So I picked up my Coupe last night and I was looking around the mirror and the roof-line to where to install it. Looks a little tight up there. I'll take a picture later but I am wondering how well it's going to fit.

Has anyone put a radar detector in a Coupe yet?

 

Going to do it as soon as my new hard-wire kit gets in. (Probably, Saturday) I plan on installing it just above the mirror and to the left of the post. It was an almost perfect fit in my '10 Clubman, barely the width of the Valentine between the top of the mirror and the roof. I think there's actually more room there in the coupe.

 

If you could take pics that would be awesome. I might hold out to see how well it worked out for you.

 

When I originally did it, I followed this thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ew-mirror.html

Except, I used an add-a-circuit on the "Mirror Adjustment Switch/Seat Heating Module" (F34, if I recall) as that circuit is switched on and off with the engine. That way, I didn't have to tap into any wires and I can return it back to OEM in a matter of minutes.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...9-post294.html

Here's a PDF on how Wolos did it.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...p-v1-wolos.pdf

Full thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...some-help.html

Here's the "Add-A-Circuit".
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...226_0282404530

 

I'm definitely looking to see how this works out for you. I've been having logistical issues trying to figure out how to mount my Escort because I don't see the space that apparently you do, and the Escort isn't as wide. I'd love to finally get mine in finally!

 

The V1 is definitely wider than the Escorts, but I don't think they're as thick.

 

95% of my concern is the actual fit and blending it so it's not noticeable. The wiring is a part that I am pretty comfortable with.

I'll probably be pulling the trigger on all this once I see how yours fits. (Thanks for being first in )

I LOVE my Coupe. I think people's reactions are so much better to this than my R53 when I first got it.

 

I guess I'm not sure what your concern is. There's enough room between the top of the mirror and the roof of the car that I could stack two Valentines on top of each other. I'll be using the suction cup mount.

Here's a quick mobile phone snap:

 

Ahhh... see, that's my issue. I don't want to use a suction cup mount. I'm running into a wall. Still, at least it's good to know that alternative can work.

 

Then I'd use some Velcro to stick it to the plastic trim.

 

gloomchen and I are in the same boat.

It doesn't look like there is much room to play with for mounting it using the visor mount near the mirror:



If we use velcro we might be pointing it at the bonnet. : /

We are smart people. I am sure we can find something creative.

 

I think you guys are SOL.

Unless you can get one of these to work.

http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/Conn...rDetector.html

Edit: Actually, looking at the trim on the way home, I don't think it would be pointing directly at the bonnet. With a little fiddling, the visor mount may work just fine for facing forward. Worth a shot, anyway.

(Now to find mine. )

 

I have a mount similar to the one linked that I used in my Mazda, but the stem attachment on my Coupe's mirror is totally nuts compared to what I had before. In fact it appears to be different from previous MINIs -- I had even hunted down a guy who fabricated V1 mounts for MINI mirrors, and his wouldn't work because the mirror in the Coupe is smaller and more rounded. (Further investigation - it's a mirror mount setup used in some BMWs that similarly have been listed by most detector mount sites as being "you're SOL".)

I really didn't want to do below-mirror mount again, but headliner area is looking pretty grim.

Next plan is Home Depot to see if I can find a clamp that will attach to the flat sides of the mirror stem that I can attach to the suction mount with the suction cups removed or part of my old mount. I don't know, it's going to be an adventure.

The next question would be -- that stupid plastic bubble under the mirror, for those of us with auto-dim -- is that functional for anything at all? Is it removable?

 

I think it's the blinky light for people who have the security system.

 

LOL! I think all this effort will just make me stay under the limit.

 

I have the alarm and the only blinky light that I know of is the top of the tach?

But yeah, Keysersozeh -- I actually am far more conscious of my speed when I have my radar detector hooked up. It's kind of hilarious how off the rails I end up without it. In this past week alone I'm shocked I didn't get two tickets, noticing a cop car far too late. My only saving grace is that they were looking to get two-for-ones, people in the HOV lane illegally and speeding.

 

Security system light is on top of the tach. I think my MA also told me the bubble under the mirror was an alarm blinker, but all it seems to function as for me is the mirror dimmer switch.

 

Its funny that you say that.. I have been followed by cops for the last 3 days more than I have in the last 6 years. My GF was laughing at me thinking I was full of it until she followed me home tonight. She got to witness one squeeze in behind me..

 

+1. I have been using my V1 between the mirror and headliner with the suction mount since October 2002 when Artoo arrived. Every once in a while I clean the cups and put a drop of Mobil 1 on it and I never have a problem or issue. I would say it's as close to perfect as you can get.

And if you are not driving with a V1, you are not driving fast enough.

Rich

 

Huh. Then, I wonder what it is. It looks like there's a pretty obvious bulb in there.

 

There was just the perfect amount of space between my mirror and the headliner in my Clubby. Just barely enough room to slip the V1 between them.

 

Xeraux did you do your install this weekend?

 

Didn't get a chance to. Ended up on the bike in the mountains all weekend.

However, the helmet time gave me a chance to come up with a plan of attack.

The only part I lack is a shorter phone cord. I don't want to stuff 8 feet of phone cord under the dome light.

 

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. (Timeout always works wonders for solutions)

 

It's going to be the exact same install as I did in my Clubby. It's not going to be anything different because it's a Coupe. The little powery-unit-ey thingy will be Velcro-ed to the roof inside the dome light assembly, a short phone cord coming out of the little hole for the cord going to the mirror, a single power wire running just under the trim down to the fuse box in the passenger footwell, and connected to an add-a-circuit in the F34 "Mirror Adjustment Switch/Seat Heating Module" circuit. The only difference is, instead of soldering and shrink-tubing everything when I get it in the car, I'm going wire it up ahead of time with spade connectors and make a little plug-and-play kit for myself. Nothing brilliant or original.

Edit: Again, getting in the car to head to lunch, I took a quick look to see just how using the visor mount might be possible. My conclusion? Short of using the actual visor, there's no room for a Valentine or an Escort. The visors are too close the the dome light assembly preventing using the visor clip in the trim and the trim isn't far enough away from the visor and dome light assembly to allow enough room for the length of the radar detector. I really don't see a way to get around using the suction cup mount if you want it mounted high.