Better way mount for a Passport 8500?

[sna77]

Hi,
I have had a Passport 8500 x50 in my BMW e46 for the past 2 years. Overall I have been very happy with the device, except the windshield mount’s constant rattling drove me crazy enough to buy a V1. (That’s another story—I had the V1, but loved the fact that it never made any noise at all when I hit bumps, etc).

Anyhow, here’s my beef with the Passport:

The windshield mount is poorly designed. The clip hangs too far towards the ends of the detector, and the weight of the detector makes it front heavy. When you hit a bump, the front of the detector flips up, then the detector slams against the windshield and makes noise. It gets incredibly annoying when you live in a city like Boston where there are more potholes than flat road… Conversely, the V1’s mount is adjustable, and there is a rubber strip along the end that rests against the windshield. I think that was the strongest part of the design with the V1 (the display is awful).

Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for mounting, building a custom mount etc—anything to make the thing make less noise…

Thanks,
Steve

[g60_corrado_91]

I agree with this too. When I first got my X50, I noticed that the RD would bounce up and down hitting the glass while doing so. I have just learned to deal with it since I live in IL with really crappy roads. It doesn't really bother me anyhow because I almost always have my stereo cranked up high enough to hide all the other squeeks my Jetta has. I like loud music too. Maybe you could put a small piece of rubber on the RD somehow to isolate the bumps? That's just a guess.

[EastGermanOlympicJudge]

You could either:

1) get a visor clip

2) mount it to the dash with velcro.

For what it's worth, this appears to be a problem mostly with steeply-raked windshields. Do we have any Honda Element owners out here with X50s? I bet they don't make as much noise in those cars.

[lordhamster]

I'm in an E46 also, but with a V1.

I was annoyed at the damn suctioncups constantly falling off due to our climate here in Cleveland. So I mounted it to my dash. I'll post some pics in a little bit. I mounted the wife's x50 in her car in the same manner.

I mounted it to the left of the instrument panel on the dashboard using a single strip of 3m Dual Lock fastners (availible at Target). These are like velcro, but much much much much stronger. The stuff works like velcro, but you snap it together like you would lego pieces.

Anyway, this single strip of dual-lock fastners keeps the V1 rock solid on my dash with no vibration.

I power the V1 using an adapter that plugs into the flashlight port in the glovebox. This way, unlike with the cig lighter, when I lock the car, the V1 turns off.

Pics at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordham...7594184527421/

Sample:

[sna77]

You could either:

1) get a visor clip

2) mount it to the dash with velcro.

For what it's worth, this appears to be a problem mostly with steeply-raked windshields. Do we have any Honda Element owners out here with X50s? I bet they don't make as much noise in those cars.

I actually bought the visor clip, but hated not being able to use my visor--then I tried moving the visor clip to the headliner, but it was behind the tinted windshield then...

See pic...

Also, my girlfried drivers a Land Rover Discovery, and hers doesnt make nearly as much noise as mine--that wind shield is pretty vertical...

[sna77]

I'm in an E46 also, but with a V1.


I power the V1 using an adapter that plugs into the flashlight port in the glovebox. This way, unlike with the cig lighter, when I lock the car, the V1 turns off.

Hey man, you need to hardwire that V1! Its really easy to do in an e46... Just follow this DIY:

http://64.177.26.92/DIY_V1.htm

Takes about 15 minutes to do, and turns ON/OFF with the car.

-Steve

[sna77]

I mounted it to the left of the instrument panel on the dashboard using a single strip of 3m Dual Lock fastners (availible at Target). These are like velcro, but much much much much stronger. The stuff works like velcro, but you snap it together like you would lego pieces.

this it?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0006HVM72

[lordhamster]

I mounted it to the left of the instrument panel on the dashboard using a single strip of 3m Dual Lock fastners (availible at Target). These are like velcro, but much much much much stronger. The stuff works like velcro, but you snap it together like you would lego pieces.

this it?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0006HVM72

Sortof Don't by this roll. It is the same technology, but this roll is much finer locking material, which does not bond as strong.

You want the bigger interlocking ones (rougher). The ones I use I bought at a local target. They are actually packed under the Scotch brand.



The onese I use look like this. As you can see the little interlocking things are rather big and rough. The one from the roll from the target website is the same concept but very very fine... not so good for automotive use.

As you can see, its kindof like velcro, but rather than having a hook side and a fuzzy side, these have the same hooklike "fastners" on both sides... when you press them together, they interlock and form a rock solid hold, not wobbly like velcro.

One tiny strip at the end of my wife's x50 holds the entire detecor like it were fused to the dash. But still allows quick removal in case she is pulled over.

[carbonhed]

I tried a friends X50 and was driven nuts by the rattling too. Surely somebody must have come up with an easy DIY version of the rubber bumper?

[DAG]

My X50 bounces on my WRX windshield as well. This is not just an annoyance and it may very well be resulting in breaking the case top where the screws enter it. All three plastic screw posts were cracked and one screw was even missing. The weight of the whole unit is held by that bracket and the case top. Bouncing around on the windshield can't be doing it any good and likely is stressing the case too much.

My mount is low on the windshield and hard wired in. I don't want a visor or mirror mount since the windshield is tinted and patterned up that high. Mounting it on the dash will cook it from dash heat even more and decrease radar sensitivity some.