Best radar detectors?

CHEKM4TE · 11-20-2014, 09:14 PM

I want to order one for my m4. Theres so many.

What do you guys have, and does it work well ?

Thanks

Lups · 11-20-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEKM4TE

I want to order one for my m4. Theres so many.

What do you guys have, and does it work well ?

Thanks

V1 works but is annoying as hell. I'd go for the manwhore, escort something if I was shopping.

phil.harlow · 11-20-2014, 09:32 PM

9500ix here. The GPS lockout of known signals makes the times when it does go off that much more seldom and meaningful, and it's not annoying you every time you drive past the safeway by your house. I could never go back to one without GPS lockout personally.
I've also done a slick hardwire with OEM mute button and HUD notification symbol, but my writeup is only partially complete:
http://philsprojects.wordpress.com/2...-notification/

redz06 · 11-20-2014, 09:34 PM

Valentine 1 is the best, but not effective against Laser. Unless you have a freak circumstance, the Laser warning means you are either going to get a ticket or you are following a GM vehicle with his brake lights on.

Would not trade my V1 for anything though, as Laser detectors are rarely used in Texas. My V1 has saved me from lots of tickets. Gotta love those arrows.

jc05e46m3 · 11-20-2014, 09:34 PM

Passport max. Already paid for itself 10x over

WVUDrJay · 11-20-2014, 09:35 PM

I have escort and like it. Waze in big cities is better though.

Vigilant · 11-20-2014, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEKM4TE

I want to order one for my m4. Theres so many.

What do you guys have, and does it work well ?

Thanks

One vote for V1. The directional signals and bogey count are what separates it from other models. The only downside is that is does not "learn" your driving environment like the Passport to weed out false alarms. It is difficult with any model to protect against laser.

3er · 11-20-2014, 09:41 PM

V1 = Bug the eff out of you with false alarms if you live in a city. They need GPS. Given that, Passport Max is your best bet.

Money2536 · 11-20-2014, 09:42 PM

I finally grew tired of V1 false alarms after about ten years of having one. I've been using the Escort Passport Max.

I buy mine from these guys. Call them and explain your needs. They will get you what is best at about the best prices I've found.

http://www.bestradardetectors.net/

Here's mine.

CHEKM4TE · 11-20-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money2536

I finally grew tired of V1 false alarms after about ten years of having one. I've been using the Escort Passport Max.

I buy mine from these guys. Call them and explain your needs. They will get you what is best at about the best prices I've found.

http://www.bestradardetectors.net/

Here's mine.

i was actually just looking at this one. It looks very sleek and I love where you mounted it.

They also have the passport 8500ci plus thats installed. Do you know if its worth the extra 300 bucks ?

Thanks again

Mr. Hankey · 11-20-2014, 09:50 PM

Another vote for V1...have K band, X band turned off, so only running Ka band and laser. Essentially no false alarms and when it beeps slow down. Love the arrows and bogey count....had it since 2002 and has paid for itself at least 50+ times. State I live in and all neighboring states I drive in only use Ka and rarely laser. Only falsies are old GM brake lights and newer cars with active cruise control (you know who you are newer volvos, infinities, Mercedes suv's!)

Passport is nice but once you get used to the arrows you really miss them and know where to look. If you don't turn off K and X band it's false alarm city for sure though

GregW / Oregon · 11-20-2014, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vigilant

One vote for V1. The directional signals and bogey count are what separates it from other models. The only downside is that is does not "learn" your driving environment like the Passport to weed out false alarms. It is difficult with any model to protect against laser.

+1. I don't use mine in the city, and even seldom on the highway any more. Just drive smart!

Money2536 · 11-20-2014, 09:51 PM

I don't know much about the 8500ci. From what I understand the Max is their most advanced detector. It's supposed to be even better than the 9500ci.

TahoeM3 · 11-20-2014, 09:55 PM

Passport 9500ix here. GPS saves so many false alarms. The V1 was good in the 90s.

elias · 11-20-2014, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc05e46m3

Passport max. Already paid for itself 10x over

+1 I've had Passport for many years, it has saved me countless of times. I never
leave home without it!

6MMMT · 11-20-2014, 10:55 PM

I use the Passport 9500ix...works great. Catches all the cops without many false alarms and GPS alerts to known red light cameras in the area...pretty slick. Only complaint is you can't lock out red light cameras that you drive by everyday.

Maddict3 · 11-21-2014, 07:38 AM

Passport max for me

Accel Junky · 11-21-2014, 08:31 AM

I rock a cheap Cobra ESD 7000. I've got several of them. Paid about $30 and have been using them for more than a decade. Cheap and effective. Though in the last couple of years I have gone without radar in my daily drivers. Heightens my senses... I've got amazing situational awareness now...or I'm damn lucky.

