Anyone direct wire a Radar Detector in E70

[art4.8i]

Originally Posted by Denalio

Where did they hardwire it from and what route did they take the wire? Any pics?

it is right in between the rearview mirror and the headliner.
sorry no pics since i am travelling now. i'll be back next week, i'll take pictures then

[jjoshj]

Oscar, could you please please take a picture of the wire you tapped into and your connection for the members here
Thank you

[brian5]

I've looked into direct-wiring the Valentine One to the E70 X5 extensively. There is a huge amount of info on m5board.com (for example http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...ight=valentine )

I still don't think that I'm comfortable doing it myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for an installer, that may have done this on an X5, in Westchester county, NY or Fairfield County, CT areas?

Thanks

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by brian5

I've looked into direct-wiring the Valentine One to the E70 X5 extensively. There is a huge amount of info on m5board.com (for example http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...ight=valentine )

I still don't think that I'm comfortable doing it myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for an installer, that may have done this on an X5, in Westchester county, NY or Fairfield County, CT areas?

Thanks

Brian5,

Hardwiring a detector in the E70 is really quite simple. I just completed my STi-R install and the wiring was a breeze. If you use the T-taps you can draw power from the cig lighter. To access the lighter wire just remove the 3 screws on the passenger side footwell compartment below the glovebox (5 minutes tops) pull down the footwell cover. There is a carpeted panel that runs along the bottom of the console where the shifter is, remove the torx screw at the front of this panel up near the firewall end, gently pull this panel outward (it has two locking rivits holding it in place). Once you pop out the rivit fastners gently slide the panel towards the front to disengage two clips holding the rear of the panel (this takes about 5 minutes as well). Once this panel is removed you will see an exposed wire bundle coming from the cig lighter ( only one bundle from this side). Tap into the switched 12V wire with the T-Tap you can use the screw forward about 3 inches (screw is about 3 inches towards the firewall looks like a console mounting screw) of this for your ground. Really simple takes about 15 minutes to do. Running the wires into your headliner is simple as well. I use a credit card to tuck the wires into the headliner down the Pillar under the weatherstripping moulding and into the footwell area.

[brian5]

Originally Posted by Denalio

Brian5,

Hardwiring a detector in the E70 is really quite simple. I just completed my STi-R install and the wiring was a breeze. If you use the T-taps you can draw power from the cig lighter. To access the lighter wire just remove the 3 screws on the passenger side footwell compartment below the glovebox (5 minutes tops) pull down the footwell cover. There is a carpeted panel that runs along the bottom of the console where the shifter is, remove the torx screw at the front of this panel up near the firewall end, gently pull this panel outward (it has two locking rivits holding it in place). Once you pop out the rivit fastners gently slide the panel towards the front to disengage two clips holding the rear of the panel (this takes about 5 minutes as well). Once this panel is removed you will see an exposed wire bundle coming from the cig lighter ( only one bundle from this side). Tap into the switched 12V wire with the T-Tap you can use the screw forward about 3 inches (screw is about 3 inches towards the firewall looks like a console mounting screw) of this for your ground. Really simple takes about 15 minutes to do. Running the wires into your headliner is simple as well. I use a credit card to tuck the wires into the headliner down the Pillar under the weatherstripping moulding and into the footwell area.

Hey thanks! I prefer the sound of tapping into the lighter wire rather than fiddling with the overhead console. Once I receive my X5, I'll look into doing it this way.

[CGSTL]

Meet one of the service techs at your dealer. At your first service, you can ask to speak to the tech about some made up subject. Then, ask him if he'd like to wire it as a cash side job

Originally Posted by brian5

I've looked into direct-wiring the Valentine One to the E70 X5 extensively. There is a huge amount of info on m5board.com (for example http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...ight=valentine )

I still don't think that I'm comfortable doing it myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for an installer, that may have done this on an X5, in Westchester county, NY or Fairfield County, CT areas?

Thanks

[Denalio]

Just complete my Beltronics STi-R (Remote) stealth install. I am really happy with the outcome. You can't see the receiving horn in the mid grill. I tried to mount it under the bumper, but there was no room. The interface unit is under the dash on the drivers side, speaker is under the dash behind the console. The display is mounted with a magnet on top of my Cheetah GPS Mirror which interfaces with the radar detector and the controller is wired up through the steering stalk and mounted beside the steering wheel out of site. All the wires were run into the headliner and A-Pillar where needed to hide the install. Here are some quick pics. I will post more when I get a chance.

[awesomejun]

That looks fantastic.
BTW, How did you feed that "Auto Scan" screen??
I'd like to know which wire in head console is right for hard wiring...

"Does anybody know which wire in the head console is right for detector mounting, yet??"

[marcx5]

anyone tried installing a Passport SRX? it is by far the best remote radar detector and laser jammer system. have it in my 2002 x5 now.

[Denalio]

Thanks. This is the newest RDD Spectre proof remote detector on the market. I will be also installing a Laser Interceptor for ultimate laser protection.