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      07-15-2012, 10:49 PM   #1
kwike92
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radar detectors

I've never had one on my car before,so i do not know to much about them and how they work. from what i know they beep or something when there is a radar detected within a certain radius advising you to be cautious...right?

well i guess my question is, which radar detector would you guys recommend and why? I'm looking for something flush, so i don't want something on my windshield u know?

and as far as installs, are they relatively easy to install? sorry for my noob questions, but I'm in the market for on and i want to make sure i buy the right one.

thanks guys
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      07-15-2012, 11:38 PM   #2
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Valentine 1.
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      07-15-2012, 11:45 PM   #3
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^ this.
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      07-15-2012, 11:49 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whats77inaname View Post
Valentine 1.
is that the exact name of it? and where could i buy it?
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      07-16-2012, 12:19 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
is that the exact name of it? and where could i buy it?
https://store.valentine1.com/store/

Remember though, radar detectors will not save you from laser.
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      07-16-2012, 12:44 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooler2442 View Post
https://store.valentine1.com/store/

Remember though, radar detectors will not save you from laser.
well is there such thing as a laser/radar detector?
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      07-16-2012, 12:49 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
from what i know they beep or something when there is a radar detected within a certain radius advising you to be cautious...right?
Click here for a simplistic guide on how radar detectors work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
well i guess my question is, which radar detector would you guys recommend and why? I'm looking for something flush, so i don't want something on my windshield u know?
I would recommend the Beltronics STiR Plus, simply the best detector available on the market. The list of features doesn't seem to end and best of all, it's designed for a stealth installation. I am installing the display inside my rear-view and controller in my ashtray to make it completely invisible.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
and as far as installs, are they relatively easy to install?
I ran most of the wiring for my detector and jammers today, so far it has been extremely straightforward and only took me a couple hours. There are several DIY guides available on this forum and others, I would be more than happy to provide any assistance I can if need be

One more thing to note, you do pay for the features that come with this particular detector! That being said, I was able to source a factory sealed unit from an authorised reseller for $800 shipped last week. There is a seller on the forums asking $900, PM him an offer if you're interested.
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Last edited by DJDeez; 07-16-2012 at 12:59 AM.. Reason: N/A
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      07-16-2012, 12:53 AM   #8
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djdeez, thanks a lot bro, ill definitely look into that beltronics along with the valentine 1.
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      07-16-2012, 01:00 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
well is there such thing as a laser/radar detector?
The Valentine One can indeed detect LIDAR (laser) as can most detectors available nowadays. The problem is that, in almost all cases, once it detects the signal the LEO has already received his/her reading. Unfortunately, the use of jammers are illegal in CA so I can't advise further
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      07-16-2012, 01:05 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
well is there such thing as a laser/radar detector?
Yes but as the other person has already pointed out once it picks up the laser it is usually to late since the officer has already hit you. Only way to counter that is to have a laser jammer. Which is technically illegal in CA but there are certain ones sold that can be transformed into parking sensors at the press of a button.
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      07-16-2012, 01:11 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooler2442 View Post
Yes but as the other person has already pointed out once it picks up the laser it is usually to late since the officer has already hit you. Only way to counter that is to have a laser jammer. Which is technically illegal in CA but there are certain ones sold that can be transformed into parking sensors at the press of a button.
ill have to find someone or somewhere where i can pick one of those up then. thanks for the info.
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      07-16-2012, 01:14 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by kwike92 View Post
ill have to find someone or somewhere where i can pick one of those up then. thanks for the info.
They aren't illegal to sell or anything. I just ran a group buy on the forums / purchased the Laser Interceptor jammers which are the best on the market. I would honestly just run the Valentine One or Escort 9500 + Quad Laser Interceptors. That will basically give you the best protection for the best price point of about 1300-1400$.
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      07-16-2012, 08:01 AM   #13
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http://radar-mirror.com/Store_V1_Mirrors.html

Good stealth install with a quality well known radar detector. Its a start, but personally, if I were getting ready to dump some big $$$ on radar detectors, I would research my ass off before making a decision. Use some of the replies here as a starting point, I.e, Valentine one = , but find what will work for you. They are pricey and many opinions will vary. Read on how they work. You have a lot of research to do....
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      07-16-2012, 11:27 AM   #14
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The Laser Interceptor can be intergrated w/the V1.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DJDeez View Post
I would recommend the Beltronics STiR Plus, simply the best detector available on the market. The list of features doesn't seem to end and best of all, it's designed for a stealth installation. I am installing the display inside my rear-view and controller in my ashtray to make it completely invisible.
I see people say this all the time. At night, when the detector goes off in your rearview mirror, how is it invisible if the car behind you (possibly a LEO) can see it?
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      08-11-2012, 11:56 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whats77inaname
The Laser Interceptor can be intergrated w/the V1.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DJDeez View Post
I would recommend the Beltronics STiR Plus, simply the best detector available on the market. The list of features doesn't seem to end and best of all, it's designed for a stealth installation. I am installing the display inside my rear-view and controller in my ashtray to make it completely invisible.
I see people say this all the time. At night, when the detector goes off in your rearview mirror, how is it invisible if the car behind you (possibly a LEO) can see it?
I just had the Beltronics STiR installed this past week. Great set up. Highly recommend it. As far as the nighttime, it has a night setting that is very dim or the display can be turned off completely and you just rely on the sound. I looked at the Beltronics and the Escort. They are the same company now. The Beltronics is a bit more customizable and the display is red not blue like the Escort. When installed in the rear view mirror it looks better with the interior lighting and won't stand out like blue would.
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      08-17-2012, 02:46 PM   #16
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There's plenty of information on the forum if you search for it. You could also learn a lot from radardetectorforum dot org. Good luck.


