Valentine 1 Mount - Now here's an idea w/ pic!

[bloomjbmw]

All:

After searching and looking for a Valentine 1 mounting option that doesn't rely on the suction cups, impede the use of the visors, or create other similar headaches, I decided to get more creative.

Blendmount doesn't offer one to work on our cars so I made my own with the help of a friend.

We developed a clip mechanism that allows you to use the stock valentine visor mount to hold the detector just below the clown nose on the mirror. It doesn't block the auto-dim sensor and you can still easily use the homelink buttons if your car has those.

What would be the interest in this if I could get more of them made and offer them for a reasonable price?

Attached is a picture. This is a prototype and I would make the design much better if I were to sell these.

Regards,

Joshua

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

Looks like you made a nice little piece there! Great work. I have tried mounting in that area before, but I don't like the loss of visibility that I perceive while the radar detector is there. That being said, I'm sure you would have people interested in mounting it there since I am difficult when it comes to where I like my radar mounted.

[bloomjbmw]

Originally Posted by Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!

Looks like you made a nice little piece there! Great work. I have tried mounting in that area before, but I don't like the loss of visibility that I perceive while the radar detector is there. That being said, I'm sure you would have people interested in mounting it there since I am difficult when it comes to where I like my radar mounted.

I understand. I guess everything is a bit of a compromise. I just like being able to take it down and out of site and not have suction cups. Plus this way between the tint and the sunshade, its mostly hidden when I park...

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

Yeah, I live in nyc now, but lived in kentucky for 2 years recently. What a world of difference...In KY I could leave my valentine one in the window with the top down and the keys on the shifter and nothing would happen. I would love to see how long my valentine one would last in nyc like that....3 seconds maybe???

Like I said, I think it's great and people will buy it.

[doublevanosrc]

Looks good but I don't like the loss of visibility that I perceive there either. I have mine installed right under the rain sensor box and with the sloped windshield it's perfectly out of my way.

[GringoStar]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Looks good but I don't like the loss of visibility that I perceive there either. I have mine installed right under the rain sensor box and with the sloped windshield it's perfectly out of my way.

Could you take a pic of how that looks? I have mine mounted on the passenger sun visor

[bloomjbmw]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Looks good but I don't like the loss of visibility that I perceive there either. I have mine installed right under the rain sensor box and with the sloped windshield it's perfectly out of my way.

I was worried about it being in the line of site. It doesn't seem to be an issue for me but we all sit in the car differently. I like the idea of mounting it on the window way up by the rain sensor but that is a difficult place to access / remove routinely and also, you can put a sun shade up without cooking the radar unit as it will be between the window and the reflective shade. Down here in SC, a sunshade is a must.

Originally Posted by maxnix

Quick disconnect?

Since it uses the stock v1 provided visor mount, it is easy to detach and unplug. I didn't even modify that part this clips into it just as the metal piece Valentine supplied to clip it to the visor.

I had mine on the visor until I built this.


Thanks for the input guys.

[Impervious]

Looks good. I have no doubt there would be interest in this.

[Wakka]

not bad, but i squeeze mine in right about the review mirror (With suction cups) keeps it out of visibility and gives better coverage.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by wafflestomp

Could you take a pic of how that looks? I have mine mounted on the passenger sun visor

Yeah sure, I'll have it up in a bit.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by wafflestomp

Could you take a pic of how that looks? I have mine mounted on the passenger sun visor

Here it is, sorry iphone pic.

[mosx]

I'm interested, how difficult is it to remove? I like to throw mine in the glovebox when I'm going to be away from the car for a while.

[GringoStar]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Here it is, sorry iphone pic.

Looks good, thanks for the pic.

[bloomjbmw]

Originally Posted by mosx

I'm interested, how difficult is it to remove? I like to throw mine in the glovebox when I'm going to be away from the car for a while.

Its not hard to remove it basically clips around the backside of the mirror. You can also take the unit itself off of the clip and leave the clip hanging. I'm still finalizing the design.

I'm also looking into designing a bracket to put the unit in the more conventional upper windshield area but without suction cups to secure it.

[Hocky]

Better pictures? I hate suction cups.

[bloomjbmw]

I'll take a few more pictures when I get the part back on. I took it off to modify it again.

[bloomjbmw]

All:

We updated the mount to get the unit centered under the mirror (front to back) so it hangs better. See pics

[HondaGoneRogue]

Nice!

[mosx]

I'm liking it.

[fboutlaw]

Why don't you mount it using the suction cups above the right side of the rear view mirror like a normal person. It will rest very slightly on the rear view. Doesn't impede view or look hideous like mounting it right in the center of the dash.

You can also then run the wires up along the rear view and through the headliner down behind the glove box where you can hard-wire it to the accessories port.

Will post pics next week.

[bloomjbmw]

Originally Posted by fboutlaw

Why don't you mount it using the suction cups above the right side of the rear view mirror like a normal person. It will rest very slightly on the rear view. Doesn't impede view or look hideous like mounting it right in the center of the dash.

You can also then run the wires up along the rear view and through the headliner down behind the glove box where you can hard-wire it to the accessories port.

Will post pics next week.

Thanks for helping!

FWIW: I already hardwired the unit and installed the concealed display in the ashtray, its very nice. Before (currently) I had it mounted using the visor clip which works ok but isn't ideal.

As this thread says, the idea behind this was to eliminate the use of suction cups and retain a clear windshield as to allow for the use of a sunshade and not require removing the suction-cup mounted / visor mounted radar every time you park.

Joshua

[bloomjbmw]

All:

As an update:

The unit as I showed in the latest pics works great except for the fact that the unit bounces/vibrates a little and causes a vibration in the mirror. I think this is due to the fact that it hangs a bit from the connection on the clip to the point where the mass is hanging from the point under the mirror. It may be easily fixable by putting it in tension but I'm not in love with the design.

I'll look into it again when I can. Thanks for your interest. If I come up with a better idea, I'll post it.