[dumasaxel]

Hey guys! I’m new here. Just picked up a 2022 Nardo m5 comp. Trying to find some good parts without “fully” breaking the bank lol

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by dumasaxel

Hey guys! I’m new here. Just picked up a 2022 Nardo m5 comp. Trying to find some good parts without “fully” breaking the bank lol

Looks great. What dealership did you use in Tampa?

[dumasaxel]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Looks great. What dealership did you use in Tampa?

Thanks man. I got it from a dealer out of state. I couldn’t find one around here with the color I was looking for and the bower Wilkins audio. It’s been years since I had a manual m4. I’m happy to be back in the M world. Any bmw car meets around here?

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by dumasaxel

Thanks man. I got it from a dealer out of state. I couldn’t find one around here with the color I was looking for and the bower Wilkins audio. It’s been years since I had a manual m4. I’m happy to be back in the M world. Any bmw car meets around here?

I’m not really sure. I know once that track is finished there will be all kinds of stuff happening there.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Congratulations and enjoy it in good health!

Welcome to the fam.

[dumasaxel]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

Congratulations and enjoy it in good health!

Welcome to the fam.

Thanks man! Lawyer fam too huh

Nice m5. How’s the cobra detector and how’d you go about having a hidden toll pass?

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by dumasaxel

Thanks man! Lawyer fam too huh

Nice m5. How’s the cobra detector and how’d you go about having a hidden toll pass?

Brother, I would hope that no one that owns any BMW (or any car over 10K) would ever think about using a cobra, radar detector in their vehicles. Where did you see that?

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by dumasaxel

Thanks man! Lawyer fam too huh

Nice m5. How’s the cobra detector and how’d you go about having a hidden toll pass?

Yes sir!

Thank you very much! The Cobra works for me, but it certainly not up to the level of more expensive models that a lot of other owners on here have — Uniden R7/R8, Escort Red Line 360, etc. I have found that certain radar detectors are better in certain states. If your state police for example uses a particular speed gun, and you know that, you may not need the close to $1000 radar detector. For the state I am in (and the surrounding states), and what equipment the municipal, county, and state police use, my Cobra works every time. If I was in a state that used varied equipment, I’d get the more expensive radar detector necessary to do the job.

This is the toll pass kit. It can be tucked in to either side of the of the electronics column at the top of the windshield. Makes it almost invisible from the outside and barely noticeable from the inside.

I’ll take some photos for you when I am in the car again tomorrow.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Brother, I would hope that no one that owns any BMW (or any car over 10K) would ever think about using a cobra, radar detector in their vehicles. Where did you see that?

From me lol. 😂 See my post above — it works great for me! 12+ years ticket free!

I know you’re going with the top of the line option, and if I was in FL, based on equipment LEOs there use, I’d probably do that, too. It’s just not necessary because all departments here (and in the neighboring states I drive to) use ancient equipment and almost exclusively Ka band stuff. No laser/VG2, etc.

Each of my cars have them, and they’re perfect for my use case!

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

From me lol. 😂 See my post above — it works great for me! 12+ years ticket free!

I know you’re going with the top of the line option, and if I was in FL, based on equipment LEOs there use, I’d probably do that, too. It’s just not necessary because all departments here (and in the neighboring states I drive to) use ancient equipment and almost exclusively Ka band stuff. No laser/VG2, etc.

Each of my cars have them, and they’re perfect for my use case!

The problem is my brother that cobra units are so cheap they actually produce dirty output, signals that throw off everybody else’s Radar Detectors. Because of my experience and knowledge I can recognize them, but it actually throws a false KA band to other people using cheap Radar Detectors all the way up to the most expensive. You should deep six that thing. If anything for the sake of your fellow countermeasure users. :-)

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

The problem is my brother that cobra units are so cheap they actually produce dirty output, signals that throw off everybody else’s Radar Detectors. Because of my experience and knowledge I can recognize them, but it actually throws a false KA band to other people using cheap Radar Detectors all the way up to the most expensive. You should deep six that thing. If anything for the sake of your fellow countermeasure users. :-)

I did not know that Cobras did that.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

I did not know that Cobras did that.

Most Radar Detectors owners in general, don’t know that let alone cobra, Detector owners. Interesting isn’t it? :-)

Get yourself an R7 or R8.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Most Radar Detectors owners in general, don’t know that let alone cobra, Detector owners. Interesting isn’t it? :-)

Get yourself an R7 or R8.

Took a road trip last summer with my (then) new M5 and purchased an R8 thinking I’d have it a long time. Ran it alongside my cheap Cobra and it wasn’t a significant difference after spending 25 to 30 hours together. I ended up returning it after seeing that.

