[JonW]

I'm thinking about giving in and buying a Valentine One. I was looking at the hardwire installation instructions on bmw330ci.com (http://bmw330ci.com/DIY_V1.htm). There, they use some wires from the moon roof assembly. But I don't have a moon roof. Anyone out there tried the hardwire installation without a moon roof? There is a small, gray plastic panel in the roof just back from the lights. Might there be the needed wires in there? Thanks.

 

[webguy330i]

Jon-

I don't think the wires are from the moonroof switch. There are two "harnesses" in there, one of which I had to disconnect from the felt-covered panel which I popped out of the roof liner. Within that area (under the panel), there is yet another harness which isn't actually connected to anything (or it may on cars with the cell phone option, not sure) and it's white. It's wrapped in felt tape but I'm pretty sure every car has it. These cars are pre-wired for everything!

Have you popped off the panels yet and taken a look around?

 

[JonW]

Hi Chris,

No, I haven't taken a peek inside that small panel up there. Obviously, it's something I should do. But once I do that, I'll have committed myself to buying the V1 and a life of habitual speeding. I'm on the fence about the purchase. It's great 'insurance' to have. But I might also find myself speeding more. Perhaps I could muster the will power to have the V1 and not turn into a habitual speeder.

Thanks for the info. Sounds helpful. It'd also be nice to hear from someone who's installed one without that sunroof.

 

[tam3]

The V1 didn't make me speed more often or more excessively than I already did before I got it. I find it's just nice to know when a cop with a radar gun is around.

 

[webguy330i]

Same here. I actually find that I drive slower with the detector in, simply because whenever I get a bleep or a blarp I slow the hell down! Before, obviously, I wouldn't even know I was being pegged.

 

[JonW]

OK, OK. I'll buy the V1!

Now I just want to hear from someone who wired it in without the moon roof.

 

[epc]

I did.

My car doesn't have a sunroof and the instruction still worked. Don't worry. Pop the panel in the headliner (it's really really easy.) and check out the wires. You can assure yourself that the wires are as descriped in the instruction. This should give you the confidence to go ahead and buy a V1.

 

[JonW]

epc,

Excellent. Thanks!

 

[Yipper]

OK, OK. I'll buy the V1!

Now I just want to hear from someone who wired it in without the moon roof.

I have the moonroof -and- the homelink remote control. My V1 is wired to the homelink power.

 

[webguy330i]

I have the moonroof -and- the homelink remote control. My V1 is wired to the homelink power.

So that's what it uses, cool. I thought it might be the cell phone microphone.

 

[Cowboy]

I wired my V1 in according to that DIY.. it took about 10 minutes, and works perfectly!

Very easy to do.

- Cowboy

 

[Plaz]

Same here. I actually find that I drive slower with the detector in, simply because whenever I get a bleep or a blarp I slow the hell down! Before, obviously, I wouldn't even know I was being pegged.

Same here.

Although here in L.A., I found it necessary to turn off X-band detection... even with it off, it's often functioning as an automatic door detector... or a "Ralphs Detector" as I sometimes call it.

Highly recommend it though... on the highway it's already saved my butt a few times. And the hardwire installation was easy, even for a mechanical idiot like me.

 

[webguy330i]

Same here.

Although here in L.A., I found it necessary to turn off X-band detection... even with it off, it's often functioning as an automatic door detector... or a "Ralphs Detector" as I sometimes call it.

Highly recommend it though... on the highway it's already saved my butt a few times. And the hardwire installation was easy, even for a mechanical idiot like me.

Have you tried setting it to "L" mode? The advanced logic mode is supposed to rid you of all the misc. x-band crap you would normally see in "A" or (lowercase) "L" mode.

I thought about going to L mode but I can't get past the fact that I'd be letting a computer determine if the alert was important enough to listen to. Seems to me like it would defeat the purpose of the detector all together. But then again, I don't know how smart it really is.

 

[Plaz]

Have you tried setting it to "L" mode? The advanced logic mode is supposed to rid you of all the misc. x-band crap you would normally see in "A" or (lowercase) "L" mode.

I thought about going to L mode but I can't get past the fact that I'd be letting a computer determine if the alert was important enough to listen to. Seems to me like it would defeat the purpose of the detector all together. But then again, I don't know how smart it really is.

Even in "L" mode, if the signal is strong enough/close enough it will bleep. I drive past a Ralph's with 5 automatic doors every morning... before turning off X band, even in "L" mode, it would always sound like a hospital patient going "code blue" for the 1/4 mile or so around the supermarket.

I re-instate X-band detection when I'm going on a long highway trip... I'm pretty certain L.A. cops and CHPs don't use X-band at all anyway.

 

[webguy330i]

I totally understand. There are about 2-3 spots on my work commute (which is only about 4 miles mind you) that set off at least 2 bogies, up to 6! I think I might have to at least go to "L" mode... thanks for the info.

 

[tam3]

Talking about certain spots where the V1 will go insane consistantly:

When we lived in Sunnyvale/Mt. View (California) you basically had to unplug the V1 going past Moffett Field (101 and 237).

Lockheed Missle and Space and all the other crazy shit situated right there would totally make the V1 go insane (and you along with it if you didn't rip it out of the power supply fast enough).

The bogey counter would go from 1 straight to 9 and still be beeping that it was counting more but the display couldn't show it (single digit). All the arrows would be flashing, all the bands lit up, and it would be one long continuous noise cause the signal was so strong with the bogey counter screaming at you over and over. :yikes:

Headache central.

(just reminds me of the time when Geoff's mom came out to visit and started taking pictures of the "photography strictly prohibited" sign on the Navy Armament Center fence *sigh* )

 

[bettenmv]

Does anyone know if the aforementioned install works for e36???Thanks!

 

[GSR13]

Has anyone tried hardwiring the V1 into the fuse box? I would be more interested in running the wire down the A-Pillar and into the Glove Box than stealing power from the UGDO.

I know the install works and I have never heard anyone complain, I just always feel better if I do not have to tape into wiring.

 

[rwg]

JonW, the install is very simple. I had the home link control where you have a panel, but that part will not cause you any problems. You might have some trouble finding a switched wire without either of those two items (homelink or sunroof), but I think the car is pre-wired for the homelink control, so maybe you won't have any problem.

GSR13, look at the DIY before you make that decision. The V1 comes with a fitting that clips onto a power wire and a ground wire. It's pretty slick.

bettenmv, the same install will not work on the e36. I have been looking around at the installs for the '99 and it appears that the consensus is you have to cut a clip of the V1 hard wire, run the wire into the headliner through the vanity light, and splice something in the roof. The pics I have seen are not nearly as elegant as the e46 versions. However, I haven't tried it yet and I don't see any reason to accept conventional wisdom in this regard until I do. My biggest concern is finding an appropriate power wire - no hole in the roof on the ///M.

Check out the following for the e36:

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/el...alentine_1.html

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/in...r_detector.html

There is one with pictures that I can't seem to find right now. I will post it if I find it.