Valentine One radar detector installation

[pete8314]

true, it's not a cheap solution, though I got mine from eBay for $1400, and installed it myself, I couldn't come to terms with paying an installed $2500 for the same thing, and back then, I knew as much about a Model S tear-down as most of the local custom installers.

 

[smsprague]

Cool I am to chicken to start splicing into wires

 

[pete8314]

Cool I am to chicken to start splicing into wires

There's only one, and at least we know which one it is now, I had to do a lot of probing to find it. I used one of those Scotch wiretaps, so didn't need to chop into the wire. The larger challenge is getting all the wires through from the frunk, and then tidying them all up somewhere behind the dash.

 

[rs4]

I need something that is possible to hide, like V1 in the back mirror, because radar/laser are not allowed in Norway :-(
Or simulare something that laser could be hided and use my mobilephone to warn me when police aiming at me

 

[pete8314]

I need something that is possible to hide, like V1 in the back mirror, because radar/laser are not allowed in Norway :-(
Or simulare something that laser could be hided and use my mobilephone to warn me when police aiming at me

The 9500ci is a discreet solution, all you see inside the car is a small control pad and a display; on mine, the display is tucked up by the rear-view mirror, and the control bad to the left of the steering wheel, but it could easily be put somewhere else that's completely out of sight. The laser shifters are a bit more obvious, since they don't work if they're hidden behind anything. the actual radar head is behind the nosecone, so is out of sight. More details on this thread, where I and others cover the fitting options.

 

[skilly]

I actually don't mind buying another V1 and mounting it rear-facing, and mounting a separate one front-facing. That's fine with me. It's a knowable $500 cost that I can choose to buy or not.

I looked behind the nose cone. It's probably doable, but it is very close to the radiator and I would not want to impede that functionality. Wiring should not be an issue, should be very easy to route a phone cable to the fuse box or OBDII port for the Savvy.

I'm considering taking my V1 apart to see if the detector component could be removed, and placed into a custom-designed housing that fits flush with either one of the side mirrors, or another to-be-determined location. Maybe it has separate front and rear detectors that could be separately mounted. Not sure yet. Trying to avoid this level of complexity to resolve a fairly straightforward problem.

With regards to the "open" area of the windshield, it looks like it should actually be large enough to fit the front detector portion of the V1, but the rest of the V1 body gets in the way.

at that point it seems like a fully integrated K40 with laser block would be a better option

 

[CHG-ON]

I put my V1 on the bumper beam behind the nose cone and it seems to work quite well for forward facing assaults. I actually "shrink wrapped" it with my Food Saver to protect it from moisture and it is working so far. I also already had a remote display for visual alerts, but needed to buy the remote audio controller to have audible alerts. 50 bucks. The cheapest fix I could figure.

One warning: I attached the accessory junction box, which connects the V1 to the remote displays (audio and visual) to the outside of the frunk "box?" on the driver's side and it failed after one rain storm. I didn't see any evidence of moisture, so it may have been happenstance, but I ended up taking my other one (I have so many spare parts for everything...) and placing up under the dash cowl to the direct rear of the funk, outside the cabin, where it can't get wet just in case. No rain since, so I don't know if I solved the problem.

It is not an ideal installation, but it works for forward radar (and laser? Don't know). I would like to go for the whole Escort solution, but it is just not in the cards right now. So I do feel vulnerable.

I have been a V1 user since the day they were released and it has never failed me and has saved me thousands in tickets and insurance. I hope they come up with a viable solution. I called and spoke to them and they said they had nothing on the horizon and no immediate fixes at all. Bummer. I expect the relatively low volume of the MS makes it hard for them to justify the big dev costs to create a new solution.

 

[Nevek]

I put my V1 on the bumper beam behind the nose cone and it seems to work quite well for forward facing assaults. I actually "shrink wrapped" it with my Food Saver to protect it from moisture and it is working so far. I also already had a remote display for visual alerts, but needed to buy the remote audio controller to have audible alerts. 50 bucks. The cheapest fix I could figure.

One warning: I attached the accessory junction box, which connects the V1 to the remote displays (audio and visual) to the outside of the frunk "box?" on the driver's side and it failed after one rain storm. I didn't see any evidence of moisture, so it may have been happenstance, but I ended up taking my other one (I have so many spare parts for everything...) and placing up under the dash cowl to the direct rear of the funk, outside the cabin, where it can't get wet just in case. No rain since, so I don't know if I solved the problem.

It is not an ideal installation, but it works for forward radar (and laser? Don't know). I would like to go for the whole Escort solution, but it is just not in the cards right now. So I do feel vulnerable.

I have been a V1 user since the day they were released and it has never failed me and has saved me thousands in tickets and insurance. I hope they come up with a viable solution. I called and spoke to them and they said they had nothing on the horizon and no immediate fixes at all. Bummer. I expect the relatively low volume of the MS makes it hard for them to justify the big dev costs to create a new solution.

Any update on the V1 behind the nose cone? Does it do the job for you? Any laser alerts come through? Are you using Valentine's add-on Bluetooth module to send the display to an iPhone or Android device?

