[E90076]

I've had a $220 Bel radar detector for about four years now that has treated me well but the sound gave out on me last week. Four years ago, V1 and and the 8500 were top of the list in high end radar detectors - are there any others out there now that you could reccomend or are they still king?

[Morpheus]

no changes in radar detector technology AFAIK. I have a V1.

[rroof]

No *real* changes, with both the Valentine and Escort models still the "best". Both are made down the road from me here in Cincy (West Chester area) - (Mike Valentine used to work at Cincinnati Microwave, now Escort) and I've been to both places.

Now, the V1 has remained virtually unchanged for quite some time now (which is a good/bad thing). The newer Passport models have really moved on though, now with GPS chips to "remember" false alarm zones, pre-programed for known traffic cameras, etc. Lots of high-end features as well (like internal mounting, etc.). This is the strength of the Passport models: very few false alarms. When it goes off, you listen! The V1 tends to go off a lot more with the idea to look and use the arrows to assess threat, location, etc. Different approaches to a common problem

[azwillnj]

+1 for the 8500 X50

I have an 8500 X50 and I love it, it has saved me from at least 4 tickets. The range is amazing, it detects those bastards miles and miles away. Its also wayyyy smaller than the V1 and fits nicely right above the rear view mirror.

[HighVoltage]

Originally Posted by azwillnj

+1 for the 8500 X50
Its also wayyyy smaller than the V1

No its not.

[techforge]

The V1 which I use has undisputed sensitivity, but like everyone else says it goes off all the time. Unfortunately it conditions you to ignore it most of the time - at least around town. The flip side is that radar is not used around here. The last 3 tickets I've had were laser and you have no warning.

[Lassaxi]

Originally Posted by HighVoltage

No its not.

V1 is not as deep as the Passport but it is much wider, and, depending on how you mount it, it blocks more of the windshield. Observe:

[EZ_TUR90]

Originally Posted by Lassaxi

V1 is not as deep as the Passport but it is much wider, and, depending on how you mount it, it blocks more of the windshield. Observe:

WOW

[328i]

Originally Posted by Lassaxi

V1 is not as deep as the Passport but it is much wider, and, depending on how you mount it, it blocks more of the windshield. Observe:

I'm pretty sure that looks like the old V1 which was much larger than the current one.

[Morpheus]

Originally Posted by 328i

I'm pretty sure that looks like the old V1 which was much larger than the current one.

I have a 10 year old v1 and a brand new one. The case is identical. How far back are you going?

[schulrog]

holy radar detectors batman! lol

Escort has the 9500ix out with integrated GPS that warns you of redlight cameras and stationary ones etc etc.. there's so much info here's a link though that you can check it out: http://www.aftermarketbulbsshop.com/...pas-9500ix.htm

[bimmerFUD]

When was the last V1 update? On their site I can only tell whether my SN# is outdated.

[DPritchett]

I think Escort now has a model that has is not detectable by Spectre, has has been the case with the Bel Sti Driver for a while now.

[Morpheus]

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

When was the last V1 update? On their site I can only tell whether my SN# is outdated.

On their site you can get info on the latest version and how to determine your detectors version through program mode. I called about an upgrade and IIRC the only advisable upgrade was laser detection. For my old V1 that is.

[E90076]

Thanks all. I think I am going to pull the trigger on the V1. Anyone had a BMW dealership perform the hardwire in order to protect the warranty? If so, how much did it run?

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by Morpheus

On their site you can get info on the latest version and how to determine your detectors version through program mode. I called about an upgrade and IIRC the only advisable upgrade was laser detection. For my old V1 that is.

Thanks Morepheus. BTW, I just got zapped by laser for the first time yesterday Fortunately, I saw the cop in the distance and had slowed down.

[raceyBMW]

Originally Posted by E90076

Thanks all. I think I am going to pull the trigger on the V1. Anyone had a BMW dealership perform the hardwire in order to protect the warranty? If so, how much did it run?

If you do the hardwire to the fuse box and use an add-a-circuit, then you will have zero issues with warranty because you are not cutting into any factory wires.

[skim7x]

The newest detectors are GPS enabled: Passport 9500i and 9500ix. GPS is great because you can block out known false alerts... the detector records the GPS location and frequency of the false alert and will block it out from then on... if a new signal (like a cop) tries to hide under that signal, the detector will still detect the cop, as his GPS location and signal will be different.

Here's my latest review of the 9500i, which I got just a couple days ago...
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195858

[HighVoltage]

Originally Posted by Lassaxi

V1 is not as deep as the Passport but it is much wider, and, depending on how you mount it, it blocks more of the windshield. Observe:

Yes I know, I have both the X50 and the V1. That person was mistaken.

The V1 shape and suction mount is actually significantly more stable than the X50s. The length of the X50 coupled with the poor design of the mount tends to cause the unit to bounce a bit. The probelm exagerates as the slope of the windshield decreases.

The GPS addition is a nice luxury. The alerts to red light cameras and speed trap areas are a nice touch. The "locking" feature is still a bit problematic at this time but getting a bit better. The implementation is a big clunky utilizing large MHZ blocks but I suppose this is more a limitation of the hardware's precision to detect the frequency than a programming design limitaiton.

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by skim7x

the detector records the GPS location and frequency of the false alert and will block it out from then on... if a new signal (like a cop) tries to hide under that signal, the detector will still detect the cop, as his GPS location and signal will be different.

The GPS sounds great, but is it really that sensitive? We have cops park RIGHT under a speed sign.

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by bimmerFUD

The GPS sounds great, but is it really that sensitive? We have cops park RIGHT under a speed sign.

Well, I don't have any personal experience with this... but it would seem that the cop would most certainly have a different signal than the speed signal... so even if the GPS locations are very similar, the signals are different. But I see your concern... so maybe that's a little trick you'll have to watch out for... *shrug*

Actually... now that I think about it... what is the point of a cop sitting right under a speed sign?? If the speed sign would catch you, then what's the point of there being a cop under it?? Unless he's only there to catch people with the Passport 9500i(x)... and I don't think that's a very efficient way to catch speeders...

[bimmerFUD]

Originally Posted by skim7x

Actually... now that I think about it... what is the point of a cop sitting right under a speed sign?? If the speed sign would catch you, then what's the point of there being a cop under it??

Maybe I'm not calling it by its correct name. It's the sign that tells you your speed, but not the type that photographs your plate to give you a ticket.

The sign sets off your radar detector and once you learn the sign locations, you might start to ignore them. Cops take advantage of this.