Radar detector? What to buy and where?

McGrumpy · 02-04-2011, 09:05 AM

BIMMERPOST / Classifieds

Asking Price:

None

Item Interest

I'm heading to Miami and might decide to pick up a detector.

Any suggestions on the best deal?

Brand recommendation?

stratplaya06 · 02-04-2011, 09:08 AM

Valentine 1, off of their website.

Saved me 4 times on my road trip back from philly last weekend. It is worth its weight in gold, and whoever says you don't need the arrows has clearly never experienced them, as they are a life saver.

/thread.

MonteB · 02-04-2011, 09:09 AM

I have the 9500ix and love it! $500 but worth it

Bimmer This · 02-04-2011, 09:10 AM

Valentine V1. Any car audio store and Best Buy should have these.

Sara · 02-04-2011, 09:12 AM

Passport

Kolyan2k · 02-04-2011, 09:36 AM

V1

Ragga · 02-04-2011, 09:41 AM

these are kinda cool

http://www.escortradar.com/iq/

Bavaria330 · 02-04-2011, 09:55 AM

V1 FTW.

hipnotic · 02-04-2011, 09:55 AM

v1

ttam · 02-04-2011, 09:59 AM

+1 on v1

Eights-n-Aces · 02-04-2011, 10:00 AM

Valentine 1. The best price ($399) is to order direct from their website. They are not sold at Best Buy or any other retailer. The best product sold at BestBuy is the Escort - Passport 9500IX Radar/Laser Detector with GPS Technology for $499. The rest are crap.

There's also JR Electronics. I'm not sure what brands they have because their website is crap but it looks like they might carry the higher end radar detectors 9568 SW 40 ST. MIAMI FL. 33165 305-226-1660 www.JR-ELECTRONICS.com

k3m0-330i · 02-04-2011, 10:10 AM

V1 for sure.

tomz17 · 02-04-2011, 10:57 AM

There are three brands that people seem to love to recommend

Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine... The comparable models from each manufacturer are mostly equivalent in terms of performance in most reviews I've read.

If you don't even want to do your own research on this, the differences won't matter to you! Pick one of those three and you'll likely be happy with it.

HueManatee · 03-01-2011, 01:48 AM

Only two...the best.

Valentine One

or

Escort Redline

AND NOTHING ELSE.

kthankzbye · 03-01-2011, 02:17 AM

hey, I'm from NYC and I drove down to FL with the V1. I can vouch for the V1, it saved me from 3-4 speeding tickets. I love the arrows, that's one thing I like about the V1.
Remember to remove it in VA and Wash. DC cause it's illegal there. They will take it away + fine you.
I planning to sell it once I get back to NYC in a few months. I don't need it in the city cause there isn't parking so I train everything.
If you do get a V1, get a hardwire kit, makes it look better without that springy cord.

mhudson87 · 03-14-2011, 08:26 AM

I'm looking for a radar detector as well but not really wanting to drop $400+. Is the 8500 x50 a decent choice if you can get one less than $200?

bmw-nj · 04-25-2011, 03:40 PM

The 8500 x50 is a very solid radar detector and only lacks the gps function of its big brother the 9500ix. If you don't mind the false alarms then the 8500 x50 is very good. The v1 has the most falses and becomes extremely annoying so I avoid it at all costs if i were you.

W.WCherry · 04-25-2011, 05:35 PM

I currently have the Passport 8500 X50.

Look into the Escort 9500CI.

02-04-2011, 09:05 AM	#1
McGrumpy Enlisted Member 0 Rep 41 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (3)	Radar detector? What to buy and where? BIMMERPOST / Classifieds Asking Price: None Item Interest I'm heading to Miami and might decide to pick up a detector. Any suggestions on the best deal? Brand recommendation? __________________ 2007 328xi Black Sapphire Metallic / BMS PBX / K & N Filter / BMS Angel Eyes / OEM Blacklines / OEM M3 Spoiler / BMW Performance Grilles / VMR V710 19" Gun Metal /
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