I'd like to put my V1 to use. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[Barry]

I've had a V1 for 15 years. I got a 9500ci for my MS. There's a world of difference in the falsing rate between the two. I plan to sell my V1 when I sell my second car.

 

[DrDavid]

install details

I put my V1 on the bumper beam behind the nose cone and it seems to work quite well for forward facing assaults. I actually "shrink wrapped" it with my Food Saver to protect it from moisture and it is working so far. I also already had a remote display for visual alerts, but needed to buy the remote audio controller to have audible alerts. 50 bucks. The cheapest fix I could figure.

One warning: I attached the accessory junction box, which connects the V1 to the remote displays (audio and visual) to the outside of the frunk "box?" on the driver's side and it failed after one rain storm. I didn't see any evidence of moisture, so it may have been happenstance, but I ended up taking my other one (I have so many spare parts for everything...) and placing up under the dash cowl to the direct rear of the funk, outside the cabin, where it can't get wet just in case. No rain since, so I don't know if I solved the problem.

It is not an ideal installation, but it works for forward radar (and laser? Don't know). I would like to go for the whole Escort solution, but it is just not in the cards right now. So I do feel vulnerable.

I have been a V1 user since the day they were released and it has never failed me and has saved me thousands in tickets and insurance. I hope they come up with a viable solution. I called and spoke to them and they said they had nothing on the horizon and no immediate fixes at all. Bummer. I expect the relatively low volume of the MS makes it hard for them to justify the big dev costs to create a new solution.

I'd love to use my V1, so I'm interested in the details of your install. I presume you powered the V1 from the fuse box, but I'm not clear where you mounted the accessory junction box "outside the frunk box." Also how did you run the cable to the remote display inside the cabin?

 

[CHG-ON]

Any update on the V1 behind the nose cone? Does it do the job for you? Any laser alerts come through? Are you using Valentine's add-on Bluetooth module to send the display to an iPhone or Android device?

I'd like to put my V1 to use. Any insight is appreciated.

I have had many verifiable forward radar alerts from a surprisingly long range, so I am happy with that. I have had a few jammer alerts, but no laser alerts that I know of. Though I don't think we are using much laser in my area. It has never been a big alert for me. I really do miss the rear and side alerts. But in practice, it has caused me no problems as of yet. It STILL has not rained out here, so I can't comment on my cheapo waterproofing solution. All in all, it seems to be working very well, given the environmental limitations.

I still want the Escort solution. But no moolah to pay the monster price.

 

[DrDavid]

How'd you get through the firewall?

I have had many verifiable forward radar alerts from a surprisingly long range, so I am happy with that. I have had a few jammer alerts, but no laser alerts that I know of. Though I don't think we are using much laser in my area. It has never been a big alert for me. I really do miss the rear and side alerts. But in practice, it has caused me no problems as of yet. It STILL has not rained out here, so I can't comment on my cheapo waterproofing solution. All in all, it seems to be working very well, given the environmental limitations.

I still want the Escort solution. But no moolah to pay the monster price.

This seems to be the 64K question: How'd you get through the firewall into the cabin? Did you have to drill? Did you find an existing opening you could squeak through?

 

[Fezzik]

If you have pano roof there is a drain tube. If no pano roof there is a plug you can use. You will have to drill a bigger hole for wires if you have pano roof

 

[DrDavid]

Many thanks

If you have pano roof there is a drain tube. If no pano roof there is a plug you can use. You will have to drill a bigger hole for wires if you have pano roof

Just the info I needed! many thanks!

 

[AlbertOnMars]

This is an interesting thread -- I have a V1 mounted immediately to the right of the rear view mirror and it works fine with radar and laser. Seems to work just same as it did in my previous car. I also have a TXTag sticker on the windshield and that also seems to work fine. My car is a late 2014 with Autopilot. I am looking for a way to run power to the V1 while keeping it mounted where it is so I can continue to get rear and side alerts as well. Wish I could us Savvy with this car, but I understand the Model S ODB-II port doesn't provide standard data (like speed), so it's only useful for power.

 

[Nevek]

I put my V1 on the bumper beam behind the nose cone and it seems to work quite well for forward facing assaults. I actually "shrink wrapped" it with my Food Saver to protect it from moisture and it is working so far. I also already had a remote display for visual alerts, but needed to buy the remote audio controller to have audible alerts. 50 bucks. The cheapest fix I could figure.

One warning: I attached the accessory junction box, which connects the V1 to the remote displays (audio and visual) to the outside of the frunk "box?" on the driver's side and it failed after one rain storm. I didn't see any evidence of moisture, so it may have been happenstance, but I ended up taking my other one (I have so many spare parts for everything...) and placing up under the dash cowl to the direct rear of the funk, outside the cabin, where it can't get wet just in case. No rain since, so I don't know if I solved the problem.

It is not an ideal installation, but it works for forward radar (and laser? Don't know). I would like to go for the whole Escort solution, but it is just not in the cards right now. So I do feel vulnerable.

