Wow everything looks clean in this install!
Printable View
Wow everything looks clean in this install!
You'll probably want your radio where you can reach it. Conditions, radio traffic, etc. are always changing so you'll need to fiddle with the squelch and gain. I'm always fooling with mine to keep it quiet yet still not miss any traffic.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATF
If you want them horizontal... MAKE THEM HORIZONTAL! Here's a little sneak preview. I need to align and level them, then mount them permanently. :D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/...6e9629c7_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/...c1f06f3a_b.jpg
You'll have to cut those bars in front of the jammer heads.
why not just mount them in the air duct below the lights. I did on a vette and it worked great.
how'd you end up mounting your heads ATF? any stories?
I've been swamped @ work, and weekends seem to be flying by. I want to relocate the front heads to the bottom of the kidney grills, in a horizontal orientation, just because I think it will look better (and they're currently not 100% level..). I'll probably sacrifice the bars that are in front of the heads. I don't really care (about the bars).Quote:
Originally Posted by chris98891
I've had 0 encounters in Mass so far.. It's actually quite depressing. I'm headed to CT for Memorial Day, so maybe I'll get some bites from LEO's behind on their quotas, picking off holiday traffic.
Did you ever do any testing/benchmark runs?
i wish, been swamped as well, just finished my first year at usc. i'm actually in the same boat too, haven't been hit once, aside from a questionable one at night in columbia. i even did a car show in atlanta, and didn't hit a single laser trap. its depressingQuote:
Originally Posted by ATFI've been swamped @ work, and weekends seem to be flying by. I want to relocate the front heads to the bottom of the kidney grills, in a horizontal orientation, just because I think it will look better (and they're currently not 100% level..). I'll probably sacrifice the bars that are in front of the heads. I don't really care (about the bars).Quote:
Originally Posted by chris98891
I've had 0 encounters in Mass so far.. It's actually quite depressing. I'm headed to CT for Memorial Day, so maybe I'll get some bites from LEO's behind on their quotas, picking off holiday traffic.
Did you ever do any testing/benchmark runs?
sexy install.. and car =)
That install is a recipe for complete PWNAGE!Quote:
Originally Posted by ATF
Man, you are going to get owned if you do not get those heads out in the open. You were better off the way you had them.:eek:
Awesome install, I wonder that is there any install on a Dodge Ram Pickup.
It's not as bad as you guys think. I made sure the laser diode is unobstructed by any of the bars in front. To give myself more peace of mind, i even cut a bit of the bar that was closest, to allow for more off axis protection.
Anyways, I'm planning on re-do'ing this install on the front. I don't really like how it looks, w/ the jammer heads "floating" in the grill.
Actually, it's much, much worse than you think. If we weren't positive of it, we wouldn't have said so.
From those pictures (just a mock up before the installation was more permanent) it is pretty bad. The current setup is yes bad, but not as bad as those pictures show them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stealth Stalker
I'm not going to try to defend it too much, because I know it can be improved, and I'm planning on doing so. The New England weather is finally cooperating and I'll actually have some time to finally work on my car since I tried installing these in freezing temperatures during X-Mas time last year with numb fingers.
Alright, I had a new set of grills laying around... After about 2 hours of work, here's how it stands now.
I need to hit up home depot tomorrow for some longer screws as the ones I have now wont let me add enough washers to properly even things out. Once I get those, I'll probably lightly coat the hardware with some black plastidip to conceal it a bit. Ideally I'd use the black L brackets that came w/ the LI kit, but they're in use on the rears, and the extra set Cliff sent me are MIA after I used them to mount the heads vertically; so I'm stuck using chrome ones from Home Depot
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...acelift-li.jpg
I think it will hardly be noticeable whenever you coat the hardware. Especially to the untrained eye. Will also definitely be an effective install, best i can tell.
I'll be first to admit this isn't the most ideal placement for the heads. But w/ the front of this car, there isn't much choice. IMO the lower diffuser is too low for it to be effective, and with the New England flash floods, I don't feel like burning through a set of heads. c'est la vieQuote:
Originally Posted by chris98891
I'm going home for Memorial Day weekend, so I really wanted to 'tune' up the install before I left.
yeah you know i have the same front bumper. I think they'd be damn near useless down there.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFI'll be first to admit this isn't the most ideal placement for the heads. But w/ the front of this car, there isn't much choice. IMO the lower diffuser is too low for it to be effective, and with the New England flash floods, I don't feel like burning through a set of heads. c'est la vieQuote:
Originally Posted by chris98891
I'm going home for Memorial Day weekend, so I really wanted to 'tune' up the install before I left.
Went out to lunch, decided to snap some more shots on the iPhone before going back in to work. Ordered a GoPro HD Motorsport for my dashcam, should be here in time for my trip down to CT. Hopefully I'll have some encounters.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...t-photo-3-.jpg
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...t-photo-4-.jpg
Much better! I agree that it'll be very unnoticeable once the hardware is blacked out. That's about as good as positioning gets on a BMW without mounting on the bumper, which would be ideal. The placement you have now should protect you from all but the most unfortunate shots.
Some non-cellphone quality pics.
