ValentineOne Mirror Mount?? - No Suction Cups!!!

[dubitup]

@GregLCA , I hear yah, I added a strip of Velcro to stop it from sliding off...when I sold the car i was able to remove the velcro and used some Goo Gone to remove the residue, it was like it was never there

Unfortunately, the clip on the visor technique won't work either. My lovely bride insists on flipping her visor down EVERY time she gets in the car, so the best case scenario is that the V1 is pointing at the roof..... worst case is it crashes down onto the console.

I can't get the V1 in between the mirror and the visors (not enough room) so the only solution is going to be building a standoff from the existing mirror post downward and then repurposing the suction cup mount as the base.

I took the mirror head off last night, it was surprisingly complicated. The large screw gets the mirror off the metal pad, but there's a small clip with a threaded PEM insert, that clips on the intermediate piece. The black piece is secured to another metal plate with two tiny metric screws and that final plate is the one that is glued to the actual windshield. I was hoping that there was enough room to sneak in a thin sheetmetal plate so that I could use the OEM parts to clamp it securely, but the threads are so short I'd have to locate longer ones to make a go of it. Ultimately, a mounting plate like that (even if I could get it to work) would be so far away from the V1 that the leverage would likely cause it to bounce and flex uncontrollably while driving.

The best solution seems to be a system where I replace the longer main bolt into the mirror post with a threaded post, maybe 3" long. This will allow me to clamp the mirror to the windshield just like factory, but will give me a new spot directly above the V1 where I can fabricate a small adjustable bracket to hang it.

I was hoping to avoid a "project" but if I can get it done tonight in only an hour or two, it will at least allow me to shut up about it once and for all!!!

I will post pics as I go if anyone is interested.


-G

 

[Landsharkman]

I also did the visor mount with remote display in my previous Audi's and now current GTI. My LC is far too slow to get caught speeding.

I've always had radar detectors in my corvettes, but I'm with dubitup: My LX470 is too slow to need a radar detector. I have an extra one that I originally planned to install, but have just never gotten around to it.

I drive a GTR as a daily driver and my last speeding ticket was in the LC in town by radar, there is now a Valentine in any vehicle I drive

Ouch...hence the Porsche. I've had my V1 stuck to each of the windshields in my spressoWAGON and it works good enough

Honestly I have little trouble with the suction cups, just replace them after awhile. on the LC I run a flat power cord too the bottom of the windshield, then between the dash and A pillar, under the dash to the aux power outlet, the only wire you see is from the valentine to the center of the windshield. The other thing I like about the suction cups is it puts the Valentine in the best possible place to pick up the radar signal from both front and back

 

[GregLCA]

So.... for anyone still interested in following this subject here is the latest:

I went to the local HomeDepot to pick up a small assortment of fasteners. Mostly M6 x 1.0 and M7 x 1.0 metric threaded stuff figuring that was what the mirror mount was using.

Here's the intermediate bracket that goes between the windshield and the mirror post itself.




When I took the mirror off again last night, it turns out that the threads on that black screw aren't M6 or M7.... they are actually M5 x 0.8 (thread pitch)

So... I'll take another trip over to HD later today and rummage through their specialty fasteners again.


The idea is to buy a longer version of that screw and then cut the head off and weld it into a small-diameter mild-steel sleeve to create a mounting post that will hang down directly behind the mirror head. From there I should be able to make up a small flat mounting tab to attach the factory V1 suction cup mount and get the whole thing tucked up really tight and close to the windshield.

As I look at most of the aftermarket mirror mounts, it seems that they all have the same issue. They articulate well, but they are too long overall and no matter how you adjust the thumbscrews and hinged areas they end up a MILE below the mirror and look awful.



-G

 

[crimsonaudio]

You could build the display into the mirror - those setups are very slick.

 

[GregLCA]

You could build the display into the mirror - those setups are very slick.

Yes..... very cool.

If you know of any companies that will do it for $50 or less (my established budget for this project) let me know!!!


-G

 

[crimsonaudio]

 

[oftpiste]

The mount I have adjusts so that the V1 sucks right up under the mirror. Plenty of adjustability so it doesn't hang down and look awful. $39.9 and not so much mucking about!

As I look at most of the aftermarket mirror mounts, it seems that they all have the same issue. They articulate well, but they are too long overall and no matter how you adjust the thumbscrews and hinged areas they end up a MILE below the mirror and look awful.



