[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by Orion4

But I want mine concealed for several reasons: theft prevention and illegal in some states including mine.

Really? I thought detectors were legal pretty much in all states (except Virginia and DC and the suction cup rule in Cali and Minnesota which you can get around), except for use in like commercial vehicles? See this list:

http://www.1stradardetectors.com/rad...ector-laws.php

[Orion4]

Correct:
Law varies from state to state, but detectors are generally legal in private vehicles under the Communications Act of 1934[15] and illegal in commercial vehicles by DOT regulation (49 CFR 392.71). Exceptions:

*
o Illegal in all vehicles: Virginia, Washington D.C., U.S. military bases
o Illegal in commercial vehicles under state law: Illinois, New York, New Jersey (specifically, commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) and all vehicles over 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg)) Also illegal in all commercial vehicles over 10000lbs under US federal law
o Indirectly illegal (Illegal due to prohibitions against affixing items to windshield - "obstructing vision"): Minnesota, California[1], New York[16]
o Repealed: Connecticut (repealed in 1992)[17]

[Orion4]

the V1 is built into the headrest. He disassembles the headrest and the V1 case. Once installed in the cavity in the headrest, it is reassembled. It is impossible to visually see any difference from the regular rear center headrest other than it can not be tilted to the upright position and the cable is run down the inside of one of the metal posts (only see if you remove the headrest from the backrest.

[Lotus99]

So where's Clifton? I thought it's in New Jersey? They're legal there.

[Orion4]

Clifton, VA. Just west of DC and 12 mi South of Dulles International Airport. Definitely NOT Legal here

[IGotBeemer]

Originally Posted by Richwm

Ok here is the final install.

I have been looking at your pictures to see what the notches look like above the face plate, but the pictures are chopped at the top.

I want to remove and put the V1's CD just like yours.

How did you remove the trim. I tried and saw 3 entry points at the top - near left, center and near right. I had the pry tools, but it seemed if I applied extra pressure it would break them.

Can someone describe, especially with pictures how to remove the trim without breaking it.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by IGotBeemer

I have been looking at your pictures to see what the notches look like above the face plate, but the pictures are chopped at the top.

I want to remove and put the V1's CD just like yours.

How did you remove the trim. I tried and saw 3 entry points at the top - near left, center and near right. I had the pry tools, but it seemed if I applied extra pressure it would break them.

Can someone describe, especially with pictures how to remove the trim without breaking it.

I just pryed it from the side with a plastic putty knife. I have a brand new panel at home I will try and take some pictures this weekend and post them up for you.

[IGotBeemer]

Originally Posted by Richwm

I just pryed it from the side with a plastic putty knife. I have a brand new panel at home I will try and take some pictures this weekend and post them up for you.

Rich,
Thanks for replying. While I have seen other types of climate control cover panel with side clips, your panel seems to resemble mine. I don't have side clips, but two above and two below. Sides are just the small insert type plastic moldings.

I measured the distances as superimposed on your picture, the distance from the side edge to the end of the clip is 1". 1st 1/2" is just an empty space, then comes the 1/2" clip that needs to be pushed upwards to dislodge from the holding pin. Which is just about as hard to push or even harder than the push down on the top two. The advantage on the top two is that you can push it down using a screw driver, which I was able to pry open.

While I tried credit card strips of 1/4" to 1/2" width, it didn't quite work. It seems that stip once inside did not quite remain the original "L" type structure. I felt it going below the clip but I was unsuccessfull in pushing it upwards to dislodge the clip.

PS. I would also like to know what glue did you use to fasten the face plate to the trim. Did you faster the plate, the trim AND the circuit board.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by IGotBeemer

Rich,
Thanks for replying. While I have seen other types of climate control cover panel with side clips, your panel seems to resemble mine. I don't have side clips, but two above and two below. Sides are just the small insert type plastic moldings.

I measured the distances as superimposed on your picture, the distance from the side edge to the end of the clip is 1". 1st 1/2" is just an empty space, then comes the 1/2" clip that needs to be pushed upwards to dislodge from the holding pin. Which is just about as hard to push or even harder than the push down on the top two. The advantage on the top two is that you can push it down using a screw driver, which I was able to pry open.

