XKR upgrade - getting radar/laser deflector installed this weekend
 

So, I'll be the first to admit, I really don't like driving the speed limit. I'm a sane driver in the city - polite, accommodating even, however on an uncrowded highway outside of rush hour, all bets are off. I did a 30 minute jaunt from Tacoma to Bellevue this afternoon (~37 miles) (hitting traffic on 405) and had a fantastic time. We had some lovely balmy weather so perfect for some fast, top-down driving!! I wasn't even trying and my XKR quickly bumped up to about 100 miles an hour along the way. It drives just smooth as silk and it keeps wanting more and more. If I wasn't trying to be careful breaking in the engine, well, I guess we'll have to see where my nerves start to get frayed and I need to slow down.

As a result, I've decided that it's fairly necessary for me to have a radar detector that's more integrated into my car. I have an Escort radar that's portable. It works great but I hate having the cables everywhere. My husband took his Porsche to a local shop for the same radar/laser jammer by Escort and they did a phenomenal job so I decided that there was only one shop to take my new baby. (For those in the Seattle area - it's Systems Unlimited in Bellevue (Charles Maddy) - intro )

They're extremely detailed and very careful about all of their installs. They actually upgraded the stereo/speakers on our boat a couple of years ago for a very reasonable cost and also did a great job. They're going to have my car through Sunday so I'll have to see how it turns out. It's a bit nerve-wracking because they do have to take apart several parts of the front grill/front-end of the car in order to get the parts installed properly.

I'll be sure and post pictures when I get my car back. It's going to be a long weekend!! :)

Sandy

Looking forward to the pictures! I'm thinking about doing the same thing. I used a stealth install of a V1 in my current car and it's served me well, but with the proliferation of laser I'm thinking a laser jammer may be worth the investment.

I get my car back tonight. I'm dying in anticipation! They were also able to rig an audio connector for my iPhone that will play from the mini-jack and play streaming audio which is something that I can't do just using the factory USB/iPhone integration.

I'll post pictures and a review of the shop later this evening.

I have mine integrated - I wish the laser jammers had been mounted OUTSIDE vs inside the front grill.

Have you found that they're not as effective inside the grill? I'd love to know more. Wouldn't they be more obvious if you were to get pulled over if they're mounted under the bumper?

My shop is building a custom dash mount for the display that's going to be ready this evening. Pics for everyone tonight!!

Bump -- any pics on the install? I'm about to go down this road too...

Sorry - I've been out of town. I should have time this week to take some good pictures. My iPhone pics just aren't doing the install justice.

Nice to see more XK owners in the seattle area!

Technically I'm in Issaquah but nobody outside of our region knows where that is!!

Where are you located? I'll have to keep my eyes open for a Black XKR! i saw a silver XKR cabriolet at the Starbucks in Eastgate a couple of weeks ago but since it was parked I wasn't able to meet the owner.

Cheers!!

Lol -- I know where Issaquah is -- that's my address as well. Black, Silver, and Green then. We'll have to come up with a secret wave.

Yep, I was talking about the both of you! I'm in "the" Seattle haha!

Eastgate wasn't me. Car is currently in storage awaiting major electrical purges (repairs). You lucky '10+ folks don't want to know the horrors...

:icon_doh: And here I was figuring that the Jaguar gremlins of the past had been purged! I have an 09 Triumph S3 that's been an absolute gem. But yesterday, while I was detailing and checking out everything, I realized my right rear fog light cluster only had about half of the LEDs working. And with the Joy of LED lights comes the pain of complete cluster replacement. I think. We'll see today -- I'm going to have the oil changed in the car for what is most likely the very first time, and while it's up there for service I'll have them check out the tail light.

We could do that but I might be going too fast for you to see me! ;)

Pictures of installation
 

Sorry for the delay in getting these pictures posted!!

The installation turned out great. It's so nice not having cables around everywhere and I love how stealthy the install is. I especially like how the control buttons for the systems are in a custom flush mount in the ashtray. If I'm ever pulled over, all I have to do it to hit the kill switch for the system (silver button) and close the ashtray.

The display was mounted in a custom mount in the dash. This was a very specialized install and I really like that the display is front and center and appears as though it's part of the factory install.

This is the Escort Passport 9500ci system: PASSPORT 9500ci - Escort Inc.

The bi-color display that is green when there is no signal and red when the system detects, X/K/Ka/Laser is hidden in the dome light. I don't have a picture of it yet but will take one. It's really nice because it's just a nice green glow but then really shows in red once a signal is detected.

For those of you in Seattle - give Systems Unlimited a call. The end result of my install is a very professional, well-done job. Systems Unlimited

They also added a hard-wired FM modulator that allows me to play streaming audio from my iPhone (Rhapsody, Pandora). You can see the mini-jack plug in the last photo. I was so happy to have this option for audio available that really should have been available from the factory.

Any questions? I'll be happy to answer.

Sandy

??? Does anyone know how to rotate pictures that you've posted. The ones that are on my computer are oriented correctly but they are appearing in my post above upside down. :(

Hrm -- you may have to make sure you save the pics after rotating them 180. Sometimes Microsoft can be too convenient and remember things without actually making the changes.

Pretty slick install. I was looking at the 'mirror-display' option here (Store Escort Mirrors) vs getting it hidden somewhere. But it looks like they did a very slick job of integrating it into the steering column.

So, the strange thing with the pics is that I'm working on a Mac. Ironically I might have to use my Windows partition on my iMac at work to get the pictures to orient properly.

I know that the shop that did my car can do the mirror install but I actually prefer having the display on the steering column. You see the activity immediately without having to divert your attention from the road for more than a second.

The front shifters are installed behind the front grill and completely out of sight. The rear shifter is installed just below the rear bumper. If you bend over and really look for it you can see it but if you are standing behind the car (as a state trooper would be) you can't see it at all.

For anyone hoping to avoid a ticket or two, I would recommend this equipment.