Hi everybody,
I got around to tapping my mirror for my Valentine 1 - and it couldn't be easier. Took me 10 minutes including the google time to figure out how to take out the dome light, and now I could do it in less than 5 minutes. I did some searching around and found a lot of people running wires down to the passenger footwell..so am hoping this is useful for somebody as I don't want to pry all the panels off and run a long wire. I am loving this setup as I can keep the radar out of the way (was never a fan of installing them underneath the rear-view, that is valuable visual space for me). Plus it powers on and off with the car. Anybody can do this!
![299639]()
All that is needed is a mirror or power tap, I got one from Amazon and did not even splurge on the nicer branded one. It's 15" long, I don't know if I'd go any shorter but that also depends on where you put the radar detector. I'd still recommend the original MirrorTap though (used it on an M4, and an M8) and they have an inline 2amp fuse - this looks about right on Amazon.
UPDATE: a longer 20” is recommended here (thank you Blu Bull!)
Here are the steps:
1. To remove the dome light, just gently pry it starting at the most forward side. Use plastic prying tools.
![299636]()
2. The rearmost side is where there are plastic tabs. Just slide the entire unit forward. It comes out very easily and I'm already adding too much detail to this step.
3. I poked around with a multimeter and found that the black connector at the center in the rearmost side had enough power, was wide open and accessible for a tap, and was connected to ignition (ie: it would turn the radar detector on and off automatically..even though I just do it myself every time).
![299637]()
4. So for my 2020 Evo Spyder, I tapped into the BROWN wire for Black, and the RED/GREEN for Red. The tapping was very easy, I simply needed to insert the end into each of the wires 'channel'.
WARNING: be careful to keep the two taps separate! In the photo I’m using the green wire in between as a buffer, but remember there are lots of vibrations to account for. (thanks again to Blu Bull!)
Here's a closeup on the harness, after the tap.
![299638]()
5. Then putting everything back is straightforward, just reverse the steps. I kept the tail straight out the forward most point and do not notice it at all.
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So between a radar detector and having CarPlay with Waze..I'm well protected. As easy as these steps are, please still take some precautions - you are responsible for what you do to your bull 😝
Enjoy and drive safe!
I got around to tapping my mirror for my Valentine 1 - and it couldn't be easier. Took me 10 minutes including the google time to figure out how to take out the dome light, and now I could do it in less than 5 minutes. I did some searching around and found a lot of people running wires down to the passenger footwell..so am hoping this is useful for somebody as I don't want to pry all the panels off and run a long wire. I am loving this setup as I can keep the radar out of the way (was never a fan of installing them underneath the rear-view, that is valuable visual space for me). Plus it powers on and off with the car. Anybody can do this!
All that is needed is a mirror or power tap, I got one from Amazon and did not even splurge on the nicer branded one. It's 15" long, I don't know if I'd go any shorter but that also depends on where you put the radar detector. I'd still recommend the original MirrorTap though (used it on an M4, and an M8) and they have an inline 2amp fuse - this looks about right on Amazon.
UPDATE: a longer 20” is recommended here (thank you Blu Bull!)
Here are the steps:
1. To remove the dome light, just gently pry it starting at the most forward side. Use plastic prying tools.
2. The rearmost side is where there are plastic tabs. Just slide the entire unit forward. It comes out very easily and I'm already adding too much detail to this step.
3. I poked around with a multimeter and found that the black connector at the center in the rearmost side had enough power, was wide open and accessible for a tap, and was connected to ignition (ie: it would turn the radar detector on and off automatically..even though I just do it myself every time).
4. So for my 2020 Evo Spyder, I tapped into the BROWN wire for Black, and the RED/GREEN for Red. The tapping was very easy, I simply needed to insert the end into each of the wires 'channel'.
WARNING: be careful to keep the two taps separate! In the photo I’m using the green wire in between as a buffer, but remember there are lots of vibrations to account for. (thanks again to Blu Bull!)
Here's a closeup on the harness, after the tap.
5. Then putting everything back is straightforward, just reverse the steps. I kept the tail straight out the forward most point and do not notice it at all.
So between a radar detector and having CarPlay with Waze..I'm well protected. As easy as these steps are, please still take some precautions - you are responsible for what you do to your bull 😝
Enjoy and drive safe!
