[Steve Heyer]

This post is about my Valentine 1 install but may be useful to anyone needing to find and run a switched hot wire to various devices.

I have about 10 photos but can only post one at a time... How can I post more than one? (Using iPad... Maybe need to use my Win computer?)

 

[Steve Heyer]

Photo 1 Area where V1 will go. (Adhesive tape)
Photo 2 Door pillar. Gently pry from top down to release the button fasteners. (photo needs rotating to left)
Photo 3 If you want to take the pillar cover off completely disconnect speaker wires
Photo 4 Side dash cover removes with gently pressure... three pop fasteners and a tab at the bottom. (photo needs rotating to right)
Photo 5 & 6 View of fuse panel through glove box. If you want to remove it there are 2 screws under the plastic covers underneath. Gently pry with small flat driver, and 3 screws inside the cover, two horizontal and one in the center vertical
Photo 7 & 8 two wire harness assemblies to disconnect
Photo 9 & 10 Fuse block. 10 shows a red wire which I fit into an unused switched fuse holder. After ignition is switched off it takes a few seconds to go off

Re assemble in reverse order... (If you take the glove box out note there is a small duct that needs to be connected. See photo 10)

Notes: It is unnecessary to completely remove the door pillar cover or the glove box. I wanted to see how things were put together and have a better view of what I was doing. Detector works front and back from the mounting location. In photo 5 & 9 you can see a white object in the center of the fuse block. It is a diagram of the fuses and their locations. (I have photos but exceeded the amount I can post.

Thanks. I hope this makes the Mini a little more understandable. Steve

 

[Steve Heyer]

Finished V1 Install

Last two photos...

 

[shineywheels]

Last two photos...

Good to see someone take power from the fuse box the way I do.

 

[sootyvrs]

Always been curious if these give you plenty of notice without false alarms?

I did read that if it detects radar pointed at you then it's already too late... Would love to hear your views on the product..

 

[Loccusst]

This is a really good place to get power, I did the same with my Escort radar detector. I ran the wired control down to the area where the 12 volt power was in front of the cup holders. I attached a few pics of the lower console area disassembled on the new Clubman for future reference.

 

[Steve Heyer]

You have to get accustomed to what it is squawking about. Yes there are false alarms, often set off by automatic door openers (Walgreens, etc...) but after awhile you know where those areas are. It will also false when a car with collision avoidance passes you but Valentine 1 is one of the best rated at rejecting them. Finally ere are 'instant on' radar guns that send out a pulse and if you are out in the open and speeding they got you if they want. Two points about instant on... 1) if you slow down immediately most officers may let it go. 2) if you are in traffic the officer will be sending out short bursts checking on speed of other cars and you should recognize what is going on and back off some.

I had not had a citation in over 50 years and in one week got stopped and photo radar citations. The stop could have been avoided but I keep right on at 57 in a 45 and never slowed down... Don't know what I was thinking but could have avoided that one when I saw the patrol car. The photo radar citation I ignored and after 3 months it went away. I bough detectors the next week....