Not long ago, a client from here in Campbell dropped into California Car Sounds and Tint to talk about radar detector and laser defense options for his new 2018 Maserati Quattroporte sedan. After talking to the client about his police radar trap concerns and forming an understanding of where he drives, we went outside to inspect the vehicle. Armed with all the information we needed, we returned to our showroom to create a quote for the client. He liked our approach to system design and was comfortable with the solution we provided. We finished the meeting by scheduling an appointment to complete the installation.
Maserati Quattroporte Radar Detector Installation
The radar detector and laser defense system for this Quattroporte would be based around an RL360di system from K40. This police radar detector is designed for custom installations and includes a pair of blue LEDs that provide a visual warning when the system detects a police speed trap. We mounted the LEDs on a removable panel at the top of the instrument cluster. The LEDs are barely visible when driving but light up the gauges clearly when they are activated. A hide-away speaker mounted under the dash provides audible warnings at the same time.
The radar receiver module for the K40 system features a K-band filter that uses Acculert Signal Processing filtering to prevent false alarms from radar-based cruise control and blind spot monitoring systems installed in other vehicles. The system also includes a traffic sensor filter to reject alerts from flow sensors on highways.
We mounted the radar receiver to the front radiator support on the Maserati using an aluminum bracket that our team bent to shape. The radar receiver can detect signals through the plastic bumper cover without any problem.
Laser Defense System Integration
The client wanted as much protection as possible from police laser speed measurement devices. After our team inspected the front of the vehicle, we decided that three K40 Laser Defusers would provide the best coverage. To mount the laser transceivers properly, we used the steel mounting brackets included with the K40 kit and placed one sensor at either end of the front grille and one in the middle beside the front-view camera. Each bracket is adjusted so that the sensors sit perfectly parallel to the ground to provide maximum range and sensitivity.
While some shops can install laser defense systems faster than our team, we feel that the time it takes to ensure that each sensor is mounted securely is worth it in the long run. We don’t attach the sensors to the bumper cover as that method is prone to failure.
Vehicle Wiring Experts
With all the equipment mounted on the front of the vehicle and the LEDs in the instrument cluster, our team set to work routing the wiring to the main control module. All the wiring is bundled and protected using braided nylon loom and is secured to factory wire harness mounting points to ensure reliability. The control module is mounted using the same attention to detail and thoughtfulness to ensure that it remains secure and protected while still accessible if the system needs service or software updates.
Radar Detector and Laser Defense System Functionality
After three days of work on the Maserati Quattroporte radar system, the car was finally ready to be returned to the owner. When he arrived, we explained how everything had been installed and demonstrated how to use the system.
Unlike a radar detector that provides a warning, the laser defense system prevents the lidar gun from taking a measurement of the vehicle speed. This functionality means that the client must slow down when the system detects the laser signal, then allow the officer to take a reading at a legal speed.
The client was very happy with the installation we performed on his Maserati and excited to use the system on his next drive. If you live in the Campbell or San Jose areas and are interested in a radar detector solution for your vehicle, drop by California Car Sounds and Tint and speak with one of our product specialists. Alternatively, you can give us a call or send an e-mail to schedule a personalized consultation.
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