**Compass - Temp Rear View Mirror??? Anyone have one???

Skuits · 07-23-2009, 02:21 PM

Hi all, I hope I am not being repetitive here; my rear view mirror is starting to look funky, (appears as though the silver edges are curling inside), I was thinking of getting one of those compass and temperature enhanced rear view mirrors.

I see there are some out there for the Insight and wondered if anyone has installed one and how they like it?

I see Gentex makes one.

Please let me know your thoughts.

thanks,
Mark

924guy · 07-23-2009, 08:28 PM

i have the same curly mirror issue, and am thinking along the same lines. ive done the retrofit in other cars before and its fairly easy. i sourced my mirrors from u pull it salvage yards, for usually about $10.00 or less.

If you get one with a temp readout, make sure you get the temperature sensor as well, its generally located in the front grille someplace.

you can tap 12v power from the dome light, and theres a ground to tie into as well...

you can spend $250 on a new one if you prefer, but gentex is the oem supplier for the majority of the cars that have that option, so its easy to find one slightly used on the cheap.

I think there a great upgrade, especially if they have the auto dim option (look for a small photo cell grid in the frame or in the glass of the mirror.)

Skuits · 07-23-2009, 09:28 PM

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a great idea.

Any suggestions on what vehicles would be good donors? I know most of the 2k+ GM vehicles have those type of mirrors.

What about the attachment to the glass? I was hoping to use the stock attachment, but from what I've read that doesn't seem to be an option. I've worked with both the Ford and GM vehicle stock mirror attachment. Would seem pretty easy to do.

Thanks for the tip!

Mark

924guy · 07-25-2009, 08:16 AM

Gentex mirrors are/were in most makes of cars, so you should be able to find a similar mount button that makes it a bolt on installation fairly easily. when i retrofitted one into my old ford probe, i just measured the "button" and looked in a bunch of cars at the scrap yard, until i found one with the mirror i wanted and the proper base (i think it came out of a pontiac actually!) i ended up having to shim it a bit with a piece of cardboard, as the depths can be different as well.