2020 Model SP: metallic coating on windshield?

[craigger]

Hi all -

I just got a 2020 Model S Performance and I'm looking for radar detector solutions. In my manual, it states that there is a cutout to the metallic windshield to the right of the rear-view mirror:

Under really close inspection, I don't see any cutout (nor the black dots that they used to mark this area with). Also, I don't see the "purple hue" looking at this windshield from any angle.

Question: does anyone know if they finally got rid of the metallic coating or if it's all coated now? I'm really hoping the former so I some flexibility on where to put the radar detector. I know a built-in solution (e.g. Escort Max Ci 360) would be a better solution but not worth it at 10X the price of a windshield option.

Thanks,
-craigger.

 

[croman]

I think it is coated all over and I just put my ipass transponder below the rearview mirror. I don't think the cutout thing has been present since refresh in 2016.

 

[SD Diver]

Watching - really hope that I can easily put a radar detector in my 2020 MS LR+

 

[craigger]

I have a Valentine1 Gen2 coming in on Monday (that I'm really hoping I don't have to return). I plan on doing some experiments with different parts of the windshield and with no windshield using my local grocery store door sensor as my radar source and I'll post results here.

 

[ICUDoc]

My recollection is that they no longer use a metallic coating?
I could see it on my 2015 P85D- can't see it on my current....

 

[craigger]

OK - did a quasi-scientific test. Went to a parking lot where there were several door opener radar sources present. I pointed my car at one and did the following.

First, put the radar detector out the window and got a reading:

Took a reading through the driver's side windshield (with window rolled up):

Then, took a reading in the "non-metallic zone" as defined in the owner's manual:

Then, took another reading outside the window to make sure it didn't change too much:

Readings were fluctuating slightly, but these are pretty representative.

Also, I took a close look to see if I could detect any metallic film or "cut-out" area:

I saw nothing other than clear windshield. Finally, I took a look at the windshield "bug":

If there were a metallic film, I'd expect to see something like "LAMINATED AS1" (I don't know if this is always true).

My conclusion - no metallic film on the 2020 Model S Performance so you are free to mount a radar detector anywhere on the windshield.

-craigger.

 

[whitex]

OK - did a quasi-scientific test. Went to a parking lot where there were several door opener radar sources present. I pointed my car at one and did the following.

First, put the radar detector out the window and got a reading:
View attachment 548975

Took a reading through the driver's side windshield (with window rolled up):
View attachment 548974

Then, took a reading in the "non-metallic zone" as defined in the owner's manual:
View attachment 548976

Then, took another reading outside the window to make sure it didn't change too much:
View attachment 548978

Readings were fluctuating slightly, but these are pretty representative.

Also, I took a close look to see if I could detect any metallic film or "cut-out" area:
View attachment 548979

I saw nothing other than clear windshield. Finally, I took a look at the windshield "bug":
View attachment 548991

If there were a metallic film, I'd expect to see something like "LAMINATED AS1" (I don't know if this is always true).

My conclusion - no metallic film on the 2020 Model S Performance so you are free to mount a radar detector anywhere on the windshield.

-craigger.

I have a picture in this post of what the coating used to look like in the old days (from my 2015 MS, which doesn't even have a cut out as pictured in the manual, my old 2013MS did) - you can only see coating from the outside on a sunny day. That circular cut out area is for rain/light sensor in AP1 cars. That said, given your radar test results, you have no coating. I've done this same test with coating and the radar strength is cut by as much as 80%. Because of this, I ended up going with Stinger VIP instead of Valentine One - way more expensive solution and took me quiet a few hours to install, but since I was already doing the install I put in laser jamming at the same time (with V1, laser warning is just to let you know you've been clocked and probably about to get a ticket). Radar direction indicator on Valentine One works way smoother, but Stinger does the job.

 

[craigger]

I have a picture in this post of what the coating used to look like in the old days (from my 2015 MS, which doesn't even have a cut out as pictured in the manual, my old 2013MS did) - you can only see coating from the outside on a sunny day. That circular cut out area is for rain/light sensor in AP1 cars. That said, given your radar test results, you have no coating. I've done this same test with coating and the radar strength is cut by as much as 80%. Because of this, I ended up going with Stinger VIP instead of Valentine One - way more expensive solution and took me quiet a few hours to install, but since I was already doing the install I put in laser jamming at the same time (with V1, laser warning is just to let you know you've been clocked and probably about to get a ticket). Radar direction indicator on Valentine One works way smoother, but Stinger does the job.

Thanks for the info and photo. Here's the photo of my windshield from the outside:

Once again - more confirmation that they removed the metallic coating.

That Stinger VIP system looks insane. I'll have to look at laser jamming solutions for my car.

-craigger.

 

[ElectricTravel]

Good info in this thread. Thanks for doing that test.

If there were a metallic film, I'd expect to see something like "LAMINATED AS1" (I don't know if this is always true).

The newer ones are still laminated (even those without the metal layer), so that probably won't help. On the other hand, unlike earlier windshields, yours has the actual Tesla part number printed on it, which is helpful for reference: 1061987-01-H. At minimum, we can tell that this revision won't give us any trouble.