While I tried credit card strips of 1/4" to 1/2" width, it didn't quite work. It seems that stip once inside did not quite remain the original "L" type structure. I felt it going below the clip but I was unsuccessfull in pushing it upwards to dislodge the clip.

PS. I would also like to know what glue did you use to fasten the face plate to the trim. Did you faster the plate, the trim AND the circuit board.

I'm not understanding your issue are you having problems getting the trim panel out of the dash or the climate control out of the panel.

To remove the trim panel from the dash I pried it up on the sides with a plastic putty knife then pulled it out with my finger tips. for the climate control I used a small flat blade screw driver to release the clips then it came right out.
I used gorilla glue but I really didn't like the way it turned out because when it drys it expands and makes a mess that took a while to clean up.

[IGotBeemer]

Rich,
I am glad you asked me the question as to what was I trying to remove - the panel or the climate control. This made me go back to page 1 to look at your pictures, then suddenly I realized that you had taken both out not just the piece I was after.

I wanted this panel so I could cut out and put Valentine 1 conceal display.


But when I looked back at your pictures I noticed that you had taken this whole unit. I wasn't thinking of doing, perhap I should.


And then it was probably easy for you to separate the climate control and the trim like this,


For you to take the putty knife and pry it open, meant that you had the whole thing taken out, otherwise, there is no room left to feed the putty knife and pry open. I am now more confused as to how you took the thing apart than I was before.

Ultimately my goal is to do this, and ofcourse putting it all back.

[Richwm]

Here are some pictures that will hopefully answer all of your questions. I will put some text in later if needed but my Daughter wants me to play Wii with her. So i dont have time now. Hope this helps you!

[IGotBeemer]

Rich,
You are awesome. Your picture are worth 10,000 words!

I will keep you updated, and will tell you where I was making the mistake.

[Kruz]

Looks great. What have you programmed that Scan Gauge to do for you? How do you like it?

[IGotBeemer]

Well, if life was just peachy, I'd be the happiest guy in Orange County.

1st of all, this is what I had before I got your eloborate pictures. I had opened up the upper face plate as can be seen below.

Then from the pic, you can see the plastic pry tool. After putting rather accessive force, I heard something crack slightly, so I pulled back. It won't open.



The plastic tool was inserted about 1" inside


After unsuccessfull attempt, I tried the right side


After pushing it hard almost parallel to the trim, it didn't budge.


So now I am wondering, perhaps, I should put the face plate all together back as it was, and reattempt the way you showed in your pictures. Do you think that would make any difference. Just a thought

[IGotBeemer]

or perhaps, I should close the cover, and put more pressure despite the cracking sound.

Looking for your input Rich.

[IGotBeemer]

Rich,
I did some more analysis. My comments are on the pictures that you posted.





I hard plastic tool is now getting worn out at the chisel point. While your technique is quite simple, I think I am missing or overlooking something.

I tried to open the top section and insert "L" shaped credit card, with a width of 1/4" between the two plastics. But trying to twist to dislodge merely releases the grip of the 1/4" thin plastic just like that.

As you can see from my posts, my quest still continues. I hope that top face plate which has been open for about a week does not get loose enough that when I push it in to finally close it that it's not loose or does not fit flush to the radio face plate.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Kruz

Looks great. What have you programmed that Scan Gauge to do for you? How do you like it?

I use it mostly for coolant temp (330i doesn't have a coolant temp) and speed since our speedometers suck(80Mph is really 78Mph). I like it enough that I bought another one for my 2001 330i. I just need to mount it in a better location.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by IGotBeemer

Rich,
I did some more analysis. My comments are on the pictures that you posted.



The climate control holds it in the car if it is too tight I would use a small screw driver and gently pry it out centered on the side of the climate control. If you break the trim panel they are cheep. I got mine online from Crown Auto for under $25.
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I hard plastic tool is now getting worn out at the chisel point. While your technique is quite simple, I think I am missing or overlooking something.

I tried to open the top section and insert "L" shaped credit card, with a width of 1/4" between the two plastics. But trying to twist to dislodge merely releases the grip of the 1/4" thin plastic just like that.

As you can see from my posts, my quest still continues. I hope that top face plate which has been open for about a week does not get loose enough that when I push it in to finally close it that it's not loose or does not fit flush to the radio face plate.