-G

http://www.amazon.com/PerformancePackage-Mirror-Mount-Detector-Bracket/dp/B0063N7UGA?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-osx-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0063N7UGA?tag=ihco-20

 

[GregLCA]

The mount I have adjusts so that the V1 sucks right up under the mirror. Plenty of adjustability so it doesn't hang down and look awful. $39.9 and not so much mucking about!



http://www.amazon.com/PerformancePackage-Mirror-Mount-Detector-Bracket/dp/B0063N7UGA?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-osx-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0063N7UGA?tag=ihco-20

Is that on a LandCruiser, or some other vehicle?

With the taper on the mirror post I don't see how those mounts would possibly work without sliding all the way down against the adjusting ball...


-G

 

[oftpiste]

Yes, 2003 LC. The taper does cause a minor issue, but once I get the mirror where I want it I tighten the mount. It does preclude much adjustment of the mirror after that but I've learned to live with that and rarely adjust the mirror much anyway.

Is that on a LandCruiser, or some other vehicle?

With the taper on the mirror post I don't see how those mounts would possibly work without sliding all the way down against the adjusting ball...


-G

 

[GregLCA]

Yes, 2003 LC. The taper does cause a minor issue, but once I get the mirror where I want it I tighten the mount. It does preclude much adjustment of the mirror after that but I've learned to live with that and rarely adjust the mirror much anyway.

That's good to hear.

I spend another $3 at Home Depot today on an assortment of M5 x 0.8mm screws, washers and nuts. If I can't get these items welded together into some kind of useable, discreet mounting setup..... at least I have a fallback option.


-G

 

[kashmir]

I have one of the $40 ones. To prevent the slipping, I made a little "z" hook that uses the screw hole to prevent it from sliding down the taper.

 

[GregLCA]

I have one of the $40 ones. To prevent the slipping, I made a little "z" hook that uses the screw hole to prevent it from sliding down the taper.

Well done! Simple and effective.

It looks like the V1 is going to be substantially below the bottom of the mirror however.


The more I spend time on this, the clearer it becomes that there isn't really all that much room to work with if you want to tuck everything in nice and tight.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

I took my new M5 x.0.8 screws and grafted them into a small hex spacer....rounded the 6 corners off the spacer and sleeved-it into a larger 1/2" diameter thin-wall steel tube. I wasn't sure how long it needed to be overall so I just left plenty of extra length to start.

The only "trick" that isn't immediately obvious is that the screw that goes into the mirror stalk (and into the windshield) needs to have the threads filed off partway down to match the factory screw design. This allows you to thread the screw into that springclip but also allows it to be "sloppy" enough that you can then finagle the clip over the windshield mounting tabs so that it can lock into place. If you leave the screw fully-threaded it's basically impossible to reattach the mirror to the windshield.

Here is a sideview of the target mounting location for the V1 based on my own personal preferences. You can see that I'm really trying for quite a bit of "setback" from the mirror face.

....and I'm trying to keep the V1 really tight to the underside of the mirror.

So here's what I need to figure out on the back side.

Obviously the V1 is completely offset toward the driver's side of that post, and that's where I want it.... makes it easier to see and to reach the damn "mute" button when it's reporting Audi park distance sensors instead of actual speed traps!

I think what I'll end up doing is to cut down that post by another 1", then weld a small section of 3/4" tubing (vertically) to the mounting plate on the V1. That will allow me to "sleeve" it to the post and will give me an up-and-down adjustment for height, and also allow me to rotate the V1 laterally to align it under the mirror however I want. A small hole in the outer sleeve can be tapped for a set screw and I can lock the final position down from there.

After that, remove the whole thing....rattle can the bracket and screws black and re-install.

Then.... I can quit all my whining about this silly subject!


-G

 

[crimsonaudio]

You might consider selling these when you get it finished - I'd not mind having my Redline where I can use my visor...

 

[GregLCA]

You might consider selling these when you get it finished - I'd not mind having my Redline where I can use my visor...

Believe me.....if I had more time, I'd think about it.

My wife wants me to build my own rock sliders, roof rack and front and rear bumpers for the LCA. I think it would be fun to do someday but I'm embroiled in so many other projects right now I'm amazed that I spend the time on this silly mount at all.

The latest project is designing a set of stainless headers from scratch. Never did that before, and I had a blast doing the mock-up work!

-G

 

[kashmir]

Well done! Simple and effective.

It looks like the V1 is going to be substantially below the bottom of the mirror however.

-G

Actually, the mount has 2 joints, so it tucks right up under the mirror (like an idiot, I had it for a year before I realized this lol.) I know how I get obsessed with projects like this, so it's amusing to see it in 3rd person

 

[oftpiste]

Great idea. Mind if I co-opt it?

I have one of the $40 ones. To prevent the slipping, I made a little "z" hook that uses the screw hole to prevent it from sliding down the taper.

 

[kashmir]

Please do sir, I'm sure there's room for improvement anyway!