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      07-19-2019, 04:42 PM   #1
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Radar detector advice and hard wire help

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I've lived in Europe for a few years so haven't had a radar detector. Just moved back to the US. Expecting my M5C in the next week or so.

Whats the best detector out there these days? I've been a V1 customer for 10 years.

Also, anyone post hardwire instructions on here yet?
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      07-19-2019, 06:02 PM   #2
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I always used V1 but it's been 5 yeArs since I've used one. Two of my friends swear by the escort max 360
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      07-19-2019, 06:18 PM   #3
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Whichever radar detector you choose, whether Escort, V1, Radenso, Uniden, or other, I highly recommend installation using mirrortap and blendmount products. Mirrortap (or similar knock-off) will be for simple powerering of your device right off the switchable power from the overhead console wiring harness. Blendmount is a clean reversible mounting solution that clamps onto the base of the rearview mirror assembly without having to use adhesives or suction cups on the windshield glass.

I mounted and powered my dashcam this way and love the results. Radar detectors are mounted the same way. Only thing better will be a custom hidden install, but this way is clean and simple to do yourself.

Some links of a few installs on here:
https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...97&postcount=1
https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...45&postcount=1
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      07-19-2019, 08:45 PM   #4
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I say mind you surroundings... Radar detectors are so 80s!
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      07-19-2019, 09:00 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryno 27 View Post
I say mind you surroundings... Radar detectors are so 80s!
I agree. I haven’t used one since about 10 years ago as I have a boxful of old V1 and Escort models collecting dust. I just use waze via carplay and a good helping of attentiveness and instinct. Much more effective for my kind of daily driving. Even on road trips I don’t bother with radar. In remote areas, waze obviously doesn’t work as well, in which case I just tone down the highway speeding.

Frees up space for a dashcam instead. I do see how some peoples’ driving routines can still benefit for radar detectors though.
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      07-19-2019, 09:47 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masmole View Post
I agree. I haven’t used one since about 10 years ago as I have a boxful of old V1 and Escort models collecting dust. I just use waze via carplay and a good helping of attentiveness and instinct. Much more effective for my kind of daily driving. Even on road trips I don’t bother with radar. In remote areas, waze obviously doesn’t work as well, in which case I just tone down the highway speeding.

Frees up space for a dashcam instead. I do see how some peoples’ driving routines can still benefit for radar detectors though.
radar detectors are still relevant. I use waze all of the time. Waze relies on crowd sourcing.... I'd say it shows about 50% of police since it won't show if no one has reported it. And half the alerts are false (the cop is no longer there).

Soooo...... what's the best detector on the market?
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      07-19-2019, 09:54 PM   #7
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The 360max and new M1 dashcam is a nice combo is you hardwire and use blendmount.
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      07-20-2019, 06:22 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryno 27 View Post
I say mind you surroundings... Radar detectors are so 80s!
That’s so Retro dude!
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      07-20-2019, 07:49 AM   #9
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Radenso Pro-M and Waze .... great radar ... quiet and tiny!
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      07-20-2019, 08:10 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryno 27 View Post
I say mind you surroundings... Radar detectors are so 80s!
I disagree.

I'll expand. You don't always have a patsy to follow (1/2 mile behind) and you can pick up that hidden cop with your radar detector. Only, what 15 to 25 %, are using instant on, if that many. I just drove from Bingo to NC (10 hours) and the detector warned me of a hidden cop four times. I was in traffic so not really at risk but only going 10 over. Many areas are 70 mph in Penn and Virginia and NC, so 80 was common.

The best thing about the commend "radar detectors are so 80s" is that the thieves appear to have stopped smashing windows to steal the darn things.

I don't like driving without one. It's like not having your carry with you that one time you need it. Rare save but you'll be sorry you left it home. (either)

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Last edited by Aronis; 07-20-2019 at 08:16 AM..
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      07-20-2019, 10:19 AM   #11
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if you want to read up on radar and laser detectors check out Vortex Radar on You Tube.

I currently switch between 2. Escort Max 360c in the city areas and Uniden R7 on road trips and rural areas.

The Escort is great with Escort Live subscription. the detector connects to wifi in the car and auto reports radar and laser activity and warns you if you are approaching an area where activity had been reported by someone else's Escort. also has auto lockouts for those K band speed signs and auto door openers. on the down side, doesn't have great range, and it reports A LOT of laser falses. so many falses that I started running the Uniden more

The Uniden is unbelievably good at detection range, accuracy, and the screen readout is much easier to read. I've had no instances of laser falses.

I use a blend mount for power
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      07-20-2019, 11:05 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPI-M5 View Post
if you want to read up on radar and laser detectors check out Vortex Radar on You Tube.

I currently switch between 2. Escort Max 360c in the city areas and Uniden R7 on road trips and rural areas.

The Escort is great with Escort Live subscription. the detector connects to wifi in the car and auto reports radar and laser activity and warns you if you are approaching an area where activity had been reported by someone else's Escort. also has auto lockouts for those K band speed signs and auto door openers. on the down side, doesn't have great range, and it reports A LOT of laser falses. so many falses that I started running the Uniden more

The Uniden is unbelievably good at detection range, accuracy, and the screen readout is much easier to read. I've had no instances of laser falses.

I use a blend mount for power
I’ve been looking at the 360c for when my M5 gets here. I recently had a ‘19 530 loaner and couldn’t get WiFi and CarPlay to work at the same time. I run Waze instead of relying on Laser detection. I’ve turned off “Laser Alerts” on my other Escort detectors.

