Inspired by folks here, I'd like to share some pics of my Escort 8500 x50 install.

Almost invisible from the front.


...closer view.


Totally invisible from the rear!


As seen from an angle.


Driver's view.

 

Very nice....Did you do the install yourself? How did you route the wires?

 

Thanks. Yes, I did the job myself.

I follow this thread TEXT for the wire run and the fuse box tap.

You can look at this thread TEXT to see how the wire is routed. I didn't remove any panels, though. Just used a credit card to push the flat telephone cord into the A pillar and into the side of the dash. Then I managed to fish the wire through some slots/holes/openings down to the fuse box.

See the little white rectangle above the rear view mirror in the "closer view" picture? That's a piece of double-sided tape holding up an inline coupler from Radio Shack. This idea keeps the wiring that is tucked across the top of the windshield in place, since the inline coupler is adhered onto the windshield acting as a stopper. A short, 8" telephone cord comes out the other end and into the radar detector.

See the wedge-shaped pattern on top of the radar detector? That's a pattern I cut from a roll of Limo Extra Dark 5% VLT tint from Kragen Auto. I had to cut a notch to accommodate the double-sided tape that's holding up the inline coupler. If I had installed the tint first and then applied the double-side tape on top of it, the "little white rectangle" would have been hidden from outside view.

 

SFzip

What wedge shape are you talking about. Don't all TL's have that little indention for the tint/antenna in back of the mirror?

Or did you put tint on TOP of the actual radar?

Thanks

 

Question: Such a location aof the radar, doesn't actually block the rear detector? What the use of having the radar concealed, in the states that it is not illegal?

 

3G forum...



Plus, http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76187

 

Question:
Do you have to install it like shown above or can you just clip it to the window or dash and plug it in?

 

Looks great, but bad choice. The laser detector is useless in that mounting position.

 

The rear-view mirror blocks the laser receiver on the top of the detector? Or, something else...

Why laser detector has to have their own individual exit?

 

I have tried to place my x50 where yours is...but how the hell do you see it? Mine is blocked by the mirror.

 

Can anyone answer my question? I am debating about getting it.
Thanks for your help.

 

Michaelvg1, wait for SFzip's return... he could give you more inside news and answer all ppl's Qs above...

 

I am saying that the led front screen is partially blocked if I place it in front of the rear mirror. The laser lens is not...

 

The little knob on the top is the laser detector, at least for the rear. In addition, the sunshade portion of the glass interferes with the front . I thought of installing it in the same spot but didn't because of those problems. A point well taken is that laser detection is sort of a gimmick since if you don't have the laser shifter when it goes off your fried anyway.

 

look at my pics, I have my passport 8500 hard-wired by best buy $30.

 

how much did you guys pay for your x50 and from where ... i'm trying to find the best price

 

Got mine from www.sbhcorp.com

$285 for the blue led plus $10.50 for S&H. They are in Brooklyn, NY (800-451-5851) and I received it two days after ordering it.

My car just came in and I'm going for my "pre-actual purchase" lookover and test drive tomorrow.

I also bought a dvd-a from www.cduniverse.com but have not listened to it yet, so I can't report my opinion of our sound system. I can't wait.

I'll give an update of my situation, after I have a few miles under my belt. Of course if my "dealer experience" is less than glowing, you'll be the first to know.

Alan

 

Thanks for your post. This looks pretty easy, and I don't have to take anything apart the way you recommend. Will be doing shortly.

 

I got my 8500 x50 blue and the Z3 Laser Shifter together for $540 delievered from someone on Ebay.

Was a pretty good deal

 

Yeah, that is a good deal. I don't think I am going to get a jammer though.

 

Before…


Yes, it's a sheet of tint on top of the X50 that hides it from the sun and from people. I'm too lazy to remove the X50, so I decided to make it less conspicuous. The suction cups are too noticeable and the X50 is too exposed, as you can see from the "before" picture.


The position of the X50 behind the rearview mirror does not reduce rearward RADAR detection. I moved the X50 to another spot where there was no rearward obstruction and the sensitivity remained the same.


Yes, the rearview mirror does seem to block rearward LASER detection, but I'm not too concerned because getting painted by LASER from behind is the same as being the first car getting painted from ahead--you're busted!


Check out what neuronbob pointed out in another thread... http://www.valentine1.com/laserhowto/

Mounting high supposedly is best for early detection. I've had better than expected "early" LASER detection from mounting the X50 at the current position.


No, you can install it virtually anywhere you like. Check out the pics in this thread http://acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86143 .


You'll need to move the X50 lower or move your seat lower or the combination of both. Another thing is to check whether the bracket is angled correctly. When I first mounted the X50 onto the bracket, it pointed slightly downward, so I had to bend the bracket a little to get the X50 pointing straight ahead. Also, this tiny adjustment improved my view of the display in a big way.