Radar Detector Display Mounting Question: Real Concerns of Visibility Outside of Car?

[jmciver]

Ok, so hopefully this radar install discussion is a bit different than previous threads as my searches on this forum and the net did not yield anything too useful IMO. But moving on...

I am putting together my radar detector installation plan. It will be centered around the V1, as that is my detector of choice, so this is not a "which detector is better thread"..... The criteria for my install is pretty simple:

1. Hard wired in the car with no visible wires.
2. Minimizing any "non-OEM" devices on the dash.

Item 1 is pretty self explanatory. Item 2 is a personal preference. Specifically, I don't like seeing anything extra on the dash/windshield area, be it the radar unit or remote display, for both security and asthetic reasons. For the radar unit, I plan to hide it in the center rear headrest (done this before in other cars and it worked very well). The display is still where I am going back and forth, which is the main point of this the thread.

To meet my second criteria, I am looking at two options for the display. Either mount the remote display inside my rear view mirror OR mount the remote display in the ashtray (saw done in a M4 vert V1 install). Many don't like the mirror install (or having the radar unit mounted in a similar location) as the concern is that people outside your car will be able to see the flashing lights of the display, including a police officer potentially, and follow you. The down side with it mounted low in the ashtray area is that your eyes are further from the road when looking at the display.

So my question is, how many of you with your radar detectors mounted high enough to be seen from outside the car have actually been followed by other cars? Or better yet, if you have ever been pulled over by a cop, how many of you were 'caught' because the cop saw flashing lights on your dash/windshield as you drove by (or from the rear as the cop approached you)?

[IrvineTim]

Nice post! Read the whole thing and was anticipating the answers. To my dismay, I get to the bottom and there were no replies yet

[SD ///M4]

I have the V1 "Grand Touring Package" which includes the V1, the Remote Display, and the Savvy. My mounting choices are different from yours. The F82 doesn't have a center rear headrest, so mounting in that headrest is not an option.

I had the V1 mounted with the suction cups in the upper LH corner of the passenger side of the windshield, to the right of the rear view mirror. This is how a lot of V1 users mount it on either side of the rear view mirror and hard-wire it into the mirror, but they don't use a Remote Display or Savvy. My Remote Display is mounted on the left side of the dash display, directly in front of the turn signal lever. It's not a perfectly aesthetic solution, but it it is functional and doesn't block anything. The power source is the Savvy and the power cable is led up the left A pillar and tucked in behind the headliner at the top of the windshield. The Remote Display eliminates any lights on the V1, so no chance of anyone seeing it operating from the rear of the car.

We've had the exact same setup in my wife's 335is Coupe for the last six years (her Remote Display is in a slightly different location on the dash). The V1 is hidden enough in that location that she's never had a problem with someone breaking in to steal it. However, in my M4, if I removed the suction cup mounting bracket, I couldn't get it to stay on again unless I completely cleaned the area. This has caused the V1 and bracket coming lose and swinging down while I'm driving. I got fed up and bought a Blendmount.

The only problem with the Blendmount is that it puts the V1 right smack in plain sight underneath the rear view mirror. It doesn't look bad there and looks pretty integrated. However, I now remove the V1 and put it in the glovebox when parking the car any place where I think that someone could do a quick smash and grab. A bit more inconvenient, but the Blendmount is an absolutely rock solid mount.

[Mandi90TT]

F82 and have my V1 display mounted in the rear view mirror, a remote knob right by the shifter, and the detector itself in a stealth mount on the rear deck area. Love the setup. No issues with people following me, really only visible to.others at night.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

F82 and have my V1 display mounted in the rear view mirror, a remote knob right by the shifter, and the detector itself in a stealth mount on the rear deck area. Love the setup. No issues with people following me, really only visible to.others at night.

Thanks for the insight. Your response is what I figured, and why I am leaning more towards the display being installed in my rear view mirror. But I will wait to see if others with a similar setup chime in. BTW, could you share a quick pick of your power knob location - I am still not fully decided on that one yet.

[backagain]

I use a concealed display, so the V1 unit doesn't light up at all. The CD is closer to the HUD eye level, as I rarely look down to the cluster when driving.

Not sure if you've seen this thread, http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1027061, which discussed about the need and the location of the CD quite a bit.

[jmciver]

Yeah, I saw that thread. Unfortunately, none of the CD locations meet my second criteria... Except for the one in the ashtray.

[M4Now!]

How often do other drivers follow me upon seeing the radar detector lights? I'd say <10% of the time. Mine is clearly visible from the rear, but you have to know what you're looking at; it's mounted next to the mirror, and a) gets lost in that cluster plus b) I don't think there are that many drivers paying attention.

And I'm going to say I've been pulled over zero times because an officer saw the detector.

Cheers

[M_Swee]

I have mine hardwired into the rearview mirror box using this tutorial:
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...radar+detector

Using a generic, suction cup that's actually to the RIGHT of the mirror, not the left like most do. Doesn't get in the way as much, and not as visible to police who tend to stay in the median in the DMV area.

Another question for you OP... I'm in VA and detectors are illegal, thus my option to go with the Escort Redline which is undetectable. The V1 is, from what I understand, detectable with radar detector detectors (how many times can I use some form of detect/detector/detectable in this post).

Are you not concerned about that because you live in MD? Just curious.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by apexcorner

Another question for you OP... I'm in VA and detectors are illegal, thus my option to go with the Escort Redline which is undetectable. The V1 is, from what I understand, detectable with radar detector detectors (how many times can I use some form of detect/detector/detectable in this post).

Are you not concerned about that because you live in MD? Just curious.

Not really. I don't drive through VA that much, and if I do, that is what the optional on/off switch is for . My install will still be a hidden one....