I would snap the face plate back in and pry under the side lip of the Climate Control. My face plate has been out a few times so it comes out easy.

[IGotBeemer]

I purchased this tool set from Home Depot. SKU #038728600042 4PCPROBE SET $7.46


The actual tool that I worked with is the "L" shaped.


Make sure before you start working on top of the center console, you put a towel. After dropping my small (yet heavy) Mag Light on the walnut plastic cover, I realized it that I need to protect this.

I used the "L" shaped tool, feeding it through the left side of the face plate and the climate control as seen below and used to hook onto the plastic.


Here's a close up shot as to where exactly I hooked onto. Remember this picture was taken after I had removed it. Pull with a gentle and consistance force. I used two hands together - once hand does the pulling while the other hand provides braking power as soon as it dislodges. For me, if I had used one hand then I would have pulled it more, possible breaking the face plate or something.


Then you follow the same step on the right side to pull out the climate control panel.


Now, while the top portion is out, however, the very bottom that curves underneath is still intact. Well, because it is being held by a two (extreme left and right) plastic hooks. Below are the two pictures, one is showing a more close up of the hook.

So you push the control panel downward on the left side while pulling out, and do the same on the right side.



Lastly, you need to separate the control panel from the face plate. There are two snap-ins on the left and right side. I used the L-shaped tool to pull up and dislodge the snap-in and a screw driver from the side to twist out the plate.


This removal of the control panel to custom fit the V1 Conceal Display would not have been possible without the help of "Richwm". His past experience, pictures and suggestions and my perseverance, and analytical approach made this step 1 possible. Thanks Rich.

Now onto the Step 2: Installation of Conceal Display.

[Cuba]

I feel like the concealed displays aren't even worth it. Either you look down 35 degrees or look up 50 degrees. Not that much of a difference

[IGotBeemer]

Originally Posted by Cuba

I feel like the concealed displays aren't even worth it. Either you look down 35 degrees or look up 50 degrees. Not that much of a difference

Well, I have used it in the past, and I loved it. I found looking down was much better, in fact, more normal than looking up.

Nevertheless, here are the main reason I am willing to put all that effort:
1. I live in California, and you can't mount anything that hangs off the windshield, including stuff that hangs off the rear-view mirror. California modified the law to allow gps in certain confined areas.

So having my V1 mounted on the windshield very next to rear view mirror, will show red lights to the police if they comes sneaking up behind me and thus will yield a ticket even if I am not speeding. Why alarm unnecessarily.

2. Red glaring lights shine on the face at night. Below, I find them subdued.

3. Easier to mute down below than up, as your hands are always near the steering wheel, the gear shift, changing radio stations, etc.

Ideal spot for me would have been somewhere above the steering wheel column, but I didn't like any special spot.

It's a matter of preference. To me it's worth it as it also matches the interior decor.

[Ryebread]

New to the bmw brand. Actually I don't even get my car until Saturday. So I haven't spent much time looking at the mirror yet. But I come from Volvo, Audi, Infiniti. The later, has a blendmount application which is awesome. I run the V1. I've had them all and the V1 is superior IMO.

as a n00b to this board, I wanted to tap into an existing thread regarding radar discussion. pun intended.

I'm really frustrated that there isn't an application for BMW at:

stealth cords - provides a 8" or 12" wire with the phone jack on one end, and a black and red wire that you tuck into an existing oem harness. no cutting. no drama. super easy to remove when you resell the vehicle.



I encourage everyone to click contact us on their site and ask for a bmw application:
http://www.stealthcords.com/shop/pro...cat=280&page=1



blendmount - really slick oem looking mount that attaches to the mirror stem. obv since bmw doesn't have a round collar, it's impossible until they design a part for bmw.



It may seem bulky in the pic, but in person it's a beautiful thing.
Not cheap but who cares, it's perfect and you can resell it.
http://store.blendmount.com/blendmou...2000-p334.aspx
pls contact them and ask for a bmw app.


I'm not impressed with any of the diys for providing power, that I've seen thus far.

There doesn't seem to be a good place for the remote display unit. They are supposed to allow you to keep your eyes on the road, not the bottom of your center stack.

If we had a blendmount, you could just easily hit the mute button, it's right there under the mirror. the radar would have a very clear view of the front/rear.