Gac101177 · 11-21-2014, 08:42 AM

Passport Max for me as well.

AMPowerJ · 11-21-2014, 08:56 AM

Used a Passport 9500i for years but I always read with interest about the V1. Bought one for my new M3 and I HATE it!!!

So many false alarms it is unusable. Who cares about arrows when they are pointing everywhere. It seemed every car with radar cruise, etc. was setting it off on the interstate.

I started to ignore it which I knew was a major problem so I just bought a Passport Max 2. This unit is awesome. Cut the false alarms by 90%. Autolearns your route and filters out false alarms. I love the GPS speed reading ... It's how I set my cruise control since BMW's speedometers are notoriously wrong.

If the V1 and the Max had baby detector with arrows and GPS it would be nirvana but since that isn't happening, go with the Max or Max 2 IMO.

@Money2536 ... what model number did you order for the BlendMount? That is the one weakness of the Passport ... the mount sucks and rattles. The V1 mount was much better.

bmw-nj · 11-21-2014, 09:29 AM

Escort max here as well. I had a v1 and honestly think it's way overhyped. I live in central jersey and the thing would go off every two seconds so I would not even pay attention to it after a while.

Spend the money now it will pay dividends for years to come.

Falafel Combo · 11-21-2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money2536

I finally grew tired of V1 false alarms after about ten years of having one. I've been using the Escort Passport Max.

I buy mine from these guys. Call them and explain your needs. They will get you what is best at about the best prices I've found.

http://www.bestradardetectors.net/

Here's mine.

Love it! How do you go about getting it hard wired like this?

