View Full Version : Advice on installing the LI Dual on a BMW 335
jjurroz
11-17-2010, 12:07 PM
4762
I the got unit last week and got around to running the wires and temporarily mounted the unit in the area where the green boxes are at in the picture. What do you guys think? Is this the best spot? The other area where I considered mounting it was where the red boxes are. Your thoughts?
Regards,
Jose
SaltyinNJ
11-17-2010, 01:09 PM
I'm no expert, but it seems both spots are too low. You may need to cut the grill to get the best placement.
Hunter
11-17-2010, 01:22 PM
Hard car to protect...
definite too low.Witha dual your best bet is at the bottom of the main grill and furthest to the lights.
jjurroz
11-17-2010, 02:16 PM
what about vertically in between the upper grill? There doesn't seem to be a 100% consensus on whether vertically is good or not.
chris98891
11-17-2010, 02:19 PM
vertical worked for me, but my car is black, and doesn't have as big of a front end. As said before, vertical will work for most shots, but they get tricky in off axis. its much safer to have a horizontal setup to have standard LIs
radarrob
11-17-2010, 02:47 PM
put them in the grill vertical. anything lower then the headlights= Fail PT. ive done testing with lots of bmw's and anything lower was fail. the person i testing put heads in grill and had much better results in grill. good luck
Rob
Stealth Stalker
11-17-2010, 03:48 PM
Agree with vertical in the grille. But even then, you're going to still have some vulnerability. If you move the red boxes up to directly beneath the headlights, on top of the bumper, that's your best location. I've only seen one BMW driver with the gnads to do that though.
The E9X is the retarded younger brother of the E46, with the IQ of a house fly.
Your car should be on adderall.
aa2033
11-17-2010, 08:48 PM
I've only seen one BMW driver with the gnads to do that though.
what about IN the headlights? does that count? :P
Andrew21
11-17-2010, 09:37 PM
aa2033 is correct. He's tested someone's setup and it was pretty darn good.
But at our meet last month, we had SolidJake's car with the LI Duals. They were mounted too low. We took my extra pair of Duals and put them in the front grill vertically. No good. Took the sensors and put them right underneath the headlights by the grill and his results were MUCH better. He does have a different style/year BMW though.
I would get a quad in front for the BMW...just my .02
AcuraTL
11-17-2010, 11:20 PM
Get a quad. Mount 2 verticals in the grille and 2 horizontals in the red.
Im a fan of overkill...
jjurroz
11-18-2010, 07:47 AM
what about horizontally in the grill, next to the headlights? (this would require cutting up the grills of course). I'd rather cut into the grills than the bumper :)
Regards,
Jose
aa2033
11-18-2010, 09:33 AM
what about horizontally in the grill, next to the headlights? (this would require cutting up the grills of course). I'd rather cut into the grills than the bumper :)
Regards,
Jose
That'll work. you may still get a PT on the far corners of your headlights. but it will be MUCH MUCH better than a low install.
Only testing can tell. but that's the best option second to putting them in front of your headlights.
AcuraTL
11-18-2010, 09:33 AM
Cutting the grille would work, but a horizontal line in a bunch of vertical lines wont look good on that nice new bimmer!
But if you are more concerned with protection than looks (which most of us are, I just wouldnt want to cut up my new car) go ahead and mount horizontally in the grille.
But a guy on here has had good results with vertical jammer heads. Might want to give it a try to keep the car looking nice.
chris98891
11-18-2010, 01:16 PM
I'll look for ATF's thread, he cut into the grills on an E46.
