Hard wiring for Valentine 1

[elau]

Have anyone hard wired a Valentine 1, or any radar detector, to the windshield next to the rear view mirror? My 95 R129 does not have Homelink so I cannot possibly get juice from the mirror. I hope to hide the wire along the top of the windshield and run it down along the A pillar and somehow get juice from the lighter. I am not sure I can do this myself but will consider to have it done at a shop. If it was done before, I would like to get some honest opinion if it should be attempted myself.

87 W124
95 R129
98 W163

[Michael]

I've done exactly as you describe to all three of my W124s, so from a wiring standpoint it can be done. Wish I could help you with your car, but I'm still a good year away from purchasing an R129!!

Good luck-it shouldn't be too tough

[G-Benz]

I had done that on a Mazda I once owned...used the hot lead in front of the switch for the overhead courtesy light. May work for you too.

[dairel]

elau, was you able to get the power you needed from the lights near the mirror? I am trying to hard wire mine and I would like to know if it can be done from the lights, any help you can give me is appreciated. Dairel

[gerryvz]

Getting power is simple. Remove the sunroof/overhead lamp console. Remove the rear-view mirror. The sunroof console pries out from the side and then drops down. The rear view mirror pops off with a good smach from the heel of the hand. Be sure to lube its spring with WD40 before popping it back in when you are done with the job.

For a V1, you should use the "hardwire" kit that they supply -- it has a connector that crimps onto an existing wire.

I use the sunroof power lead (use a multimeter to prove wires at each connector, using different ignition on and off settings to find a power connection that is controlled by the key (or live all the time, depending on what you want).

I then just crimp the connector onto the live lead. Then I run the wire through the ceiling to come out the base of the mirror mount. Best thing to do is to unscrew the pot-metal mirror mounting base, and run the wire between the base and the roof liner of the car. Then reinstall the mounting base, and leave just enough wire + connector showing outside to reach the V1's connector when it is in the desired mounting position.

Pop the console back up there and the mirror back into its base and you are done. Total time, less than 30 minutes.

If you want a switched lead, check out the sunroof wiring. If you want a live-all-the-time lead, check out the overhead light wiring.

I've done this on a W116 450SEL 6.9, W126 560SEC, and a W124 E500.

Cheers,
Gerry

[dairel]

What do you mean sunroof power lead, is there one on a R129? If I am going to get power from the lights, would I still need to remove the mirror? Thanks Dairel

[chad500sl]

On my R129, it's been a few years since I wired my radar detector, so I don't remember exactly where I hooked in. I pushed the cable behind the moulding across the windshield and down the driver side pillar. I then fed the line into the dash. This is the part I don't remember. I think I found switched power somewhere above the emergency break. Wire is only visible by the mirror where it hooks to the radar detector.