Radar Detector Questions - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

toolape · 1st March 2005, 05:21

Hi,

I just purchased a 2001 and love it. I'm thinking about a radar detector, and like the idea of a seamless installation. I'm told Valentine makes a good radar detector, but my car guy tells me it'll be $2700 total installed.

That's a ton of money in my opinion. I've got some questions:

Is Valentine the best?
Is the mirror display better than the dash display?
Can I intstall myself? I'm a handy guy but I'm no auto electronics expert.
If you suggest I install myself and I go with the dash display (the mirror itself is $800 so I think I'd go dash), what do I need to buy? I see a few things on beastpower.com but am confused.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

TXE39 · 1st March 2005, 05:42

I've had mine since '98 and I'll never buy another kind. I have an Escort in my Range Rover (it's great too, but I like the arrows). I have mine on the visor and hard-wired in the overhead console. It's not 100% stealth but I didn't see the $800 for the rear-view, and if I want I can easily take it out and use it in a different car if I want (which I have used it in the Rover on a long trip over the Escort).

howler · 1st March 2005, 05:51

Congratulations on purchasing your 01 M5. Good idea to get the best R.D. on the market today.
The $2,700.00 someone wants you to spend is unrealistic because a Valentine One, Stealth One module and the Lidatek LE30 only cost $1,000.00 plus shipping and installation.
Go to the Valentine One website: http://www.valentine1.com/
The unit costs: $399.00 plus shipping.

Secondly go to the Stealth One website: http://www.jaricdesign.com/products.htm
Buy the remote module for $199.00 plus shipping.

Lastly, the Lidatek LE-30 site is: http://www.lidatek.com/
The LE-30 unit is $399.00 plus shipping.

Plan to spend 2 hours wiring the Stealth One unit into your Beast and maybe another 3 hours installing the LE-30. I'm not an electrical engineer or tech, but the instructions are very clear.

The worst case is you find a local reputable audio shop that can easily install the Stealth One and LE-30.

I hard wired V-1's in my three current vehicles and have not regretted shelling out for these insurance policies for one moment.
The Stealth One display in the M5 is so well thought out that it is a bargain for $200.00.

I hope this helps.

bwstein · 1st March 2005, 06:01

This thread makes me wonder. Where do others have their Valentine's mounted in their car. Mine is mounted on the suction cup holder just under the driver's side visor, just to the left of the sunroof motor hump. The couple of issues I have with this location is that it gets in the way a little when I want to lower my visor. I've thought of putting it on the passenger's side, but the problem there is that my wife actually uses her visor a little more than I do, so I don't think she'd be too thrilled with that location.

Any other thoughts? I still want ot be able to move the valentine from my car ot my wife's on occasion, so mounting it in the sunroof motor housing isn't that attractive.

Thanks
Ben

LBPDNNM5 · 1st March 2005, 06:03

Just below the rear view mirrror, center of windsheild L to R.

TXE39 · 1st March 2005, 06:05

Ben that's my issue as well. I put it on the passenger side visor since I seldom have a passenger in the BMW. If it is going to be a problem I carry the suction cups in the glove box and the standard plug where I can quickly pull it down from the visor and use it in the "normal" portable way if necessary.

Otherwise I try to always drive west in the morning and east in the afternoon

hudson · 1st March 2005, 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by howler

Congratulations on purchasing your 01 M5. Good idea to get the best R.D. on the market today.
The $2,700.00 someone wants you to spend is unrealistic because a Valentine One, Stealth One module and the Lidatek LE30 only cost $1,000.00 plus shipping and installation.
Go to the Valentine One website: http://www.valentine1.com/
The unit costs: $399.00 plus shipping.

Secondly go to the Stealth One website: http://www.jaricdesign.com/products.htm
Buy the remote module for $199.00 plus shipping.

Lastly, the Lidatek LE-30 site is: http://www.lidatek.com/
The LE-30 unit is $399.00 plus shipping.

Nice detection setup Bob, I really like the Stealth One. I have installed a Valentine One by itself in a Benz for a guy and he loves it.

Thanks for the info
Joe

ard · 1st March 2005, 06:43

You need a new "car guy"...

He is either ignorant or ripping you off. How you can go from a $399 valentine V1 to $2700 is quite a mystery.

Forget the mirror remote- the stealth one remote is a digital interface from the V1 to the dash display.

I seem to recall quite a few how-to posts here on the installs...

A

Osodog · 1st March 2005, 06:56

Valentine1/StealthOne is the way to go. BeastPower sells them a little cheaper than getting it directly from the vendor. The wiring was pretty easy for the StealthOne, about 2 hrs total.

Beamer_usa · 1st March 2005, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osodog

Valentine1/StealthOne is the way to go. BeastPower sells them a little cheaper than getting it directly from the vendor. The wiring was pretty easy for the StealthOne, about 2 hrs total.

I agree V1 is the way to go