Smart 451 stealthy radar detector installation

[WilyB]

I have a perfect driving record and I would like to keep it this way, so, given so many municipalities tendencies to regard drivers as legitimate source of revenues, I decided that even the smart shall get a radar detector.

I wanted the installation to be as stealthy as possible: no visor mounted units, or no suction marks on the windshield! I also wanted the cost to be within reason, and state of the art new detectors such as the Beltronics STi-R costs over $1,000 plus installation for just one front receiver.

Most my other cars have K40s. Actually I needed a rear radar receiver to complete the installation on my son’s M3. I found on eBay a two year old complete K40 Calibre front and rear with laser jammer for $510. That unit had been removed from a Corvette allegedly by a professional, but I guess he was more of a butcher than a radio guy as he simply cut the wires and yanked the unit out! Anyway, I had not practiced my soldiering skills and used my heat shrinking kits in a long time, so all was right.

I rewired and reset the unit, adding a kill switch just in case, testing it with a RADIO SHACK 12V power supply.

In the car, I slid the LED warning light on the right side of the instrument cluster and the kill switch inside the glove box within easy reach.







The K40 central unit and its speaker were mounted (Velcro) behind the glove box (there is a huge space behind the glove box) and the switched power taken from the radio.



The receiver was mounted (Velcro again) on top of the round shaped plastic box, high up the front of the smart and the power wire was run to the car’s battery through an existing hole in the firewall: no drilling necessary. I had to carefully position the receiver so that it would not interfere with the wiper’s mechanism. The pouch that surrounds the receiver is not part of the K40 kit, but made with RAM textile that make the K40 not detectable by RDDs (Radar Detector Detectors) such as the SPECTRE III & IV that insurance companies offer to local Police Dept.



This morning I tested against my local speed trap and with its relatively high up position, the detection range is excellent.



I did not install the laser jammer yet, as the older K40s laser jammers are notoriously given to false alarm and inefficient. I understand there is a possibility to upgrade them and I will email K40 about this.

[jwight]

First, kudos on taking a hacked up system and doing a good install on your smart. Second, and this is just my .02, it's probably overkill - your car so if it works for you, fine. And third, laser jammers? Apparently they're illegal in Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois and Washington DC. Since you don't give your location this may not be an issue for you. Let your conscience be your guide.

[WilyB]

Originally Posted by jwight

Second, and this is just my .02, it's probably overkill - your car so if it works for you, fine.

Thanks for the kudos: actually, that was ½ the fun to do just that. The other ½ was to get to know the smart better. I would never have realized all the space there is behind that tiny glove box if it were not for that K40 install.

About overkill, you are probably right, but there are a couple of spots around my neck of the woods where LEO like to hide (like at the bottom of a hill, on a four lane divided road with no houses and no intersections, early on weekends, when late running soccer moms in minivans forget that it is a 45 zone, not a 55…).

So for my $510, I got a perfectly working rear antenna for my son’s car (worth $400 from K40, or 2 to 300 on eBay), an inefficient laser jammer that I might upgrade for a nominal fee or resell for a few bucks and a radar warning system for the smart that might save me big in term of insurance costs for my other cars.

[scdaf]

Ever give any thought to obeying the speed limit? Much cheaper than installing a system which gives you the confidence to break the law...

[smarticus]

So you never exceed the speed limit or are you just not confident when you do??

[WilyB]

Originally Posted by scdaf

Ever give any thought to obeying the speed limit? Much cheaper than installing a system which gives you the confidence to break the law...

Your heartfelt concern for the law is laudable. Your Socratic method of attempting to raise speeders' consciousness gets high marks.


Unfortunately the unwashed masses are choosing to ignore your concerns and rejecting your method: have you ever tried to drive on the Nation’s busy highways at the speed limit?

[Fredvon4]

Re read WillBs lead in...

I can attest that what he has observed is true in many localities...The city, or county have deliberately created areas referred to as "Speed Traps"... and while they will swear it is for public safety, the fact is painfully obvious that their true intent is to fraud a normally law abiding public out of revenue...

There are plenty of web sites from watch dog groups that list "speed traps"

Some really egregious ones are in areas where the speed is 55/65/75 and the reduction to 15 or more lower is not presented until after a turn, or beyond a hill, usually out of the drivers sight to slow safely in enough time...

Local Johnny Law (almost NEVER State Patrol) will sit just out of view and radar or laze the area where they KNOW the typical citizen will be more then 10MPH over the now new reduced speed limit

You might research Nolanville Texas circa 1975~1979 as a notorious speed trap on a state highway near Ft Hood Texas.... Those buffoons made Boss Hogg seem like a stand up guy....They got national attention on 60 Minutes and a State Court order to cease their rip off, rob the public tactics...

BTW you could never get a DUI in Nolanville... they always asked you to exit your vehicle and arrested you for Public Intoxication and jailed you on the spot... seems their PI ordnance let then keep 100% of court costs and fines..DUI $$$ had to be divided with county and state coffers.

I recovered* many a new inbound soldier who happened to be nabbed and jailed until a JP** could set bail...over a speeding or PI citation....

*Recovered...soldier speak for went to the jail and posted bond for my soldier
**JP...Justice of the Peace

I respect and support traffic cops

Except the Barney Fife wanna bee jerks that have tricked a driver into inadvertently breaking a speed limit

My county of Lampasas has a Speed Trap
The town of Copperas Cove Texas Has several and I have to negotiate one every day twice
Killeen has several and they are crafty and move them around

They make LOTs of money on these traps

In my opinion they do more harm then good just from the ill will a Speed trap generates...and I am quite vocal about it at town council meetings or when chatting with a Sherrif's Deputy off duty at the VFW

[rollingtones]

I concur. Speed traps waste resources that should be used to fight crime. BTW, laser jammers are legal in all 50 states.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by rollingtones

I concur. Speed traps waste resources that should be used to fight crime. BTW, laser jammers are legal in all 50 states.

Radarbusters.com says not in these states:

Laser Jammers and Radar Jammers are illegal in the states of Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois and Washington DC.

Haven't verified their info so it could be incorrect.

[xcrew229x]

As a former radar/laser totin' retired LEO, I'd like a word. Radar detectors only work against passive radar, that is radar that is left on all the time. Instant on radar, which I had, is just that. A flick of the switch, and by the time your detector goes off, you are bagged. As far as laser goes, the very best you can hope for is to pick up the scatter from another car near you. If I put the red dot on your front end and pull the trigger, I can get get 5 reads with 5 pulls before you slow down 5 mph. Keep it under ten over, and no one will look at you twice. Enjoy.......