[eliphil]

Does anyone use a K40 built into your grill that jams laser and identifies traditional radar? I have an escort I used on my prior car but it's not bright or loud enough during the day although it is mostly effective. Trying to decide whether to spend the cash on something that does not need to be on the windshield and should perform better. Brightness and sound controlled by remote on the K40

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by eliphil

Does anyone use a K40 built into your grill that jams laser and identifies traditional radar? I have an escort I used on my prior car but it's not bright or loud enough during the day although it is mostly effective. Trying to decide whether to spend the cash on something that does not need to be on the windshield and should perform better. Brightness and sound controlled by remote on the K40

The new versions of Police LIDAR systems now have anti-jamming tech built into them. One member here is a P.O. from upstate NY and has commented on this.

[2022M550i]

Any more input on this? My question is basic....what works?...best bang for the buck? Valentine and Escort used the be good....but I'm probably aging myself.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Any more input on this? My question is basic....what works?...best bang for the buck? Valentine and Escort used the be good....but I'm probably aging myself.

I did quite a bit of research on this. The Valentine V2 seems to be a good candidate, but you will still get quite a bit of "false alerts" due to all the Parking/Driving sensors and Cruise radar along with the 360 parking, etc. I just could not deal with that.

There's a few good threads over in the M5 forum where people have mixed results on Valentine and also the top end Escort models.

[Bill BMW OR]

I personally use the new Valentine 1 V2 with a V1Driver App on my iPhone. Valentine has allowed 3rd party developers to create apps that blue tooth to the detector to allow customization.

Beware that if you have gesture control it will interfere with the V1 Laser detector. Either turn off detection in V1 or cover the light source. No way around that.

Check out this useful way to mount the V1 to the bottom of the rear view mirror. No more window suction cups. Works great.
https://blendmount.com/

Great site that reviews all radar and laser jammers you might find useful is Radar Vortex. May need a combination of detector and jammer if you want full protection.
https://www.vortexradar.com/2021/10/...ased-ka-range/

Hope that helps in your search.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Bill BMW OR

I personally use the new Valentine 1 V2 with a V1Driver App on my iPhone. Valentine has allowed 3rd party developers to create apps that blue tooth to the detector to allow customization.

Beware that if you have gesture control it will interfere with the V1 Laser detector. Either turn off detection in V1 or cover the light source. No way around that.

Check out this useful way to mount the V1 to the bottom of the rear view mirror. No more window suction cups. Works great.
https://blendmount.com/

Great site that reviews all radar and laser jammers you might find useful is Radar Vortex. May need a combination of detector and jammer if you want full protection.
https://www.vortexradar.com/2021/10/...ased-ka-range/

Hope that helps in your search.

Does the V2 false alarm with gesture control also ? Do you have 360 parking assist, radar CC as well ? I heard those will also set off the detector with false alerts.

[Leindurstit]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Does the V2 false alarm with gesture control also ? Do you have 360 parking assist, radar CC as well ? I heard those will also set off the detector with false alerts.

Yes, the V2 will pick up on gesture control laser as well (and most annoyingly, the sensors under the mirror are not disabled just because you turn off the feature in the car.) It does not pick up on blind spot monitoring or 360-degree parking distance sensors from my own car. Don't have ACC to know if it would set it off, but it certainly does false on K-band often enough to remind you it's a problem, but it's certainly tolerable.

It's not nearly as bad as my old V1 running 2013-ish original firmware (that thing would constantly howl until at some point I got the firmware updated when I got my first car with blind spot monitoring in 2018,) but there's only so much they can do.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Leindurstit

Yes, the V2 will pick up on gesture control laser as well (and most annoyingly, the sensors under the mirror are not disabled just because you turn off the feature in the car.) It does not pick up on blind spot monitoring or 360-degree parking distance sensors from my own car. Don't have ACC to know if it would set it off, but it certainly does false on K-band often enough to remind you it's a problem, but it's certainly tolerable.

It's not nearly as bad as my old V1 running 2013-ish original firmware (that thing would constantly howl until at some point I got the firmware updated when I got my first car with blind spot monitoring in 2018,) but there's only so much they can do.

thank you for the info. For right now, i'm not willing to tape off sensors to install a radar detector. Hopefully Valentine and Escort can figure out how to Firmware this problem away.

[thecooltype]

Originally Posted by eliphil

Does anyone use a K40 built into your grill that jams laser and identifies traditional radar? I have an escort I used on my prior car but it's not bright or loud enough during the day although it is mostly effective. Trying to decide whether to spend the cash on something that does not need to be on the windshield and should perform better. Brightness and sound controlled by remote on the K40

my last car 09 335 had a k40... With the remote you can adjust the loudness and brightness if I remember well. All in all it was a solid product.. saved me a few times considering Waze isn't full proof

[thecooltype]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

I did quite a bit of research on this. The Valentine V2 seems to be a good candidate, but you will still get quite a bit of "false alerts" due to all the Parking/Driving sensors and Cruise radar along with the 360 parking, etc. I just could not deal with that.

