Last weekend I installed the Escort 9500ci along with the KP technologies Nav interface in my 08 sedan (s model). Some pictures and narrative below:

First I removed the top and bottom pans hiding the radiator. The grill came out as well.


After staring at it for a little while I decided that radar detector should mount under the main frame member and the laser shifters would mount well on top of it. Here you can see how the holes were marked. I used masking tape since the frame is black.






The brackets that came with the radar detector worked well. In order to maintain level position while marking/mounting I made a simple spacer. It is 1 5/8 inches thick. With this spacer between the detector and the frame the detector will be looking out of the opening in the lower "air dam." of course the spacer came out as soon as the detector was mounted.


The front laser shifters came with small grippers to hold them in place. they would probably work with a large grill with level horizontal dividers. But, because the instructions make it clear that they are to be within 1.5 degrees of level there is no way that the grill would work on this car. So, after some searching, the perfect custom mount was developed. This is a strap for a 4x4 (simpson strong-tie, from lowes) with a coat of Flat black.



Radar Detector mounted (swapped some of the mounting hardware for stainless steel):





Laser shifters mounted. Wit the small factory mount attached to the painted bracket the shifters were at the prefect height to slide through the grill. The mount was very solid so adjusting to level was cake. I also know that they won't bounce around or fall off.









GPS Receiver



I mounted the remote display inside the instrument cluster. It proved more difficult to remove than I originally thought but, it was mostly exploration. I can give some specifics if anyone wants.





The controller is less factory but that can always be changed.



Ran all the wires to the corner near the fuse box. All of the interior door trim is snap-on. There was also an unused gromet to get the rear laser shifter wire into the trunk. I just followed some factory wires into the cabin.




Hung the interface module and connected all the wires.

The major time spent was problem solving, deciding where things should mount etc. I probably spent several hours on the laser shifters (that solution may be more valuable than the rest of this post). Thats pretty much it.

A few notes:

The instructions say that the wires use "standard" RJ-11 connectors, in fact they are the thinner handset RJ-11 connectors. They are standard for handsets but much harder to find than the wider RJ-11 connectors which plug into the wall (and do not work). Cutting the wires to length is worth the cost of the tool and connectors. There would be yards of wire stuffed under the dash and the wires would be a pain to run with the connectors in place.

Be careful going through the firewall. I managed to damage a factory wire (after warning myself).

A right angle drill and shortened drill bits are priceless for drilling the frame near the grill.

Now I'll see how it works.

 

looks great very nice install and write up

 

Nice job. Glad everything went well for you.

Thanks for the pics,

 

Wow, nice work! I wouldn't be able to take on that install myself...I'd be too afraid to F something up. Display color matches the dash perfectly! I think the control mount location works well man, thanks for listening to me!!! J/K

 

Funny. It actually was your suggestion that prompted me to look at putting the controller there. That's why I asked for suggestions. Thanks.

 

Nice install. I don't like the idea of having the radar detector on my windshield. Maybe I'll try this setup in the future. Have there been any problems with water or condensation?

 

You may have to clarify. The remote elements are all weatherproof and designed for exterior operation. The penetration was through the factory boot with weather sealant and is not normally exposed to adverse elements. No problems as of yet, though I may not fully understand the question.

My primary motivation was to avoid the "jet fighter" look that can develop with aftermarket electronics. Awesome performance is a big plus.

 

How does the laser shifter work for you???

 

HA! No kidding. Glad I could help. I have the 9500i...bought it a few months ago and VERY happy with it. The thing I love is minimal false alarms & blocking out known falses. Really aren't any "speed traps" where I live, so I haven't marked any of those just yet.

 

Well, they don't yet. They aren't legal where I live and they come set to receive only. I've not yet seen a hit on laser so I suppose right now they are just (expensive) grill decorations. I intend to see what sort of hits I get driving at tame speeds and make a decision as to whether the risk of getting caught is worth it. I drive a lot so they will be armed where legal. I'll keep you posted.

 

What's this "laser shifter"? Is it how it sounds? Does it somehow shift the laser beam so the cop won't get a reading?

 

It's another name for a laser jammer. Returns a barrage of light in the same freq. as the Lidar in an attempt to confuse it. Right now they are set up to receive only, so just like a detector. It'll scare the crap out of me right before I get a ticket.

 

You should be fine as long as you turn them off as soon as you slow down.

 

I've heard this. I've also heard that there are lidar guns that can tell if a Jam is attempted. I've yet to research this though. Anyone else heard this?

 

I could be wrong but when I did research on this when I got a ticket - I believe that cops have to point the laser at specific cars driving past because it is so precise (the laser) and the only real way to detect if it is being jammed is in the cops own judgment because it will act more slow and funny then normal. There may be a way to detect it but when I read up on it a year or 2 ago there was no such technology to my knowledge.