Radar Detector Mount

[nickb411]

Hi All,

I'm picking up my 2017 90D at the end of the week. Step 1 is to get my Escort Max 360 radar detector installed. Because I live in Nebraska, there is no need for a fancy Escort 9500ci because I rarely run into laser here.

Normally I've just purchased the appropriate Blendmount for my radar detector, but they do not have one compatible with the 2017 Tesla S.

For those of you who have mounted radar detectors to the RV mirror, what mount did you use? I've searched the forums a ton and can't find a good solution.

Thanks!

Nick

 

[mandersen]

Let me know what you find out. Getting my MS at the end of the month.

 

[Hazelwood]

I've heard they might have changed the windshield on the newer cars. If they haven't and you have the windshield most of us do, the only useful way to mount the radar detector is outside the car (kinda kidding but not really). The windshield is made to minimize sun rays and by doing so, signals like radar don't make it through. Your best, and really only good, option is to use an exterior antenna mount for your detector. It's probably easier to use Waze and the crowdsourcing police reporting they offer.

 

[AB4EJ]

I agree with previous post. There has been a lot of discussion about radar detection possibly not working inside vehicle due to a windshield coating.. You can test this by just using a sun visor clip and driving though known Special High Intensity Traffic Enforcement zones (S.H.I.T.E. zones) where radar traps are, and see if the detector works. The other option is to pry the nosecone off and mount it be behind... oops, the newer Model S cars don't have a nose cone. Maybe there is somewhere else to mount it without it having to look through the windshield...

 

[FlatSix911]

View attachment 245191

I've heard they might have changed the windshield on the newer cars. If they haven't and you have the windshield most of us do, the only useful way to mount the radar detector is outside the car (kinda kidding but not really). The windshield is made to minimize sun rays and by doing so, signals like radar don't make it through. Your best, and really only good, option is to use an exterior antenna mount for your detector. It's probably easier to use Waze and the crowdsourcing police reporting they offer.

I agree with previous post. There has been a lot of discussion about radar detection possibly not working inside vehicle due to a windshield coating.. You can test this by just using a sun visor clip and driving though known Special High Intensity Traffic Enforcement zones (S.H.I.T.E. zones) where radar traps are, and see if the detector works. The other option is to pry the nosecone off and mount it be behind... oops, the newer Model S cars don't have a nose cone. Maybe there is somewhere else to mount it without it having to look through the windshield...

The Truth ... the metallic coating on the Tesla windshield kills the range of your radar detector.
I used a Valentine-1 for years in another sports car with good range and found it ineffective in the Tesla ...
Try the custom Waze app for traffic, construction and police location alerts. https://tesla-waze.excelsis.com/

 

[whitex]

There are a number of thread on this. Here is a summary:
The metalized coating has been changing since 2012. Different cars, built even days apart would have a different exclusion area or none at all. I had a 2013, it had a large enough exclusion for Valentine One. Then I got a 2015, the exclusion was so much smaller, no windshield mounted radar detector would work. I've seen other 2015 with a much larger exclusion, some had the exclusion covered in black though (so no metallized coating but black, so radar passes ok but not laser). V1 in the 2015 showed most alerts from behind only. The 2017 however, the entire coating seems to have changed, and when we went to test a RFID toll pass at the DMV it works anywhere on out 2017 S windshield. On the 2015, the RFID only works in the small exlcusion area, see picture below:

On the 2017 you cannot see any such borders. Since RFID toll pass works anywhere, I assume radar detector also works, however never tested it as it's my wife's car and she doesn't want a radar detector. For my 2015 I just installed a remote radar detector (Stinger VIP) since there was no good place on the windshield to make a windshield mounted one work. I added laser protection while at it, only possible with remote mounts.

Lastly, a quick way to check, just drive up to a supermarket or a mall with an automatic door open on K-Band. park facing it, note the signal strength, then take the detector and stick it out the window, see how much the signal strength goes up. With the metalized coating and using a V1, the difference would be 20% through the windshield, 100% out the open window, so at least 80% reduction. With 360 type radars, you can also drive towards the door opener, then away from it and make sure you are getting correct directional warnings.