EDIT: http://www.radardetector.net/forums/show-off-your-install/55250-laser-interceptor-2001-bmw-325xi-prefacelift-7.html
elansinger
11-18-2010, 02:42 PM
Great info here. I have the same unfortunate car. Just bought dual LI and escort 9500ci. Was planning to put the LI heads vertically in the grille. What should I do with the escort ZR4s--mount them in green area (high side of lower grille)? Throw them in the garbage? Any advice???
jjurroz
11-18-2010, 02:54 PM
I was actually going to try the vertical set up first since it doesn't cost me anything but after reading/watching the post I linked, it seems pointless.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55243&p=659005&viewfull=1#post659005
It seems going horizontal and cutting the girls like ATF is the best option given the layout.
GTRstikya
11-18-2010, 04:39 PM
I run BLinder M27 on my 08 BMW 335 in the location of your green spots. Works fine.
I also run a Version 7 dual LI on my wifes Murano SUV (much bigger car) in that same under bumper location. While under bumper is not optimal, it has protected us in the normal world just fine. My laser win records are in my sig.
But, if you decide to go with the grille cut, don't fret cutting it. You can get aftermarket replacements for $50. Mine are aftermarket.
I run BLinder M27 on my 08 BMW 335 in the location of your green spots. Works fine.
I also run a Version 7 dual LI on my wifes Murano SUV (much bigger car) in that same under bumper location. While under bumper is not optimal, it has protected us in the normal world just fine. My laser win records are in my sig.
But, if you decide to go with the grille cut, don't fret cutting it. You can get aftermarket replacements for $50. Mine are aftermarket.
Get outa here with your blinders!
Vertical setup will kill you with off axis (I've done testing on the E46 M3), so make sure you test it before putting your faith in it. I guarentee off-axis will cause you issues.
GTRstikya
11-19-2010, 08:02 AM
You must have misunderstood me. I'm not advocating a vertical mount in either of my statements. I'm referring to going horizontal either under bumper (like my car) or cutting the grille and going horizontal there.
I'll take an inoptimal horizontal mount location over an optimal location veritcal mount anytime.
Hey, I also own an LI. And due to my set ups, and similar car and experience, my responses are quite relevant to his question, regardless of which system I'm running.
jjurroz
11-19-2010, 09:39 AM
Do you think leaving them in the green is better than moving them to the red boxes? I think I'll test the horizontal setup in the bumper since I already have it there and depending on performance I'll move them up to the grill area and cut the grills.
Regards,
Jose
You must have misunderstood me. I'm not advocating a vertical mount in either of my statements. I'm referring to going horizontal either under bumper (like my car) or cutting the grille and going horizontal there.
I'll take an inoptimal horizontal mount location over an optimal location veritcal mount anytime.
Hey, I also own an LI. And due to my set ups, and similar car and experience, my responses are quite relevant to his question, regardless of which system I'm running.
aa2033
11-19-2010, 09:55 AM
under the bumper setups will protect you from a lot of real world encounters.. but the problem with putting them so low.. is if you crest a hill, and a LEO shoots you before your LI can see the beam... ruh roh shaggy. you're done.
check this thread:
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/laser-jammers-general/65197-bagged-today-97mph-65-li-punch-through-1980-feet-i94-chicago-mke.html
GTRstikya
11-19-2010, 10:20 AM
Yes, hill shots will be your nemesis, with under bumper. But, with a BMW grill mount coming around a curve, shot at those wrap-aound headlights will get your busted. You have to pick your poison, at some point, if you don't want to do a major bumper cut install. There is no easily mounted "optimal" spot on the 3 series.
But, my 2 cents...I've had more curve encounters than hills. And all my hills came out fine. Getting hit at hill crest is a split second, not common, event. Yes, it happens. Not often. Curves tend to last longer than topping a hill, making you an extended target. Personally, I'll take my chances on the hill.
GTRstikya
11-19-2010, 10:23 AM
[QUOTE=jjurroz;795752]Do you think leaving them in the green is better than moving them to the red boxes? I think I'll test the horizontal setup in the bumper since I already have it there and depending on performance I'll move them up to the grill area and cut the grills.
