[KyleY911]

I'm thinking about picking up a passport 8500 X50 but i searched the DIY section and couldn't find a DIY for it.........anyone done it before or know how to do it? any help would be much appreciated thanks

[Kruz]

Search on V1 install and use the same concept of a fuse tap.

[double35]

in the diy, there is a hardwire for the x50. He put it down low on the windshield. I followed the same instructions, but ran the wire up to the top of the windshield.

[wuufer001]

i hardwired mine to the cig lighter and ran it through the bottom of the windscreen. i have my X50 around the center of my windscreen.

[GeorgiaTech335coupe]

Get the Passport 9500, the GPS feature is definitely worth it!

[carchrism5]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaTech335coupe

Get the Passport 9500, the GPS feature is definitely worth it!

x2 9500i is the best radar on the market, its ranked better than the V1 by many tests

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

x2 9500i is the best radar on the market, its ranked better than the V1 by many tests

I have the 9500 as well and love it!

[tjnptel1]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaTech335coupe

Get the Passport 9500, the GPS feature is definitely worth it!

funny you mention this,

just two weeks ago, my friend got busted for speeding. And this is a road right outside his neighborhood, never thought he'd get busted there.

Right outside his neighborhood there is a Food Lion (grocery store) that uses K band automatic doors. So when he got his detector, driving past it, he decided to block that "False alarm" out. A few months later, there was a cop sitting in that parking lot, running radar. My friend's detector didn't go off because he blocked that frequency and he got pulled over. It turned out the cop was using the same K band as well. d'oh

[Long Drive]

I have both the 8500 and the 9500 (SUV, 335)...the 9500's ability to block x band signals (mostly stores, etc., these days) is very cool.

To hardwire the BMW, I took it to a BMW shop who was able to connect the wiring in the overhead control/lights panel. My first attempt was to connect to the wiring in the visors, but that didn't work! I use the suction cup mount tucked up nicely just above the left side of the mirror. Easy to reach the mute, etc.

I've read all the discussions about the best detector location, and I side with the "high up" group mainly because of access to the controls. Reaching across the dash is not practical. High up is also more stealth since it can be snuggled up near the mirror and nothing blocks it like wipers, etc.

I, too, recommend the 9500! Enjoy!

[sgt_gman2005]

I'm thinking about picking up a passport 8500 X50 but i searched the DIY section and couldn't find a DIY for it.........anyone done it before or know how to do it? any help would be much appreciated thanks

heres are some pics of my X50 hardwire. i used the tap-a-wire kit at autozone and connected it to the fuse box. i dont like splicing/cutting OEM wires so i used the fuse box instead so its completely reversible. use the and its one of the radar DIY for more information. i reroute my wires differently bec i dont like my radar to be in the middle of the windshield with wires hanging out, so i reroute under the visor and headliner down to the glovebox then fuse box for better concealment. i still get good radar warning from my X50 even if its up on my visor...hope this helps.

needed:
1. tap a wire (autozone) - $6
2. escort visor clip and direct wire powercord (amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Escort-Direct-...d_bxgy_e_img_a) - $14

[shaft3ngineering]

clean setup!!! did the same to my coupe
ty

[green bean]

Scroll to Post 9 -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=add+circuit

Its actually easier than it looks. Just buy the Direct Wire kit at Best Buy that is made for the Export.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1181347936389

Rather than use the T-tap that comes with the Escort kit, go to Autozone and ask for the add a circuit mini-fuse kit (its like $6). http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=071-585

Basically, this takes one fuse spot and lets you add an additional fuse . So, you can split the fuse in the PDC/homelink by adding two fuses to one fuse spot so that you dont splice any BMW wires. Just put your escort hardwire into the add a fuse, then put the add a circuit into the PDC/homelink spot. Put the fuse from the PDC as well as another fuse for the radar (so you should have a 5 and 3 Fuse in the add a circuit). You can ground the kit to either the screw on the left (the red circle) or add a screw (as shown by the white arrow). It will look like this -

Here are other options -

Hardwire through head console DIY -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=29
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97545

Hardwire through lower Windshield -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30100

[azwillnj]

I soldered up a phone cord with a regular cig adapter and snaked it through the trim on the right of the car all the way to the center console until i can find a better way to do it. I'll take some pictures and post them up later.