 

[Nosken]

I have a late 2016 HW2 , Model S. My Escort and Toll tag work fine, which they didn't on my 2015. I mounted mine just to the left of the mirror. I tapped the power from the microphone area to power my Radar Detector and the nearby ThinkWare F770 DashCam.

 

[florida2017]

I used to be a detector junky, I have the Escort 9500 Ci in my 2015 P85D because the windshield is coated.
I would rather have the windshield unit.

Here is my point, the BEST detector out (by far ) is the NEW Uniden R3, yes you read this right, Uniden R3. Better in all ways but no arrows. Much quieter, real digital, and Uniden if VERY pro active to make quick improvements, and only $400.
Bad news is they are out of stock nation wide but working hard to make more. I have no ties to Uniden or anything related to them.


I have had ALL the best units.. Radar detector forum has all the geeks and info on this.

 

[CHG-ON]

I shrink wrapped my V1 and placed it in the nose cone and it has worked like a charm for three years. No rear warnings, but front and side work like a charm. Laser included.

 

[whitex]

I shrink wrapped my V1 and placed it in the nose cone and it has worked like a charm for three years. No rear warnings, but front and side work like a charm. Laser included.

How did you get laser through the nose cone?

 

[nickb411]

Quick follow up:

1. Radar detectors work fine on a 2017. No windshield coating problems.
2. The RadarMount brand mount I had worked fine with longer screws I purchased from homedepot.
3. Used a EscortMax 360 because there is very little radar where I live (Lincoln, NE).

Hope this helps.

Nick

 

[CHG-ON]

How did you get laser through the nose cone?

I honestly don't know. I was surprised when i got an alert. It has happened a couple of times. Though laser is not popular in my region. They could have been false alarms.

 

[whitex]

I honestly don't know. I was surprised when i got an alert. It has happened a couple of times. Though laser is not popular in my region. They could have been false alarms.

The nose cone is not translucent, so no laser light will get through. Unless you did something specifically (e.g. drill a hole, remove the sensing element from the V1 and mount it in that hole) to allow the V1 to have a view of the front, your laser alerts are purely noise. You might just want to disable laser on your setup to avoid unnecessary false alerts.

 

[jjh1234]

I think maybe they changed the windshield with the introduction of AP2.0. My 2016 MS75D made in 11/16 allows my ezpass to work anywhere around the windshield. I had a 2015 MS70D rented from Turo that completely blocked ezpass. Of course, I didn't know about the special exclusion zone at that time, or I would have tried it.

 

[prash]

Quick follow up:

1. Radar detectors work fine on a 2017. No windshield coating problems.
2. The RadarMount brand mount I had worked fine with longer screws I purchased from homedepot.
3. Used a EscortMax 360 because there is very little radar where I live (Lincoln, NE).

Hope this helps.

Nick

I am planning to buy escort max360 too. Do you mind telling which radar mount you purchased. Did you hardwire to rearview mirror?

 

[nickb411]

Here is the bundle I bought off Amazon. I got the mount included in this bundle and it works just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRER25M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nick

 

[prash]

Here is the bundle I bought off Amazon. I got the mount included in this bundle and it works just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRER25M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nick

Do you mind posting a link on hardwiring to the rearview mirror.

 

[nickb411]

Hi,

There are a number of threads about hardwiring. Just search and you'll find them. I had mine done by Ed and Al's autosounds in California and they did a great job.

Nick

 

[Vortex Radar]

Regarding laser jammer installation, they do need to be able to see the laser gun and return jamming pulses, so you can't install behind the nosecone. Normally you install them in that crack between the nose and the hood.

I actually tested a Model S recently that had a really creative install done using perspex, this IR transmissive plastic. They put it in front of the jammer heads so they weren't visible, but the IR from the laser gun and from the jammers is able to pass through in both directions. It worked beautiful and looked great in practice. Check it out...

 

[DIAS]

My EZPass works fine on the M3 - mounted next to the rear view mirror on the passenger side. So I don't feel there is any coating on the windshield. Bought a new Radar detector as well to go with the M3 and it works. Gets too many false alarms though. Not sure if it is because of the Radar design, all the sensors and radar in the car or the fact that there is a clear view all around.