QUOTE]
Given a black grill and no plate, I'd say your headlights are your biggest reflective point. I'd error to the outsides of the cars. But, there is a happy medium. If you're too far away from the grill, i.e. more than 24 inches, this is bad coverage. You need a good balance. I typically measure the distance to the outside corners of the headlights and the grill from my sensor placement, and try to split the diff evenly.
GTRstikya
11-19-2010, 11:45 AM
Quote fail.
My real-world lifetime record of 35 out of 35 real world wins with this exact setup on 3 different cars would suggest otherwise.
It's not the optimal setup, and I'm not the most experience, but FAIL is a gross overstatement. Results don't lie.
Quote fail.
My real-world lifetime record of 35 out of 35 real world wins with this exact setup on 3 different cars would suggest otherwise.
It's not the optimal setup, and I'm not the most experience, but FAIL is a gross overstatement. Results don't lie.
Read fail.
[QUOTE=jjurroz;795752]Do you think leaving them in the green is better than moving them to the red boxes? I think I'll test the horizontal setup in the bumper since I already have it there and depending on performance I'll move them up to the grill area and cut the grills.
QUOTE]
Given a black grill and no plate, I'd say your headlights are your biggest reflective point. I'd error to the outsides of the cars. But, there is a happy medium. If you're too far away from the grill, i.e. more than 24 inches, this is bad coverage. You need a good balance. I typically measure the distance to the outside corners of the headlights and the grill from my sensor placement, and try to split the diff evenly.
Quote fail.
SaltyinNJ
11-19-2010, 12:22 PM
Hahahahaha.
WhistlerUser
11-19-2010, 02:46 PM
Wait for Laser Tamers?
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/laser-jammers-general/60813-new-system-laser-jammers.html
There is no need to wait for laser tamers, which may or may not end up functioning properly anyway.
There is always a possible install location, you just have to be willing to do it.
WhistlerUser
11-19-2010, 06:20 PM
What would you use to cut the grill and how would you mount the head? I'm in the same boat here. See this view of the back of the grill.
Unclip the grills on the hood, and make the cuts appropriately:
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/attachments/show-off-your-install/3376d1274811510-laser-interceptor-2001-bmw-325xi-prefacelift-photo-4-.jpg
Use a dremel or another other hand-based cutting tool to make the cuts.
Make sure the heads are visible enough from off-axis angles (BOTH sides of the car, meaning, go to the right of the car, make sure you can see both heads, and then go to the left of the car, and make sure you can see both heads) else you just wasted grills on something you could have accomplished with a vertical setup.
Make sure the heads are as far to the outside of the grills as possible (while still level). Bottom of grill. Bubbles out.
WhistlerUser
11-19-2010, 08:11 PM
The pic above is from a different model. It looks like there's a flat lip behind the grill where they installed some elbow brackets.
See my pic two posts above. I don't have a lip, just a radiator. Not sure where to install the mounting brackets. My only thought is to attach them to the vertical grill slats that aren't cut.:confused:
Unclip the grills on the hood, and make the cuts appropriately:
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/attachments/show-off-your-install/3376d1274811510-laser-interceptor-2001-bmw-325xi-prefacelift-photo-4-.jpg
Use a dremel or another other hand-based cutting tool to make the cuts.
Make sure the heads are visible enough from off-axis angles (BOTH sides of the car, meaning, go to the right of the car, make sure you can see both heads, and then go to the left of the car, and make sure you can see both heads) else you just wasted grills on something you could have accomplished with a vertical setup.
Make sure the heads are as far to the outside of the grills as possible (while still level). Bottom of grill. Bubbles out.
That doesn't look to bad, but the slats are no longer attached to anything at the base.
The pic above is from a different model. It looks like there's a flat lip behind the grill where they installed some elbow brackets.