There's a few good threads over in the M5 forum where people have mixed results on Valentine and also the top end Escort models.

now that you mentioned this, the kd40 has lots of false positives because like you said, tons of cars driving around has sensors and stores in the city. However I got used to the false positives and knew exactly when a cop was around

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Does the V2 false alarm with gesture control also ? Do you have 360 parking assist, radar CC as well ? I heard those will also set off the detector with false alerts.

I don't have the gesture control, but I do have the other two. My V1 Gen 2 only "falses" on speed signs and door openers. I could eliminate the door opener falses by turning off "X" band. I no longer get false alerts from (mainly Mazda's) BS systems. I have no issue with the ACC or park assist.

[SBM1206]

I use Uniden R3 for at least 3-4 years. Only K, Ka, Pop and Laser are turned on. So far no tickets. Routinely hit triple-digits on the way to the grocery store.

[fly@night]

Personally, I have used Escort products for over 20 yrs. They’ve done well by me - only 2 tickets, and 1 was unavoidable by radar detection.

I’m currently running the Max360C, using suction cup mount. Very minimal false alarms, but they occasionally happen. No other issues with Gesture Control or anything.

This, plus Waze, has worked well for me.

[Joe-BMW33]

This is a good thread. Following. I think the last time I used a Radar detector was on my 1987 E30 or my 1986 IROC-Z (no jokes please!).

I remember it being more about false alarms and every once in a while you see a trap after an alert. I found I was slowing down way more often than I needed to which is the problem with these. Sure, false alarms certainly work for making you slow down.

The technology on both sides was weaker back then on both sides, but in a good way. It just seems there is SO much going on with police technology and consumer technology that I fear a radar detector today is more of a distraction than a prevention.

Unless you are driving 60 mph on your local 35-40 roads or 100 in a 65, my experiences in the last 20 years has been great, no speeding tickets. Even doing 100 in a 75 will rarely get you pulled over. Keep in mind, BMW speedos are +3-5mph overstated.

The last time I got ticket (you will like this Mike), I was on the NJ Turnpike and I got pulled over for being in the left lane too long without passing anyone. The ticket was more about my Red Sox license plate than the violation. Cop was a total dick.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I think the last time I used a Radar detector was on my 1987 E30 or my 1986 IROC-Z (no jokes please!).

Are you sure you got pulled over for the Red Sox plate or was it that you looked suspicious with the mullet? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Speaking of 1986 and mullets, that's when I bought this Uniden Stalker. I still use it and it works....has saved me a million times. The new stuff has to be leaps and bounds better.

Time capsule

[Al Pinã]

Move to Chicago where there's so much violence the police don't bother with speeders!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Are you sure you got pulled over for the Red Sox plate or was it that you looked suspicious with the mullet? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Speaking of 1986 and mullets, that's when I bought this Uniden Stalker. I still use it and it works....has saved me a million times. The new stuff has to be leaps and bounds better.

Time capsule

HA, you made me laugh out loud. No, it was the Red Sox Massachusetts plate on a brand new 2007 7-Series (pic below). So I guess not 20 years but 15 years ago. Just the perfect storm, NJ Statie, $100,000 car and a Mass-hole behind the wheel (to the cop, not in reality).

The IROC-Z led to my first BMW. I drove the IROC during college, graduated and got a job in financial services. Man did I take shit about having an IROC around the office, so I decided to become a "yuppie" and change my image, hence the brand new E30.

When I had the IROC during college, I worked my ass off at McDonalds (more opportunity for jokes) and I definitely could rock the mullet. Jokes and pokes welcome!

[OmahaDB]

Count me among the satisfied Uniden R3 users. It will pick up Ka & K at ridiculously long ranges. You'll get the occasional falsing from blind spot and parking radars, but they're generally easy to sort out. The only thing that sucks about it is the little suction cup mount that lets go after about 10 minutes. I only use it on longer road trips, or when we're on back roads.

[I3LaZeN]

I'm using a Escort Max 360c in my G30. I have Ka band and Laser active only.
I previously had a Escort 9500ix and every time I started the car, the laser would go off which got annoying.
No issues with the 360c. I just need to figure out how to disable this slow down alert that keeps going off randomly.

[DealBMW]

I am using a Uniden R7 and very happy overall.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Al Pin　

Move to Chicago where there's so much violence the police don't bother with speeders!

It's the best when you blow by CPD or Cook county sheriff and the rest of traffic being held back by them finally sees they dgaf. Everyone starts to over take like it was a green flag.

[admranger]

I have a version 2 V1 and a version 1 V1. The black electrical tape for gesture control has been a godsend for my sanity, though I did use a certain "gesture" aimed at the engineers that don't allow it to be turned off.

I've been a Mike Valentine fan since the first Escort he designed back in the 80's. Can't comment on other detectors though I did have a K40 in my 1988 Celica Turbo Alltrac (thanks to the previous owner). I did enjoy not having to worry about theft with the built in detector. The added stealth was nice as well when you did maybe, kinda, attract the attention of law enforcement.