I will be getting a radar detector sometime this week and I have a question regarding a mounting location. I do not want to use the windshield mount. Instead I want to build a bracket out of metal and mount the radar detector about three inches above the insturment cluster of my xA since the insturment cluster is centrally located in the xA. The radar detector would be hard wired to the car for cosmetic purposes because I don't want a dangley cord blocking the view of it IC.

Here is the big question. Would a metal bracket cause any interference with the operation of the Radar Detector? It would essentially be made out of a sturdy piece of flat steel painted black and bolted to the trim of the insturment cluster.

 

The metal shouldn't have anything to do with the detector's performance. Just make sure you don't cover the flat area (usually on the side facing away from you when it's mounted) is not covered. If it is, you'll never be notified of anything.

The windshield suction mounts are somewhat aggravating at times. In my Tacoma, mine is mounted high on the windsheld (but below the tinted area of course) with a suction cup mount. I routed the power cable up along the top of my windshield, down the A-post, under the glove box, then into my lighter. The only wires visible are the ones from the detector to the headliner and from the low panel area to my auxilary power input. Yeah, I could have direct wired it - but I'm lazy.

I'll attempt a similar procedure with the tC if all works well.