[uucdigest] Thursday, March 23 2000 Volume 03 : Number 491 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | For all available Digest commands including unsubscribe/subscribe, | visit the BMW UUC Digest page: http://www.uucdigest.com | Send SUBMISSIONS to [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Complaints? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you must. | Visit http://www.bubbaclub.com | www.bimmers.com - "serving enthusiasts on the 'net" | Visit http://www.bimmer.org - ultimate BMW bulletin boards! | Subscribe to the Zionsville Autosport Parts Digest: | http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/majordomo.htm ����������������������������������������� In this BMW UUC Digest: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? [uuc] Laser or Radar Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? [uuc] Re: <misc> Laser or Radar? [uuc] Re: Boston area dyno day / get together update Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? [uuc] NCC Cars of the month [uuc] re: BMW videos Re: [uuc] re: BMW videos ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 21:02:43 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? I have the laser option on my V1 (owned about six years). Not counting one place which causes my laser to false, I would estimate my laser alerts at about 5% (or less) of the combined X & K legitimate alerts. As far as Ben's comments below, I have been "light-up" by laser at times when it was too late to do anything as I was the target (although I escaped unscathed or was observing the posted speed limit at the time). Although, I have also caught random laser emission (bouncing off of other cars, overpasses, road signs, overhead signs, rocks, birds, through windows, etc. etc.) and figured it was legit and slowed down before I was the target of a "spiffy" trooper standing beside his car with the door open facing traffic gunning them down with his laser toy (I am sure we can all picture this as it is a common occurrence in Ohio). To each there own but I would again ante up for the $100 laser option. YMMV. Best regards, Rich - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 17:19:20 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? In a message dated 3/22/2000 3:40:28 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << have never picked up any trace of laser activity >> When you do pick it up, you will know that you have been zapped. I have the Laser option on my V1 and have been shot only a couple times. Fortunately I was as clean as the driven snow at the time. The Leo had me dead to rights every time. If I ever have to replace the V1 I will not buy the Laser option again. IMHO it isn't worth the cost to know that I've been nailed. Ben White/Ocean Springs, Mississippi - ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 21:19:05 -0500 From: "Bailey Taylor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Laser or Radar I took my first laser hit in Florence, KY about three weeks ago. Apparently the Florence City Police have so little real crime to deal with that they now Lidar troll I-71/75 around the 181 mile marker. Anyways, the cop shot the Regal directly in front of me and the V1 caught it. And BTW, the KY State Police have an unmarked Maroon(I think) minivan (Caravan or Aerostar) that parks in the emergency strip along the Louisville to E-Town section of I-65. They blast the unsuspecting masses with Radar, Lidar, or do a VASCAR clock and radio the results to a swarm of pursuit cars a mile or so down the road. And then there are the Indiana cops who use an old yellow state highway maintenance truck... My point is; Don't assume anything is a "clean" vehicle these days. Bailey Taylor 1995 318ti Club Sport 1998 318tiA Active 1993 Pathfinder SE "Gojira" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 21:38:04 -0500 (EST) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Hart) Subject: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? What money could be made if trickle down technology allowed marketing of stealth fighter paint on BMWs, instead of jet or cosmos black. Is there a chence in hell/Ohio? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 19:03:48 -0800 From: Randy Walters <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: <misc> Laser or Radar? Scott Ferguson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >Howdy, all. >This is a question for all of you who have laser AND radar detection gear. >What is the percentage of laser hits that you detect versus X and K band? >Are there a bunch of laser-jockeys out there, or is regular radar still far >more popular? Scott 1985 535i It really depends on the local police dept where you're driving at that instant :-) Some use K-band only, some use both K and Ka, some use both those plus Laser. This is how it is in the Los Angeles South Bay area; on a twenty mile drive through the local cities i can encounter any of the above, with the vast majority of it being K-band. However, i haven't encounted X-band police radar anywhere in Southern California for at least 12 years now, not a single hit. And since the vast majority of door-openers are X-band and are always false alarms, i've disabled X-band from my V1's software and it now stays quiet as a mouse. Laser is expensive and limited in it's use so it's more of a "hired gun", and the departments around here that use them rarely bring them out (at least when i'm driving :-) Almost every city around here has Laser, but i'd say i see a cop using it maybe once for every hundred regular radar hits i get. Now if i only drove around in my own town (El Segundo) i'd get hit with Laser a lot more often as they use it a lot around here - i got hit twice in one day last week but luckily i saw him way before he pulled the trigger. If i hadn't been paying attention, he would have nailed me big time !! As soon as i saw him sitting there i hit the brakes and was legal (5+) when he zapped me. He looked at me hard as i drove past :-) In cases like