I have been a V1 user since the day they were released and it has never failed me and has saved me thousands in tickets and insurance. I hope they come up with a viable solution. I called and spoke to them and they said they had nothing on the horizon and no immediate fixes at all. Bummer. I expect the relatively low volume of the MS makes it hard for them to justify the big dev costs to create a new solution.

I did a similar V1 setup but attached the Valentine Bluetooth module to the accessory junction box near the fuse box power connection. I'm using my iPhone for visual alerts and although the Valentine iPhone app does not provide audio alerts, there is another app called "StealthAssist for V1 by Tyler Fox"

StealthAssist for V1 on the App Store on iTunes

It also links to the V1 Bluetooth module but adds speed sensitive alert suppression (like SAVVY) by using the iPhone GPS, gives a single audio alert on the iPhone if the software switch is enabled, and has color coding for the radar bands. It lets you monitor the remote V1 without running wire into the cabin.

This alternate V1 app had a paid upgrade after a trial period but is now free for full functionality, probably since it has not been updated in a year. I contacted the developer who tells me the app will get an update after IOS 9 is released in about 5 weeks and that it is now an open source program. The link is here:

smileyborg/StealthAssist · GitHub

The V1 behind the nose one has all the limitations CHG-ON noted but unless you have a windshield that allows radar through early enough to be useful (I don't, April 2015 85D), it is some help if you want to put your old V1 to use while being able to return your S to stock condition easily.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Couple of quick comments. I'm also a huge V1 fan for at least a decade if not longer... it didn't work in my July '13 P85+, even behind the "dotted" area on the windshield.

I ended up trolling ebay for a while and found a used Belltronics STir+ unit (a twin to the Escort 9500ci but better) for $900, including three laser shifters. I had a pro shop install it for about $1000 (I was originally quoted $700). So all in, it was about $1900 -- a lot less than buying new.

Before that, I also tried installing the V1 in the nosecone with remote display and remote audio, and no drilling of the firewall is needed. (It ended up not working well at all -- couldn't get any radar or laser alerts at well known speed traps unless I was right on top of the LEO). So I pulled it all out and put the Belltronics in instead. Anyway, you can run the wires up either side of the front (under the large plastic trim pieces) and go under the weather stripping at the "A" pillar into the cabin. Very easy.

 

[pete8314]

... Anyway, you can run the wires up either side of the front (under the large plastic trim pieces) and go under the weather stripping at the "A" pillar into the cabin. Very easy.

That's where I ran all my cables; drilling through the firewall didn't appeal to me! Although, with my recent amp & sub install, I poked a hole through the factory grommet (near the battery, where most of the cables exit the frunk into the cabin), and that was easy enough too. 'easy' is a relative statement, of course, allow a few hours!

 

[Nevek]

Couple of quick comments. I'm also a huge V1 fan for at least a decade if not longer... it didn't work in my July '13 P85+, even behind the "dotted" area on the windshield.

I ended up trolling ebay for a while and found a used Belltronics STir+ unit (a twin to the Escort 9500ci but better) for $900, including three laser shifters. I had a pro shop install it for about $1000 (I was originally quoted $700). So all in, it was about $1900 -- a lot less than buying new.

Before that, I also tried installing the V1 in the nosecone with remote display and remote audio, and no drilling of the firewall is needed. (It ended up not working well at all -- couldn't get any radar or laser alerts at well known speed traps unless I was right on top of the LEO). So I pulled it all out and put the Belltronics in instead. Anyway, you can run the wires up either side of the front (under the large plastic trim pieces) and go under the weather stripping at the "A" pillar into the cabin. Very easy.

Thanks for the note; I ended up running the wires into the cabin as you outlined, since I have a remote Valentine display and it would be good to have an always-on alert even if I don't have my phone app on. I'll probably add the Valentine remote audio module as well.

Where did you put them? I'm thinking the cubby below the screen.

For forward alerts only, I've found the V1 to work well behind the nosecone, on top of the metal crossbar as far forward as I could put it. I don't know about laser yet, but for Ka and K band, the range seems about as good as I remember it when conventionally mounted. I get some rear and side alerts that are likely just reflections, given where it is mounted.

Yeah, it hard to beat the full integrated setup you installed. I had the Escort version with laser shifters in my SL55 and it saved my derrière several times. The latest quote I got for a similar install in the Tesla was $4k, about $2K for the hardware and about another $2k for a first rate installation with a mirror display. This was by the same shop that did my SL, and I know they do great work (and charge accordingly). I may do that at some point but I'm going to see how the V1 and the WAZE display work to keep me ticket free.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on where to route the wires. Happy driving!

 

[HankLloydRight]

Yeah, I velcro'd the two units together and then velcro'd that unit inside the cubby. It was a nice clean install, but I got almost no alerts.

I did install the V1 inside a clear small Pelican case to make it waterproof in the nosecone -- I don't think that affected radar reception. It's possible though it did get overheated inside the plastic case, I don't know for sure. I just felt for what a V1 costs, and what it could do, to only get forward radar alerts, and no lidar alerts, it just wasn't worth it. Besides, that left my other ICE car without any radar detection. So I put the V1 back into the M5 when I got the Bell unit installed.