[Thundernight]

After driving my brand new M240 over the last few days, I have come to the realization that a radar detector is going to be critical for keeping myself out of trouble. As I am sure others have realized, it is soooo easy to speed in this car..

Does anyone have any recommendations for radar detectors? I am vaguely familiar with Escort and Valentine One systems from 8-10 years ago, but not clear on what has improved since they have been released and what the best value is. I am open to hardwiring the radar into the fuse box for the sake of cleaner wiring, but not sure if anyone has had experience with this yet, and how people have tucked the wiring into the interior trim panels. This radar will stay in the car, so there is no need for it to be portable for use in other vehicles..

Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

[jpcoop]

You can use a MirrorTap to pull power from the rear view mirror, no need to run all the way down to the fuse panel. Search the g20 forum, there’s directions on how to install it. Combine with a blendmount and you have a really clean installation.

Valentine used to have a patent on the directional arrows (clutch feature, so you know which way they’re coming from) but it expired so several Escort models and the Uniden R7 (another popular choice) all have this now.

I personally use an Escort Redline 360c. The Uniden R7 is a better bargain though.

[danallxt]

I've had the Valentine one for over twenty years. Can't recommend it highly enough. Always comes out in comp tests at or near the top. There is now an upgraded Valentine 2 i believe. Can't go wrong, mine has worked flawlessly for decades and picks up radar a very long ways away and little to no stray or interference of stray signals. Has front and rear detection. I like the simplicity of interface and controls.

[Nordkeyz73]

Waze

[TJZ67201]

Uniden R7 is a great bang for the buck. Switched from an Escort to the R7 and love it. Just know that radar detectors are hard to source lately. Same chip shortage issues.

Recommend you look up vortex radar (channel) on YouTube if you want to look more into the different brands. He is the #1 source on YT for radar detector knowledge.

[Mugen]

I installed a blend mount with mirror taps for my. R7 the very first day I got the car. It's already saved me from a few tickets.

[Thundernight]

Originally Posted by Mugen

I installed a blend mount with mirror taps for my. R7 the very first day I got the car. It's already saved me from a few tickets.

Attachment 2894971

I just ordered this exact setup through Amazon! Hoping to get all the parts delivered and do the install by next weekend.

[G42Enjoyer]

I use an Escort MAX360 and the attached M1 dash cam. I'm honestly not impressed with either for the price. The radar detector will often do this thing where it goes off with a constant low KA-band as soon as I start the car and will continue even if I drive 15 miles away. I think it might be caused by the weather? There are also a ton of other false signals, but I believe that is pretty common for all detectors. You kind of have to learn the difference between a false signal and a real one. That said, it has certainly saved me multiple tickets so despite the price it probably paid for itself. You have to weigh the peace of mind you get during spirited driving vs annoyance of the false alerts.

If had to buy another radar detector, I would probably go with the Valentine and use the rearview mirror mods to make it look clean.

Unrelated, but the Escort M1 dash cam is absurdly overpriced for what it is. The android phone app to download your videos is basically unusable. The only redeeming feature is that you can easily attach it to the radar detector using the same wire. I'm hoping the BMW drive recorder will do the job instead.

[Thundernight]

Originally Posted by G42Prospect

I use an Escort MAX360 and the attached M1 dash cam. I'm honestly not impressed with either for the price. The radar detector will often do this thing where it goes off with a constant low KA-band as soon as I start the car and will continue even if I drive 15 miles away. I think it might be caused by the weather? There are also a ton of other false signals, but I believe that is pretty common for all detectors. You kind of have to learn the difference between a false signal and a real one. That said, it has certainly saved me multiple tickets so despite the price it probably paid for itself. You have to weigh the peace of mind you get during spirited driving vs annoyance of the false alerts.

If had to buy another radar detector, I would probably go with the Valentine and use the rearview mirror mods to make it look clean.

Unrelated, but the Escort M1 dash cam is absurdly overpriced for what it is. The android phone app to download your videos is basically unusable. The only redeeming feature is that you can easily attach it to the radar detector using the same wire. I'm hoping the BMW drive recorder will do the job instead.

Thanks for the insight. I just set up the drive recorder and it seems like it will work really well in a crash situation. I currently have it set up to be triggered during a G-Force event where it records the 20 seconds before and prior the triggered event. I hope I never need to use it but glad that it ties in the 360 camera for full coverage.

[eddj]

Originally Posted by Nordkeyz73

Waze

+1

Just install Waze, great app which is always pretty up to date ( thanks to other wazers around you) with the police locations and potentially radar locations on your route. You pay nothing and is also great on switching you very quickly to the shortest (time wise) route ( if any available) if there is a traffic jam in front of you.

In Europe they use this app a lot with great efficiency as a radar detector replacement.

[jbazz]

Originally Posted by Thundernight

Does anyone have any recommendations for radar detectors? I am vaguely familiar with Escort and Valentine One systems from 8-10 years ago, but not clear on what has improved since they have been released and what the best value is. I am open to hardwiring the radar into the fuse box for the sake of cleaner wiring, but not sure if anyone has had experience with this yet, and how people have tucked the wiring into the interior trim panels. This radar will stay in the car, so there is no need for it to be portable for use in other vehicles..

Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

I ran my Uniden R7 and Waze across 1400 miles and 6 states and recommend it. The radar detector will save your butt, Waze is ok but often not updated in time, and in some areas you might not get good cell coverage. Waze will say there is police ahead and they are gone already, or often not show a cop around a corner since they move around a lot now. I will say that K band is pretty much useless (in some situations) due to cars using radar, but the popular Ka band is accurate and long range with the R7. For laser, you will need countermeasures, but this has not been a problem for me yet.