If someone with a nosecone Model S finds that they've got the metallic film without a cutout, another option is to put the radar detector behind the nosecone, as I describe in this thread: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/detailed-how-to-install-a-valentine-one-radar-detector-behind-the-nosecone-of-a-model-s.171486/ For the reasons described at the start of that post, if you don't have metallic on the windshield, you're better off putting the detector behind the windshield like usual.

 

[craigger]

Good info in this thread. Thanks for doing that test.



The newer ones are still laminated (even those without the metal layer), so that probably won't help. On the other hand, unlike earlier windshields, yours has the actual Tesla part number printed on it, which is helpful for reference: 1061987-01-H. At minimum, we can tell that this revision won't give us any trouble.

If someone with a nosecone Model S finds that they've got the metallic film without a cutout, another option is to put the radar detector behind the nosecone, as I describe in this thread: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/detailed-how-to-install-a-valentine-one-radar-detector-behind-the-nosecone-of-a-model-s.171486/ For the reasons described at the start of that post, if you don't have metallic on the windshield, you're better off putting the detector behind the windshield like usual.

Wow - nice job on the nosecone install. That must have been a lot of work - I'm really glad I can just use a windshield mount.

 

[provenkick]

I'm expecting delivery of a 2020 Model S LR this month and am hopeful that the metallic coating is not an issue. This is good information and will perform the same test as craigger. I've been driving with an Escort for so long, I don't think I could handle the withdrawals if I couldn't keep using it!

 

[Cheburashka]

No metallic coating after the refresh in 2016, so you are good to go.

 

[provenkick]

No metallic coating after the refresh in 2016, so you are good to go.

Thanks for the info!

 

[cucubits]

No metallic coating after the refresh in 2016, so you are good to go.

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case on all facelift models. My July 2016 built refresh Model S has some sort of coating. I started looking into this only recently as I wanted to use my good old Uniden R1 in the Model S but on the first ride, it had very noticeably shorter range (it would start beeping only right next to the police cars). I know it well, I've been using it in our ICE for a few years so there's definitely still something up with the Tesla windshield.

Strangely on the right side of the rear view mirror, where the "exclusion zone" is supposed to be, there is a factory blacked out section. Initially I thought I can mount it there but I'd loose any laser detection... I'll post a pic tomorrow of that area.

I'm looking for advice on potential options. Ideally I'd like not to get a custom installed system. I just don't see the value in one and I don't plan on keeping the Model S for that long. On the other hand, if anyone know of a good inexpensive setup, I'd have a go at installing myself. I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

I actually thought of two extremely out of the box scenarios too:
- take one of these R1s apart, weather seal it, and mount it in the front grill with the screen and buttons extended all the way to the cabin.
- almost equally nuts but I'd be open to try: where is this metallic coating on the windshield? Is it sandwitched or on the inside? I'd gladly polish away a few square centimeters somewhere out of sight, next to the mirror, just for the radar detector to see outside.

 

[whitex]

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case on all facelift models. My July 2016 built refresh Model S has some sort of coating. I started looking into this only recently as I wanted to use my good old Uniden R1 in the Model S but on the first ride, it had very noticeably shorter range (it would start beeping only right next to the police cars). I know it well, I've been using it in our ICE for a few years so there's definitely still something up with the Tesla windshield.

Strangely on the right side of the rear view mirror, where the "exclusion zone" is supposed to be, there is a factory blacked out section. Initially I thought I can mount it there but I'd loose any laser detection... I'll post a pic tomorrow of that area.

I'm looking for advice on potential options. Ideally I'd like not to get a custom installed system. I just don't see the value in one and I don't plan on keeping the Model S for that long. On the other hand, if anyone know of a good inexpensive setup, I'd have a go at installing myself. I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

I actually thought of two extremely out of the box scenarios too:
- take one of these R1s apart, weather seal it, and mount it in the front grill with the screen and buttons extended all the way to the cabin.
- almost equally nuts but I'd be open to try: where is this metallic coating on the windshield? Is it sandwitched or on the inside? I'd gladly polish away a few square centimeters somewhere out of sight, next to the mirror, just for the radar detector to see outside.

People have mounted a Valentine One under the nose, and you can get remote display for it from the factory, so no need to take anything apart. Search TMC, there is a detailed thread on that somewhere.

Alternatively, perhaps price out what it would cost to replace the windshield with a newer one without coating?

 

[DerbyDave]

No metallic coating on my 2020.

 

[cucubits]

People have mounted a Valentine One under the nose, and you can get remote display for it from the factory

That's a great idea, I will look into this for sure. Thank you!

Do you know if V1 is the only detector for which one can get a remote display?

 

[Jlwine]

My 2016.5 (First facelift generation) has the metallic coating and cutout--not sure when they moved away from that--but some time after July 2016 when mine was manufactured.

 

[cucubits]

This is how the windshield looks on my 2016 July built (AP1) S. I don't know if this was the original stock windshield, I got the car used from Tesla.

If that black patch is the section where there's no coating, it's not great as it's very narrow. Not sure if the radar detector will fit well there. I'm still trying to find one of those mobile radars to test but I haven't been out driving around too much.