Radar Detector - Hardwire Fuse Box

[S0upb0ne]

This week I received my new Valentine 1 Gen 2 radar detector. I wanted to hardwire it, but didn't want to use the mirror tap. I decided to use a fuse tap to power the V2G2. The fuse box is located in the driver's footwell for US cars. Row C, slot 8 is the fuse for the Interior Mirror. The power switches on and off with the "ignition". The pink plastic covers that cover the fuses are a pain to remove. I called the dealership to ask how to remove it. I got a long speech about how it is a high voltage electric car and I shouldn't be touching anything in the fuse box. It was a useless and clueless conversation. I found a black tab at the end of the pink plastic. Even after releasing the tab, it is not easy to remove the pink cover. I broke the tab on row A. It won't make a difference since the fuses are well seated just like every other car.

Here some pictures.

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Great write up but i have a dumb question. What bolt do you attach the ground?

 

[wemct]

Great write up but i have a dumb question. What bolt do you attach the ground?

In the 8th picture you will see a bolt in the door jamb that worked as a ground.

 

[Drew Webb]

Your 4S will be a blast and a great Christmas gift. Mamba Green is so awesome. I get comments (positive) about the color every time I drive it. I noticed that you have a Quattroporte. My Taycan replaced my Quattroporte as my daily driver. I enjoyed waking up the neighborhood with my cold starts, but as you know EVs are also a blast. I had a very low speed fender bender (5 mph), but it was over $10k of damage so be mindful of the initial torque.

Banner day! Got call from dealership and my MY 2021 4S arrived yesterday several weeks ahead of schedule. I had resigned myself to a COVID-delay given the recent surge in Germany.

 

[Lowpue]

This is a super uselful write up....I followed exactly and as a result was a piece of cake. Since I have a Turbo S with an insulated windshield I bought a Uniden R3 to fit up close to the non insulated region as shown in the picture.

Using the same method now from the passenger fuse box I put in the Blackvue 900S dashcam for the front. Peice of cake too. The rear was a bit trickier since I struggled to get the wire going to the back through the headliner trim so I actually did it with bottom trim and folded down the saeat to easily come up in the rear. It all looks great. THanks for giving me the confidence to do all this myself. Took about a day.

The really nice thing is I can't see the rear camera in the review mirror since its tucked up against the headliner. This was not the case for my 991 turbo S which was always bothering me. Other than no being centered, I feel real good about the install. Once again thank OP.

 

[evanevery]

I did something very similar back in October. Including a 3D printable holder for the Valentine 1 which will keep its antenna in the "sweet spot" on insulated windshields. Note that you HAVE to mount the V1 on the Left side of the mirror or it will not work with insulated windshields. (The antenna on the V1 is on its right side).

(The custom mount gets the V1 as close as possible to the roofline and inclines it slightly to ensure the fwd antenna has the clearest shot through the "uninsulated area" for maximum reception)

See here and here.

 

[wemct]

This is a super uselful write up....I followed exactly and as a result was a piece of cake. Since I have a Turbo S with an insulated windshield I bought a Uniden R3 to fit up close to the non insulated region as shown in the picture.

Using the same method now from the passenger fuse box I put in the Blackvue 900S dashcam for the front. Peice of cake too. The rear was a bit trickier since I struggled to get the wire going to the back through the headliner trim so I actually did it with bottom trim and folded down the saeat to easily come up in the rear. It all looks great. THanks for giving me the confidence to do all this myself. Took about a day.

The really nice thing is I can't see the rear camera in the review mirror since its tucked up against the headliner. This was not the case for my 991 turbo S which was always bothering me. Other than no being centered, I feel real good about the install. Once again thank OP.

Thanks for the additional pics and info for the rear.

 

[Drew Webb]

Curious @Lowpue what fuse tap did you use?

 

[Lowpue]

Curious @Lowpue what fuse tap did you use?

I just used the standard add a circuit tap from O'REILLY'S and existing empty slots for switched and I switched power ( both are needed to enable parking survelience)

 

[Drew Webb]

Thanks

 

[S0upb0ne]

Like you, I was also wary of breaking clips. That was the main reason why I didn't want to do the mirror tap method. The only panels that I removed were the covers to the fuse panels that you see in the pictures. The one for the foot well can be removed by getting your fingers under one side and gently getting the clips to release. The higher panel on the side of the dash I started on the side where it meets the doors and used a stiff piece of plastic card to avoid damaging the leather with anything too sharp. Everything else on the A pillar, door weather seal and roof trim were done by tucking the wire without removing anything.

i am having a hard time getting the panel on the side of the dash to release. I think I may not Be putting enough pressure on the tabs, but I am scared of breaking them. What kind of plastic did you use as a tool?

 

[wemct]

I have a set of cheap trim panel tools from Amazon (about $10). If I recall correctly, I just used an old plastic credit card. Like everything else, after the first time you get the clips to release you will be much more confident that the clips are pretty strong on this panel.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07917TDL6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[amelen]

This is a super uselful write up....I followed exactly and as a result was a piece of cake. Since I have a Turbo S with an insulated windshield I bought a Uniden R3 to fit up close to the non insulated region as shown in the picture.

I'm thinking of getting the R3 also (and will also have the insulated glass), did you have to get a special clip to have it hang there or it's suctioned? Any chance you have a zoomed out picture to better see where it's hanging. Thank you!!

 

[Lowpue]

I got the following bracket from ebay
NEW Uniden R3 DSP Permanent Radar Detector Mount - (UND-R3-P) | eBay
Then I reshaped it fit my detector up tight to the headliner....really works great.

 

[amelen]

I got the following bracket from ebay
NEW Uniden R3 DSP Permanent Radar Detector Mount - (UND-R3-P) | eBay
Then I reshaped it fit my detector up tight to the headliner....really works great.

Did you wind up getting the separate-mute-button for the R3 (picture attached). If so, where did you mount it?

 

[Lowpue]

no I did not get the remote module.

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