Of course there are significant differences. I’m not claiming that the $150 and the $700 function the same, nor am I claiming the $150 one does the same job as the $700 one. But I didn’t see enough of a difference to justify that delta. Again, if I were in states where it was more useful to me, I’d grab it for sure; i.e.
FL, GA, TX. These states are using extreme and sophisticated equipment and procedures, up to aerial methods to catch speeders. I’ve been pulled over in FL after getting murked by a freaking chopper. I have a few nice cars that I didn’t cheap out on for anything for them (I’ve got a $10K PPF and ceramic coat job on two of them, for example; something a lot of people spend 50% less on). I’m not the type who wants to do something as cheap as possible. But so far, my view has been that these get the job done — preventing tickets when driving fast.

Hope I haven’t jinxed myself with my comments on this thread.

EDIT — It was an R7, not an R8. My bad.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

Took a road trip last summer with my (then) new M5 and purchased an R8 thinking I’d have it a long time. Ran it alongside my cheap Cobra and it wasn’t a significant difference after spending 25 to 30 hours together. I ended up returning it after seeing that.

Of course there are significant differences. I’m not claiming that the $150 and the $700 function the same, nor am I claiming the $150 one does the same job as the $700 one. But I didn’t see enough of a difference to justify that delta. Again, if I were in states where it was more useful to me, I’d grab it for sure; i.e.
FL, GA, TX. These states are using extreme and sophisticated equipment and procedures, up to aerial methods to catch speeders. I’ve been pulled over in FL after getting murked by a freaking chopper. I have a few nice cars that I didn’t cheap out on for anything for them (I’ve got a $10K PPF and ceramic coat job on two of them, for example; something a lot of people spend 50% less on). I’m not the type who wants to do something as cheap as possible. But so far, my view has been that these get the job done — preventing tickets when driving fast.

Hope I haven’t jinxed myself with my comments on this thread.

No bro. When you run two detectors next to each other at the same time, it makes both of them malfunction.

The difference between a cobra and a R7 is the same difference between a Kia Rio and a BMW M8. It really is that drastic. The R7 absolutely can sniff out Radar probably 30 to 50% further than a cobra and has significantly better noise filtering, especially in K band. You have to jump about six levels up from cobra to even start to compare it in a discussion to Uniden radar detectors and the R8 is its current flagship model having just replaced the R7.

An interesting fact, I never really used Radar Detectors until I started buying really nice, fast, sports cars. You are driving around in $100,000 plus extremely fast luxury sedan. In my opinion that car is worthy of having at least a top 10% Radar Detector.

My M5, of which has not even seen my house yet is currently getting stealth (hidden) laser jammers and Radar Detectors at the tune of 13K. Hopefully I can pick it up Wednesday. I will definitely take a short video of the shops work. They did my Porsche also and both my M3’s. I just don’t feel safe hitting hard on a car without having this level of protection. Some of the speeds these cars can do can land us in jail not to mention catastrophic fines, and the insurance increases. We have to stay protected from the revenue generators or just avoid having fun with them. Of course if you’re going to do that what’s the purpose of buying them?

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

No bro. When you run two detectors next to each other at the same time, it makes both of them malfunction.

The difference between a cobra and a R7 is the same difference between a Kia Rio and a BMW M8. It really is that drastic. The R7 absolutely can sniff out Radar probably 30 to 50% further than a cobra and has significantly better noise filtering, especially in K band. You have to jump about six levels up from cobra to even start to compare it in a discussion to Uniden radar detectors and the R8 is its current flagship model having just replaced the R7.

An interesting fact, I never really used Radar Detectors until I started buying really nice, fast, sports cars. You are driving around in $100,000 plus extremely fast luxury sedan. In my opinion that car is worthy of having at least a top 10% Radar Detector.

My M5, of which has not even seen my house yet is currently getting stealth (hidden) laser jammers and Radar Detectors at the tune of 13K. Hopefully I can pick it up Wednesday. I will definitely take a short video of the shops work. They did my Porsche also and both my M3’s. I just don’t feel safe hitting hard on a car without having this level of protection. Some of the speeds these cars can do can land us in jail not to mention catastrophic fines, and the insurance increases. We have to stay protected from the revenue generators or just avoid having fun with them. Of course if you’re going to do that what’s the purpose of buying them?

I know that there can be some interference when running them side by side, but it still gave me a general idea. I also tried experimenting with one on the inbound portion of my trip (southbound) and the other on the outbound/return portion of my trip on the same roads, and still couldn’t see a significant difference. Again, I am not suggesting there aren’t differences. I’m just saying they weren’t significantly perceptible to me. I understand the difference between the two — I am not even suggesting they are comparable. My only point was that they have so far served their purpose of preventing me from getting tickets, and I push my cars and am rolling around generally fast all the time. (Why else would I DD an M5? )

I understand you went all out on yours; and, if I needed that level of protection, I would do that, too. Of course there are the ramifications you mention of being unprotected. I don’t disagree with you even 1%. I was just stating it’s worked for me so far.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

My most sincere apologies, dumasaxel. I did not mean to threadjack your very first thread on the forum. I’m sorry!

