[skim7x]

So I've seen a lot of different setups as far as where to mount a radar detector and concealed display... surprisingly, a vast majority of people mount their radar detectors way up high, like this guy (hope he doesn't mind me putting his pic up)



It's a good spot in the sense that it's not noticeable to other drivers or police, and it's out of the driver's line of sight... but there seem to be a couple problems...

First of all, I doubt the detector has a good line of sight to the rear, so the rear antenna may have trouble picking up radar from behind, and second, I've read on multiple radar test sites that mounting up high does NOT add any radar range and actually decreases sensitivity to Laser (Laser has a very narrow cross-section and, if the policeman shoots low on your car at the license plate like they typically do, the radar will never see the laser signal)...

Anyone have any opinions?

Where is the best place, in your opinion, to mount the detector??

[HighVoltage]

Up high is the best for radar range. I dont have any issues with detection range from the rear antenna.

As far as Lidar is concerned, that point you mentioned is especially valid if the officer is trying to get you at close range. The first target is usually your plate or headlamps. However the beam can be much larger than you think it is. A lot of people are under the misimpression that its a small laser beam. The beam divergences from the gun. So at 1000ft the "beam" is about 3ft in diameter. The V1 is especially sensitive to lidar. The optics are large and the input spectrum seems to be a bit wide. I have picked up "scatter" on several occasions.

YMMV but this is a pretty good set of rules for choosing location:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/detectormounting.html


I mount my V1 up high and the remote near the wheel but not in a position that I would need to put my hand through the wheel to mute. When I do the redo my trim I'll tuck what line is left out (~3in) behind the trim.

[skim7x]

ah nice... I do like the spot of your concealed display... how did you get it to stay on there? Just with the attachment provided with the concealed display unit? Does it hold it on there well? Looks like it might fall off on a bumpy road! haha...

[HighVoltage]

Some 3M double sided tape. So far so good. Its held on through the summer + winter and a few dozen hard turns.

Probably the most time consuming part was threading the line through the dash and then behind the pillars. I didnt like the idea of trying to tuck the line like you see in a lot of installs so I fished the line up (on the drivers side and down on the passengers) through the dash, removed the pillar covers,and tucked the line behind the air bags. That way the only line showing, even with the doors open is that little bit you see in the pics.

[bimmerFUD]

I have the main unit pretty much where HighVoltage has it, but a bit to the left and resting on the rearview mirror. Along with being up high, it has the advantage that both visors can be lowered without interfering with it.

I have my remote display mounted like this.

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by HighVoltage

Some 3M double sided tape. So far so good. Its held on through the summer + winter and a few dozen hard turns.

Probably the most time consuming part was threading the line through the dash and then behind the pillars. I didnt like the idea of trying to tuck the line like you see in a lot of installs so I fished the line up (on the drivers side and down on the passengers) through the dash, removed the pillar covers,and tucked the line behind the air bags. That way the only line showing, even with the doors open is that little bit you see in the pics.

Yeah, I just installed a boost gauge, so I am pretty good with wiring around there now (had to tap into the cigarette lighter for power and had to remove A-pillar trim to get wire up around the side of the dash)... I should be able to do this V1 hardwire in a flash...

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

I have the main unit pretty much where HighVoltage has it, but a bit to the left and resting on the rearview mirror. Along with being up high, it has the advantage that both visors can be lowered without interfering with it.

I have my remote display mounted like this.

Oh yeahhh... I totally forgot about your setup... i had seen it before... that's what I'll do... well done! Have you found any drawbacks to your design, yet?

[bimmerFUD]

No drawbacks. I've since moved it to the left side along that same edge of the instrument cluster.

How was the ski trip? I'm going to Taos this weekend

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

No drawbacks. I've since moved it to the left side along that same edge of the instrument cluster.

How was the ski trip? I'm going to Taos this weekend

Hey hey! Cool... I just bought a new V1 and concealed display -- should be here tomorrow!! Then the hardwire comes this weekend I'm planning on putting the radar up high like everyone else recommends, and then putting the concealed display on the right side of my instrument cluster... hardwired to the fusebox

Man, the snowboarding was great... apparently this was the first ski season Taos has allowed snowboarders, so be prepared for that--lots more snowboarders

There was one idiot 18 year old snowboarder who went beyond the trail ropes to catch some powder and got stuck!! He was stuck in the snow from about 5PM until about 3AM the next day!!! Bet he got it when he got home haha...

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by skim7x

Taos has allowed knuckle draggers, so be prepared for that--lots more knuckle draggers

Fixed that for ya This will be my first time there since they let them out of their cages.

Taos got 16" the past few days!

Anyway, the fusebox hardwire is definitely the way to go.

[skim7x]

Here's my setup:


Some pictures
Can you spot it?


Interior shot of concealed display in front of gauge cluster and the V1 to the right of the rear view mirror


Driver's view


Yeah, you can see a little of the yellow sticky tack I used


The V1


Thanks for all the help, guys...