Anyone have any thoughts or experience getting theirs hard-wired in the new Max? I have never done one, but am sure there is tons of info out there for all sorts of cars. Just wanted to get some thoughts here.

 

I've done it with my 08. I have a Beltronics 940. Tucked the wire under top of the edge of the headliner, ran it down in the driver side pillar, plugged it in the fuse box. Gives it a much cleaner look. The detector sits high, in front, and slightly to the left of the rear view mirror. Total cost is $10 for the wire from Beltronics web site.

Before


After

 

Do you have to remove the pillar or anything else to get the wire in there? I prefer my detector in the lower center of the window and was thinking of running the wire along the windshield (if possible) then somehow getting into the fuse box.

Is it easy to connect to the fuse box?

 

Best buy or circuit city sells a Radar detector wire kit. Has different power adapters and plenty wire. You can ground your black wire to the screw behind the fuse cover in between the washer and screw. simply pull a fuse that powers on and off with the car and stick both the fuse and the positive wire back in to the slot. I've done it on old cars and my Max now for three years. No problems. slide the wire along the side pillar without removing just push/tuck it in. When you get to the dash its a little tricky because you have to fish the wire down to the fuse panel.

 

I don't have any pictures to show but I ran mine along the bottom of the windshield. I didn't connect mine to the fuse box directly, I spliced it into a wire (not sure exactly which one at this moment) which turns the detector on when the car starts. I basically just pushes the wire down along the window then the bottom of the pillar and down the edge of the dash until I was under the dash. It was very easy to hide and didn't have to remove anything.

 

my buddy has it done, it looks good, is low profile, and eliminates the huge cord to the cig. adapter so i'd recommend it

 

Thanks for the input! I hate having the big coiled wire draped across the whole dash and center console. This project will be getting done asap!!

 

I put in a $5,500 Stereo / Security system in to my friend's 08 Mazda 6. Including jammers and the whole 9. He got pulled over and was told to snip the wires, or go to jail :S.

Check the laws in your state/province ... you might get a shock if you have it 'built-in' vs. removable :P...

It may not apply to this conversation, but a good tip none the less.

 

I have the Valentine One, hardwired into the thick red/white wire coming from the fuse box, run the wire out to the side pillar, just pull out the weatherstrip and tuck it in, us a butter knife, or plastic putty knife for tight areas, then push under the roof liner, and presto!.

 

Jammers are illegal PERIOD......

 

Is there a detector that you can put behind your front grill so its undetectable and has an alarm in the cab? That would seem the way to go.

 

yea there are several. also goes on the back. i know escort makes one but its about $1500. its just a detector so its legal (in most states)

 

Radar detectors are banned in Virginia.

Radar detectors and radar jammers are illegal in the District of Columbia.

Radar jammers are illegal in Oklahoma, but radar detectors are legal.

In New York, radar detectors are illegal for commercial vehicles over 18,000lbs.

In IIlinois, radar detectors are only regulated in commercial vehicles.

So, unless you live in one of the above mentioned states you are fine. The main reason to go with a stealth install like the K-40 (I have this on my Audi RS6) is if you do get pulled over you can quickly turn it off and there is nothing for the officer to see and thus no signs of "oh yeah I'm a regular speeder, just look at my radar detector hanging up on the windshield". You are less likely to get a warning if they see you have a radar detector/jammer even if you are in a state (almost all of them) that they are legal.

I'm going to have a K-40 front/back radar detector with the independent modules installed in the front bumper and rear bumper along with the laser jammer in the front grill and remote switch module (city/highway/off/volume) installed in my Max soon. I have had them in my last 3 cars. Best $1500 you can spend. I can't tell you how many times it has saved me and I'm not really a speeder.

 

I would definitely recommend hardwiring your radar. Easiest method is to use a fuse tap to draw the power, then snack the wire up the a-pillar and in the headliner.

I had hardwired a v1 into my friends Altima Coupe, and it had gotten broken into, the burglars didn't even see the radar. They ended up taking a purse, sunglasses etc, didnt even think to look for the radar up by the rearview mirror.

 

can you show me the connection?
I used to have a G35 coupe, i have the wire, V1 but forgot there to plug which wire.

-Sooiseng

 

Does anyone have pics? I ordered the harwire kit from Valentine. was thinking of hooking it up to red mood light on the overhead light. anyone know if possible?? Thanks for the help.

 

You can also wire it direct to the power and ground wires going to the powered rear view mirror. Only have a small amount of wires. I did this in my 300C and Escalade. Very clean. For those cars, the other message boards had a post that told me exactly what color wires in that strand were the power and ground though.
Otherwise, just have to use a light tester...

-RR

 

I have mine hard wired in to the fuse box under the dash. The Radar Detector is located in the lower left hand corner of the window. Looks real nice. I would post a picture, but I cant figure out how...or I might not be able to because I havent reached 15 posts yet. Sorry

 

With the V1 hardwire kit you get a little "distribution" box. I would suggest using one of the screws below the in cabin fuse box as a ground and pull power from there. You can then run your wire behind the dash, up the A pillar and across the headliner. I even used the mirror cover for thew V1 cord too. just my $.02

Dan

 

Although, it looks cool in the lower part of the window, i've been told youre sacrificing the 360* coverage.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I have not run accross any issuesas of yet.

 

Looks very clean, but just to satisfy my curiosity....What is that white "cardboard" piece behind the mirror for?

 

It's probably for his job.

 

Radar Detectors, is this a throw back to the early 90's, what is the actual purpose of a radar detector, speeding on local roads/non highway, your probably asking for a ticket anyways, and highways, it's pretty easy to move along on highways, I've done more then the legal limit and never had a problem

 

I run mine allday n its cusom hidden they never find it too

 

I don't think you really do more than the legal limit.

It is my guess that people who hard-wire radar detectors drive quite fast very often and do 100+ occassionally on the freeway. That is why they just want to have it permanently there, so to always have that protection.

But I am wondering what you mean by you do go above the speed limit. I hope you are not referring to like doing 80 on 70 speed limit zone. That is not the kind of protection an owner of a radar detector is looking for. I am guessing.

 

No idea what you mean by your 1st line, are u me

High speed as well as driving excessively fast is nothing more then a result of wasted excess gas and prematurely burning through brake pads, and everyone I know who has a radar detector has several tickets, I guess it's a false sense of security.

When I say I go above the legal limit, it's is exactly what I mean, I have routinely done 90-100 in a 55, and had a 200 mile commute round trip and cruised along at 100, the speed limit was 55/65, doing above 15mph is reckless driving, every 5 after that has another charge, really depends on the cop and how he feels, doing 30 over the limit is twice as bad as 15 over, and doubling the speed limit has another significant charge, people like to drive fast but don't realize the financial impact it can have on you.

I had a friend who paid $17000 in car insurance, he was a high risk driver and could only be insured through a small group of insurance companies, he also drove a 7 Series, that added to the yearly premium.

I enjoy driving fast but I pick the time and place, I have gotten one speeding ticket for 84 in a 65 in Virgina, the Honda CRV that pulled out in front of me slowed me down so the cops radar did not catch my real speed.

It's taken me years but I have learned to slow down, finally realized I get to the same place at the same time no matter how fast I drive.

I prefer to not drive with people who have radar detectors, 60 mph in a 30 is not my cup of tea.

Lastly, their are tons of youtube videos with guys in fast cars, with radar detectors who blow past cops at the same time they go off, actually to see those videos you need to be a paying member

 

does it work good?