Auto Pages: 2002 BMW M3 (E46): Installed Gadgets

Installed Gadgets

Radar Detector   ·   Cellphone

Below are details of my radar detector and cellphone installs. I plan to add an Alpine CD/MP3 changer very soon.

Passport 8500 Radar Detector

I wanted something that had great sensitivity and some form of remote display. I'd had the Valentine One for a few years and liked it, but the programmable, more sensitive Passport 8500 caught me. I'm not sure I made the best choice, but I made a decent one. I do miss the V1's directional arrows (see my old Porsche install here). The 8500 also seems to false a lot, especially on rural highway around big rig trucks; I think it's falsing off other radar detectors. I chose to hardwire the unit to get all the cords out of the way and have it always ready whenever I drive the car. Below are the install pix.

I had the unit wired to the switched power so that it comes on when the key is turned. The remote display is mounted on the bracket for my cellphone (see below). I don't find the remote display useful, as it doesn't indicate what type of alert there is or any signal strength. I have yet to program the unit to ignore X-band alerts, which I think I can safely ignore in California. The finish on the 8500 matches the Titanium Shadow and black interior perfectly. The display is good, too, with a clearer indication of X, K, Ka or Laser than the V1. I wish it had arrows, though.

This was installed at the same time as my cellphone microphone and antenna, so that the left A-pillar only had to be opened once. I had the wire used for a V1 run at the same time, just in case I change my mind. The work was done by Al & Ed's Autosound on Robertson in Los Angeles. I liked the work they did, though I did hang around and offer advice and help often.

	The Passport 8500, as seen from the driver's side. I can't see the power cord at all from here.
	Seen from underneath, you can see the cord coming out from the headliner.

Motorola V60c Cellular Phone

I've enjoyed the V60 phone for some time, though mine is now acting funky and will soon be replaced with a new unit of the same model. I wanted the handsfree interface so that I could fully enjoy the SMG car at speed while calling BMW NA Customer Service (just kidding, I think). Again, I didn't want a bunch of cords hanging around the cockpit. I had the microphone and windshield antenna installed at the top of the left A-pillar. The mounting bracket is the standard one for E46 cars. The handsfree kit is the one sold by Motorola. If you're wondering, I'm on Verizon. AT&T may be a better choice now, with their conversion to GSM.

I had the Passport 8500 radar detector installed at the same time, to save labor costs and have the A-pillar opened only once to run the microphone, antenna, and radar detector wiring at the same time. I mounted the Passport's remote display on top of the bracket for the phone cradle (see below). The phone's speaker is installed near my left knee, under the dash. We cut a hole in the plastic there to allow the sound to pass unmuffled. It sounds rather good, though the microphone doesn't result in the best sound quality for those on the receiving end. I often plug-in the earbud when making long calls from the road. Voice-activated dialing works fairly well with the handsfree kit. Like the radar detector, the V60 finish matches well with the interior of the M3. I didn't plan this, but I do enjoy it. What I don't like is the Motorola pivot mounting for the phone cradle. It's immense, the wire sticks straight down instead of back, and it and looks ugly from the passenger side.

	The Motorola V60c handsfree kit cradle. Note the Passport 8500 remote display unit perched on the bracket, angled toward the driver's seat. Too bad it's a crappy remote display.
	From the front, ready to use.
	Empty cradle, with the wires for it and the radar detector remote leading into the center console. Only minimal shaving of a hidden plastic piece was necessary.
	The microphone and antenna.

[back to M3 page]   ·   [top of this page]




Copyright © 2002 John Turkel. All rights reserved. Not affiliated or endorsed by BMW AG or BMW North America. All trademarks are the property of their respective holders. This material is for entertainment purposes only.

Last Modified September 16, 2002

http://www.yoy.com/

Visit [an error occurred while processing this directive] since September 16, 2002.