See my pic two posts above. I don't have a lip, just a radiator. Not sure where to install the mounting brackets. My only thought is to attach them to the vertical grill slats that aren't cut.:confused:
*enters anti-condesending mode* Oh I didn't realize it was from a different model. *exit mode*
Screw elbow brackets, screw whatever. The grills of the E46 are very similar to that of the E9X. Cut the slats, get the diode to fit, go from there. Hell, you can even cut the mounting bracket holes off the diode (thats what I did, and it doesn't void any warranty).
What I would do if I owned that car with those grills, would be to cut the slats like the picture I posted above did. I would then dremel off the "ears" (mounting holes) of the diodes. After that, I would put 3M double sided tape on the bottom part of the cut off slats (very small amount), and put a strip of DS tape on the bottom of the sensor (after ensuring it was level and properly aimed, you can level it with doublesided tape, its really easy to do). Depending if the slats that aren't cut are able to touch the sides of the diode, you can put some DS tape on the sides - therefore, stabilizing them from all possible sides.
If you don't like this idea, angle the L shaped mounting brackets to the side (so they mount on the vertical slats on the sides of the diode) and mount them that way.
Think outside the box.
That doesn't look to bad, but the slats are no longer attached to anything at the base.
So attach them to the top of the jammer. Put a small line of 3M DS tape on the bottom of the slat. Guys, use some imagination. There isn't a law about how it has to be integrated into the car, only as long as it works.
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3056/45349678.jpg
So attach them to the top of the jammer. Put a small line of 3M DS tape on the bottom of the slat. Guys, use some imagination. There isn't a law about how it has to be integrated into the car, only as long as it works.
Yep, that would look awesome.... Imagination was the headlight install, not the grill hack. The grill hack is a superior need for a good defense.
I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not...
http://media.ign.com/boards/images/icons3/other_awesomenessShiftyEyes.gif
Stealth Stalker
11-20-2010, 06:37 PM
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3056/45349678.jpg
That's mounted in front of the headlight, isn't it? Or is that the one mounted inside the headlight? Hard to tell in that pic.
I'm not sold on the inside-the-headlight thing yet, as it has not been sufficiently testing. However, that location (at the headlights instead of inside that ugly grille) is indeed ideal, and will offer the best performance.
That is inside the headlight. And myself and aa2033 have done more than enough testing (on my setup at least) to be 100% confident in its abilities...
Stealth Stalker
11-20-2010, 07:10 PM
Confidence is not synonymous with performance.
Hitler was confident too.
Thanks for comparing me to Hitler, I've always wanted a similar mustache.
My confidence is synonymous with my performance. Apparently you don't remember that we did hours upon hours of testing of my setup only, on multiple days, and multiple weekends. And we didn't only just test the straight course, either.
But I guess you are one of those people who have to see it to believe it. Fortunately for me, and the performance of my setup, and my confidence in my setup, that sir, is irrelevant.
Stealth Stalker
11-20-2010, 08:24 PM
Thanks for comparing me to Hitler, I've always wanted a similar mustache.
Well, he did drive a BMW.
But yeah, I don't trust any testing that wasn't done by me or someone similarly experienced, of which there are few on this forum.
Well, he did drive a BMW
Well said...got a good chuckle out of that.
DougiesGoinDeep
11-20-2010, 08:30 PM
put them in the grill vertical. anything lower then the headlights= Fail PT. ive done testing with lots of bmw's and anything lower was fail. the person i testing put heads in grill and had much better results in grill. good luck
Rob
I have dual LI installed in the opening of the front bumper (height of the fog lights) of my E39 and got JTG just about everytime in testing (I think there might have been one punch through within 50 feet, but it was too long ago and I am too lazy to look up the results which are on this forum somewhere in the MA test results).
radarrob
11-21-2010, 08:59 AM
put them in the grill vertical. anything lower then the headlights= Fail PT. ive done testing with lots of bmw's and anything lower was fail. the person i testing put heads in grill and had much better results in grill. good luck
Rob
I have dual LI installed in the opening of the front bumper (height of the fog lights) of my E39 and got JTG just about everytime in testing (I think there might have been one punch through within 50 feet, but it was too long ago and I am too lazy to look up the results which are on this forum somewhere in the MA test results).if i happin to take a trip up to CT anytime soon ill pm you and we can meet up.
