What's the best/reliable radar detector?
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From: San Francisco Bay area
My Ride: '05 545i, silver gray, black leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, cold weather package, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat, satellite radio prep, PIAA 4150K fogs, red rear reflectors, hardwired Valentine One
Valentine 1.
If you do a search, you'll get lots of opinions.
If you do a search, you'll get lots of opinions.
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From: Seattle, WA Metro Area
Let me save you the trouble of a google search.
http://www.valentine1.com/
Stream and CarFreak are right on.
http://www.valentine1.com/
Stream and CarFreak are right on.
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From: Albany, NY
My Ride: '04 545iS 6 spd, bought new via eBay, 11/05; Blk/Gry, Cold, L7, PDC, BMW Rear seatcover for pets.
First "Bumwa" was a new 1971 2002. High performance 5s since 1987. Beamer motorcycles too, currently on an 07 BMW K1200 GT; also a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP III.
After 20 years with the original Passport (still working perfectly), I went for its step son, the Valentine 1 and am very pleased.
It mounts nicely up beside the rearview mirror (I put mine on the passenger side to avoid clutter), just peeking out below the tint band, and as such it is virtually invisible from outside. I ran the cable over the passenger visor, and tucked it inside the black "velvet" trim piece along the edge of the A-pillar, then tucked it into the trim seam near the right edge of the glove box and plugged it into the passenger footwell outlet. Perfect fit, no slack.
Nothing shows unless you look carefully when the passenger visor is down. All this is 15 minutes, vs. $300 asked by my dealer.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
PS, there is a more complex wiring installation (described in a post in the Do it Yourself page) into the overhead light/switch panel, but my dealer advised against that, and I didn't feel comfortable tearing apart a trim panel and complex, mostly rheostatted switch gear.
It mounts nicely up beside the rearview mirror (I put mine on the passenger side to avoid clutter), just peeking out below the tint band, and as such it is virtually invisible from outside. I ran the cable over the passenger visor, and tucked it inside the black "velvet" trim piece along the edge of the A-pillar, then tucked it into the trim seam near the right edge of the glove box and plugged it into the passenger footwell outlet. Perfect fit, no slack.
Nothing shows unless you look carefully when the passenger visor is down. All this is 15 minutes, vs. $300 asked by my dealer.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
PS, there is a more complex wiring installation (described in a post in the Do it Yourself page) into the overhead light/switch panel, but my dealer advised against that, and I didn't feel comfortable tearing apart a trim panel and complex, mostly rheostatted switch gear.
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From: FLA - East Coast, USA
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V1 
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From: NYC
My Ride: 2006 525
has anyone heard of officers using radar detector detectors? (that are used to spot cars that have radar detectors in them)
i find it a weird coincidence that all the traffic tickets ive ever received, ive gotten them when i was using my radar detector. ever since i stopped using the detector (over 4 years ago) ive gotten no tickets.
maybe im just a smarter driver now?
i find it a weird coincidence that all the traffic tickets ive ever received, ive gotten them when i was using my radar detector. ever since i stopped using the detector (over 4 years ago) ive gotten no tickets.
maybe im just a smarter driver now?
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From: Winter Park, FL
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
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has anyone heard of officers using radar detector detectors? (that are used to spot cars that have radar detectors in them)
i find it a weird coincidence that all the traffic tickets ive ever received, ive gotten them when i was using my radar detector. ever since i stopped using the detector (over 4 years ago) ive gotten no tickets.
maybe im just a smarter driver now?
i find it a weird coincidence that all the traffic tickets ive ever received, ive gotten them when i was using my radar detector. ever since i stopped using the detector (over 4 years ago) ive gotten no tickets.
maybe im just a smarter driver now?
There are only 2 places in the USA where radar detectors are illegal.
Washington, DC
Virginia
So... unless you live in DC or VA, it is unlikely you have encountered a Radar Detector-Detector. However, even in VA or DC, you are not likely to get caught with a radar detector. I know, because I grew up in DC. I have never seen or heard of anyone getting a ticket for a radar detector.
In DC, you need to worry more about photo radar, and photo traffic lights.