I plan to do this soon and wanted to know if anyone in the S-Type community has done it. I saw a few installs in other sections but none in the S-Type section. Any thoughts or ideas would definitely be helpful. After I perform the install, I will update this thread so that others can benefit.

My purchase is the Beltronics RX65

 

Wanna drive over to Fort Mill for help?

We could do a photo write up for future reference.

 

I'd be interested in seeing how it is done.

 

which one is it??? or are you just running a hardwire for a windshield one?

 

Beltronics RX65 and I'm running a hardwire for a windshield mount.
https://www.beltronics.com/store/rx-65-red.html

 

Thanks for the offer; I'm always in Fort Mill getting gas since I live about 8 miles from the SC line. I want to get everything in hand before I start which includes the new style super cup mount and direct wire kit.

I'm not sure if you would want to be around me if I break any interior pieces. I can be kind of **** when it comes to working on cars.

 

The best one I saw and posted to the list was a Valentine One that used the rear view mirror as the display. Very cool but too expensive for me!!
Here is what it looks like.

 

looks like just ignition and ground. You can run that right to the ignition switch wiring running right under the knee bolster. It will be to the right of the steering column.

 

Yes, I saw this one and you are correct about it being to expensive.

 

I've thought about this idea but I want to get power from the rearview mirror. I'm not sure of the power source from the mirror if anyone can chime in it would be great.

This is my idea:
http://www.safe-n-sound1.com/How%20Easy.html

The stealth mirror cord:
http://www.safe-n-sound1.com/Beltron...%20Mirror.html

 

Interesting power cords. Seems the way to go.

 

Ive done this before in past vehicles. All you need is a ground and a wire that turns on after the ignition. I usually just grab off the lighter outlet.. I would suggest that you solder or use a better connector then what comes with the kit(usually a quick snap and squeeze connector). Ive had problems with the quick connects due to vibration in the past and its a real pain to go through all the work of fixing it due to a cheap connector.

oh btw, those mirror stealth cords look nice.

 

The connector is called a t-tap, here's a pic for reference:


Often the average joe can't tell the difference between a 18ga wire and a 22ga wire and buy a 18ga t-tap for a 22ga wire in which the connection fails. That's often why they T-taps fail, not due to vibration. If you buy the correct gauge T-Tap size, you shouldn't have a problem. I had a Turbo Neon SRT-4 with only a cat running to side dump and solid engine mounts = Crazy vibration and 5 T-Taps, never over two years did a connection fail...Yet I agree soldering is the better connection...

OP, you may want to consider mounting it up high (many believe the higher the detector the further it can detect) and tapping the wire into the garage or sunroof wiring. This route may be easier than taking the whole dash apart. I've always had problems noticing when radar detectors go off when the music is turned up...I need like a heads up display or something or something...

 

Install complete with pictures

1. Buy this kit (check your radar detector to get the right kit)
BELTRONICS Bel Stealth MIRROR Direct Wire Cord RX65 STi | eBay
It can also be bought from their website but you don't get free shipping.
Beltronics Stealth Mirror Cord - "Be Safe with Safe-N-Sound1.com"

2. Take the mirror apart (thanks Rick). I was able to pull everything apart with just my hands. Pinch the top part in and simply pull down. The bottom part comes apart by just pulling it outwards and down.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ics-faq-52965/

3. Find a 12v source and a ground. I used a multimeter and you should double check because yours might be color coded different from mine. The botom left (red) was power and the third over (brown) was ground.

4. Install the wires from the kit into the mirror. They supply you with double side tape and a few zip ties, so I used both. I know it makes you cringe to think about just shoving the wires in a slot but if you do it right there is no way they will move.
Install instructions from website:
http://www.safe-n-sound1.com/How%20Easy.html

Install Pics:





5. Reinstall the mirror, tuck the cord and replace the plastic pieces.





Old Install

 

Nice work and thanks for sharing the tips and pics!

 

So I bought the 9500ix when it was on sale for $399, the hardwire kit and bracket that you drill into the back of the mirror...My reasoning for the bracket is often thief's will break into cars that either have the suction cup bracket or even just the obviously residue of the section cup circle...I have really dark tint so the only way to see into the car is through the windshield and I'm hoping since there won't be either the suction cup mount or it's residue on the windshield that a thief will move on to a different car or to put it another way, that my car won't become a target...I feel if a thief sees either the mount or residue, they wouldn't hesitate to break the window and rummage the car looking for anything of value...I will be taking the detector with me since it's in high value ($500) item...

So you have to drill two shallow holes into the back of the mirror...There will be some risk, but does anyone know for sure if there are places I want to avoid drilling? This is what I'll be following: Escort / Beltronics Radar Detector Rear View Mirror Bracket - YouTube

 

I upgraded to the GX65.

 

I bought a Valentine in the last year. Actually a trade in of one of the originals. I'm not familiar with this sort of installation.

The windshield mount still sucks. They never improved it after all these years. So I am interested.

Where can I see more?

 

Not sure what your expectations are of this, but it's just a display...It's for if you want to hide your actual V1 unit from thieves or places where it's illegal like VA/DC...The problem is, when you hide the V1 you're probably weakening the detection range depending how much of a barrier there is between it and open air...Mount it somewhere towards the front of the car like in the bumper and now realize the rear and side detection is severely weakened...Also a pain the @ss to remove if you want to move it other cars or bring it with you on vacations where you rent cars...

Worse yet, since there isn't an auto-mute on the unit, you have to put a separate module with a volume knob...If you turn up the radio loud on your way to work you'll want to up the volume on the V1, but when the S/O or someone else wants to talk, and the radio's turned down, you're not going to want V1 so loud...

Just a random thing I did that might trigger you to think of an idea...In my last fast car (srt-4) I had an X50 with a smart cord that had an "alert" led, it flashed whenever any band went off...I had a friend that was good to electronics, we opened it up, multimetered the led leads and learned that the led was 4v...Soldered in a wire, ran it to two relays (two somehow made it constant vs a short pulse) some other electronics and ultimately to an Aura bass shaker which also had an on/off switch for it...Might sound dumb, but I had the thing on mute the entire time...I found the shake much less annoying than fiddling with the volume all the time...I had pics in 2005 on imageshack but I guess they self-delete at some point

 

I got it installed, both the mirror hardwire kit and the mirror mount...What sucks as expected, is you can't angle the detector at all, move the mirror and the rigid detector mount and detector move along with it...

NvmyJag...Where is your wire exiting relative to the trim pieces? Did you have trouble getting the trim pieces back on? I spend a half hour and I was unable to get the upper and lower trim pieces back on correctly, the bottom piece spread out extremely wide at the top and wouldn't meet up with the bottom of the upper piece...