten a speeding ticket you've been lucky. End of story.
>>I don't have one....never gotten a speeding ticket. :smile:

 

I hard wired my radar detector, straight into the fuse box. I use circuits that have a 5amp or 10 amp fuse, to make sure the unit does not get too much current. As far as location, I wanted mine to be up top, but usually to get it on the top of the winshield, you have to run the wiring along the a-pillar, and on the mini, it says airbag, so i did not want to play with that, and instead put mine on the bottom of the winshield, and ran the wire behind the dash, to the fuse box. If anyone wants pics, i can put one up, but its pretty self explanitory.

Bmarvin, did they wire yours behind that plastic thing?? I suspect that if they did, the just tucked the wire behind the seam, they usually stay put from my experience.

 

THERE IS A MUCH BETTER WAY THAN THIS. THERE ARE RADAR DETECTORS THAT ARE HIDDEN AND USE SENSORS THAT ARE MOUNTED IN BOTH BUMPERS. This way you never have to worry about hiding your detector when you park or have to worry about a cop seeing it and giving himself a reason to pull you over. They also look much nicer, I have even heard of mounting the detector lights in the dash. Sweet.