11-20-2014, 09:14 PM	#1
CHEKM4TE Private 26 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 2015 BSM F82 M4 6MT Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: New York, NY iTrader: (0)	Best radar detectors? I want to order one for my m4. Theres so many. What do you guys have, and does it work well ? Thanks
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11-20-2014, 09:32 PM	#3
phil.harlow Driving Enthusiast 152 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 2021 F90 Comp Frozen Bluestone Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bothell, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 [0.00]	9500ix here. The GPS lockout of known signals makes the times when it does go off that much more seldom and meaningful, and it's not annoying you every time you drive past the safeway by your house. I could never go back to one without GPS lockout personally. I've also done a slick hardwire with OEM mute button and HUD notification symbol, but my writeup is only partially complete: http://philsprojects.wordpress.com/2...-notification/ __________________ 2021 Frozen Bluestone ///M5 Comp - Ordered 9/6/20 \| Finished Production 10/19/20 \| Delivered 12/13/20 2018 Mineral Grey ///M3 - Ordered 7/24/17 \| Euro Delivery 9/1/17 \| US Delivery 10/31/17 2015 Mineral White ///M3 - Ordered 4/6/14 \| Finished Production 8/28/14 \| Delivered 10/11/14 2011 Black E90 335xi - Ordered 7/10/11 \| Finished Production 7/20/11 \| Delivered 9/3/11
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11-20-2014, 09:34 PM	#4
redz06 Second Lieutenant 31 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 2011 335i sedan Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fulshear, TX, US iTrader: (0)	Best Radar Detector Valentine 1 is the best, but not effective against Laser. Unless you have a freak circumstance, the Laser warning means you are either going to get a ticket or you are following a GM vehicle with his brake lights on. Would not trade my V1 for anything though, as Laser detectors are rarely used in Texas. My V1 has saved me from lots of tickets. Gotta love those arrows.
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11-20-2014, 09:34 PM	#5
jc05e46m3 Brigadier General 853 Rep 3,242 Posts Drives: '21 F90 M5 Comp Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Everywhere. iTrader: (3)	Passport max. Already paid for itself 10x over __________________ '21 /// M5 Comp - Frozen Brilliant White/Black '18 Porsche GT3 Carrara White/Black/Red - Sold '18 /// M3 - Individual Imola/Black - Sold '15 /// M4 - YMB/SO - Sold '12 E92 ///M3 ZCP - AW/FR - Sold
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11-20-2014, 09:35 PM	#6
WVUDrJay Captain 263 Rep 658 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: West Virginia iTrader: (0)	I have escort and like it. Waze in big cities is better though. __________________ 2015 Alpine white M4\black leather, carbon fiber trim,manual,exec package, 19 inch black rims, M suspension, HK stereo, LED lighting
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11-20-2014, 09:41 PM	#8
3er Major 949 Rep 1,275 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW M5 Competition Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Katy, TX iTrader: (0)	V1 = Bug the eff out of you with false alarms if you live in a city. They need GPS. Given that, Passport Max is your best bet. __________________ *2019 ///M5 Competition* On Order: 2023 ///M3 Competition xDrive
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11-20-2014, 09:42 PM	#9
Money2536 Colonel 1597 Rep 2,148 Posts Drives: '13 E92 M3 \| 992 GT3 Touring Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Villages, FL iTrader: (1)	I finally grew tired of V1 false alarms after about ten years of having one. I've been using the Escort Passport Max. I buy mine from these guys. Call them and explain your needs. They will get you what is best at about the best prices I've found. http://www.bestradardetectors.net/ Here's mine.
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11-20-2014, 09:50 PM	#11
Mr. Hankey Christmas Poo 1660 Rep 1,418 Posts Drives: 2024 G87 6MT Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Another vote for V1...have K band, X band turned off, so only running Ka band and laser. Essentially no false alarms and when it beeps slow down. Love the arrows and bogey count....had it since 2002 and has paid for itself at least 50+ times. State I live in and all neighboring states I drive in only use Ka and rarely laser. Only falsies are old GM brake lights and newer cars with active cruise control (you know who you are newer volvos, infinities, Mercedes suv's!) Passport is nice but once you get used to the arrows you really miss them and know where to look. If you don't turn off K and X band it's false alarm city for sure though
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11-20-2014, 09:51 PM	#13
Money2536 Colonel 1597 Rep 2,148 Posts Drives: '13 E92 M3 \| 992 GT3 Touring Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Villages, FL iTrader: (1)	I don't know much about the 8500ci. From what I understand the Max is their most advanced detector. It's supposed to be even better than the 9500ci.
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11-20-2014, 09:55 PM	#14
TahoeM3 Major 413 Rep 1,025 Posts Drives: F-type R, GTR, X5 50i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tampa, Fl iTrader: (0)	Passport 9500ix here. GPS saves so many false alarms. The V1 was good in the 90s. __________________ 2017 F-type SVR Black/black 2017 Nissan GTR Red/black 2022 BMW X5M MBB/SO Gone but not forgotten: '12 X5M, '07 AM SuperVantage, '05 Boxster S, '01 BMW M3,...
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11-20-2014, 10:55 PM	#16
6MMMT Private 1 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	I use the Passport 9500ix...works great. Catches all the cops without many false alarms and GPS alerts to known red light cameras in the area...pretty slick. Only complaint is you can't lock out red light cameras that you drive by everyday.
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11-21-2014, 07:38 AM	#17
Maddict3 Major 196 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: 2015 991 GT3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Passport max for me __________________ 2015 Porsche 991 GT3 Sapphire Blue Metallic 2015 BMW F80 M3 Silverstone Metallic
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11-21-2014, 08:31 AM	#18
Accel Junky High on Acceleration 678 Rep 1,437 Posts Drives: 08 M3, 90 GTR, 21 Gladiator Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Georgia, USA iTrader: (6)	I rock a cheap Cobra ESD 7000. I've got several of them. Paid about $30 and have been using them for more than a decade. Cheap and effective. Though in the last couple of years I have gone without radar in my daily drivers. Heightens my senses... I've got amazing situational awareness now...or I'm damn lucky. Last edited by Accel Junky; 11-21-2014 at 08:56 AM..
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11-21-2014, 08:42 AM	#19
Gac101177 M4-SAHD 514 Rep 611 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Jacksonville iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M4 [10.00]	Passport Max for me as well.
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11-21-2014, 08:56 AM	#20
AMPowerJ One mod leads to another ... 424 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: 2014 F10 M5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blythewood, SC iTrader: (10)	Used a Passport 9500i for years but I always read with interest about the V1. Bought one for my new M3 and I HATE it!!! So many false alarms it is unusable. Who cares about arrows when they are pointing everywhere. It seemed every car with radar cruise, etc. was setting it off on the interstate. I started to ignore it which I knew was a major problem so I just bought a Passport Max 2. This unit is awesome. Cut the false alarms by 90%. Autolearns your route and filters out false alarms. I love the GPS speed reading ... It's how I set my cruise control since BMW's speedometers are notoriously wrong. If the V1 and the Max had baby detector with arrows and GPS it would be nirvana but since that isn't happening, go with the Max or Max 2 IMO. @Money2536 ... what model number did you order for the BlendMount? That is the one weakness of the Passport ... the mount sucks and rattles. The V1 mount was much better. __________________ Current: 2014 F10 M5 Previous: 2015 F80 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5, 2009 E90 M3, 1998 E36 M3
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11-21-2014, 09:29 AM	#21
bmw-nj Captain 109 Rep 700 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 335 xdrive M sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hillsborough, NJ iTrader: (1)	Escort max here as well. I had a v1 and honestly think it's way overhyped. I live in central jersey and the thing would go off every two seconds so I would not even pay attention to it after a while. Spend the money now it will pay dividends for years to come.
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