Lidatek Installed! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Ridgeback_Pilot · 5th February 2005, 04:40

Following the advice of many here, and the example of Anzir in particular (see this thread), I had my Lidatek LE-30 installed today. I thought you might like to see some photographs of the installation.

The auto stereo shop, which sells the K-40 Laser Diffuser, did a pretty good job. It cost me $210 for four hours labor. Here's the transponder mounted on the front bumper ahead of the lower grille.

And a closeup of the transponder. It doesn't appear to be level in these photos, but the technician made sure to use the bubble level included with the Lidatek unit.

Here is the green/red/yellow warning LED installed on the dash next to the fog light switch.

And the on/off microswitch installed just above the dead pedal, next to the trunk button where no one is likely to ever look. Pretty stealthy!

I tested the unit with an IR remote control and it worked fine. Now for the real test: a LIDAR trap! I can't wait . . . .

Mike

SC'dKellenersM5 · 5th February 2005, 19:07

Mike,

While im about to pull the trigger on lidatek and the such, wanted to know what kind of shop installed the system for you? Most general audio shops that I know of do not do radar detector install work such as this...can you lead me to the light?

mottati · 5th February 2005, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC'dKellenersM5

Mike,

While im about to pull the trigger on lidatek and the such, wanted to know what kind of shop installed the system for you? Most general audio shops that I know of do not do radar detector install work such as this...can you lead me to the light?

Rob, this sounds like a no brainer.... Discovery... it's already apart!

Ridgeback_Pilot · 5th February 2005, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC'dKellenersM5

Mike,

While im about to pull the trigger on lidatek and the such, wanted to know what kind of shop installed the system for you? Most general audio shops that I know of do not do radar detector install work such as this...can you lead me to the light?

Rob: The trick is to find a car stereo shop that also carries a high-end line of radar detectors and laser diffusers, such as the K40. They will have installed many of these remote units, and this installation is similar to the Lidatek. I printed the Lidatek instructions (see below) and gave them to the shop's installer to augment the Lidatek manual that comes with the unit. You can also print the photos in this thread (or another) to illustrate what you want the finished job to look like. The key is to tell the installer exactly what you want, i.e., where to place the transponder, where to put the warning LED, where you want the microswitch, etc. Don't trust the shop to know what you want or how to do it!

In addition to the Lidatek installation instructions attached here, I found the advice by Pete in this thread very useful. For example, it really isn't necessary to drop the front bumper to install the transponder.

You can locate a shop that installs the K40 laser diffuser by using the dealer locator on their website.

Good luck, Mike

XrayMD · 5th February 2005, 19:49

Mike... two comments on your install...sorry, don't mean to offend, just offering comments.

First, why is the transducer installed in front of the grill. While it takes more time, the appearance is much neater and stealthier when installed behind the plastic grill. Second, from your photo, the transducer/transponder is not installed level. The installation package comes with a level. It should be parallel to the ground.

I installed my first Lidatek system with two transponders behind the grill and when the LE-30 came out, I did that installation myself without removing the front bumper. I actually fixed the transponder to the bottom of the license plate holder so it is flush with the bottom of the license plate. I wanted a front license plate for two reasons: First, it's required by law in my state and they will give you a ticket without it, and second, I wanted it to be there for the police to use as a laser target. It's worked very well. I got hit with laser three times within a two hour period on the way home from Columbus, OH and it saved me each time! Gotta love the Lidatek!

mottati · 5th February 2005, 19:58

I'm thinking about getting the lidatek in the near future, and have done a little searching on the board. What I have read, is mounting it within or behind the grill would dramatically reduce the effectivness, it should be as close to the front of the bumper as possible. I'll likely install it myself, and would rather it be behind the grill, as some have done, i would rather it be a bit more stealthy, since they are not legal here!
another Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by XrayMD

First, why is the transducer installed in front of the grill. While it takes more time, the appearance is much neater and stealthier when installed behind the plastic grill. Second, from your photo, the transducer/transponder is not installed level. The installation package comes with a level. It should be parallel to the ground.

Ridgeback_Pilot · 5th February 2005, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by XrayMD

Mike... two comments on your install...sorry, don't mean to offend, just offering comments.

First, why is the transducer installed in front of the grill. While it takes more time, the appearance is much neater and stealthier when installed behind the plastic grill. Second, from your photo, the transducer/transponder is not installed level. The installation package comes with a level. It should be parallel to the ground.

XrayMD: Thanks for your note. I felt it was important for the Lidatek transponder to have an unobstructed view ahead, especially since I'm only installing a single forward-facing unit. If the transponder can't see the laser gun, it won't be able to respond! Perhaps if you have twin forward transponders, you could mount them behind the front grille and get away with it. However, the grille is recessed about a foot behind the front bumper, and I was concerned that the bumper itself would obstruct the view of the transponder. In any case, it's surprisingly difficult to see the transponder from any distance, even when it's mounted forward of the grille. You have to crouch down and really look for it to pick it out.

The photographs I posted were taken with the car in my driveway, which is on a slope. The idea is to get the Lidatek transponder level with the ground, not the bumper of the car. That's why it looks as though it isn't level, but actually is when you measure it with the bubble level that came with the Lidatek package.

Cheers, Mike

Ashok Arora · 5th February 2005, 20:15

Very nice Mike

By way of comparison, here's my installation:

Pictures of my LRC100 and OB2 installation

My dealer did it!

Ridgeback_Pilot · 5th February 2005, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottati

I'm thinking about getting the lidatek in the near future, and have done a little searching on the board. What I have read, is mounting it within or behind the grill would dramatically reduce the effectivness, it should be as close to the front of the bumper as possible. I'll likely install it myself, and would rather it be behind the grill, as some have done, i would rather it be a bit more stealthy, since they are not legal here!
another Mike

Since there have been several references to the legality of laser countermeasures in California, I thought it might be useful if I looked up the relevant section of the California Vehicle Code.

Division 12, Chapter 5, Article 17, Section 28150 deals with "Jamming: Electronic Speed Measuring Devices". Here's what the law says, in part:

(a) No vehicle shall be equipped with any device that is designed for, or is capable of, jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

(b) No person shall use, buy, possess, manufacture, sell, or otherwise distribute any device that is designed for jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

You can read the entire relevant section of the Vehicle Code here.

It would appear that California law prohibits the use of not only the Lidatek, but any similar device intended to interfere with electronic speed measuring equipment. You'll note that it's also illegal to sell such devices in the state.

Notwithstanding the law, most if not all of the auto stereo shops in my area sell the K40 laser diffuser! In fact, I know of no instance where this particular provision of the Vehicle Code has actually been enforced. Anyone else?

Mike

SC'dKellenersM5 · 5th February 2005, 20:48

Mike,

yeah i was thinking about that, but i dont want to put any furthur burden on Discovery with the car...ill just have it done when it gets home