Do you have a custom installed radar detector?

Where did you mount the control head? What brand? I am looking at the Escort Passport 8500CI Plus.

Look, I don't mean to start up a post on speeding. I don't speed. Truth be told I will go over the speed limit by 5 mph to stay with the flow of traffic and not get run over. Alternative, drive the speed limit and have tailgaters flashing there lights or Hi-beams at me.

Like you I like these toys, they tell you about red light cameras and other things. But I don't want to have to set up and remove these items every time I drive the car.

I would rather compromise a little on signal to have one of these in the car and not have to remove it every time I park.

I don't mean to imply that the Passort 8500CI Plus is the best in any way. Other recommendations?

One thing we can all agree on is that the real estate inside the Coupe is prime property. Not much space for accessories.

For me, I have cut out a template and was thinking of mounting it in front of the shifter, behind the two connections USB & 3.5MM or in front of them.

I drive a 2013 S Coupe by the way.

So do you have a Radar Detector mounted such that you don't have to remove it and don't need to worry about it being stolen?

Got pictures?

Thanks

 

I guess no one has added a permanent wired detector to their Coupe?

After the Blackvue install it should not be a problem. I just have a thing about Cops and being watched. Odd? I set the cruise control to the speed limit. Never in a hurry. Why shorten the commute by 10 or 15 minutes and miss listening to Satellite Radio?

The drivers around here are relentless. They want to go 70+! Flash lights at you for going the speed limit and so on.

Adding trailer hitch for safety. Might add one of those three ball contraptions. Hitting that must be like hitting a wall.

Anyway, with video of everything as I drive feel much safer. Cops don't care if you drive with no lights, tailgate, drive unsafe, or anything else here. Just the speed traps and rake revenue.

Having the permanent detector will add some comfort as I will know where the police are if I need them and give me the ability to know I am being watched which is huge.

Sort of a love/hate relationship. Especially after the tag fiasco with the dealer and new Mini. Took me three months to get my Tag transferred. I have special Amateur Radio Tags. Getting pulled over all the time. Nightmare and not my fault, dealer issues and incompetence. Hence my love for video and radar.

Blackvue installed. Radar soon, Mini Fini hitch soon.

Now I need to think about what options I have left to install. So much fun having a Mini.

 

You will find several posts with pictures and advice in these forums on this subject - not much here at NAM.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...-glossary.html


Once you are on the forum, search for "Cooper", and you will find several.

BTW, I picked this link above for a reason; the detector is only a small part of the operation.

 

I will read the section and see what I can find there. Actually, yes I have much to learn about the whole issue. Besides working with a Mini Coupe. Small car has its own challenges.

Thanks

 

I have the V1 hot fused in my Coupe. I have it placed in the nook between the mirror and the roof line on the driver side. I'm not so much worried about laser from behind. (I figure they got me at that point) I also have a tint banner going about 4 inches down which makes seeing it pretty difficult unless you know what you are looking for. I leave it in unless I valet or take it in for service. It's practically invisible to anyone from behind looking in and most of my passengers do not notice it unless it goes off.

I would say the install took about an hour at the most. That was pushing wire into the roof line with a credit card and also opening the side panels on the dash to fish the wires to the fuse box. With the recent addition of the V1Connect LE, I can hook it up to my Iphone. It's nice because I can use my Iphone as my display and darken the actual V1.

Hope this was somewhat helpful.

Here is thread that shows the placement: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...472-post8.html

Mine just has tint in front of it so you can't see it from the outside.

 

That is where I have my Escort Solo S2 but it is cordless (battery powered).

 

I have the Escort you want in my JCW coupe. I used the hardwire kit for my install. My setup is like this:

- Mounted just above the auto dim rear mirror on the passenger side. It is as high as I can get it and it JUST fits perfectly. It is nearly hidden.

- I ran the phone-line power cable into the headliner and down the passenger a-pillar and into the fuse panel I to a add-a-fuse adapter I purchased separately. (I forget which fuse I tapped into, I am currently out of town, so this is all from memory)

- I also purchased the remote monitor/mute that I mounted the the underside of the center console
Just under the a/c controls. Since the display of the radar is almost completely hidden by the mirror when in the drivers seat, it helps see the the alerts when I have the stereo up loud. That is wired up the A-pillar to the detector as well.

- To make the install easy and clean, buy an aftermarket adhesive mount rather than the suction cup mount. I bought mine on EBay for a few bucks. Once you position it where you want, just peel the 3M adhesive and stick it to your windshield. It allows the detector to be mounted higher than the suction cups do and it withstands heat and humidity 100 times better.

Hope that helps some

-Z

 

I went with the 8500CI. Maybe not the best but time will tell. I don't speed so that is not the real reason for having it anyway. I normally stay in the far right lane.

I mounted the display in the ashtray. Long story but the wife's Mini came with an ashtray. I use it in mine. Lid flips up and there is a back that you can stick a double sided tape to and then the display. Turn the ashtray to the angle you like. It is perfect. Angle and indentation. Could not ask for a better location. My second choice is above the rear view mirror that lights up something about airbags or seatbelt.

I smoke e-cigs (Provape) and use the ashtray for the mini juice and sometimes the e-cig which still works fine. Just a holder, no ashes.

The receive unit is to the right of the gas pedal. Easy to undo and move the display if I don't like it. Just trying options. But it works fine while I learn the unit. Cable hidden center console.

I mounted the antenna between the two seats rear dash if you call it that with a aim right out the front windshield. Cables hidden looks fine.

I will eventually post pictures of install and Blackvue dash cam and Hitch on rear when all is complete. In the Coupe forum.

Also pleased with the Blackvue Front and Rear cam and iTouch videos. It works great.

Also have Amateur Radio install - remote head next to console. Radio in rear.

I have done so many of these and could remove all and you would never know they were there which is part of the goal. No damage to car, no holes drilled.

 

I have a Valentine One and Bluetooth module, hot wired to my fuse box. It's suction cupped right between my roof and rear view mirror on the driver's side. The bluetooth allows stealth alerts on my iPhone5s mounted to the Flexpod holder.

 

A customer of ours had a V1 disassembled, and then integrated into the rear view mirror. I don't know who did it: the customer is from the NYC area. Apparently, they etched the back of the mirror in the V1 light shapes, and then installed the display of the V1 in the mirror case. The rest of the unit is under the dash. It's trick.

 

That's pretty neat, I saw something similar in an armored car company here in NYC where they also do custom radar installations the one that I saw was exactly like that but when the radar was off, you couldn't see anything in the mirror.. In other words the mirror looked normal until the detector was on , very slick.

 

This one's pretty stealth: I had to find a good angle to shoot it at so you could clearly see it. Now if someone were looking for it, they'd see it...

 

Got it, the one that I saw also had the Valentine on it as well, I actually just called them to ask about the price they quoted around 3k out the door for a MInI. Ouch I'm sure it's cheaper elsewhere :-) but it looks very cool

 

I ordered the escort 8500 ci ... got it and realized there is not enough room behind either of the front grills to install it. . . sent it back and got the new passport max... mounted as stealthy as possible up above the mirror and hardwired in... I also have a tint strip across the front window so its hidden pretty good

 

And yes I still need to remove the protective film from the display.