Driver's View Shot coming soon.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/...fcf2d2fa_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/...76944318_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/...f8e37efc_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/...c504ea4f_b.jpg
Very nice!
Got the windows tinted (40%, Geoshield) ~35% NET Film & Glass (Legal Limit :()
Antennas arrived yesterday, going to run the wiring and solder the connectors today. CB arrives tuesday?
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/4...tennasblur.jpg
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Make sure you remove all items but the essentials..
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/...5d963881_b.jpg
LI Wires
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/...c6461873_b.jpg
Antenna wires follow the LI wires.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/...9acf0493_b.jpg
Enter opposite of battery cable, along with the LI wires and AUX Input cable for my iPod
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/...3f7c9945_b.jpg
Holy wiring nightmare, which is only going to get worse.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/...d6e412f4_b.jpg
Removing trim for my CB mic mount.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/...0b230289_b.jpg
Mount installed.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/...1c6f15bf_b.jpg
Trim re-installed.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/...ae2e5be7_b.jpg
Did I mention wiring nightmare? (Note the terminal block)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/...4b15c13d_b.jpg
Instead of powering my LI, CB, Scanner and any other peripherals I feel like installing, from the tiny wiring harness from the car phone harness. I ran some heavier gauge wire to the battery jump terminals under the hood. Fused it, wired in a relay, used the carphone harness to trigger the relay and terminal blocks to allow easy hook up of new toys.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/...dbeb0df4_b.jpg
Kind of tidying up..?
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/...f6543dcc_b.jpg
"Custom" metal bracket for scanner (needs to move up more)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/...5ae068a3_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/...577a9340_b.jpg
Ran the wire through the rubber flex hose connecting the trunk and the car. Used some dish soap to help things along.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/...eb7ee9a3_b.jpg
Mocking up the scanner, and realizing it needs to move up more; and be taken apart and replace the green LED's with amber.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/...bbf02f43_o.jpg
Quick shot while I was out and about today. Tint makes the car look so much better..
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/...6d524fb4_o.jpg
Strong work! Looks great!
This is the rare car where I have more faith in the rear install than the front. BMWs are just about the worst possible car for protecting from laser.
nice install
I'm a noob and have different bimmer this is extremely helpful.Quote:
Originally Posted by snoopyc4
thank you ATF
Hey no problem. I try to take as many pictures (when I remember) as I can. Pictures are worth a thousand words. So seeing it helps visualize what you need to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by dmlgcI'm a noob and have different bimmer this is extremely helpful.Quote:
Originally Posted by snoopyc4
thank you ATF
I skip over the parts of how to remove trim/seats etc. If you don't have the confidence to do that, then you shouldn't be messing with the electrical system of your car.
Car can look good, even w/ countermeasures :)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/...7fac0d03_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/...5a2b5891_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/...54cc7b61_b.jpg
You are solid! I wish you only luck out there ;-)
would it be better to mount on the top instead of bottom?
Just a idea.
the bottom is for overpass shots. if it was in the top, the boxes wouldn't have a clear view of the bridge.
Why wont it have a clear shot?
Nice install. I'm about to do the rear install on my 335 coupe. What size holes did you drill for the wires to enter the trunk lid?
I have the same delimma on the front, but my lower aero lip allows for slightly higher mounting due to the opening height for the intercooler. I'm just trying to find the best place to protect the front plate, long headlights, and fog lights.
The e92 coupes profile height is a little slimmer target than the sedan.
Thanks!
No holes. It's compression fit more or less. The rear deck lip unscrews, and I ran the wires up, and behind the lip. Tightened it down, but not too tight. There's some weather sealing on the lip anyways, so it's good.Quote:
Originally Posted by scottp999
Can't mount them high (well you could, just not, high and to the corners). The hood release latch is on the top right corner (when facing the front). Unlike the e36 which has the hood release in the middle, not even in the kidneys.Quote:
Originally Posted by h2oiamwater
Edit:
Also an update to the setup, I've replaced the crappy Mio GPS with a Garmin 765wt. It's mounted on the dash now w/ the plastic disc & suction cup.
Nice work, I can appreciate the lengths you went to in order to keep things looking clean & OEM? BTW-Whats the relay for?
Also nice job of listening to the veteran members & implementing some of their feedback to optimize the effectivness!
Originally I had the LI powered via the car phone circuit through the factory harness.Quote:
Originally Posted by -ND4SPD-
With the intent of getting a scanner hooked up, along w/ the CB, I decided it'd probably be best to run a new line from the battery. So I ran a new line from the battery, dedicated for any accessories. Tapped the car phone circuit to trigger the relay and gave myself a dedicated switched line for powering accessories.
Thats what I was thinking but figured the LI alone would probably be just fine tapping a switched power source somewhere in the cabin so I figured I'd ask. That makes sense now though as all of that would be quite a bit of load on that one circuit. Nice to see the step by step pics too BTW!Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFOriginally I had the LI powered via the car phone circuit through the factory harness.Quote:
Originally Posted by -ND4SPD-
With the intent of getting a scanner hooked up, along w/ the CB, I decided it'd probably be best to run a new line from the battery. So I ran a new line from the battery, dedicated for any accessories. Tapped the car phone circuit to trigger the relay and gave myself a dedicated switched line for powering accessories.
-Nick