I know a lot of people say that radar detectors are useless, and cops these days use Laser, and while there is truth in that, I find that most encounters are with radar guns, due to higher cost of Laser, and so a good radar detector still goes a long way.
I originally wanted to do a fully custom install (as seen here) but the $3-4K+ costs are prohibitive.
Therefore I did a lot or research and watched a lot of videos and in the end decided to get a removable Escort Max 360C, hardwire it, and use a BlendMount mirror mount for a clean install. In the future I may consider adding laser shifters, like the AL Priority, if I win the lottery
Parts List:
- Escort/V1 8’ Hardwire Cable from MirrorMount with RJ11 plug & inline fuse
- BlendMount Model BM-4014 – expensive, but specifically made for the TM3 and Escort Radars
- Escort Max 360C Radar Detector – If you buy from Escort themselves they will reimburse you the cost of your 1st ticket
FYI, Escort has a live updates and real-time threat alerting system called “Escort Live” which works like Waze but alerts other drivers without the need for annual input. So if your detector sees a radar signal at a particular location it “broadcasts” that to all other detectors in proximity or heading to that location. The Max 360C Radar Detector includes 3 month free membership, but after that its about $25/y. If you buy it with the unit from their site, you can get 3 years for $49. And no, they did not pay me to advertise for them 🙂
Anyway, I took the mirror mount cover off (see a tutorial video here) and ran the hardwire cable along the trim by the top of the windshield on the driver side, down the A pillar and into the driver footwell. There I took advantage of my already installed 12V Power Distribution Block and wired it quickly, cleanly and permanently using spades with heat-shrink connectors.
I put the mirror cover back, and disassembled the magnet from the suction mount that came with the Escort Max 360C in order to install it in the BlendMount. Clamped the BlendMount to the mirror stem, adjusted and tightened it. The Escort magnetically attaches and then was plugged in. All done!
All that was left was to connect the Max 360C to WiFi, update it to latest firmware (v1.9 as of 8/31/2019) and hit the road.
PICS:
https://i.imgur.com/REl6TWj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TfttiQk.jpg