this not even the awesome V1 can save you if you're the only car coming down the hill. I've been saved when the V1 picked up a Laser hit pointed at the car driving alongside me (Laser alert went off, i slammed on the brakes while car next to me continued on at the same illegal speed). The officer passed me and went after the Camry. It was just lucky that he pointed it at her before pointing it at me :-) Stupid cop should have pointed it at the lowered Bimmer instead of a Camry, guess he's not a car nut. Or maybe he's a Bimmer nut and did me a favor? I read Ben White post that he didn't think having the Laser option on a V1 wasn't worth the cost, but i would respectfully disagree. Even though it probably won't save you if you're directly targeted, it has gone off when a car next to me or just ahead of me has been directly targeted, and i got enough of the beam to set the V1 off. I slam on the brakes while the other car is still going fast, so if there's any question in the cop's mind as to which car he got the reading from, he'll pick the one who's still going faster, and that ain't me. It also clues you in as to just where they use Laser and which cities now have Laser where they never did before. The LAPD denied having it, but i got zapped with it at night by one of their motor officers. I was legal, but this told me they're now using it. Same for other cities. Without the Lazer option i might not even know i was being zapped if i didn't see the officer holding it up to his eye (dead giveaway). I never would have seen him when i got the night hit, and wouldn't have found out that they really do use Laser. Another use for the Laser option would be the radar trap where one officer zaps you then calls a 1/4 mile ahead to his cohorts with a description of your car and speed reading he got on you. You, knowing you've just been zapped, might be able to immediately turn into a driveway and never have to pass the waiting officers and they'd be wondering where you went. The LAPD does this sort of traffic sting operation on La Cienega sometimes, and disregards anyone who turns early into the huge apartment complex. They'll have another victim within a few seconds anyway (i heard a whole sting operation on my scanner :-) The next time i get zapped with radar and the cop *doesn't* come tearing out after me, i'm hitting the brakes hard and making an immediate right turn at the first opening i see and go grab a hidden parking spot :-) The CHP uses mostly Ka-band on the freeway, but mostly K-band in the local canyon and mountain roads. Their new CHP Volvos are all equipped with Ka-band and all CHP cruisers will be equipped with Ka-band units before the year ends. Ka is better for them and is a lot more dangerous for us (it's close-range and low-power, not good). Some of the new CHP BMW Motorcycles have a *cordless* radar gun so the officer can stand 25ft away from his bike, which is parked within Le Mans style running-start distance. You think it's just a pedestrian standing there, then you realize he pointing a gun at you and wearing a helmet. They do this on PCH north of Malibu, if they're not working a team of 6 BMW bikes all with their own radar guns. One zaps you while 5 others are ready to pursue. It's a hornets nest of radar around here these days ! I've only seen the CHP use Laser one time, and it was one of the Bimmer Bike Boys sitting on the shoulder of the I-5 freeway in Orange County. Laser from the side of a 6-lane freeway ! They also sneek from behind with their short-range Ka-band and take split-second samples of instant on, then blast you if they get a high reading. They're good at avoiding detection, but the V1's rearward antenna saves my butt literally every weekend on the freeways. I got saved a half-dozen times on my 4-hour drive to the Marina autocross last weekend :-) The CHP is a huge fan of radar now that they've been granted permission to use it just about anywhere they please, even on the freeways. It wasn't allowed on freeways until not too many years ago. I hear other states are way worse ! The L.A. County Sheriff on the other hand uses way more K-band than Ka-band, and different tactics to snag you. The local municipalities all have K-band and laser, but none of use Ka-band for some reason. Nobody in So Calif is using X-band, but i hear it's still used in other States and cities. I'd say this is the least popular type of radar these days as even a Cracker Jack detector can pick it up a mile away. Anyway, to answer your question as it pertains to my travels around So California, i'd say K-band accounts for maybe 70% of my real police radar alerts, Ka-band about 29%, and i see an officer using or holding a Laser unit about 1% of the time. I still count them even though they weren't zapping anybody when i passed, since they're waiting to target any car they visually determine to be going fast. There's only one reason they're there so i consider passing one the same as a virtual hit :-) The above is only for So Calif, but your area is probably different. You'll have to get feedback from detector users in the areas you drive in, maybe through your local BMW CCA clubmembers and from the autocrossers in your area (a lot of cars at our events have detectors). Maybe post a message to the rec.autos.driving newsgroup and the alt.law-enforcement.traffic newsgroup asking for reqional radar use feedback in your particular area. The way i look at it, it's everywhere (or soon will be) so i switched to a V1 to increase my chances of avoiding a good radar hit from hotshot radar cops. The CHP is the Master when it comes to radar tactics, a worthy adversary :-) But i'm a master at using my V1 to the fullest and so far it's saved me enough times to pay for itself ten-fold. Someday an ace will git me :-( Why do radar topics always end up being a Valentine 1 testimonial? We should have a slogan: "You drive the ultimate driving machine - why not complete it with the ultimate radar locator? Valentine One." Randy Walters 89 325is 20-yrs detector use ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:53:19 -0500 From: Ken W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Boston area dyno day / get together update "Chris Glass" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > How much is BPG charging for the lunch? All they want is your first born. I get a piece of it. ;-) And you thought KORMAN was a rip! - -Ken '91 M3 '86 GTI - -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] AIM: ScopusFest ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 23:16:34 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? In my limited time (maybe a dozen trips, including GA to NJ) using the V1, I picked up laser only twice, both times in NJ. The laser alert went to 100% immediately, scaring the crap out of me. Both times I couldn't see where it could have come from. Interestingly enough, the infrared remote for the alarm/locks in my '94 M5 sets off the V1's laser warning. I should carry an infrared TV remote just to buzz V1-equipped cars for harmless giggles. An odd thing I noticed lately - once in VA* and twice in NJ I saw X-band radar being used. Very odd as I thought those units were being phased out and two were installed in current Trooper cars. One in NJ was one of those "your speed is X" stationary unmanned cancer-stations**. * (Yes, I used the V1 all through VA... and everybody should, and should fight it in court - the FCC is federal and controls radio reception, states have no right to supercede federal law.) ** (Yes, radar is proven to cause cancer. Revenue collectors don't deserve cancer, nobody does, but it proves how mindless the entire speed-control farce really doesn't take anybody's "safety" into account.) - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Ferguson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 2:33 PM Subject: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? > Howdy, all. > > This is a question for all of you who have laser AND radar detection gear. > What is the percentage of laser hits that you detect versus X and K band? > Are there a bunch of laser-jockeys out there, or is regular radar still far > more popular? > > Scott > 1985 535i > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 20:42:03 -0800 From: Jerry Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <misc> Laser or Radar? Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks wrote: > ** (Yes, radar is proven to cause cancer. Revenue collectors don't deserve > cancer, nobody does, but it proves how mindless the entire speed-control > farce really doesn't take anybody's "safety" into account.) FWIW, a few years ago, the policeman's union in Hawaii got HPD to stop using radar and switch to laser. Quite unintentionally, I found out my C4 Corvette with no front license plate made a very poor laser target. :^) - -jerry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:19:09 -0800 From: "Stephen J. Albrecht" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] NCC Cars of the month Hey James and Duane, those are VERY nice shots of your cars in the Bayerische! Now you may be wondering how the hell I know that. Well as the Secretary of the Golden Gate Chapter, I receive the newsletters from every chapter that publishes one, and I read most of each one. I love reading about all the different events each chapter sponsors. Someone in every chapter receives all the newsletters, and if you are interested in the activities of other chapters, ask to take a look at them. In the meantime, be aware that I'm watching all of you! Keep up the good work everyone. BTW, do you suppose the NCC would mind if we instituted the same 'Car of the Month' feature? Steve Albrecht Golden Gate Chapter '00 540i/6 '95 540iA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:40:10 -0500 From: neil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] re: BMW videos Might one of you kind gentleman, with these fabulous videos that we keep hearing about, be willing to make copies for fellow digest members who are not likely to be able to buy a new BMW in the foreseeable future, and therefore not likely to be sent these aforementioned vids by BMW, if the said fellow digesters pay for the blank tape? Thanks in advance! - -- Do Svedanya! Neil Hitze '91 318is -> looks new '87 325is -> new to me (one week) '85 318i -> not new by any measure 1923 Victorian/Craftsman/mutt house -> not new (and loving it) http://www.hitze.com/~neil "..the underdog will eventually survive...." --Colin James Hay "This is not a step." --Heywood Banks Star Trek stuff for sale: http://www.hitze.com/~neil/startrek/startrekforsale.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:55:47 AKST From: "dave pizza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] re: BMW videos Neil asks... >Might one of you kind gentleman, with these fabulous videos that we keep >hearing about, be willing to make copies for fellow digest members who >are not likely to be able to buy a new BMW in the foreseeable future, >and therefore not likely to be sent these aforementioned vids by BMW, if >the said fellow digesters pay for the blank tape? >Thanks in advance! FWIW... I rang BMWNA this morning, asking for one of the tapes. Shot down cold turkey. dave. '96 Ti S (Still sliding on the ice!!) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #491 ************************** _________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | Bonneville Motorwerks . http://www.bonnevillemotorwerks.com | Circle Tire Co. (used & classic BMW parts) e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Curry's Auto Service . http://www.currysauto.com | Eurosport . http://www.eurosport-hp.com | Koala MotorSport . http://www.koalamotorsport.com | Taylor BMW - http://www.taylorbmw.com - Doc Bimmer! | The Ultimate Garage . http://www.ultimategarage.com | UUC Motorwerks . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com | Zionsville Autosport . http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com ����������������������������������������
