new member

hi all

doing some research and came across this site.

I'm contemplating the 9500ci but not happy about having the mount the laser shifters in front of the grill. I would have preferred a more stealth installtion behind the grill. But almost all advice I get is to make sure they are not obstructed.

The rear shifter on the plate seems to me would be an invitation to get pulled over/harassed any time a cops pulls up behind you. Especially if you have applied veil to a license plate cover. Or am I being paranoid?

I've seem some pictures on the internet where veil makes the lights look too dark/tinted so I'm also somewhat undecided on using it.

But I do want some sort of protection so I will probably go with the 9500ci + veil so I'm just hoping to get more thoughts on my concerns.

Also, I was hoping to see more pictures of veiled cars to help me decide but what's up with the rule of having to have 25 posts before seeing the images????

I guess I'll stay up all night "participating" so I can see pictures by morning... :)

A famous quote here on the forum is "Stealth the ride, not the install". I would not worry about the heads being out in the open unless you are in one of the states where jammers are illegal. If you have a dark colored car they will probably not even be able to see them anyway.

I would not put a cover over a plate, it's a BIG no-no here in GA and also in NC that I know of.

When you get enough posts, I highly suggest you give a looksie to my Veil installation in the Veil section of this forum. The thread is titled, "Veil Professionally Done". This thread also shows my 9500ci installation.

I had the same concern with veil,i'll take a look also

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Originally Posted by category4

I would not put a cover over a plate, it's a BIG no-no here in GA and also in NC that I know of.

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I am also in GA [Roswell]. No kind of cover? Or just the "photo blocker" covers where you have to be directly behind them to see the plates?

I was thinking that getting a clear plastic over and treating it with veil might have been ok. But you think that would get me in trouble with the cops?

I moved here recently from Chicago so not too familiar with the area.

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Originally Posted by category4

A famous quote here on the forum is "Stealth the ride, not the install". I would not worry about the heads being out in the open unless you are in one of the states where jammers are illegal.

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That reminds me... How do these laws work when traveling from a state where it is legal to or through a state where it's NOT legal. I know you can turn laser shifting off. Is that all that is required or are there states where its illegal to have them even if they are not being used to jam?

welcome

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Originally Posted by jump23

That reminds me... How do these laws work when traveling from a state where it is legal to or through a state where it's NOT legal. I know you can turn laser shifting off. Is that all that is required or are there states where its illegal to have them even if they are not being used to jam?

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There are lots of us around here that run jammers in illegal areas. When you get an alert, slow down to the close enough to the PSL to avoid a ticket, as quickly as possible to avoid being too obvious, then shut the jammers off and let the LEO get your new and improved speed. No problem.

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Originally Posted by jump23

That reminds me... How do these laws work when traveling from a state where it is legal to or through a state where it's NOT legal. I know you can turn laser shifting off. Is that all that is required or are there states where its illegal to have them even if they are not being used to jam?

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I don't worry about it; not sure how much traveling you do, but none of the neighboring states to GA have made it illegal yet, iirc.

Most important is testing your install. I don't know anything about Veil; maybe install the 9500ci first, test and see if you get punchthroughs then consider Veil.

Good luck! We need more LEO bait at our next testing event!

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Originally Posted by jump23

I am also in GA [Roswell]. No kind of cover? Or just the "photo blocker" covers where you have to be directly behind them to see the plates?

I was thinking that getting a clear plastic over and treating it with veil might have been ok. But you think that would get me in trouble with the cops?
I moved here recently from Chicago so not too familiar with the area.

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Covers over plates to try and defeat red light cameras in GA is a mandatory courtc appearance to explain to the judge why you were trying to conceal your plate and up to a $1000 fine. Your problem will be trying to explain it's only to try and defeat laser guns. Not sure that argument will help.

In GA rear shots are extremely rare as the law requires local LEO's to be visible from 500' away to use electronic speed detection devices. That does not apply to the GSP however.

I would veil the headlights and tail lights. Install the 9500ci and then we can test your system and decide what to do next. I have 2 laser guns and M6D has another we can test your setup once you get it installed.

What kind of car do you plan on installing the 9500ci?

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Originally Posted by category4

Covers over plates to try and defeat red light cameras in GA is a mandatory courtc appearance to explain to the judge why you were trying to conceal your plate and up to a $1000 fine. Your problem will be trying to explain it's only to try and defeat laser guns. Not sure that argument will help.

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ok, I was hoping that a plate cover that did not blur the numbers from an angle like the ones designed to defeat red light cameras, would be a non issue for LEO so it would never get to court. I guess any kind of cover will attract unwanted attention...

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Originally Posted by category4

What kind of car do you plan on installing the 9500ci?

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I am considering the 9500ci for a red 2009 M3 coupe.

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Originally Posted by djrams80

There are lots of us around here that run jammers in illegal areas. When you get an alert, slow down to the close enough to the PSL to avoid a ticket, as quickly as possible to avoid being too obvious, then shut the jammers off and let the LEO get your new and improved speed. No problem.

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Yeah I'm not too worried about the speedtrap situations. I was more thinking about the times when you might get pulled over for some other reason like tinted windows and then they notice the shifters.

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Originally Posted by M6D

I don't worry about it; not sure how much traveling you do, but none of the neighboring states to GA have made it illegal yet, iirc.

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I travel to Chicago once or twice a year to visit friends and family. Once I get there, I could easily get pulled over for tinted windows, not having a front plate, LEO not having a good day etc. Especially once you're in the city of Chicago a cop pulls up behind you.

It's those situations where I was not sure what they can/would do when they notice the shifters that are illegal in Illinois.

Is, "I'm from out of town, where they are legal" a good enough excuse?

Shifters are no problem in GA and if you get stopped in another state where they are illegal just change them to receive mode only before you pull over. Then just tell him they are the lidar receiving units for your RD if he asks.

I added the 4 head LI to my system so I have heads everywhere. I don't worry about it.

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Originally Posted by category4

I would veil the headlights and tail lights. Install the 9500ci and then we can test your system and decide what to do next. I have 2 laser guns and M6D has another we can test your setup once you get it installed.

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hey, that would be awesome. I saw a mention earlier of "testing events". Where can I find more info on these events?

I'd would definitely want to test my setup once it's done. The tail lights on the M3 are all red except for a small slither. Right now I'm leaning towards _maybe_ veil on the headlights [if not too dark] and the 9500ci installed un-stealthy :-)

The BMW trademark kidney grills are chrome on this car and that concerns me a bit. I could replace them with matte-black or carbon fiber grills but I really like the chrome so I would prefer to leave them. That's why a test of my setup is really important to me. It will help me decide if I should do more or not.

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Originally Posted by love3woods

welcome

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Thanks...

I visit a few forums and this one is by far the most active/helpful that I've come across. Lots of good information and people willing to help.

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Originally Posted by jump23

hey, that would be awesome. I saw a mention earlier of "testing events". Where can I find more info on these events?

I'd would definitely want to test my setup once it's done. The tail lights on the M3 are all red except for a small slither. Right now I'm leaning towards _maybe_ veil on the headlights [if not too dark] and the 9500ci installed un-stealthy :-)

The BMW trademark kidney grills are chrome on this car and that concerns me a bit. I could replace them with matte-black or carbon fiber grills but I really like the chrome so I would prefer to leave them. That's why a test of my setup is really important to me. It will help me decide if I should do more or not.

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Just PM me once you get it installed, we can meet somewhere and test it out. Check with Rsatmans about an invite to our Georgia Testing Group. We meet every 3 or 4 months to test our setups against a multitude of different guns.

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Originally Posted by category4

Just PM me once you get it installed, we can meet somewhere and test it out. Check with Rsatmans about an invite to our Georgia Testing Group. We meet every 3 or 4 months to test our setups against a multitude of different guns.

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will do, thanks

On another note... The installer nearest me is Cartunes on Roswell Rd just north of I-285. Does anyone have any experiences with these guys?

Are there any other installers in the area that I should look into?

M6D used someone recently, you might check with him. Also I've heard MeggaMaxx in Marietta does a good job but I have had no experience with them.

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Originally Posted by jump23

will do, thanks

On another note... The installer nearest me is Cartunes on Roswell Rd just north of I-285. Does anyone have any experiences with these guys?

Are there any other installers in the area that I should look into?

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I used CarTunes for a few installs years ago. I wouldn't recommend them now.

It's worth the drive to see Bill Head at AutoRadio in Tucker. He's just off 285 and installed both my LI and 9500ci. Did a wonderful job.

Don't worry about your grill yet - get it installed and do some testing.

Consider getting an LI installed at the same time.

Sounds like a nice car! We'll have to race sometime while rsatmans and bradthemad talk to the cops for us.

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Originally Posted by M6D

Sounds like a nice car! We'll have to race sometime while rsatmans and bradthemad talk to the cops for us.

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Let me know when this is going to happen so I can stand by with bail money.:D

Or maybe you could talk him into getting a Black M3 instead of red, then they would really be confused.

did someone say race? :-)

I was just watching last night's F1 race that I recorded, so I'm ready. I'm sure watching it on TV qualifies me as race driver right? NOT!

I will touch base with Auto Radio and go from there. But all the chatter about a potential new product from escort this summer has me wandering if I should wait. The M3 is not may daily driver so I'm not in a big rush.

M6D, do you have pictures of your install that you can share?

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...ll-w-pics.html

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Originally Posted by category4

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...ll-w-pics.html

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Thanks Cat. I cleaned up the inside V1/9500ci console wiring and moved the 9500ci heads out to the intakes. Here's an updated pic of the front...



http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...s-img_0152.jpg

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Originally Posted by jump23

I travel to Chicago once or twice a year to visit friends and family. Once I get there, I could easily get pulled over for tinted windows, not having a front plate, LEO not having a good day etc. Especially once you're in the city of Chicago a cop pulls up behind you.

It's those situations where I was not sure what they can/would do when they notice the shifters that are illegal in Illinois.

Is, "I'm from out of town, where they are legal" a good enough excuse?