Is there a thread for the in-headlight install? Was the lens for the headlight cut at all?
What would you use to cut the grill and how would you mount the head? I'm in the same boat here. See this view of the back of the grill.
JBWeld a couple of brackets to the back of the nose. When working with 2-part epoxy, just remember, less is more. Take your time and it'll come out looking like the brackets were there all along.
As for all the BMW hate, to each their own. Whether it was a bad experience w/ another BMW driver, or what stereotype I get cast under. Oh well. I'm no better or worse than any other person. I'd love a Vette or RS4, but with the income I have, and the requirements needed of my car, a 325xi works out just fine for me.
Is there a thread for the in-headlight install? Was the lens for the headlight cut at all?
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/laser-interceptor/66043-attenuation-vertical-setups-bmws-theory-pics-vid-inside.html
Nothing was cut. I don't know if this can be done on the E9X because I haven't looked under the hood of the E9X, but if its possible, its definitely worth doing (as long as you can do testing).
Is there a thread for the in-headlight install? Was the lens for the headlight cut at all?
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/laser-interceptor/66043-attenuation-vertical-setups-bmws-theory-pics-vid-inside.html
Nothing was cut. I don't know if this can be done on the E9X because I haven't looked under the hood of the E9X, but if its possible, its definitely worth doing (as long as you can do testing).
Nice work. My passenger-side DEPO has stress fractures in the lens, I'm sure this might cause problems down the road. Also over time, you'd have to replace the lenses to keep the LI's line of sight clean (which I suppose would be even harder to do if you had exposed LI's) or buff and polish them so they don't haze up.
Thanks, the headlight lenses only get as dirty as the rest of the car does, and I'd rather have a rock hit the headlight lens than my LI. The lenses are plastic, and I recently replaced the lenses (6 years - factory new, since the last changing, which had only minimal scratches on them, which most likely would have not affected anything with the LI as they weren't near the middle of the headlight lens) as well.
For whatever reason, my lenses don't seem to haze (over the course of time), or fog up during rain/etc.
I've seen some E36's with hazing (OEM). An E46 problem is pitting. Run your finger across the lens and it feels like it's peppered. But again, easier and cheaper to replace than a LI's.
edit: Now I feel like mounting mine inside my headlights.. great..
I don't know what to tell you. I had lenses on my car for 6 years and they never hazed. I just replaced both of them (for $75 total) only to replace the scratches. Either way, if it ever came to that, I have a DA polisher and can easily remove the haze, but I don't suspect that will happen.
Plus, as I said, being inside the headlights will protect them a lot more than being outside in the elements.
Stealth Stalker
11-22-2010, 08:01 PM
For whatever reason, my lenses don't seem to haze (over the course of time), or fog up during rain/etc.
Nice! Mine always do. But my cars are never garaged, and the sun is worse in the South. Is yours garaged?
Nope, not garage kept. Honestly I don't know enough about hazing to understand what exactly causes it. The car was in Florida most of its life, I recently moved it up to the mid-atlantic. Maybe its a different type of plastic? I have no clue...
Stealth Stalker
11-22-2010, 08:24 PM
Well, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if BMW uses a better grade of plastic than Chevy or Dodge, lol. But mine have spent their lives in Texas and Floridia, and the hazing is noticeable, even on a 3 year old car. On my mom's 10 year old car, you can't even see the bulbs through the plastic.
I'm pretty sure BMW uses Bosch lenses - they use a lot of Bosch stuff stock (ie the MAF sensor), and that's what brand my replacement lenses are. Not sure if that means anything to anyone, someone must know about this kind of stuff. We know a lot of useless junk ;).