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      11-16-2017, 10:44 AM   #1
Ph0zenstone
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DIY: Hardwire Radar Detector to Rearview Mirror

I didn't see a DIY on this yet but there were some discussions about it on another forum so I took some pictures as I was wiring my own V1. Steps are as follows:

Tools:
1) Radar detector
2) Mirror tap: https://www.amazon.com/Radar-Mount-M...=v1+mirror+tap
3) flathead screwdriver

1) Pop open the front black panel of the rearview mirror
2) You will see the red harness which i believe is the harness for the rain sensor. Using the mirror tap from Amazon, tap the positive and negative terminals into the far left and far right pins of the harness
3) test that the radar turns on and off and you're done.

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      11-21-2017, 09:07 PM   #2
lordbaron
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I am attempting to perform this mod, but have been unable to tell where to separate the trim. Did you remove the top of the 3 stack? Can you give me an idea where the clips are that need to be released?
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      11-22-2017, 06:09 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lordbaron View Post
I am attempting to perform this mod, but have been unable to tell where to separate the trim. Did you remove the top of the 3 stack? Can you give me an idea where the clips are that need to be released?

The large piece closer to the headliner simply props up and slides up towards the roof
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      11-24-2017, 01:53 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phozenstone View Post
The large piece closer to the headliner simply props up and slides up towards the roof
Got it, thanks.

I have a 2018 M550i, and test the power outlets as described here. They never shut off, even with car locked for 1 hour. I am now considering using the power in the center console and running the cable.
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      12-15-2017, 06:18 PM   #5
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Thanks for DIY, just installed however this am when I went to turn it on and started driving my laser alert was going off constantly. Anyway looks like due to all the lidar based options, driver assistance, lane change etc this sets off laser. Looks like I’ll have to disable laser band on valentine.
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      12-16-2017, 09:05 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dknj23 View Post
Thanks for DIY, just installed however this am when I went to turn it on and started driving my laser alert was going off constantly. Anyway looks like due to all the lidar based options, driver assistance, lane change etc this sets off laser. Looks like I’ll have to disable laser band on valentine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dknj23 View Post
Thanks for DIY, just installed however this am when I went to turn it on and started driving my laser alert was going off constantly. Anyway looks like due to all the lidar based options, driver assistance, lane change etc this sets off laser. Looks like I’ll have to disable laser band on valentine.
I had similar issue. I discovered moving it further up the glass helped, so that the sensor was a bit further from the actual windshield. I have it on the left side of the mirror.

My v1 is the latest firmware. only the low sunrise / sunset will cause it to go off now. prior to relocating, it was a constant issue.
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      12-16-2017, 07:23 PM   #7
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Thanks, will have to give this a try. I have the blend mount which goes underneath the mirror and mirror tapped so will have to see which looks best.
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      01-01-2018, 07:31 PM   #8
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Nm

Last edited by F32PROJEKT; 01-06-2018 at 02:11 PM..
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      01-03-2018, 09:46 AM   #9
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Thanks for the writeup. I have no problem removing the trim but finding it impossible to insert the wires into the existing red plug. I’m using the same wiretap. How were you able to find room in the existing wire holes? I must have played around with it for an hour and wasn’t able to get it even halfway.
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      01-03-2018, 06:56 PM   #10
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The plug goes in the same slot where the wires are coming out from. I made the mistake initially trying to force it in the 2 openings right below. They should slide in a bit on the top about 2/3s in. I also unplugged it so I could get a better grip.

Last edited by Dknj23; 01-03-2018 at 06:58 PM.. Reason: Added more info
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      01-20-2018, 06:23 PM   #11
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Power off?

So is the consensus that the power from red plug never turns off?
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      01-21-2018, 06:31 PM   #12
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Same here. Radar is not going off. Any advice??
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      01-22-2018, 06:58 PM   #13
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What kind of radar detector do you have? If valentine just reprogram so laser is off. Not the ideal solution however doing this prevents your detector from being completely useless.
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      01-29-2018, 04:53 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdestro View Post
Same here. Radar is not going off. Any advice??
Hi anyone able to resolve the fact that power is not turned off after the ignition is turned off? Unlike the dash cam with a low voltage cut off, I don't want the radar detector to remain powered at all times.
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      02-05-2018, 01:38 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dknj23 View Post
Thanks for DIY, just installed however this am when I went to turn it on and started driving my laser alert was going off constantly. Anyway looks like due to all the lidar based options, driver assistance, lane change etc this sets off laser. Looks like I’ll have to disable laser band on valentine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lordbaron View Post
I had similar issue. I discovered moving it further up the glass helped, so that the sensor was a bit further from the actual windshield. I have it on the left side of the mirror.

My v1 is the latest firmware. only the low sunrise / sunset will cause it to go off now. prior to relocating, it was a constant issue.
Hey Guys,
FYI, the laser goes off constantly due to the POP detection in the V1 radar unit. I had to turn this off on my previous cars due to the lane departure/etc. functionality.

