sphynxdude

Hi there everyone

I have decided to go for an install of the 9500 - I know that there are many opinions, but have at least got this far.

I went to one of the local distributors of Escort in the Phoenix area and was quoted approx $3,000 for the install. I have seen the group purchases where it was closer to $2300 and asked the place if there was any discount and then I was quickly discounted.


Is $3,000 too much? Are there any recommended places in the Phoenix area that might come in a fair amount less?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

zathras

My wife's boss just was just showing us his new MB AMG last night and he said he paid about 3grand for the escort installation. I don't know any other details other than the display is in the rv mirror and he probably had it done somewhere in Scottsdale.
I'm considering getting one so I'd be interested to hear your install experience. How much did they say they'd discount it for you?

hinckley

I've installed the system four times and always spent $3 - $3.2 for a well integrated (not tacked-on) install. So imo, it's a fair price for an install that looks like it came out of the factory.

showerfan

nick murray, in a recent 9500 review video, suggests the price should be closer to half that. he says the hardware retails for $2k, but that he can usually get them for closer to $1300 and that his dealer does the install (i assume in CT) for about $300. here's the whole review:

Keadog

I watched Nick's video and I haven't been able to find it anywhere near $1300. $1500-1600 is the cheapest I could find. Last year, a P dealer in Ohio quoted me around $800-900 labor for an install (stock unit, not the mirror monitor).
I'm in the process of getting quotes now for my February arrival. I'll be paying the dealer premium to have their Escort trained tech install it before delivery so as to avoid any electronic "issues" later on.
Let me know if you can find a new unit with factory warranty for $1300 - I'll take one!

hinckley

Keep in mind that all installs are not alike. For example, flush-mounting the controller units on the dash will cost quite a bit more than just sticking them somewhere. Also, the precise positioning of the laser units is imperative. Those are the sort of things that cost real money and can only be done well my professional installers (i.e. not your dealer).

drcollie

I put a 9500ci into my last Porsche myself. It was a HUGE undertaking, and I don't say that lightly. I planned on 15 hours, it took over 40. Why so long? Well, there are different levels you can do on an install like this, and my goal was to make it look like it came from Porsche, and that takes time. And I live in Virginia, where these are illegal (along with the District of Columbia) so it had to be well-hidden. Just to install the radar unit module itself behind the front bumper required jacking up the car, removing the wheels, fender liners, front bumper cover and all the plumbing to hide the unit and set up the laser shifters. Getting the wiring into the cabin was EXTREMELY difficult through the firewall of the car. Porsche gives you no wiggle space like most cars do, its fully sealed up. No stick on switches for me, I built a panel and covered it in the same black leather that was on the seats - that took time as well. At the end of the install, it did look like it factory. So you have to really talk to your installer about where things go and how you want it mounted and the look/feel. I could have done it in half the time if I was willing to accept the stick-on switches and exposed wiring. That's going to affect your price of the labor. It's a big job to do it right, I've rebuilt engines in less time. This is what my dash panel looked like when I was done (the panel is where the sunglasses holder was), a Virginia cop looking in the car wouldn't recognize this as a radar detector control panel, and none ever did! Talk to your guy and go over what you want - you can get a cheap install or you can get a proper one, the choice is yours.

P.S. As you can see I also installed a Pioneer head unit at a different time, but that's another story....

hinckley

drcollie - that's the way to install this unit on cars like ours. Nicely done!

rnl

Had the dealer install an 8500ci. That unit does not have a rear laser jammer. Dealer charged 5 hours.

scatkins

Beltronics stir plus which is the same (cousin) as 9500ci but includes band segmentation .. Without shifters $895 on Amazon..

Haven't added the shifters yet but not stuck with the non state of the art shifters that beltronics and escort integrate.. They score low in the shootouts..

With the shifters the stir iis about $1300

The nice thing about the stir is they sell without the shifters so you can use the better shifters like ALP.. With 9500ci you are stuck with theirs..

$3k? That's fine but you installer is snickering at you when you drive away..

neil.schneider

I was VERY lucky. I bought my car pre-owned and the 9500 was already installed. When I went to my local Porsche dealer he said to buy and install the 9500 in my car was about $4000. I said the unit itself was $2000 and he replied and 2k to put it in right as it is a big job. I am glad it was done for me.

enzom

I have had several installed in my car. Are you buying the rear shifter? It used to be part of the standard kit, and my cost was $1950 installed. This was a standard install with the display attached to the headliner near the rear view mirror.

By the time I got my 991 TT, the shifters had changed, and no rear shifters were included. So I purchased the rear shifter kit as part of the install. I paid $4500 for all parts for my 991 and the cost of (1) removing my old 9500 ci from my C2S, (2) installing that older (1 year old) unit in my dad's Maserati, and (3) installing the new unit in my car with rear shifters.

I opted against the nifty rear view mirror display because LEO can see it very easily when they are behind you. I just don't want them to know I have a detector. I spent another $250 on a custom rear license plate frame that is specifically made to house the rear shifters. Looks super cool.

A week or so ago, I was flying on the NJ Turnpike coming back from Atco drag way when I got nailed by laser (was too tired to notice the trooper on a side access road). Laser diffuser saved me.

jem7v

Can you post a pic of your rear license plate?