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      01-24-2020, 03:03 PM   #1
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BlendMount + Wire Tap Experience/ Review

Hi Everyone,

I have had quite a few people asking me recently about my radar detector mounting setup so I figured I would do a short write up.

I have been using some variation of this solution since purchasing my 2014 M235i back in 2016. On that car I elected to go with a Blendmount from J28 Designs along with one of their mirror taps, which allows you to power the radar by tapping into the power for the auto-dimming rear view mirror. When I originally set this up I did a thorough DIY write up which should still be helpful and relevant to anyone with an F series car. Here is the link for that.

https://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=998321

The Blendmount basically is fixed to the stem of the rear view mirror and the mirror tap then allows you to power the radar right there as well. This puts everything in a nice clean package all in 1 place without crazy wires and suction cups everywhere.

On top of how much I love the solution, it has lasted me almost 6 years with zero issues and using the same original parts I used on my M235i. That is, with 2 recent exceptions.

First, I was recently gifted an Escort M1 dashcam. The M1 is simple dashcam that draws power from the same type of socket as the radar detectors do. Then the camera has a power output which in turn powers the detector. Blendmount released hardware to get the M1 mounted on the same platorm adding yet another piece to the puzzle. Cost for the hardware needed for this change, $6 USD.

Then in the past month I decided that after 4 Escort detectors over 8 years that I would try something new, the Uniden R7. This required a different clip type but again Blendmount was super helpful and I found that I could buy just the actual mount portion to replace. This came as a big relief because these Blendmounts are not cheap, but their modular construction really leave a lot of room to swap parts out and make changes. Cost for the new clip, $30 USD.

All in all I have been extremly happy with the mount and mirror tap. Yes it is expensive, but if you plan to keep this long term I would say well worth the money. After almost 6 years I would say it has more than shown its value.

See the above DIY for what parts you would need to set up on our cars and see the link to the Blendmount website below:

https://blendmount.com/

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
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      01-27-2020, 03:34 AM   #2
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How do you like the dashcam?
Once setup, is it auto-recording upon ignition on?
Picture quality good enough?
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      01-27-2020, 02:35 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nearwater4me View Post
How do you like the dashcam?
Once setup, is it auto-recording upon ignition on?
Picture quality good enough?
Records on power up. As I understand it It will automatically record in one minute segments and save them all separately as it goes until it gets to a point where the camera is full and then it will start over writing in one minute segments from the oldest. There's also a button on there so that if something happens you can press on that and it will make sure to save and not delete that recording. Additionally if it senses like an aggressive change of movement or something like that it will beep to let you know that it saves that recording as well. So when those recordings are saved new recordings will not override those they were just override the others
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      01-28-2020, 10:09 AM   #4
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Thank you for the feedback.
It seems like a good solution for those of us who already have the radar detector hardwired with the RJ11 connector.
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      01-29-2020, 12:51 PM   #5
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I am still using an Escort Max 360 but otherwise have the same setup with the mount and the camera. I've been through all kinds of different combinations and agree this is the best.

The M1 works exactly as described with 1 minute clips, it also has an app that you can see the video on your phone. The single power source is a huge upside, avoids the need to run anything extra and no cables on your A-pillar near the airbag. The only downside from what I can tell is there's no recording while the car is off, so if you need parking mode this might not be the best option for you.

One install note, where the plastic cover opens up to go around the mirror post there's enough room to sneak the wire out there, so right behind the Blendmount bracket. No functional difference just less wire showing if that matters to you. I also found the blinking light on the camera annoying so covered it up with one of those small black stickers made to hide LEDs on electronics.
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      01-29-2020, 02:31 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
I am still using an Escort Max 360 but otherwise have the same setup with the mount and the camera. I've been through all kinds of different combinations and agree this is the best.

The M1 works exactly as described with 1 minute clips, it also has an app that you can see the video on your phone. The single power source is a huge upside, avoids the need to run anything extra and no cables on your A-pillar near the airbag. The only downside from what I can tell is there's no recording while the car is off, so if you need parking mode this might not be the best option for you.

One install note, where the plastic cover opens up to go around the mirror post there's enough room to sneak the wire out there, so right behind the Blendmount bracket. No functional difference just less wire showing if that matters to you. I also found the blinking light on the camera annoying so covered it up with one of those small black stickers made to hide LEDs on electronics.
Agreed that it would be nice to record when the car is off but mirror tap gets no power when the car is off which is good for the radar unlike the 12v plugs that keep power when the car is off at least for a while.

And yes the wire can be moved around and come out at different spots.

Personally the blinking light doesn't hurt me because the mirror blocks it so it's not in my like of sight but as you did a little cover up will fix that.

Thanks for your reply!
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      01-29-2020, 02:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abirmaher View Post
Agreed that it would be nice to record when the car is off but mirror tap gets no power when the car is off which is good for the radar unlike the 12v plugs that keep power when the car is off at least for a while.
I bet folks who need parking mode occasionally could cheat, use a Smart Cord from Escort along with a Power Magic Battery Pack from Blackvue. Not the most elegant solution so folks who need it daily would probably be better off with a different camera, but if you just want the camera on once in a while for shady parking areas probably works like a charm.
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      02-05-2020, 05:23 PM   #8
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Completely off topic, but how do like your Alcantara hood cover from BimmerMasterpieces? Does it reduce visibility at all? It looks GREAT!
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      02-07-2020, 11:47 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by RocketBoots View Post
Completely off topic, but how do like your Alcantara hood cover from BimmerMasterpieces? Does it reduce visibility at all? It looks GREAT!
Love it. Zero down sides but gives the dash just a bit of a nice touch. Planning on doing a little writeup of the various BimmerMasterpieces touches I have on the interior. That should be up this weekend hopefully.
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      02-14-2020, 05:31 PM   #10
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Interesting solution as I've been thinking about a dash cam but thought the additional power on top of my V1 would be too much. I assume the Escort will pass thru enough power for most any detector, correct?
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      02-16-2020, 04:53 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlacMacJac View Post
Interesting solution as I've been thinking about a dash cam but thought the additional power on top of my V1 would be too much. I assume the Escort will pass thru enough power for most any detector, correct?
Should be able to. Should be the same voltage coming through. I know that at least my current radar and various Escort detectors work no problem so it should work fine.
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