Have you run CarPlay and been able to run the 360c connected to WiFi at the same time? If it’s not possible I’ll save the money and go with the Uniden.
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      07-20-2019, 11:27 AM   #13
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Max 360c with BM and mirror tap is the way to go. V1 was great up until 2016. I have both. Less falsing with the 360c. Easy to remove with the magnetic mount. I am a v1 fan. Upgraded it multiple times. While I think the V1 still has a slightly better range, the 360c wins everywhere else and is a more intelligent device. As others have said, 360c w/the BM & mirror tap is the best way to go. Laser jamming systems are a whole different ballgame .

Last edited by clutchdj; 07-20-2019 at 11:32 AM..
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      07-20-2019, 12:07 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeamerandBimmer View Post

I've been looking at the 360c for when my M5 gets here. I recently had a '19 530 loaner and couldn't get WiFi and CarPlay to work at the same time. I run Waze instead of relying on Laser detection. I've turned off "Laser Alerts" on my other Escort detectors.

Have you run CarPlay and been able to run the 360c connected to WiFi at the same time? If it's not possible I'll save the money and go with the Uniden.
I have an Android phone so don't use CarPlay. Back when I had an iPhone I didn't find CarPlay useful. Felt the in car nav was better



Quote:
Originally Posted by clutchdj View Post
Max 360c with BM and mirror tap is the way to go. V1 was great up until 2016. I have both. Less falsing with the 360c. Easy to remove with the magnetic mount. I am a v1 fan. Upgraded it multiple times. While I think the V1 still has a slightly better range, the 360c wins everywhere else and is a more intelligent device. As others have said, 360c w/the BM & mirror tap is the best way to go. Laser jamming systems are a whole different ballgame .
Vortex Radar did an extensive test of the Escort Max 360c, Uniden R7, Uniden R3, Radenso Pro M, Valentine1, and a few others. Everything lagged way way behind the Uniden R7 for range, accuracy, and false. The 360c was best in terms of filtering and auto lockouts. Valentine 1 was way back in almost all categories. Unfortunately the V1 has seen its day.
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      07-20-2019, 12:45 PM   #15
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what about full install detector and jamming systems?
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      07-20-2019, 01:19 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPI-M5 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeamerandBimmer View Post

I've been looking at the 360c for when my M5 gets here. I recently had a '19 530 loaner and couldn't get WiFi and CarPlay to work at the same time. I run Waze instead of relying on Laser detection. I've turned off "Laser Alerts" on my other Escort detectors.

Have you run CarPlay and been able to run the 360c connected to WiFi at the same time? If it's not possible I'll save the money and go with the Uniden.
I have an Android phone so don't use CarPlay. Back when I had an iPhone I didn't find CarPlay useful. Felt the in car nav was better



Quote:
Originally Posted by clutchdj View Post
Max 360c with BM and mirror tap is the way to go. V1 was great up until 2016. I have both. Less falsing with the 360c. Easy to remove with the magnetic mount. I am a v1 fan. Upgraded it multiple times. While I think the V1 still has a slightly better range, the 360c wins everywhere else and is a more intelligent device. As others have said, 360c w/the BM & mirror tap is the best way to go. Laser jamming systems are a whole different ballgame .
Vortex Radar did an extensive test of the Escort Max 360c, Uniden R7, Uniden R3, Radenso Pro M, Valentine1, and a few others. Everything lagged way way behind the Uniden R7 for range, accuracy, and false. The 360c was best in terms of filtering and auto lockouts. Valentine 1 was way back in almost all categories. Unfortunately the V1 has seen its day.
Big fan of Vortex Radar ....

I went with the Radenso Pro-M based on his review.

It's really great out of the box and so compact; it has the best BSM filtering, including Acuras and Hondas, and has range very close to the R3. Really an old school radar that is very quiet. I have it on a Blendmount w/ mirror tap and it is very discrete in the cockpit.

I came from an Escort 360 and it was huge, very yappy and really not that great IMO, especially at its price-point. I also did not like how it stood out in the cockpit when paired with a Blendmount.

Posted a pic of the Radenso for reference.
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      07-20-2019, 01:53 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avi8tir View Post
what about full install detector and jamming systems?
the Escort Max 360 Ci is the best all around custom system. the Anti Laser Priority is the best for laser jamming. personally I can't justify the $2400 + installation (which scares me with all the exteroir/interior removal of parts). I speed all the time (5-15 over depending on flow of traffic) and have only been pulled over twice in 12 years, and ticketed once, all while only running a windshield mount
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      07-20-2019, 02:41 PM   #18
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Was a longtime V1 user, but it can't hold a candle to the Uniden R3 and R7 IMO. I have both the R3 and R7 in different cars and both work well, but the R7 gives you arrows. The R7 is much larger and is not as convenient to mute, but I like both.

If you go with the R3/7, check out Vortex Radar for how to set it up. I like how you can set a speed for which the radar will not alert at all. I have mine set at 35mph so it's quiet if I'm driving under 35. Plus it has gps so it will lockout false alerts that you mute.

My local 5.0 uses "always on" radar so a detector works well for me.
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      07-20-2019, 04:54 PM   #19
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I'll second the Uniden R7. I have mine visor mounted, so pretty well hidden. I also recommend Vortex as a great source of information.
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      07-20-2019, 05:43 PM   #20
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How did you visor mount the r7 ?
Care to share a pic and where to buy the mount ?

I've got a blendmount here but not sure I want to go that route yet
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      07-21-2019, 04:51 AM   #21
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      07-21-2019, 07:24 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boredM View Post
How did you visor mount the r7 ?
Care to share a pic and where to buy the mount ?

I've got a blendmount here but not sure I want to go that route yet
It's the Radenso mount, but works fine with the R7. You can buy it either here https://radenso.com/products/radenso-xp-visor-mount or on Amazon.

Since it's not made specifically for the Uniden, you do have to file just a tiny bit off the locking portion on the bottom, so it will securely lock the R7 in place.

I'll try to get a picture of it later today.
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