GS - 4th Gen (2013-2020) Discussion about the 2013 and up GS models

Where Have you Mounted Your Radar Detector!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-03-13, 06:44 PM
  #1  
bigblack06
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
 
bigblack06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Beantown
Posts: 7,029
Received 315 Likes on 219 Posts
Default Where Have you Mounted Your Radar Detector!

Ok if you all could post pics or let me know where you placed your radar detectors, I was gonna try but I haven't really seen a good place to put it, mostly cause of the huge screen. Thanks in advance.
Old 01-03-13, 06:47 PM
  #2  
SimonGS
Driver
 
SimonGS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

this is where i put mine.
Attached Thumbnails Where Have you Mounted Your Radar Detector!-f8090c75-4900-4d0f-8ad8-fa322590d4c5-1590-000000d65e447dcc.jpg  
Old 01-04-13, 06:08 AM
  #3  
bigblack06
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
 
bigblack06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Beantown
Posts: 7,029
Received 315 Likes on 219 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by SimonGS
this is where i put mine.
Where did you plug it in.
Old 01-04-13, 10:08 AM
  #4  
stick22
Driver
 
stick22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bigblack06
Where did you plug it in.
it looks like it is hardwired into the rear view mirror
Old 01-04-13, 10:29 AM
  #5  
SimonGS
Driver
 
SimonGS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by stick22
it looks like it is hardwired into the rear view mirror
It is, they popped the panel off and there's a bunch of wires you can use.
Old 01-05-13, 07:34 PM
  #6  
kyoso23
Lexus Test Driver
 
kyoso23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AZ
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

I haven't seen the rearview mirror setup on a 4GS yet, but I used one of these on my IS. Looks low profile and is rock solid.
http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/valentinemount.html
Old 01-06-13, 09:47 PM
  #7  
williakz
Lexus Test Driver
 
williakz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MO
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

WATCH OUT!

High-mounted RDs with suction cups WILL let go sooner or later. When they do, you can damage your delicate wood trim, destroy the detector, and rip out your painstakingly installed hardwire. If you use suction cup mounts, you MUST take precautions against the unit falling. NOTE: religiously removing the detector when the car is parked is NOT sufficient protection. Under hard braking, rough roads, or because it's the third Tuesday of the month, your RD will surely take a fall. Be warned and be ready.
Old 01-06-13, 10:22 PM
  #8  
mso4
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
 
mso4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by williakz
WATCH OUT!

High-mounted RDs with suction cups WILL let go sooner or later. When they do, you can damage your delicate wood trim, destroy the detector, and rip out your painstakingly installed hardwire. If you use suction cup mounts, you MUST take precautions against the unit falling. NOTE: religiously removing the detector when the car is parked is NOT sufficient protection. Under hard braking, rough roads, or because it's the third Tuesday of the month, your RD will surely take a fall. Be warned and be ready.
Previously I would put a small bead of clear silicone glue inside each suction cup. Stick it to the windshield and wait a day before mounting RD. Will never fall off unless you put too much silicone. Whenever you want to remove take out your trusted razor blade and cut it off. New suction cups can be had for $5.

Current I have clear windshield tint (to block heat) so I've been looking for another solution since the razor to windshield w/ tint might not work well. So I found a permanent windshield mount (flea bay for about $10) which has a 3M tape that will stick to the windshield. This looks promising although I do not have any experience. In the beginning I will probably tie the RD to the mirror just in case it drops when it gets hot.
Old 01-06-13, 11:12 PM
  #9  
williakz
Lexus Test Driver
 
williakz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MO
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Yup, lots of way to do it. But, people being people they don't do it until disaster strikes.

I posted elsewhere that the new horizontal layout of the Lexus dash, combined with the huge central display and the VERY remote (read inconvenient) power sockets lead to a suboptimal situation for aftermarket windshield electronics. Serious radar detector enthusiasts often run at least two radar detectors, a high-def dash cam, CB radio/scanner, and even dedicated red-light camera alerters and VASCAR airplane detection equipment. Manufacturers of lux/performance cars really do their customers a disservice by neglecting easy hookups for such gizmos. Why not have a 12VDC receptacle or two on the dash near the windshield concealed by a nice little trim cover? Why not?
Old 01-07-13, 12:15 AM
  #10  
SimonGS
Driver
 
SimonGS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by williakz
WATCH OUT!

High-mounted RDs with suction cups WILL let go sooner or later. When they do, you can damage your delicate wood trim, destroy the detector, and rip out your painstakingly installed hardwire. If you use suction cup mounts, you MUST take precautions against the unit falling. NOTE: religiously removing the detector when the car is parked is NOT sufficient protection. Under hard braking, rough roads, or because it's the third Tuesday of the month, your RD will surely take a fall. Be warned and be ready.
I had it the same way on my other car for over a year, never fell off or anything.. but I guess it's better to be safe then sorry.
Old 01-07-13, 06:59 AM
  #11  
Outrage
Lead Lap
 
Outrage's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I had an Escort 8500 X50 installed in my vehicle for years. The suction cups would fail every time the temperature sufficiently changed (cold to hot or hot to cold). I'd see the radar detector sitting on the dashboard or floor when this happened. I tried using a small amount of petroleum jelly to create a better seal, but this did not improve the situation in any noticeable way. I even tried a large aftermarket navigation system-style suction cup with a custom Escort mount without success. Eventually, I gave up on the hassle of having a radar detector entirely.
Old 01-07-13, 10:22 AM
  #12  
williakz
Lexus Test Driver
 
williakz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MO
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Outrage
...Eventually, I gave up on the hassle of having a radar detector entirely.
Too bad. PA is one of the few states where police are not allowed to use either laser or moving radar to target speeders. As such, a good detector and a set of sharp eyes is all that the driver in a hurry needs there. I suppose you still have the eyes...
Old 01-07-13, 10:50 AM
  #13  
Outrage
Lead Lap
 
Outrage's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by williakz
Too bad. PA is one of the few states where police are not allowed to use either laser or moving radar to target speeders. As such, a good detector and a set of sharp eyes is all that the driver in a hurry needs there. I suppose you still have the eyes...
Pennsylvania also has less police presence than most of the surrounding states. The only times I've been pulled over it's been through the use of VASCAR. A radar detector won't do anything against that threat.
Old 01-08-13, 09:44 AM
  #14  
williakz
Lexus Test Driver
 
williakz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MO
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Outrage
The only times I've been pulled over it's been through the use of VASCAR. A radar detector won't do anything against that threat.
Actually, it kinda will these days.

Escort and Beltronics (same ownership now, so "Belscort") has developed a distributed networking app called "Escort Live" (EL) that ties their detectors (via Bluetooth) to a cell phone app to their central servers. The upshot is that alerts from other detectors in your area make your detector go off, even VASCAR reports from other users (manually inputted). EL and Waze both report user-inputted alerts (but NOT radar detector generated ones) to each other, so EL gives you the benefit of Waze police reports without all the silliness of point collecting and Taco Bell locations. Good luck.
Old 01-08-13, 01:55 PM
  #15  
DaVeyBoyTX
Driver School Candidate
iTrader: (3)
 
DaVeyBoyTX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 29
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by SimonGS
It is, they popped the panel off and there's a bunch of wires you can use.
Simon, how do you pop the panel off to get to the wires? This is how I had my Escort 9500ix installed in my G37 but it was much easier since the wires were easier to get to. Thanks in advance.


Quick Reply: Where Have you Mounted Your Radar Detector!



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:50 AM.