Updated Blendmount R Series Review

BlendMount recently released an updated version of their rearview mirror radar detector mount which they’re calling their BlendMount R Series. (Read my review of the original Blendmount here.) The updated R Series has a number of improvements over the original design that bring some nice refinements to just about every area of the mount. Let’s take a look at more in this Blendmount R Series Review.

If you’d prefer to watch my BlendMount R Series video instead of reading the article, you can watch it here:

Blendmount R Series Review

Let’s take a closer look at the design of the BlendMount R Series now. 🙂

The main change is there’s now a new section in the middle that makes the BlendMount longer and more adjustable. One common issue people had with the previous version of the BlendMount was that if they were using an Escort Max series detector, for example, the detector’s GPS chip would be blocked by the RVM and so it would have difficulty getting a GPS lock. This new mount gives you the ability to move the detector farther back behind the RVM and closer to the windshield so the GPS chip has a better view of the sky, taking care of this issue.

Now this middle section is actually removable so if you want, you can shorten it down and move the detector farther forward, similar to what the previous BlendMount was like.

As you can see, the front of the detector sits under the RVM in the shorter configuration. This is similar to the previous design of the BlendMount.

The shorter configuration is also a nice option if you run a dashcam right behind your RVM. If the BlendMount sticks farther back towards the windshield, it can interfere with your dashcam’s placement and also make it tougher to mount/unmount your RD using the BlendMount’s spring clip. Because of this, you may want to mount your dashcam off to the side a bit when using the BlendMount.

One cool tidbit, speaking of dashcams, the removable middle piece actually has a screwhole along the side where you can mount accessories such as a Mobius Dashcam.

Note: If you go this route and you’re also running a GPS based radar detector, the Mobius can interfere with your RD’s GPS abilities. To solve this, get the shielded Mobius case for your dashcam.

Coming back to the BlendMount, the new mount also offers 1/4″ of vertical adjustment so you can slide the detector up and down to get it to the height you like. That’s a little less than the previous version so that’s a bit of a step backwards, but if you want extra length with the new version, you can use it with the midsection.

Now if you look closely, you’ll notice the clamp for the RVM has also been made more slim and sleek. There’s also a set of holes in the sides of the clamp. Those are for a set of removable nylon bushings which can inserted between the clamp and the rear view mirror stem in case your stem is too thin for the clamp. This new design replaces the strip of padding they used before so the new solution is more refined.

There’s also been some really nice updates to the MirrorTap cables that let you plug your radar detector into your rear view mirror if you have a powered rear view mirror (Autodimming, Homelink, Compass, etc.). The way it used to work is there were several different cables to choose from and you had to pick the one with the right sized connectors to tap into your mirror. If you picked the wrong one and the metal tips were too big or too small, it wouldn’t connect properly. What they’ve done now is come up with a new MirrorTap cable that has replaceable tips and you get them all so you can easily find the right size for your car with no worrying about figuring out the right size. I like this much better.

Be careful when you’re installing the MirrorTap cables though because the little metal taps are kinda fragile, especially the smaller ones. They can bend and even break so don’t be too rough with them. Once you get it all installed, you’ll be set and your RD will be powered right off your RVM which is a convenient way to power your detector.

Finally, there’s two different versions of the BlendMount actually. I’m using the standard one since it’s what fits my car, but if you need a specialty one (usually for European cars), they have those available as well. They’re all built differently to make sure they fit the appropriate car.

Now if you want to purchase a BlendMount, there’s two places to do it. The best deal is to order directly from BlendMount themselves.

Click here to purchase a BlendMount directly.

Doing it this way, you can select the correct BlendMount for your specific car when you order so the process is easier. Additionally, although they charge shipping, BlendMount has a coupon available that makes it less expensive than your other options.

The other option is to order from Amazon. This works too and you get free shipping. You can’t select which RVM connector you need based on what car you drive so after you order, they’ll contact you to find that information out so they can ship you the right one. Personally I’d rather just figure it out from the start and just order the one I need without extra hoops to jump through. However, Amazon is pretty great too so here’s the links depending on which radar detector you have.

Max, Max2, Max360, GT-7

Escort & Beltronics detectors like the Redline, Magnum, 9500ix, 8500, Passport, X70, & RX65, etc.

Valentine 1

Radenso Pro and Radenso Pro SE

The new MirrorTap MTX cables you can get directly from BlendMount as well.

So yeah, this is new R Series mount is a nice evolution of the BlendMount. It’s not a night and day difference or anything, but it does refine just about every aspect of the mount from the adjustability to the placement, the mounting system to the ability to add accessories, and even the power cable has received a nice upgrade.

If you already have an older BlendMount I don’t think that there’s a huge need to upgrade unless you have a Max and have been having GPS issues, but if you’re looking to get a new BlendMount, the new ones are even better than the old ones so go ahead and get one and enjoy. 🙂