I'll take advice from anyone, but I am looking more in the direction of current VA residents. I am very familiar with the concealed display, and the InV1 mirrors, but I am looking for something different. I know someone out there has setup their V1, so that the actual box itself is completely hidden. I am moving to NC in August and will be traveling back and forth to MD (spending the majority of my trip in VA) very frequently. I want to be able to use a V1 and not get busted for it.

Has anyone seen a setup, or done a setup, like this? Where maybe they have one of the V1 concealed displays in the dash, but the actual V1 unit is hidden somewhere in the car, where it would be undetectable upon a possible police search?

Henry

I've got one. It's hidden in the headliner, and displays on my nav screen. :D

http://www.talktax.com/lidatek-V1%20install/

Similar to what I did

Poke - I've heard of people gutting the 3rd brake light and putting the box there.

Branko has one of those visor cd holder things that he stuffs his V1 into. Impossible to tell it's there.

Branko has one of those visor cd holder things that he stuffs his V1 into. Impossible to tell it's there.
Yeah, that seems like a good solution. I keep meaning to get a CD visor, but I've had my V1 just chilling up on the visor (hardwired) without one for 6 months. I still need to get a remote display.

Yeah, that seems like a good solution. I keep meaning to get a CD visor, but I've had my V1 just chilling up on the visor (hardwired) without one for 6 months. I still need to get a remote display.

do you have any pics of it like that?

Branko has one of those visor cd holder things that he stuffs his V1 into. Impossible to tell it's there.

Yea this sounds like a good idea, and a very cheap one at that. But my only problem is, how does it pickup radar from the rear and the sides? If only the face of the V1 is not covered or blocked by the CD visor? Maybe I am wrong, maybe I just need a picture. But I still don't get how this will work 100%.

Henry

Poke - I've heard of people gutting the 3rd brake light and putting the box there.

Yeah I've seen this idea before, I actually read a DIY article on it a few months back. I just don't like the idea of having it so far in the back. The angle of the rear deck lid is lower than where it would usually be mounted on the windshield too... :shifty

Yea this sounds like a good idea, and a very cheap one at that. But my only problem is, how does it pickup radar from the rear and the sides? If only the face of the V1 is not covered or blocked by the CD visor? Maybe I am wrong, maybe I just need a picture. But I still don't get how this will work 100%.

Henry
Your V1 will work on the floor. Just not quite as well. Any stealth setup gives up a big of range. That's just life. That said, radar will easily go through a plastic and cloth. Quite a bit of it. You lose some laser "protection," but the V1 is pretty useless for that, anyway.

Ah ok nice. Looks like I'll rig some kind of thing with my old visor CD holder.

Another thing to be aware of is that VA state police (and some local agencies) use electronic radar detector detectors. I'm not so sure if the V1 can be picked up with these units - but it's definitely something I'd like to learn more about since I do most of my driving in this state.

Mine is clipped to the upper panel where the sunroof switch is.
The concealed display is in my ashtray.

Mine is clipped to the upper panel where the sunroof switch is.
The concealed display is in my ashtray.

Is it one of those installs that makes the panel for the sunroof switch kind of bloat out? Got a pic?

Henry

anyone know anyone who has been bagged for a radar detector in va?

The Valentine One can not be detected by VG2 radar detector detecting technology.

Neil


Another thing to be aware of is that VA state police (and some local agencies) use electronic radar detector detectors. I'm not so sure if the V1 can be picked up with these units - but it's definitely something I'd like to learn more about since I do most of my driving in this state.

Is it one of those installs that makes the panel for the sunroof switch kind of bloat out? Got a pic?

HenryIt is sort of like this
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/electrical/e36_hardwiring_a_valentine_1.html
except I made a small cut towards the rear and use the visor clip. Then I ran the cable through the headliner and down the A pilar.

The Valentine One can not be detected by VG2 radar detector detecting technology.

Neil But it can be detected by the Spectre 1900 or whatever it's called. Supposedly there's only 10 of them in the state, but who knows if that number is accurate.

So you have it mounted exactly where that one is? So its pretty much out in the open, the whole unit? What was the cut you made, what was that for?

I've seen the remote display unit mounted where the MPG gauge is in the dash. Its fairly easy to take apart the dash and put the unit in there. You can install the remote volume/on/off switch elsewhere.

I have mine in a the visor, comepletely hardwired and hidden with my remote display in the storage area infront of the shifter. It works GREAT, since its mounted at a high point I didnt lose any sensitivity and im able to pick up signals from the front and rear. Ill let you take a gander at the next meet, Ive had mine set up for almost 2 years with no problems whatsoever.

Hey Poke, I haven't bothered taking the V1 down while going through Va for the last couple of years. I don't worry about it. My V1 lives just to the left of the rear view, and is hidden (sort of) by the visor. I mean how fast can you really drive on 95? The trucks will kill you pulling out like they do.

Anyway, it's only a $95 ticket... $55 for the detector, and $40 for administering the fine...lol They don't take them anymore.

Rich

Rich,

Yea I understand what you're saying but $95 is a lot of money for me. I am going to try Branko's method, but I am going to also check it out first, at the next meet. Sounds like the best, and most inexpensive, idea.

Henry

They really cant take them away anymore? I drive through VA all the time and I always take my V1 down and start driving like a normal person just in case.

I've heard different things, but apparently they can't take it away anymore. Don't know how true that is.

For the record, a cop gave me crap for my detector about a month ago. He took it and went to his car, and I gave him my information. He gave it back to me and let me off with a warning. :dunno

Have it surgically implanted into your brain.

They don't take them anymore.

What about if you're a resident?

do you have any pics of it like that?
http://www.540i6.com/jasonsv1.html

That's the CD install; you just hardwire and grab power from the light above the visor. It's slick, bu the CD thing looks a little bit tackey.