Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

Radar Detector need for Model 3

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.
Valentine One Gen 2. Pair it with the V1 driver app on your phone and it is a great experience. Rarely makes any noise unless there's actually a cop. I mounted on the mirror using a blend mount. BlendMount Radar Detector Mounts| Custom Aluminum Mounts

Both items are expensive but it is definitely a scenario where you get what you pay for. I had a cheaper Escort Passport 8500 and got 2 tickets while I owned it, both times I had it in the car. Once a cop literally laughed at me because it wasn't going off until he was standing next to the window writing me a ticket.

You can hardwire the detector down the A pillar and splice into the 12v switchable source in the driver's footwell. When you turn it in just cut the wire or remove it at the splice.
 
Had anyone managed to fish a power line from right around the main display into the center console? Like kind of under the driver's side plastics of the center console and into that compartment (if that makes sense)?

I was going to run my detector on a suction type bracket on the rear of the display (someone here originally did this, I scored the same part), but I need to get the [phone] cord into that center area, and I'm trying to avoid pulling the interior apart.
 
I been using the uniden r3 and it works well. You do not have to hard wire it directly, I just made an extension and ran it and the remote where the 12v is. I placed the r3 above and to the right of the rear view mirror, its out of sight from outside.
 
Valentine One. I've tried others and keep coming back to this one.
Hard-wired in the upper left-hand corner of the windshield for easy access.
+1 on V1.

My car is leased, don’t want to leave any wires in car when turned in.
Any battery operated recommendations and where to mount it?
Battery operated detectors are all inferior, and loose detection range as batteries discharge. Not a good option, unless you don't care about the outcome.
 
+1 on V1.


Battery operated detectors are all inferior, and loose detection range as batteries discharge. Not a good option, unless you don't care about the outcome.
Yes, so I read. Will get one that plugs into the 12v adapter in the console box.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TBrownTX
Uniden R7 - mounted as high up as possible on Driver side of the mirror without interfering with the sun visor. Have been looking at the blendmounts, it would hang much lower than optimal for detecting over crests etc (apparently) but would be easier to connect into the 12V adapter in the console.
 
Valentine 1 with mirror mount and a 12ft power cord, installed in the armrest center console. No hardwiring required and the power cord can be bought off Amazon for around $10, i think it was. I went with the mirror mount because it looks better than the suction cups and the mirror mount allows for you to still use a windshield sun shade in the summer.

When it comes to radar detectors, Valentine 1 is simply the most reliable, longest lasting detector there is. I've had my gen 1 for 15 years and it is still going strong! Have never gotten a ticket with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WhiteM3P-
Valentine 1 with mirror mount and a 12ft power cord, installed in the armrest center console. No hardwiring required and the power cord can be bought off Amazon for around $10, i think it was. I went with the mirror mount because it looks better than the suction cups and the mirror mount allows for you to still use a windshield sun shade in the summer.

When it comes to radar detectors, Valentine 1 is simply the most reliable, longest lasting detector there is. I've had my gen 1 for 15 years and it is still going strong! Have never gotten a ticket with it.
Could you not use the power cords supplied with the unit?
Which mirror mount did you buy?
thanks
 
Could you not use the power cords supplied with the unit?
Which mirror mount did you buy?
thanks
No, the supplied power cord is the curly style and would be a pain to straighten to fit along the edges of the roof liner and down to the center console. I also don't think it is long enough.

On Amazon, type this in search bar: Valentine 1 Mirror Mount
For the power cord: Valentine 1 power cord 11.5ft

So, I went from my radar detector up to the roof liner, hid it along the liner to the passenger side, down the pillar to behind the glovebox, then hid it under the plastic pieces along the center console to the armrest cover. Plugged it into the 12V power outlet. I use a center console armrest storage tray that has a circular cutout for the 12V outlet, allowing me to do this.
Found here: Armrest storage tray with 12V cutout
 
  • Like
Reactions: finaufan