heated windshield and interference with radar detector

[oldercarnut]

Greetings all. I have on order a 2012 ctt and decided that scraping off ice in the chicago area might be avoided with the heated windshield. As with all decisions there is a dark side, besides the cost. Does anyone have any knowledge [hopefully first hand] as to whether the heated windshield will cause massive decrease of the sensitivity of the radar detector? I have heard from the dealer that IPASS is not interfered with by the windshield. I would like to avoid having to use a remote radar detector. Thanks for any feed back anyone might have.

[wvicary]

I can't say as to the Cayenne but my friend has a Land Rover and Benz with heated screens and he has never mentioned anything.

[JFP in PA]

The windshields that cause interference (blockage) of radar signals use a thin metalized film imbedded between layers of the glass. Typically, these windscreens have a slightly golden metallic sheen if looked at on an angle in bright light. Because of the metallic film, the radar waves are reflected and never reach the detector mounted inside the vehicle. Several manufacturer's use this technology as they can pass a low voltage current through the entire glass surface rather than just in localized areas, improving the deicing.

If the heated windshield option uses this method, it will block the radar signal. I would also try driving an example at night as many have commented that oncoming low beam headlights tend to “halo” or “glare” more when this option is present.

Edited September 10, 2011 by JFP in PA

[oldercarnut]

Well to answer my own question; heated windshield does not block use of iPASS in paying for tolls. So I assume that it would not interfere much with radar detectors. Having said that I went with the K40 360 install to be a little less obvious than using the windshield mounted Valentine one I have used for years. As the Cayenne adaptive cruise uses K band radar for the front for distance and the lane warning option on the car uses K radar at the back bumper for monitoring, you have to turn off the K band in the rear K40 monitor. Now will that mean I am flying blind to most of the radar used for monitoring speed, I have no idea. If I get some info will post on that.

One thing on the heated windshield that I had been warned about but had not witnessed until last night while driving, is that the wires in the windshield do cause a mild glare reflection when oncoming headlights hit them. It is a little distracting. As I live in the Chicago area and winter is bad [ although not as bad a construction], I decided to go for it. As they say no good deed goes unpunished.