02-04-2011, 09:08 AM	#2
stratplaya06 Captain 46 Rep 967 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 335xi-SOLD 5.0 Miata Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (10)	Valentine 1, off of their website. Saved me 4 times on my road trip back from philly last weekend. It is worth its weight in gold, and whoever says you don't need the arrows has clearly never experienced them, as they are a life saver. /thread. __________________ \| PROcede Rev3 \| Vishnu Meth \| DCI \| BMW Perf. Exhaust \| AR Coated/Catless \| CP-E FMIC \| Quaife \|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:09 AM	#3
MonteB Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 277 Posts Drives: 07 335i Black on Black Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Raleigh NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	I have the 9500ix and love it! $500 but worth it __________________ 07 335I- BLACK SAPPHIRE-BLACK INTERIOR-ALUMINIUM TRIM- 6 MT-PREMIUM-SPORT-COLD WEATHER PACKAGE-AERO KIT-RPI AIR SCOOPS- AFE Intake- JB+ -PASSPORT 9500ix
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:10 AM	#4
Bimmer This Major General 99 Rep 6,473 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westminster iTrader: (3)	Valentine V1. Any car audio store and Best Buy should have these.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:12 AM	#5
Sara Lieutenant General 5791 Rep 17,879 Posts Drives: A car Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nola iTrader: (6)	Passport
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:36 AM	#6
Kolyan2k Major General 922 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	V1
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:41 AM	#7
Ragga Private 6 Rep 96 Posts Drives: e90 335i -Sold- 2012 GX460, Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	these are kinda cool http://www.escortradar.com/iq/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:55 AM	#8
Bavaria330 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 323 Posts Drives: 335i LCI AW Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LB Cali. iTrader: (2)	V1 FTW.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:55 AM	#9
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	v1
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 09:59 AM	#10
ttam Major 39 Rep 1,111 Posts Drives: Chevrolet movie theater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (19)	+1 on v1
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 10:00 AM	#11
Eights-n-Aces []D []-[] []_[] []< []\[] []_[] '][' 27 Rep 418 Posts Drives: 335i Convertible/Le Mans Blue/ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Weston, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 335 Convertible [0.00]	Valentine 1. The best price ($399) is to order direct from their website. They are not sold at Best Buy or any other retailer. The best product sold at BestBuy is the Escort - Passport 9500IX Radar/Laser Detector with GPS Technology for $499. The rest are crap. There's also JR Electronics. I'm not sure what brands they have because their website is crap but it looks like they might carry the higher end radar detectors 9568 SW 40 ST. MIAMI FL. 33165 305-226-1660 www.JR-ELECTRONICS.com __________________ 2010 E93 335i M LeMans Blue 2001 E 46 330ci Coupe/silver/black/Sunroof 1999 BMW R1200C Cruiser-Ivory & Blue
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 10:10 AM	#12
k3m0-330i Major 73 Rep 1,375 Posts Drives: 08 335xi Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Albany Ny iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	V1 for sure. __________________ Current 2008 M6 e63 v10 6mt Current 2012 e70 x5 35i -jb4 2008 335xi e92- Sold 2007 335i e90 - Sold 2002 Taig / Red / / / M3 - SOLD
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-04-2011, 10:57 AM	#13
tomz17 Second Lieutenant 35 Rep 286 Posts Drives: 2020 M340xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	There are three brands that people seem to love to recommend Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine... The comparable models from each manufacturer are mostly equivalent in terms of performance in most reviews I've read. If you don't even want to do your own research on this, the differences won't matter to you! Pick one of those three and you'll likely be happy with it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-01-2011, 01:48 AM	#14
HueManatee New Member 2 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (1)	Only two...the best. Valentine One or Escort Redline AND NOTHING ELSE.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-01-2011, 02:17 AM	#15
kthankzbye Lieutenant 86 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2011 F10 550i, 2020 G05 40i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (1)	hey, I'm from NYC and I drove down to FL with the V1. I can vouch for the V1, it saved me from 3-4 speeding tickets. I love the arrows, that's one thing I like about the V1. Remember to remove it in VA and Wash. DC cause it's illegal there. They will take it away + fine you. I planning to sell it once I get back to NYC in a few months. I don't need it in the city cause there isn't parking so I train everything. If you do get a V1, get a hardwire kit, makes it look better without that springy cord.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-14-2011, 08:26 AM	#16
mhudson87 New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 535i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I'm looking for a radar detector as well but not really wanting to drop $400+. Is the 8500 x50 a decent choice if you can get one less than $200?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-25-2011, 03:40 PM	#17
bmw-nj Captain 99 Rep 700 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 335 xdrive M sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hillsborough, NJ iTrader: (1)	The 8500 x50 is a very solid radar detector and only lacks the gps function of its big brother the 9500ix. If you don't mind the false alarms then the 8500 x50 is very good. The v1 has the most falses and becomes extremely annoying so I avoid it at all costs if i were you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-25-2011, 05:35 PM	#18
W.WCherry Lieutenant 35 Rep 419 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (3)	I currently have the Passport 8500 X50. Look into the Escort 9500CI. Last edited by W.WCherry; 04-26-2011 at 05:57 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote