SGT

I finally got around to doing this mod and so now I can write up a guide for others that are interested. It's a fairly simple task and shouldn't take more than an hour. The hardest part is routing the wires and hiding them. I will not reinvent the wheel so I'll be taking bits and pieces from other posts.

Step 1: Remove the center console and leather side panels. See VVT-i's guide on how to do that. Take a look at the underside of the center console.



Step 2: Take the V1 vampire clip and clamp it over the red wire leading into the center of the cig lighter.



Step 3: Route the red wire from the V1 power adapter under the center console.



Step 4: Route the black ground wire from the V1 power adapter to the left side of the head unit. Loosen the 10mm bolt, stick the metal prong between the bolt and the washer, and tighten the bolt.



Step 5: Mount the V1 on your windshield, preferably on the top near the center. Make sure the front and back of unit are unobstructed.



Step 6: Tuck V1 wire from main unit into headliner and down the A-pillar. If necessary, use a credit card to facilitate the process.



Step 7: Mount the remote display, preferably near the A-pillar so that hiding the wire will be easier.



Step 8: Now you'll have two wires to deal with. Tuck both along the side of the dash down the pillar.



Step 9: Mount the V1 power adapter in the niche right above the gas pedal. Take the red and black wires from steps 3-4 and hide it between the carpet and plastic under the dash. Route the other two V1 wires under the dash (there's plenty of places to hide the wires) and connect it to the V1 power adapter.



Step 10: Put the leather side panels and center console back on, and be sure to connect the V1 red wire to the vampire clip. Turn on the car and go for a "test drive."

INHOCJP

Thanks SGT, you are a brave soul

I've been wanting to hardwire my V1 for years now...really want a clean install.

Raptor.1

Brave soul indeed~ I am not sure what it is about the V1, I think you mentioned that it has an integrated display, why you would want that? For less than 90 bucks Lexus installed my Rocky Mountain "detector/jammer." They hard wired it directly into the dome light area and it looks like it was supposed to be done this way. Very clean and I never could tell that anything was ever changed in that area except the wire coming out to the detector. I suppose I could have found a way to do it myself but since they said that they could do it for me I figured they know the car and I didn't want to take any chances.

SGT

The remote display is so that other people won't know you have a detector and they won't be crowding behind you or following you while you lead the way. Why V1? Because it's the best radar detector out there. It picks up radar pretty much every time and gives you ample time to adjust your speed accordingly. For $400, I think it's definitely worth it and it already saved me once during the 3 week span that I've had it.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

umm, very nice insdeed! great writeup

i am just curious, have you ever thought about using the power from the autodim mirror? that's where i get the power for the v1 hardwire on my gs400. been thinking about doing hardwire for my sc430 but it seems harder (all hard plastic). however your method makes things looks easier again if i go to the cigarette lighter.

Raptor.1

Well as for people crowding behind you or following you because you have a visable detector I just don't think this is a real issue. What I mean is I don't think people think that way and are out on the roads looking for cars that have visable radar detectors for the reasons you mentioned and do what you are suggesting by following and crowding.
Now to keep it out of sight and out of mind is another thing and I would agree with that idea.

As for the V1 being the best, well that may be true for standard detecors but let me tell you what I know about Rocky Mountain detectors which may change your mind. They are the company that makes the chip and builds the radar and laser guns for the police. They know exactly the frequencys that are used and know the codes for which to block them. My detector/jammer "though visable in the cabin of my car" will not go off for any signals unless they are those that the police use. I have had a couple of these detectors for several years and they never go off unless there is a cop around. I will admit that they do go off with those damn roadside radar units that show your speed when you are going through a school zone and the State Police drop off units they leave around certain areas to make people aware of the speed zones. It also detects the photo radar units as well. Other than that I can be right in front of a store with one of those automatic door openers that usually set off regular detectors and not hear a peep from my RMD.

Here is some info on my unit: Cost me $249. $84 for the install by Lexus.

The New RMR-C450 a.k.a "Super Detector" is a full-featured Radar/Laser Detector With Fully Integrated Radar/Laser Scrambler
combined with Bi-Lingual Voice alerts (English/Spanish).

The radar detector is a dual conversion scanning superheterodyne receiver with separate alarms for each of the radar bands, dim function, city/highway and mute select. It has a full 360 degree range for detection with an advanced range. Since in this day and age it is quite elementary to build an radar detector and there are so many brands claiming to be the best or claiming their detector does something the others don't. Fact is no one else can detect the new pop radar to the point where if their product does not work like they say, they will pay your fine. That is no one but US.*

The radar circuit mixes a Doppler FM chirp with the incoming police radar signal and reflects it back to the radar gun. The computer in the radar gun must receive eight identical, consecutive readings before it will display your speed. All the different speeds contained in the FM chirp confuse the computer in the radar gun so it does not display any speed. This effect duplicates the normal operation the officer usually sees. Since it is normal to occasionally lose the target speed, the officer is not suspicious. Reasonable care should still be used as flagrant violators could still be caught with an estimated speed.