Cheers.
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      08-18-2012, 10:50 AM   #17
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I know that Valentine One and Escort 9500ix seem to be the detectors of choice by most. I however, opted to go a different route. I also did not want a windshield mounted detector and wanted a more stealth approach. I decided to go with the K40 RL360 remote detector in my M3.

I mounted the front detector antenna behind the front bumper skin, just below the driver's side headlight. I mounted the rear antenna behind the rear bumper skin, just below the passenger's side taillight. Both cannot be seen or removed without removing the bumper skins. The speaker is attached to the passenger's side insulator panel below the dash, facing down to the floor. And the remote control has a visor clip that I attach to the map pocket on the driver's door.

The LEDs that K40 supplies with the unit are blue and very bright. Mounting is critical, because they can be hard to see in the day or blinding at night. I originally wanted to put them behind the left and right turn signal indicators in the dash cluster. This would be excellent during the day and night, but I did not want to void my warranty. I decided to install them in the ashtray pointing straight up. I can see them in the day and at night, they are not aimed at my eyes. They do tend to light-up the interior at night, but if it gets too annoying, I simply close the ashtray.

K40 requires this unit to be installed by authorized dealers in order to maintain the detector's factory warranty. I have a lot of experience over the years installing automotive electronics and after talking with the dealer, they sold me the unit for $950 carry-out, instead of the installed price of $1500. I did not opt for the laser detector/shifter package as those are illegal in OK and I haven't had much success with laser detectors in general.

K40 RL360

Last edited by Chris M4CS; 08-28-2012 at 12:32 PM..
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      08-28-2012, 10:18 AM   #18
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Escort 9500ix for me. I was debating the V1, but I love the GPS feature of the Escort. I have a lot of Red Light camera and speed traps where I live. I love that it alerts, learns, and lets me flag these. After a week or so, it pretty much learned all the false alert sources in my area. Yes, when it goes off I'm still looking around for the cop, but it saved my butt a bunch and I'd rather just slow down and look than constantly have to ignore one that false alarms. That being said, I know people with the V1. You can't go wrong either way. i also like that the GPS shows your current speed. I've found the speedo on my old 2010 335i was about 5mph off whereas my Infiniti SUV is spot on. I just picked up an 08 M3 yesterday so I'll find out today how off it is, if any.
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      08-29-2012, 01:11 AM   #19
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I'm using 9500IX for 1 year now.. saved me many times.. BUT. I did get a ticket last month, from a Laser gun...
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      08-29-2012, 09:08 AM   #20
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IMHO, without spending enough money for a week vacation in the Caribbean, a windshield mounted Escort is good enough. I picked one up last summer and works great. I think it's the 9500 red series and payed about $200 or so, can't remember exactly but got it at Best Buy.

The best way is to be tactical about speeding in this country. I had my M3 in Europe for 3 years before moving to the States. On the freeway, the radar detectors are great because you'll pick up the signal (RF's) from a long distance before the cop can make out who is speeding if your near other vehicles. If in city, it's better to just flow with the speed of the traffic or/and just slow it down. Not worth the hassle.

Even if you have a jammer or can evade the laser/radar. A cop seeing you do twice the speed of the rest of the traffic can still get you on reckless driving. He/she does not need to actually have a speed registered. So just watch out. I speed all the time and knock on wood, it's been almost 20 years I don't get zapped because I'm a bit more tactical about it. Good luck!
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      08-29-2012, 09:59 AM   #21
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As another poster mentioned, be sure to check out the Passport 9500ix (is a windshield mount detector, made by the same company who make the Beltronics--also good detectors with slighly fewer features). Numerous reviews by automotive publications in the US bill it as the best/most sentitive radar detector with the highest standoff range and is very effective at eliminating false positives and has neat features such GPS learning, red-light camera warning, and downloadable camera databases (don't know if there are red light databases outside the US however). Expensive but is worth the money... I live in California next to one of the most heavily patrolled highways in the state that is patrolled by the CHP with very elaborate speed traps set up and this radar detector has paid for itself within a few months.
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      08-29-2012, 01:22 PM   #22
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Escort 9500ix.
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