I definitely don't want to have a cord hanging down to charge my radar detector, so I am wondering if anybody has successfully hardwired a radar detector to their rear-view mirror. In the Model S it seems that you can jimmy off the plastic on the rear-view mirror and connect there. I've tried to gently jimmy the mirror casing off my model X but I am a bit too nervous. I'm considering the 9500 ci which mounts in the grill, but I'm not sure it will work with the Model X.
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HankLloydRight
No Roads
There are lots of threads on radar detectors for the MS. Assuming the MX has the same coated windshield, it's pretty much a dead zone inside the car, so the hardwired 9500ci or the Belltronics STIR are pretty much the only way to go.
Do some searching for 'radar detectors'. Lots of info in other threads.
Do some searching for 'radar detectors'. Lots of info in other threads.
I've read all the threads and it seems that the general consensus is that radar detectors work perfectly fine in the MSX. There is some mention of a spot that was purposely designed without the UV coating for radar detectors but there are lots of people mentioning that their radar detector works fine.
HankLloydRight
No Roads
Ok, well, most people have very limited success in that one little spot (I had zero reception using it). And I have to strongly disagree with you -- the "general consensus" is that dash mounted radar detectors do NOT work well in the Model S, which is why so many people (myself included) have gone the hardwired route. I don't know about the MX, but I can't imagine it being any better.
I used to be (and still am for my ICE) a huge Valentine 1 loyalist. NOTHING I could do would get it to work inside the Model S, even when using the "uncoated area". So then I mounted it in the nosecone and installed the concealed display and volume remote modules inside the car. Still worked like crap and had zero rear radar or laser detection If there was *any way* for me to get my beloved V1 to work in the car, I tried it. And it just did not work. And I've been installing and using radar and lidar detectors for at least 20 years now, so I know what I'm doing.
There have been some people who have reported success using dash mounted detectors, but I'm sure their "success" is more "confirmation bias" as the MS windshield is coated and blocks a high percentage of radio signals.
But if you want to try it, by all means, do.
Hank,
he is talking about the X. The X doesn't have the same coating as the S and allows signals to pass thru. My tolltag works fine in the car. I think my radar detector will also, but trying to figure out where I would wire it to.
I have to look at the back of the windshield rear view mirror. I don't think I see any plugs, but if there is, the invisicords might be an easy way to get power to the detector.
Invisicord Products Home Page
And I have both the S and X and can verify the above.
HankLloydRight
No Roads
Ok, I was responding to his comment above mentioning "MSX" which I took to be both models.
If the X doesn't have the coating, then sure, all bets are off. But now I'm actually very surprised as to why the X doesn't have the coating, while the S does? Seems like it would produce a similar level of UV heat reflection out of the cabin, especially with that panoramic window.
I figured he meant X since it's in the X forum.
Why the coating isn't found in the X who knows...
HankLloydRight
No Roads
There have been long threads on this. I'm pretty sure the consensus was that If you drive faster, you arrive at a SC at a much lower state of charge (SOC), which means much faster charging for the same number of miles. I think the rule is that as long as you can charge faster than you can drive, you'll get there quicker by driving faster, including charging stops.
If you arrive with 100 miles of range, and need to charge to 200 (your next leg is 100 miles), that's going to go much slower than if you arrive with 25 miles of range (say, to get to 125 miles).
HankLloydRight
No Roads
Oh, I'm not advocating that anybody drive faster than they are comfortable driving.. I was just commenting on the notion of "in the tesla the faster you go on a long trip the longer it takes to get there" isn't actually true.
modelx007
Member
Anyone find good pricing on the beltronics stir plus? In jan I bought it on bestbuy for 899 for the model s. They are no longer have it and need to buy it for X. It is a great detector with zero false alarms for me in the S so far.
Ha! One of the reasons many of us bought this car is because it is fast. Like most people, 90% of my driving is commuting to work or running errands. Over these short distances there is no way I will run out of charge and so driving faster gets you there faster. I can charge at work for free under solar panels, or at home. I live on a four lane mountain road where you can see for miles and miles and there is no traffic and no pedestrians. I don't do this regularly, but I can go in excess of 90 MPH in a safe fashion when the speed limit is arbitrarily set at 55 MPH. On long road trips when there isn't much traffic on the road, I have no problem going up to 85 on the highways.
TaoJones
Beyond Driven
Have used a Bel(tronics) Pro 500 hardwired to 12V and attached to the windshield just to the right of center for the past 15 months and 40,000 miles through 29 states and a province or two so far. The detector has paid for itself many times over and works just fine. It is more sensitive aft than forward, but I've had plenty of warning *every* time in order to reduce speed as necessary. Around curves, over hills, around curves and over hills, you name it.
Generally speaking, I'd like to think that I don't drive like a bat out of hell. But I do have an aversion to ticky-tack revenue-generating tickets by speed trap artists continent-wide, and, to date, I have not been pulled over. Hence the $325 or $350 investment or whatever it was, with no regrets.
I also tend to upgrade detectors every 3 years or so. It's a continual game of cat and mouse, really. At least until more constabularies invest in laser, in which case a case could be made for laser shifters in addition to a good radar detector.
Generally speaking, I'd like to think that I don't drive like a bat out of hell. But I do have an aversion to ticky-tack revenue-generating tickets by speed trap artists continent-wide, and, to date, I have not been pulled over. Hence the $325 or $350 investment or whatever it was, with no regrets.
I also tend to upgrade detectors every 3 years or so. It's a continual game of cat and mouse, really. At least until more constabularies invest in laser, in which case a case could be made for laser shifters in addition to a good radar detector.
DCWitt
Member
Hank,
Just wanted to share that I was also a Valentine detector devote...I own three of them. That is until I was forced to buy the Escort 9500ci in order to get something to work in my 2013 Model S. Suffice it to say that the Escort is the best detector I've ever used. I think you would be impressed with the Escot. I'll be putting a new 9500 (or what ever their newest model is) in my Model X as soon as someone more patient than I figures out a slick way to install in the X and takes time to post.
Dennis
HankLloydRight
No Roads
I actually had the Beltronics STir+ installed (with laser shifters), which is essentially identical to the 9500ci, but less expensive. And some people say "better" because it has better radar band segmentation, allow for fewer false alerts.
yeah, it's a great radar/laser detector.
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