Installing a Passport 9500ci radar detector / laser diffuser

dcopperfield said:

Hey guys – I used to be a valentine one fan but apparently this thing won't work in the tesla given the coating on the front windshield. I'm looking to install the passport (linked below) and it appears that most of the components can go right behind the front nose cone.

Any suggestions or recommendations for or against doing this? I have a couple days before my appointment so I can always cancel if there are major concerns.

Thanks!

PASSPORT 9500ci - Escort Inc.

Click to expand...

I'm giving up my Valentine One for the Passport 8500ci. Can't think of any reason not to do it. You'll get many fewer false alarms with the Passport, plus you get all of the data built in and updated for speed cameras. As I won't have my Model S until April or May I'm very eager to learn how the install behind the nose cone goes. Based on everything I've read, there's no reason it shouldn't work. If you're there when they do the install and can shoot photos of the nose cone being removed and also what's behind it, you'll have a lot of people here eager to see and learn.

Love to know how it goes and where things get placed. I'd like one myself, but one guy said on the regular Tesla forum he paid something like $1500 to have it just installed (plus more to buy the actual detector).

ckessel said:

Love to know how it goes and where things get placed. I'd like one myself, but one guy said on the regular Tesla forum he paid something like $1500 to have it just installed (plus more to buy the actual detector).

Click to expand...

If the nose cone comes off easily, there's no reason to pay anything close to $1,500 for an installation. It's close to a DIY.

artsci said:

If the nose cone comes off easily, there's no reason to pay anything close to $1,500 for an installation. It's close to a DIY.

Click to expand...

Wiring has to run all over the place, including to the rear license plate for the rear laser shifter. No idea how you do that without drilling holes in things. I'm waiting to hear how someone else manages it first

Did the install-9500ci. The frunk comes apart pretty easily. I accessed the front frame behind the nose cone to mount the radar. To do it through the nose piece would not leave a reasonable way to fasten the radar frame down. the laser shifters installed just below the nose piece in front of the grill. The look pretty good and are well balanced.

Out of curiosity, did you buy full price from Escort or pick up one of the various eBay ones for ~$1100?

I guess that I paid full price. If you shop the discounted price, be sure you read the fine print. I noticed some the cheaper priced units on ebay were not complete. Then you start to wonder about reconditioned units, etc.

lr1001 said:

Did the install-9500ci.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for sharing your adventure with this.

lr1001 said:

I guess that I paid full price. If you shop the discounted price, be sure you read the fine print. I noticed some the cheaper priced units on ebay were not complete. Then you start to wonder about reconditioned units, etc.

Click to expand...

How did you handle the rear laser shifter and the wiring?

funny you should ask. It was more challenging. I entered through the passenger side lic plate light. The handle on that side with the trunk switch pops out and give access. I used a dremel to make a small channel, passed the wire and put a small piece of electrical tape over. It worked well.



- - - Updated - - -

you do have to remove the trim for the hatch beginning with the top interior piece and then the passenger side. You dont have to remove the larger, inferior piece. The I did drill a hole in the hatch fram to pass the wire into and then out through the rubber boot above to get into the roof line.

Sure, you can pm me--I think that I have to change some settings. Its actually pretty straight forward and honestly, any local installer will be totally making it up having never seen this beast. I did take my time figuring things out--a measure twice cut once approach. I did put a through hole in the firewall--its double wall with about an inch between the penetrations. I used a protective jacket material that I got at vetco to do the forward wire run into the console area. Yes, you have to remove some fascia inside which is quite manageable. Its not for everyone, but the stealth install is cool. After a week of use with the commute, I really like the features of the 9500ci.

Thanks for the post. It's the information I was hoping for. As you seem experienced and handy with these kinds of mods, as I am, this seems like pretty standard stuff. Your post leads me to conclude the I can do this myself. I have the Blinder 905 quad laser jammer, which has much smaller sensors. I think your location of the front 9500 sensors is not optimal (a little far from the headlights) but given their size I don't think there are many other choices.

Just out of curiosity where did you run the cable for the rear laser sensor once you got it through the rubber boot into the roof line?

Thanks again!

Yes, I agree, the shifters could be better spaced. At least they point straight ahead and are level. I probably could move them laterally another inch or two. I originally tried to get them under the lights but the angle and mounting was just not workable. I abandoned that idea for the current configuration.

lr1001 said:

Yes, I agree, the shifters could be better spaced. At least they point straight ahead and are level. I probably could move them laterally another inch or two. I originally tried to get them under the lights but the angle and mounting was just not workable. I abandoned that idea for the current configuration.

Click to expand...

The sensor placement is almost always a challenge. Think you missed my question. Would appreciate knowing where you ran the cable for the rear laser sensor once you got it through the rubber boot into the roof line.

The last pic above shows the rear pillar. Once you enter through the boot into the roof, its drops into the space shown above-about 2-3 inches and it drops down right as shown. You are then inside the vehicle and it simply runs under the trim to the floor and along the interior molding right to the glove box. The big hurdle is just getting from the hatch to the rubber boot. I used a piece of polyethylene tubing that I had--big enough for the cable to easily pass through. I ran the PE tube into the boot with dish soap--it really works. obviously you have to remove the rear pillar fascia. not hard at all. make sure your hands are clean.

Thanks again. I can't wait to do this and your post is very helpful.

Where did you mount the GPS receiver? Does it work on the inside windshield? Could it be mounted underneath the rear window molding?

Lloyd said:

Where did you mount the GPS receiver? Does it work on the inside windshield? Could it be mounted underneath the rear window molding?

Click to expand...

Not to speak for ir1001, but the 9500ci is a stealth mount, so you definitely would not mount it anywhere inside the windshield. Behind the nose cone is ideal (plastic does not block radar) or behind the the grille.