Ok, got a question for all you Valentine One owners.

I'm planning on installing my V1 in my 02 SS. I'm thinking about buying the concealed display unit, too.

I'm wondering...

Where is the best location to mount the V1 so that it's relatively out of sight, yet still retains good reception?

What about your concealed display unit? Where are you guys mounting them? I'd like to keep a low profile and a relatively stock appearance.

What should I splice into to hard wire the system? Radio? Never did do this in my previous car; just used the supplied cord.

Any info you guys can provide would be great!!

 

My V1 is mounted under my roll bar, and I got plenty of wire to put the display unit to the left of the cigarette lighter. It still covers all areas, both front and rear, and doesn't sitck out too much.

 

Damn... don't have a rollbar. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Any other suggestions??

 

There is no place to truly hide a V1. It is just a regular radar detector that must have line of sight just like any other dash mount detector. But atleast it does have the cool remote display option so it don't have to be so flashy at night to the point it can be seen through the windows. In my experience radar detectors are just bad luck I've had 2 tickets in my life and that was while using a radar detector all the detector did for me was let me know to start pulling over.... <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> Buuuuut now I have been eye ballin the bad *** K40 that is totally remote and hidden. Only downside is the joker is still over $500 even on the net and and I'm a gimmick man I'd like to have more than just the 2 led's (one for front and one for rear).... Good luck on tryin to find a solution that makes ya happy though..... (idle ramblin form a bored person)

 

Well, I was playing around tonight and I thinks I got an idea...

Looks like I can mount the V1 just in front (or behind, depending on your perspective) and slightly to the right of the rearview mirror. Should have excellent forward radar reception (just below the shaded strip at the top of the windshield); rear radar reception should be pretty good to, as the rear radar antenna is mounted on the bottom, right-hand corner of the V1, so it will be looking straight out the back window around the rear view mirror. Best part is that it's virtually undetectable from the outside, unless you're really looking for it!

Then I think I'll mount the concealed display unit (yeah, I went ahead and ordered it about 5 minutes ago <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> ) in the storage area just forward of the shifter.

That's prolly 'bout as stealthy as I can get with the V1.

BTW, anyone got any tips on what to go for as far as a "hot" wire to splice into that'll be "switched" (ie, off when the ignition's off)? I haven't looked at the radio harness yet (hell, I've only had the car a few weeks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> ), but I'm guessing if I can find the main power source, direct wiring the V1 into there would be the way to go.

 

From experience the K-40 is crap. I hardwired the V1 into the ignition so when the car is on it's on and the car is off it's off. There is a wire under the steering wheel dash somewhere.

 

There is a wire under the dash, but will probably be easier to go ahead and use the fuse box. You can use the separation in the dash to hide the phone cord.

 

Thanks for input guys!!

Spent the afternoon setting it up; decided to run the phone line up into the headliner, through the passenger side A-pillar, and behind the glovebox over to the radio/HVAC stack. Mounted the direct wire adaptor back behind the stack (slightly to the passenger side so I can access it easily), then wired the "hot" lead into the "hot" wire going to the ASR switch.

I know, I know; probably not the most direct route, but it's pretty much invisible, with the exception of the V1 itself (although you've really got to be looking for it to spot it).

Now I just have to wait on my concealed display to come in (at least I thought ahead enough to run the phone line from the direct wire adaptor into the storage area at the front of the console where I'm going to mount it. Should only take me a couple of minutes to set it up once it gets here <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

This might be of some interest

http://www.ideaphile.com/bmw/v1/index.html

 

how about this?
http://www.fbody.com/members/99CamaroSS/P1010017.jpg

 

I mounted my remote display to the inside top of the guage cluster. It sits just between the speedometer and tach. What's great about it is that it's totally in my line of sight while driving. I don't need to look down and to the right to see it near the cubby hole. I can even have the sound down and I still see the red lights light up immediately. I just used some velcro on the top of the remote display to stick it there.