While that is potentially true, I personally don't recommend it. The reason is because it seems that depending on the year, possibly options on the vehicle, some of the wires are different. For example, I was not able to find the whatever color that was indicated in the DIY for the radar detector install thread, and I know a few other members that shared the same problem I had.

In addition to that, there has been reports that the ground that's used around the area is unstable -- though that could be an installer issue. I personally think it's too much hassle to have to mess with it again if it fubars, so I rather go straight to a known and clearly marked v12 source, lol.

 

I am one of the people who posted to that thread that my wires had the correct color but maybe were not the right ones as that diy was written many models before mine (and things could have possibly changed). And I had to do some repair work afterwards. I'd stick with a clearly known 12v source just like you said.

 

So the V1 is now a "cheapy" radar detector? Seriously, if you don't even know what you tapped in to you can't conclude that there wasn't enough current to run your radar detecor. 22 gauge wire can handle all the current you need for a radar detector (up to 1 Amp). The power cord for the V1 is a standard telephone cord which is 24 gauge and it draws between 225 and 425mA.

 

whatever wire i tapped into didn't supply enough current, period. it may have been the the wrong wire so i'd recommend against it.

i tapped into my other bmw (i had three at the same time) successfully but it was a different model all together. just giving people a warning to proceed at their own risk.