Radar detector advice

One of the next things on my list of purchases is a radar detector, mostly due to the fact that I got hit with a $300 ticket (which is how much a radar detector costs). Just want to hear peoples opinions on if I should go for the cheap beltronics or the more mid-range one seen here on newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008611%2050011831&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=762|82-802-004^82-802-004-TS%2C82-802-007^82-802-007-TS

Go with a V1 or Escort

Valentine One!

Idk, two of my brothers have had Beltronics. They are good value and quality, cops are detected from a mile away.

V1 or don't bother, after being nailed in a friend's car from behind with an inferior bell detector I now install mine every time even if it's right next to theirs.

V1. Nuff said. Paid for itself in the first week.

V1's are generally the most highly regarded detector from what I understand. No point cheaping out only to be out of pocket with speeding fines. That and the police will always throw the book at someone they pull over who has a radar detector mounted where they can see it.

Or you could just stick to the speed limit, very cheap - no tickets and less fuel costs lol

I dunno, I'm still on board with the beltronics RX65. All I need to know is if there is a cop in the area, not which direction they're coming from. I'll slow down regardless.

Don`t be a moron....get a top of the line unit. V1, (Escort) Passport 8500, 9500, or Solo II cordless. Buy one, and use it *religiously*, even if you`re just running down to the local 7-11....

+1 for Valentine 1

Save yourself the money and only drive 5mph over???

V1. I have a friends Passport 9500i and I think it sucks compared to a buddies v1.

The V1 has multidirectional antennas and displays. This results in two things: 1) it costs more, and 2) it is superior to all others by a wide margin. Also, one of mine is about 9 years old and used every day, the other is 3 years old and used on weekends. Both work flawlessly.

i had both and i can compare
V1 is an old technology , after dealing 3 weeks with false alerts everywhere i sent it back
Go with Escort 9500i + , no regret

Originally Posted by 96 GGM 528I

V1. I have a friends Passport 9500i and I think it sucks compared to a buddies v1.

Originally Posted by ChaseRobert

The V1 has multidirectional antennas and displays. This results in two things: 1) it costs more, and 2) it is superior to all others by a wide margin. Also, one of mine is about 9 years old and used every day, the other is 3 years old and used on weekends. Both work flawlessly.

Please explain this "superiority", in terms of "Real-world performance" that might actually benefit the average driver.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1295194

Originally Posted by bimmerteck

V1 or don't bother, after being nailed in a friend's car from behind with an inferior bel detector I now install mine every time even if it's right next to theirs.

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Please explain this "superiority", in terms of "Real-world performance" that might actually benefit the average driver.

Coming down Monteagle mountain in a friend's e28 M5 the Bel Sti beeped very lightly once, I thought I was picking up a sneaky trooper stationed at the bottom of the incline. (Common hiding spot on I-24) I was a few miles away from the bottom at the time and figured it was picking it up b/c of my being elevated above the treeline. I was dead wrong. The trooper was flying down the mountain behind me and the 2nd time the detector made a sound it was already too late, the trooper had just tagged me! I got out of the $360 ticket with traffic school but I will never again be without my V1 on a road trip. Even my wife understands the value of the arrows and has since purchased her own V1 after seeing mine save my bacon. She now laughs as we watch car after car tagged and pulled over by KYHP around thanksgiving on the way to her parent's. (they generally have one officer concealed with instant-on directing a large line of patrol cars generally hiding behind an exit ramp.)


As for the helicopters. . . . those you'll need a scanner for.


I'd like to add that Valentine was going to update my software for free a few years back so I sent my spare V1 in. I got a call asking if it was OK if they sent me a new V1 b/c they were unimpressed with my unit's performance upon testing and wanted to study how it had failed! Cost to me $9 for shipping. (even "failed" it had saved me many times.)

Originally Posted by champaign777

i had both and i can compare
V1 is an old technology , after dealing 3 weeks with false alerts everywhere i sent it back
Go with Escort 9500i + , no regret

The V1 is the only radar detector that has a software upgrade option. Are you an idiot or were you just too lazy to do the software upgrade?


Hello OP, as many have said here (and I've done exhaustive research on everything out there) the ONLY two radar detectors to consider are the Valentine V1 or the Passport Escort 8500 or 9500. If you've done your research you would also come to the same conclusion.

Originally Posted by bimmerteck

I'd like to add that Valentine was going to update my software for free a few years back so I sent my spare V1 in. I got a call asking if it was OK if they sent me a new V1 b/c they were unimpressed with my unit's performance upon testing and wanted to study how it had failed! Cost to me $9 for shipping. (even "failed" it had saved me many times.)

WOW! Now THAT is customer service!!

Originally Posted by Mack

WOW! Now THAT is customer service!!

Yeah, they didn't even care that I had originally picked it up in a pawn shop for $100. Since then I've bought 2 more straight from them b/c I appreciated the way they took care of me even though I wouldn't have thought twice if they had said I had to pay for an upgrade since I was't the original purchaser.

Originally Posted by 540indiana

Save yourself the money and only drive 5mph over???

I wish it was as simple as that, but if I drive the same way every day I begin to get bored.

Has any one had their V1 installed into the dash or anything like that and how much did it cost you?

Here's a pic of mine hardwired, $free.99 its really simple.

I followed the wiring from these guys: http://www.ideaphile.com/bmw/v1/index.html

I didn't want the black wire exposed, so I ran the wire through the gap between the windshield and homelink, you can barely see the black wire

Oh since the windshield has a tint on the top 15% of the windshield, it looks stealth.
Yes that's an EZPass to the right, spray painted flat matte black too

+100000000000 V1 ftw!

Originally Posted by DinanBimmer

Has any one had their V1 installed into the dash or anything like that and how much did it cost you?

I skipped over in dash and use an iPhone for remote display(with mapping) it allows the GPS functionality of the 9500, as well as POI marking for red light cams, and the slick install of a remote display.