Rocky Mountain Radar is so sure of their New RMR-C450 a.k.a "Super Detector" that they are willing to put their money where their mouth is. If you get a ticket while using the New RMR-C450 a.k.a "Super Detector" they will pay your fine!

Micro-Scan™ to provide maximum detection against Instant On, POP radar
· Smart-Scan™ to Lower False Alarms
· New ALT TM Adaptive Laser Tracking for improved Laser performance
· Voice Alerts with Intelli-Voice TM keeps your eyes on the road!
· Bi-Lingual Voice (English/Spanish)
· Detects all Radar Bands (X, K, Ka, SuperWide, Instant-On, Pulse)
· Detects All Lidar guns (LTI 20-20, Pro-Laser, Laser-Lyte, Stalker)
· Scrambles All Radar Bands (X, K, Ka, SuperWide, Instant-On, Pulse)
· Scrambles All Lidar Guns (LTI 20-20, Pro-Laser, Laser-Lyte, Stalker)
· 360-Degree Laser/Radar Detection
· VG-2/VG-3 undetectable, Selectable VG-2 detection
· Automatic Internal Scrambler Test
· Four-Level Dim
· City/Highway, Mute, Signal Strength Meter, Selectable Tones
· Last Setting Memory
· Detects Safety Alert (SA) and Safety Warning System (SWS)
· Windshield Mounting Bracket and Power Cord
· Three Year Warranty
· One year Ticket Rebate Program
Windshield Mounting Bracket and Power Cord

http://www.rockymountainradar.com/

SGT

Interesting, I've never heard of Rocky Mountain detectors. I wonder if there are any real world comparisons between them and V1 detectors.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Great writeup SGT, THANK YOU

foofighter

great great write up...i'm stlill trying to figure out how to better conceal the remote display

SGT

Raptor.1, you may want to check this post out regarding Rocky Mountain radar detectors:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...62#post1671262

I have no opinion on it as I've never used their products.

SGT

Thanks for everyone's comments.

I think DaveGS4 also recommended that I tap the autodim mirror, but I just thought it would be easier to use the cig lighter since I had to take out the head unit anyways for my SLI iPod adapter install.

Raptor.1

It is funny you should mention this because if you go to the link I posted for Rocky Mountain Detectors they talk about the very people mentioned in your link to the other CL member posted. On the RM site they actually address the people that are doing this too them. I can tell you without a doubt that this product really works. I have never recieved a ticket while using one of them, and believe me I am a very aggressive driver. It is also funny because it seems the second I am driving something else I will get a ticket. I have had a lot, none with the RM detector. Go to the link I posted and take a look at some of their FAQ. You will see they address this problem. There is a handfull of spin doctors out there trying to ruin their rep. I was surprised to learn all of this too as they did not have this problem just a couple of years back but now it is all over the net and it is these people spinning their rep because the other guy can't compete. They claim the detectors don't work period, they work~. Very interesting dont you think?

Raptor.1

Don’t get me wrong, I didn't mean to hijack your post or anything. I know this was all about the installation of your V1 and I am sorry for sidetracking the issue, I guess I just felt had a little secret that I wanted to share is all. I am not pointing fingers and trying to say one is better than the other because by no means am I an expert on this subject. I have never had a V1 but I am sure it lives up to its reputation. I have had a cobra, a Uniden, and an Escort, all of them worked to some level of protection but IMHO none of them compare to the RMD. One thing you will notice if you do a search for Radar Detectors on the web is that there are companies that will offer almost the entire line of detectors available except for the RMD. Also you can do a search for Rocky Mountain Detectors and find websites dedicated to the discrediting of the RM product. I am not sure how to really take this. I mean why would websites be created to discredit a company to such a degree. I don’t think you could find something like that for any other detector out there. If any of this was true don’t you think this company would have gone out of business for one reason or another with legal issues or financial causes? One thing I do know, which isn't there anymore, is that the Rocky Mountain website used to talk about their involvement with the chips and radar/laser guns they used to make for the police. I am guessing that they don't do that any more and are a separate or side company that was created. I will admit there is a lot of mystery here and I don’t have all of the answers. I actually read about the spin doctor thing on their website before I saw it on the web. This surprised me to say the least since I have been using them for the last six years without a hitch. Again I am sorry for jacking your threat. Your pictures show a lot of work and a love for the game for which I commend you. You are a bolder man than me my friend.

SGT

Hey, don't worry about it. I'm glad that you're speaking up for something you believe in, which obviously works well for you. Being that you have firsthand experience with a relatively unknown product, I feel that it's important to shed light on it whether it be positive or negative feedback. This is how we learn. Personally, I'd take the word of an individual on forums over professional reviewers with their own websites. Thanks for the compliment. The only way I had the courage to do something like this was from other CL members and their expertise, which is why I love this forum.

SlothGS

Great writeup... thanks for sharing. I am curious as to why you did not tap the power from one of the fuse boxes?? I just hardwired mine and tapped the power from the fuse to the sunroof. Works fine but its not a switched circuit.