Order Blendmount #BR7-3032 and wiring kit MTX-1015, you will see multiple kits on their site but this one will fit a bit closer to the mirror.

Thanks to @Mugen for the install tips!

[stylinexpat]

Originally Posted by Nordkeyz73

Waze

Waze works good if everyone uses it and reports police. The more that use and report the better it will be.

[stylinexpat]

Originally Posted by Thundernight

I just ordered this exact setup through Amazon! Hoping to get all the parts delivered and do the install by next weekend.

I found these to also be good for holding radar detectors. They offer better mounting positions.
https://igosmart-pro.com/collections...m-alloy-holder

[Caerus]

I have been a Valentine user for many years. I got the Uniden R7 last year and it is better and the Valentine now collects dust in a drawer. The Valentine does not have internal GPS and I refuse to hook it up to my phone with an app. I like the one box solution of the R7 and the auto lock outs work great for non-threats.

[jpcoop]

Originally Posted by Caerus

I have been a Valentine user for many years. I got the Uniden R7 last year and it is better and the Valentine now collects dust in a drawer. The Valentine does not have internal GPS and I refuse to hook it up to my phone with an app. I like the one box solution of the R7 and the auto lock outs work great for non-threats.

Totally agree, the lack of built in GPS immediately disqualifies it IMO. Being able to lock out annoying grocery stores and speed limit signs is extremely useful. And you can get the directional arrows, formerly a Valentine exclusive, on multiple Escort and Uniden models now.

[Robinde]

Originally Posted by Thundernight

After driving my brand new M240 over the last few days, I have come to the realization that a radar detector is going to be critical for keeping myself out of trouble. As I am sure others have realized, it is soooo easy to speed in this car..

Does anyone have any recommendations for radar detectors? I am vaguely familiar with Escort and Valentine One systems from 8-10 years ago, but not clear on what has improved since they have been released and what the best value is. I am open to hardwiring the radar into the fuse box for the sake of cleaner wiring, but not sure if anyone has had experience with this yet, and how people have tucked the wiring into the interior trim panels. This radar will stay in the car, so there is no need for it to be portable for use in other vehicles..

Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

. I’ve been using radar detectors for easily 40 years and escort for the past 10. I wouldn’t drive without it. For the most part you don’t need to spend much. $100 to $500 won’t make that much difference in protection. Go out and get one and then drive like you stole it.

[XC3LLR8]

The Uniden R3 is great and it's in my wife's car. I left my Uniden R7 in the SS 1LE when I gave that car to my son. After having the R7 I'm not sure I could go back to not having arrows; it annoys me to not know where the cop is.

There's now the R8, but honestly the R7 (and R3/4) have such long Ka range it's insane, I'm finding it hard to justify the price of the new R8 over the current R7 (plus they're impossible to find)!

Sure, you can buy a $100 radar detector, and soon you'll regret it.

[RockCrusher]

Been using a V1 since sometime in mid 2000. Moved it to my new 230i. I highly recommend a V1.

This new car is so smooth and for its engine size/power very quick. But that is no excuse to speed.

For sure I try to obey the speed laws. Well, more than try.

Oh, one neat feature I "discovered". If I engage cruise control it will set the speed to the speed limit of the road where the car currently is.

Not a fan of WAZE. In CA I sometimes had a chance to watch the CHP "work" the section of I-580 through the Livermore/Pleasanton/Dublin CA area. I'd see a cruiser pull over a speeder. Then after the cruiser would drive to the next exit and cross over and get on the other side of the freeway. At other times it would stay on the same side of the freeway but just move further down the freeway.

[earthie1]

I'm new to radar detectors and mirror tap. I was planning to mirror tap and blendmount my radar detector. I was wondering if this will void my warranty and do you have to take the mirror tap/radar out every time you go for service?

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by earthie1

I'm new to radar detectors and mirror tap. I was planning to mirror tap and blendmount my radar detector. I was wondering if this will void my warranty and do you have to take the mirror tap/radar out every time you go for service?

It is hard to say. The car's warranty booklet covers changes to the car, the fitment of aftermarket hardware or changes to the car's installed hardware, and how this can affect warranty coverage.

A plug in accessory like a radar detector, or with some of my cars a NAV unit, or even a dash cam, have not come in for any comment by the various dealers I have had the cars in to for warranty work or service or repair. I have not had any warranty claim denied for any reason and certainly not for having some electrical devices connected to the car's power ports or even to the car's OBD2 port.

(I note my 230i owners manual says devices connected to the car's OBD2 socket will trigger an alarm when the car is locked. I have not tried to confirm this. But I accept it as gospel. So my OBD2 trip/data logger device is not plugged into the OBD2 port of my 230i.)

If you ask your dealer even if you are given the "OK" unless you have that in writing it is not worth anything. Dealer personnel come and go. The guy or gal that gives you the ok may not be there when you return for a problem that might involve a warranty claim.

Besides the factory is the final word on what warranty claim it will honor and what warranty claim it will not honor.

Before you hard wire anything to the car's electrical system you need some high degree of confidence doing so will not affect the car's warranty. Simple to say. Maybe not so simple to do. But reading over the warranty booklet "fine print" would be a start.

[MUFCbmwbear]

Originally Posted by earthie1

I'm new to radar detectors and mirror tap. I was planning to mirror tap and blendmount my radar detector. I was wondering if this will void my warranty and do you have to take the mirror tap/radar out every time you go for service?

No, you're good

[M_85]

I was able to mirror tap my radar today and it was super easy. I did have to slide my mirror off to tap the wires into the black connector. I can confirm that the radar does shut off after 6 mins.