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chances are better getting pulled over in Ga for windows then Chicago

I have 20% and never got a ticket or pulled over for it and I have been stopped a few times with em there :cool:

RACEEEEEEEEEEE WHERE AND WHEN ? I want to see this :D


Just make sure you don't where cops like to hang out like I have before That almost ended my ass in jail

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Originally Posted by Fastgt2003

RACEEEEEEEEEEE WHERE AND WHEN ? I want to see this :D


Just make sure you don't where cops like to hang out like I have before That almost ended my ass in jail

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Hell, that takes all the fun out of it! :D

Is that the 9500ci radar detector antenna you have mounted in the center in front of the plastic mesh? Did you go that route just to be safe or did you have problems with other mounting locations?

First I was under the impression that anywhere behind the bumper would be fine. But on other posts it seems that some folks have problems with metallic paint or other issues so I was thinking maybe behind the plastic mesh would be fine.

Thoughts?

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...s-img_0152.jpg[/QUOTE]

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Originally Posted by jump23

Is that the 9500ci radar detector antenna you have mounted in the center in front of the plastic mesh? Did you go that route just to be safe or did you have problems with other mounting locations?

First I was under the impression that anywhere behind the bumper would be fine. But on other posts it seems that some folks have problems with metallic paint or other issues so I was thinking maybe behind the plastic mesh would be fine.

Thoughts?

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...s-img_0152.jpg

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[/QUOTE]

Follow this install don't mount anything behind the lattice grille.

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Originally Posted by category4

Follow this install don't mount anything behind the lattice grille.

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Sounds like a plan.... you talked me into it.... :)

cat & M6D: either one of you used veil on you vette/M6?

Any thoughts on whether I should use it on the M3?

M6D: have your tested your installation? Did the chrome grill present any problems?

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Originally Posted by jump23

Sounds like a plan.... you talked me into it.... :)

cat & M6D: either one of you used veil on you vette/M6?

Any thoughts on whether I should use it on the M3?

M6D: have your tested your installation? Did the chrome grill present any problems?

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No Veil for either of us, I have Veil on the F-150 but not the Vette. Yes we tested his system last weekend. It was pretty solid.

You can see results here:
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...3-results.html

I'm gonna get jumped good for this (several people will disagree with me on this), but I'm finding the V1 gives me better radar detection than the 9500ci antenna. I'm going to keep running both, because there have been a couple of times when the 9500 alerted first, but you may want to consider a V1 and an LI instead of the 9500ci.

If you're not in a rush, you may want to wait and see what I think in a few weeks. I've had this setup for a while now, but probably less than 10 real radar threats, so perhaps my findings aren't statistically significant. Plan to test Ka 35.5 this week; be looking for those results later.

My laser setup isn't bulletproof; I was extremely weak against the LR-B, but I don't think you'll see many of those in Georgia. Hope not, anyway. :)

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Originally Posted by M6D

I'm gonna get jumped good for this (several people will disagree with me on this), but I'm finding the V1 gives me better radar detection than the 9500ci antenna. I'm going to keep running both, because there have been a couple of times when the 9500 alerted first, but you may want to consider a V1 and an LI instead of the 9500ci.

If you're not in a rush, you may want to wait and see what I think in a few weeks. I've had this setup for a while now, but probably less than 10 real radar threats, so perhaps my findings aren't statistically significant. Plan to test Ka 35.5 this week; be looking for those results later.

My laser setup isn't bulletproof; I was extremely weak against the LR-B, but I don't think you'll see many of those in Georgia. Hope not, anyway. :)

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I already have a V1 but I was looking for a remote installation and I've heard nothing but good things about escort/bel radar detection. I am definitely not in a hurry so I'll wait and see. I guess even if the V1 proves to alert better on occasion, as long as the 9500ci is adequate, I would prefer the integrated solution. Though the comments on less-than-stelar laser protection are a whole other issue.

But since I'm in no big rush, I'll keep asking questions and getting more information and hopefully make the best decision for me in the next few weeks/months

I find it hilarious that even though M6D and I have the exact same setup, we have opposite results on V1 vs 9500ci detection and LR-B results. My LIs crush the LR-B. :D

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Originally Posted by djrams80

I find it hilarious that even though M6D and I have the exact same setup, we have opposite results on V1 vs 9500ci detection and LR-B results. My LIs crush the LR-B. :D

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You have superior LIs. You have superior radar detection. I want to be like DJ when I grow up! :D

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Originally Posted by djrams80

I find it hilarious that even though M6D and I have the exact same setup, we have opposite results on V1 vs 9500ci detection and LR-B results. My LIs crush the LR-B. :D

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You also have never run our test course. If you did I fear the results might be different.

I too wonder why M6D's radar reception on the 9500ci is not better. I have seen his setup and everything looks good. I am thinking we should swap radar heads to see if there is a difference.

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Originally Posted by M6D

You have superior LIs. You have superior radar detection. I want to be like DJ when I grow up! :D

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That's the key. Don't grow up. It has always worked for me. :D

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Originally Posted by djrams80

That's the key. Don't grow up. It has always worked for me. :D

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I don't plan on it either!!!!:D