Just finished up my hardwire "stealth" install. took a lot longer than i thought
Runing back all the wires was a headache. I think the added resistance of the long wires makes the start-up check act funny every now and again and i have to turn it off then right back on. while driving it has been consistent. i haven't found a cop on the highway to verify the full distance but city driving is solid. full functionality is available in the center console except for volume control. i decided that max volume was good enough for now and i can always add a inline volume control to the speaker i ran in cabin. I added an additional blue LED light since i am deaf in 1 ear for added effect!
last 2 pics are the exterior one with a flash to help show the radar detector.

edit: hair things are the wifey's

 

looking good

i need you to come do that to my x50!!!

 

so where is the actual detector....

 

Great job newbcake!! Now clean your car!

 

that is what i want to hear!

 

Nice!

 

Can you take a close up picture of the actual detector?

 

so can it survive the rain water and heat form the engine?

 

It is encased in a plastic shield so the water will stay out. weather down here hasn't got much above 90 yet but i left it out in the sun today for a few hours to test heat and it held up. I'll keep checking it bit it seems solid.

I'll get a closer one tomorrow, I painted the plastic cse flat black to help it bend in.

 

dude that is sooooo sick! i love the switch install in the center console. awesome job.

 

The screen looks soldered to the board. What did you do to get it seperate?

 

It was. I slowly removed the solder by heating and scraping. the desoldering bulb i have wouldn't pick any up so it was annoying to remove to say the least.

 

Did you take apart the SmartCord that came with the 8500, or did you purchase the direct wire SmartCord that Escort sells for $29, and take that apart?

Is the blue LED an additional LED wired in to the SmartCord, so that two LEDs are powered when radar is detected?

 

Wow +1 man. We're allowed to have detectors in Oregon, but I'd almost have it hidden just so the car looks clean. Good job!

 

i bought the $29 one then decided to go all out and mount it in the bumper. the blue led is an additional low volt one that i added to the speaker out to flash with sound. i might add a small resistor cause it is bright as hell

it is storming pretty bad today to get a close pic of the detector