To answer your Cobra question, the answer is this:

Need high end protection because of how and where you drive? Go high end.

Don’t need high end protection because of how and where you drive? Perhaps a lesser model will do what you need.

As you can see, you can spend $150 for a Cobra or $13K going full send to solve this problem, and anywhere in between. Do what works for you!

[dumasaxel]

[QUOTE=ResIpsaLoquitur;29970804]My most sincere apologies, dumasaxel. I did not mean to threadjack your very first thread on the forum. I’m sorry!


Not a problem at all. I’m glad I was able to elicit conversation.

I would like to find someone selling an oem cf front lip though haha

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

I know that there can be some interference when running them side by side, but it still gave me a general idea. I also tried experimenting with one on the inbound portion of my trip (southbound) and the other on the outbound/return portion of my trip on the same roads, and still couldn’t see a significant difference. Again, I am not suggesting there aren’t differences. I’m just saying they weren’t significantly perceptible to me. I understand the difference between the two — I am not even suggesting they are comparable. My only point was that they have so far served their purpose of preventing me from getting tickets, and I push my cars and am rolling around generally fast all the time. (Why else would I DD an M5? )

I understand you went all out on yours; and, if I needed that level of protection, I would do that, too. Of course there are the ramifications you mention of being unprotected. I don’t disagree with you even 1%. I was just stating it’s worked for me so far.

I totally understand brother. Would you at least consider upgrading to a low end Escort RD or Uniden if for anything so you stop polluting the airwaves with false KA bands making everyone else who has a medium to cheap Radar Detector think there’s a cop somewhere in the area? Pretty please.

OP-I also apologize for hijacking the thread. My last post on this.

[dumasaxel]

Originally Posted by Patton250

OP-I also apologize for hijacking the thread. My last post on this.

No worries at all brother. I’m here learning. I don’t have your budget to turn my m5 into a James Bond invisible machine but I should look into an R7 or R8.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I totally understand brother. Would you at least consider upgrading to a low end Escort RD or Uniden if for anything so you stop polluting the airwaves with false KA bands making everyone else who has a medium to cheap Radar Detector think there’s a cop somewhere in the area? Pretty please.

OP-I also apologize for hijacking the thread. My last post on this.

I’ll be candid about how I got here. I was using a mirror tap to power the Cobra. A few months back, the suction cup failed, causing the detector to drop with a jolt. It damaged something and I was no longer getting power through the female portion of the the male end of the rear view mirror wiring harness to the mirror tap (where the leads go). Started a thread on here and couldn’t figure it out. Long story short, I ended up taking it to my dealer, who charged me one hour of labor (even though it probably took them five minutes), plus I had to buy a new mirror tap, and I bought a Cobra specific permanent radar mount. So I’m invested in this even more.

I think that this whole thing also caused some damage to the Cobra power input plug and perhaps the circuit board connected to it. When this craps out, I will go with something high/higher end — probably an R8. As I mentioned previously, I do see the value in the higher end models. I just didn’t want to make that jump until my existing radar detector bit the dust.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

I’ll be candid about how I got here. I was using a mirror tap to power the Cobra. A few months back, the suction cup failed, causing the detector to drop with a jolt. It damaged something and I was no longer getting power through the female portion of the the male end of the rear view mirror wiring harness to the mirror tap (where the leads go). Started a thread on here and couldn’t figure it out. Long story short, I ended up taking it to my dealer, who charged me one hour of labor (even though it probably took them five minutes), plus I had to buy a new mirror tap, and I bought a Cobra specific permanent radar mount. So I’m invested in this even more.

I think that this whole thing also caused some damage to the Cobra power input plug and perhaps the circuit board connected to it. When this craps out, I will go with something high/higher end — probably an R8. As I mentioned previously, I do see the value in the higher end models. I just didn’t want to make that jump until my existing radar detector but the dust.

I get it my friend. Makes sense. I appreciate you sharing that story. I hate it when dealers take advantage of their customers unlucky situations. They shouldn’t have charged you anything for that.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I get it my friend. Makes sense. I appreciate you sharing that story. I hate it when dealers take advantage of their customers unlucky situations. They shouldn’t have charged you anything for that.

Me too. I was a little surprised because they generally handle small things like this for me. I’ve acquired a dozen luxury cars over the years from this group of dealerships. This time it cost me $200 plus the parts. Lesson learned — if you’re using any radar detector powered from the rear view mirror wiring harness, go with a BlendMount or a permanent mount. The suction cups will inevitably fail one day (especially with fluctuations in the temperature of the windshield), and it’s likely it will cause some damage on its way down.