Easy & Clean Radar Install
 

I highly recommend invisicord: Invisicord Products Home Page

http://www.the370z.com/members/par4b...0-dsc-0118.jpg

For $15 you can hardwire your radar detector in less than 5 minutes. Just unplug the wiring harness from your mirror by pressing down on the top of the clip with a screwdriver while pulling it out.

The wiring for the mirror is:

black/red - switched power
yellow - always on power
black - ground

so plug the yellow wire of the invisicord into the harness where the black/red wire is. Plug the black invisicord into the harness where the black wire is. Plug back in the harness and you are done!

Here are a couple more pics:

http://www.the370z.com/members/par4b...1-dsc-0116.jpg

The bracket I bought is real nice as well. Made of aluminum and well designed mount to the visor post. Here is an outside pic (was tough through the windshield and will try again in different lighting.) Custom Made Connecting Mount for Radar Detector on 350Z and other Cars

http://www.the370z.com/members/par4b...2-dsc-0120.jpg

Could someone verify whether non-Homelink mirrors have power or not?

I think this could be done with an old telephone cord, though you would need to do some amperage and wire gauge checks just so nothing catches on fire. Probably could easily be done for $5 with parts from radioshack, with 4 or five more setups to sell to your friends :)

The mount would be a bit more difficult...

Thanks for the info on invisacord, I will do the same thing.

Definitely could do own your own. This one looks good so I do not mind giving someone $10 more for coming up with a great idea.

Can't argue with good looking. How are you finding the homelink/compass/autodim? I've always wanted one of those, but I think the only car we've ever had with that was my mum's T-Bird, and it may not have been homelink because it didn't have that symbol. Can't remember what Ford called it.

My rear window is tinted so I am not sure how the autodim is doing. My last x cars have had it so it just seems normal by now and my jeep is high enough that few lights can hit the mirror.

Homelink is again something that I have come to expect as normal so I am happy to have it. My jeep does not have it so I put an opener under the roll bar cloth to hide it and have it one place without putting it on a visor or it sliding around. It is not something I would pay a lot for but I wanted the Touring pkg so did not have a choice.

So what kind of radar detectors are good? There are so many out there. Cops these days have front and back speed detectors.

I really like the Passport 9500. It is nice to have the gps to block out known false signals. Others swear by the Valentine. I liked the arrows on it but like the Escort better overall.

Best bet is to do some research searching for reviews.

How come my touring 370Z doesn't have the compass on the mirror? Is it due to the nav?

Anyways this is a great find. I've been looking into getting a radar detector but I just couldn't find a nice clean place to put em. Oh and how easy is it to take off the detector in case I get pulled over?

Thanks par4, thats a mod on my short list for the near future.

How long did you make your cord?
invisicords start at 8" all the way up to 24", and custom lengths after that...

also what is the diameter of the mirror post?

Easy to take off. The normal bracket that the suction cups are on is used so it detaches like normal. The wire will hang but it is not that bad.

The 8" cord is perfect length. I would not go longer if you are going to use the mirror bracket. You will need longer if you want to mount to the winshield. I forgot the size of the post, I used a caliper and it was the size of the mount they recommend for the Z.

So you can just rip it off of the mount? With the cord unplugged that is.

You push the button on top of the radar detector that lets it slide off of the bracket. The bracket remains mounted though. If you are looking for totally stealth to use in a state that does not allow detectors, I would go the higher end built ins. The removal works well for when you do not want the detector in view at parking lots and other high theft areas.

Sorry for bumping an old thread but does your mount attract unnecessary attention?


EDIT: Also does heavily tinted windows(15% vl) effect performance?

I hardwired my V-1.. I chose NOT to tap into the power on the mirror. I tucked it into the headliner, behind the panel down to the driver side fuse box. Wired it to the 2nd aux power fuse, which is switched by the way. Totally removable. I have a similar mounting bracket.

Invisicords are great ...especially if you have the touring mirror and don't need a long cord.... If not, a regular phone cord, routed along the top, down the A pillar to the fuse box worked for me. Connect using a fuse tap. Totally invisible and the mount shown is rock steady...Red is hot, Black is ground off your phone cable..

http://images46.fotki.com/v1493/phot...MG_1672-vi.jpg

http://images47.fotki.com/v1478/phot...MG_1665-vi.jpg


This is the Valenbtine mount. The Radar Mount for the Valentine
Escort/Bel here: escortmount/BEL

Those who hardwired their V1's, can you snap some shots of the fuse box and maybe during the install phase if you have any?
Also, how hard was it to route the cabling and such around to the fuse box? I have my V1 and the proper mount which we all seem to be using (which I love), but currently just have the coiled cable going down to underneath the glove box. Also, did you just use the straight cable provided by V1?

Thanks.

Mine doesn't have a compass either. I've seen the compass on pics on dealership websites, but I'm thinking those pics are from a 350. I wish it did though, it's handy sometimes.

I never take my detector off, it's not worth the hassle, and most cops I know use detectors in their private cars anyways, it's not like it's a big deal (unless you live in a state where they're illegal).