To do so, follow the below if you have the Valentine 1, no need to turn off laser. I had to do this again because I sent my V1 back to the company for the updated version on their upgrade program and forgot to turn this feature off:

http://www.valentine1.com/Lab/techreport3.asp

Specifically:
I. How to enter the Programming Mode.
Starting with the Control Knob in the "off" position, Press and hold-in Knob and at the same time turn the Knob "on;" continue holding in the Knob until all front-panel lights are on (takes about 5 seconds).
Release the Control Knob.

II. How to determine your software version.
Press and immediately release the Control Knob to display software version. The software-version number is four digits that display one digit at a time in the Bogey Counter-example: 2.869.
Note your software number, then see the table below for features that are programmable in your unit.
Press and immediately release the Control Knob to exit software-version display.

Update the "J" code feature to "Off" (down arrow)

Hope that helps.
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      03-01-2018, 03:14 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heli_ca View Post
Hi anyone able to resolve the fact that power is not turned off after the ignition is turned off? Unlike the dash cam with a low voltage cut off, I don't want the radar detector to remain powered at all times.
So am I correct in assuming this write up basically means you are tapping into a wire that never turns off? Even when the car is off the radar is still going to be on? That’s not much of an option. Anyone else figure this out?
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      03-01-2018, 04:20 PM   #17
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Honestly guys, just use this method. The fuse mentioned in this DIY is perfect, shuts off after 10 or 15 minutes just like my previous M4. It's by far a simple solution.

http://www.eyephysics.com/BMWG30/bmwg30.html
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      03-03-2018, 11:57 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjr24 View Post
So am I correct in assuming this write up basically means you are tapping into a wire that never turns off? Even when the car is off the radar is still going to be on? That’s not much of an option. Anyone else figure this out?
Same on my 2018 X3. Has anyone found a solution? Anyone tried tapping the black auto dimmng mirror connector with good results?
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      03-04-2018, 12:00 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by forza1976 View Post
Honestly guys, just use this method. The fuse mentioned in this DIY is perfect, shuts off after 10 or 15 minutes just like my previous M4. It's by far a simple solution.

http://www.eyephysics.com/BMWG30/bmwg30.html
There is nothing simple about this approach. Way more complicated than a mirror tap. Although if I can't find the right connection in the mirror, I may have to consider this.
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      03-04-2018, 04:30 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by forza1976 View Post
Hey Guys,
FYI, the laser goes off constantly due to the POP detection in the V1 radar unit. I had to turn this off on my previous cars due to the lane departure/etc. functionality.

To do so, follow the below if you have the Valentine 1, no need to turn off laser. I had to do this again because I sent my V1 back to the company for the updated version on their upgrade program and forgot to turn this feature off:

http://www.valentine1.com/Lab/techreport3.asp

Specifically:
I. How to enter the Programming Mode.
Starting with the Control Knob in the "off" position, Press and hold-in Knob and at the same time turn the Knob "on;" continue holding in the Knob until all front-panel lights are on (takes about 5 seconds).
Release the Control Knob.

II. How to determine your software version.
Press and immediately release the Control Knob to display software version. The software-version number is four digits that display one digit at a time in the Bogey Counter-example: 2.869.
Note your software number, then see the table below for features that are programmable in your unit.
Press and immediately release the Control Knob to exit software-version display.

Update the "J" code feature to "Off" (down arrow)

Hope that helps.
The highlighted above in red is 100% incorrect information.

POP detection, detects (in theory) very quick burst of RADAR from very specific radar guns that have a POP feature built in to them. There are 2 types of POP, one being K band (specifically MPH Industries Z25 and Z35 guns which are pretty rare anyway) which transmits a very short 16 millisecond burst, or MPH Ka band guns that have the POP feature (tuned to 33.8GHz) which transmit a POP burst of 67 milliseconds.

Laser alerts detect LIDAR which transmits from police laser guns (and other sources) at a frequency of 905 nanometers.

Turning POP on/off does nothing to prevent laser/lidar alerts.

The most likely culprit is either the sun, or the hand gesture feature which apparently transmits its lidar signal from the roof panel down towards the center of the dash (and your windshield), where your detector picks up the lidar signal.
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      03-05-2018, 07:52 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by papajohn View Post
There is nothing simple about this approach. Way more complicated than a mirror tap. Although if I can't find the right connection in the mirror, I may have to consider this.
You are joking right, this is a 20minute mod with the approach I noted.
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      03-05-2018, 08:02 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBusDriver View Post
The highlighted above in red is 100% incorrect information.

POP detection, detects (in theory) very quick burst of RADAR from very specific radar guns that have a POP feature built in to them. There are 2 types of POP, one being K band (specifically MPH Industries Z25 and Z35 guns which are pretty rare anyway) which transmits a very short 16 millisecond burst, or MPH Ka band guns that have the POP feature (tuned to 33.8GHz) which transmit a POP burst of 67 milliseconds.

Laser alerts detect LIDAR which transmits from police laser guns (and other sources) at a frequency of 905 nanometers.

Turning POP on/off does nothing to prevent laser/lidar alerts.

The most likely culprit is either the sun, or the hand gesture feature which apparently transmits its lidar signal from the roof panel down towards the center of the dash (and your windshield), where your detector picks up the lidar signal.

Fair enough, however I’ve had two cars that behaved this way and disabling pop solved the issue. Regardless of the said statement being 100% correct, it solved my issue without impacting detection performance.
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