[KyleY911]

hey thank for all the help guys but i thought i heard that it isn't practical to use the visor clip because the radar isn't as effective due to the tint on the top of the car or something??

[sgt_gman2005]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

hey thank for all the help guys but i thought i heard that it isn't practical to use the visor clip because the radar isn't as effective due to the tint on the top of the car or something??

ive been using my X50 with visor clip for more than a year and i have no problems at all. always reliable and warns me ahead, all the time...

on my first picture, the line of sight of the radar is bellow the tint.

[AJerman]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

hey thank for all the help guys but i thought i heard that it isn't practical to use the visor clip because the radar isn't as effective due to the tint on the top of the car or something??

I would agree. I think it wouldn't get the best visibility up there, plus, what if you want to use your visor? Just put it up near your mirror with suction cups on your windshield and run the wire up through the top of the windshield and down the A pillar.

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

I'm thinking about picking up a passport 8500 X50 but i searched the DIY section and couldn't find a DIY for it.........anyone done it before or know how to do it? any help would be much appreciated thanks

I have a Bel RX65 which is the same radar detector as a Passport 8500 X50. They are the both made by the same company. Here is my install:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111583

[Tagg67]

I just finished installing my Escort 8500 x50 in my 2008 328i Sedan. I followed the instructions that HyperM3 supplied in the forum along with the photos that Picus supplied and the only thing different was I had to use slot #7 vice #28. The screw for the ground was perfectly placed as well(See photos from Picus. When I put it in #28, my lights stayed on, so I knew it had to be a different slot. My add-a-Circuit cable was purchased at Autozone for approx $6 and the Escort Smart Cord Hardwire kit was from Bestbuy for $29.99. It was almost too easy to install and I am glad I did it myself, because two different shops were going to charge me $95.00 to install!!!!!! I will get some photos tomorrow because it's too dark.

[brocken]

Tagg- I noticed the same thing regarding which fuse slot to use. I had a 2007 E92 and the instructions had the correct slot but on my 2008 E90 it's a different spot. I think I used #7 on my 08. The way I confirmed was to check the card in the glovebox and look for the fuses that are homelink. That curcuit is only on when your ignition is on.
And I used the same add a circuit from Autozone, good little piece.

Oh, if you don't need the cord with the remote you can get just the wire kit for $20 instead of $30.

[virtualbong]

Originally Posted by green bean

Scroll to Post 9 -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=add+circuit

Its actually easier than it looks. Just buy the Direct Wire kit at Best Buy that is made for the Export.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1181347936389

Rather than use the T-tap that comes with the Escort kit, go to Autozone and ask for the add a circuit mini-fuse kit (its like $6). http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=071-585

Basically, this takes one fuse spot and lets you add an additional fuse . So, you can split the fuse in the PDC/homelink by adding two fuses to one fuse spot so that you dont splice any BMW wires. Just put your escort hardwire into the add a fuse, then put the add a circuit into the PDC/homelink spot. Put the fuse from the PDC as well as another fuse for the radar (so you should have a 5 and 3 Fuse in the add a circuit). You can ground the kit to either the screw on the left (the red circle) or add a screw (as shown by the white arrow). It will look like this -

Here are other options -

Hardwire through head console DIY -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=29
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97545

Hardwire through lower Windshield -
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30100

Great post by the way.

Question...I see that there are different fuse taps at Advance Auto Parts. Which one would I get?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...smann+fuse+tap

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...smann+fuse+tap

[Alexm007]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaTech335coupe

Get the Passport 9500, the GPS feature is definitely worth it!

+1 Agreed. I have mine hardwired into the sunroof, per the DIY on this site.