I mounted mine directly under the mirror like the pics in this thread, but wired it to the lighter socket underneath the glove box. You want a high, centered placement to get maximum visibility for the sensors out the front and especially rear glass. I laugh every time I see someone with a detector sitting flat on their dash, or windshield mounted 1 inch off the dash. They're missing out on a lot of radar coverage by mounting like that.

Semtex did a DIY thread on this a while back: http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...-hardwire.html

I went down the passenger headliner/pillar and connected the V1 hardwire kit to the wires on the back of the lighter socket under the glovebox. The invisiwire thing looks even easier though.

Easy enough. You'll find it easier if you remove the whole kick panel that covers the fuse box. Remove the nut shown and the entire trim piece will snap out:
http://images47.fotki.com/v1478/phot...MG_1675-vi.jpg

I used a Fuse tap into the Cig. lighter circuit (switched) The ground is a simple wrap under one of the body nuts behind the cover (why it's best to snap it out). You can use the hardwire V1 kit, or simply a phone cord.
http://images47.fotki.com/v1475/phot...MG_1674-vi.jpg

any pics of the pillar cover when you removed it? how does it come off? also how did you route the wiring around the dashboard piece that hangs out in between the door?

I didn't have to remove any of that. Carefully push the wire into the gap between the windshield and pillar and along the joints and lower dash. I used a thin bladed plastic trim tool, but a paint scraper or a dull kitchen knife should work also.... You can hide the wire completely with out much effort.

Does anyone know where i can get a homelink mirror in a non touring Z?

My favorite place to shop for OEM needs.

Nissan Auto-dim Rearview Mirror (w/ compass & Homelink) :: CourtesyParts

Quick question for Modshack or anyone with fuse tap experience
 

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC02149.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC02153.jpg

My direct wire kit came in today and I'm planning on utilizing the fuse panel just like you.

here's how it suppose to go.
http://safe-n-sound1.com/images/Dire...Fuse%20Tap.gif

My two questions to you would be.
a. Do I need to buy Blade fuse tap or Mini blade fuse tap?

http://safe-n-sound1.com/images/BFT%20install.gif

http://safe-n-sound1.com/images/MBFT%20install.gif

b. Where can I buy them?

thanks.

Mini...try Radio Shack!

Thanks for posting this. I ordered the invisicord, installed it (I think correctly) and the detector comes on, but it's acting like it's not getting the required voltage as the led goes from dim to bright, to dim. I didn't have an all black cord into the wiring harness either, so guessed that it was the middle wire (black/white) that the black end of the invisicord should be plugged into.

Does this sound right to you? Then did you just slide the metal end of the invisicord under the wire of the harness?

I do not know since I do not have a lot of experience. Yes, I just slid the metal ends into the harness once it was detatched. I used a meter to determine which wire in the harness was aways hot and which was the ground. Bummer that your Z has different color wires. Hopefully, someone else can chime in.

I got it, also using a meter. The middle wire on mine was the ground (black with white stripe). ;-)

Working great!

This is a really good thread. I was wondering which wires to tap into for the Invisicord.

Good info. This should be a sticky topic and if it is, sorry, I missed it.

BTW... Invisicord on our 08 IS350 (both of them) and 08 Vette. Works GREAT and is so simple that I can do it without help from my hubby. ;-)

Wow, do you have blind spot issues with that hanging below the center mirror? A number of times I've almost missed seeing cars to my right at 4-way stop signs because the center mirror alone hangs right in my field of view. That detector must make it even more difficult to see.

The angle of the photo makes it look worse than it is. I have no troubles with mine.

:iagree:
It looks tough to see around but it really is not taking out much view.

sweet.

I just got my z radar mount for my escort passport x50.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...x/DSC01669.jpg

I went ahead and ordered the invisicord for a clean install to my auto dimming rear view mirror. I'll post updates later.

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...te-button.html

Figured I'd throw a shameless plug in for really cleaning up your radar install :)

my invisicord came in:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...x/DSC01679.jpg

Here's a pic of it installed (at night w/ my shitty camera). No more long cord going down to the 12v adapter! :p

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...x/DSC01680.jpg

That's nice. Would definitely fill up a slot of those useless console buttons for the non touring owners. Maybe another time for the direct cable kit with mute button. :tup:

Looks good. I'm waiting for my invisicord and radar detector bracket to come in. Are you happy with the way it turned out?

Yeah definitely. The mounting bracket sits flush and up against the mirror; doesn't hang very low from the mirror to block visibility.

The invisicord completes the stealth look; I'm very happy with it.

Just installed my Beltronics radar detector to the homelink mirror in my 09 Maxima. I bought the stationary mount from Chotis engineering for Country Joy linked on the first post of this thread along with the Invisicord. I chose to install it into the Maxima since we usually take it for longer trips instead of the Z.

My question to all who have done this-- how did you reattach the connector to the mirror around the new stationary mount? My cable coming from the post that runs to the mirror isn't long enough to run around the mount and plug in. I had to drill a big hole through the mount so the cable would slide straight through it and reach the mirror. I checked out my Z and it has the same setup where the cable plugging into the back of the mirror is dead center and right in front of where you will put the solid mount.

This was more work and aggravation than I expected.