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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: maxfax on March 28, 2010, 02:29:38 am

Title: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: maxfax on March 28, 2010, 02:29:38 am
All the years of driving full sized land yachts with bells and whistles everywhere you look there has been one thing I really wish the VW had, and that is one of those rear view mirrors that automatically dim when some ________ is tailgating with their high beams on, then returns to normal when they finally pass..   So on my trip to the bone yard yesterday I scored this for a few bucks

(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/maxfax3/VW/DSCF2078.jpg)

This came from an MN12 T-Bird (1989-1997) and can also be found in Cougars, Crown Vics, and Various Lincolns/Mercurys of the era.. Amazingly it fits right on the little nub that glues to the windshield..  Three wires to connect, a ground of course, one to a switched power, and a third can be connected to the reverse lights so that it will automatically be disabled in reverse..  AS soon as I figure out how I'm routing the wires up there I'll be driving a high end luxury....Rabbit..

OKay, you may all continue back to more pertinent posts...

Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: 8v-of-fury on March 28, 2010, 06:37:28 pm
your a complete and utter nerd, did you know?

but that's some snazzzy shhhhhtuff :) I think i like the idea of this.. i usually go a few miles of ducking to the side to avoid the light in my eyes before i realize.. "OH yeah! this little flipper/knob is my friend". Dunce Cap for me, Einstein shirt for Brett lol.

Grand Idea.
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: truckinwagen on March 28, 2010, 06:41:46 pm
where is the ambient temp and compass readout?

hehehehehe...

good idea, but I usually get blinded through the side mirrors more than the center one.
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: maxfax on March 28, 2010, 06:50:05 pm
I'm a nerd who doesn't have to worry about flipping the stupid mirror tab all the time!!  I had a '94 T-Bird years ago that had one..  I had forgotten how nice it was till I got the Caprice which has one.. It's the little things ya know..   8)

where is the ambient temp and compass readout?

I was actually looking for one of those, but didn't find any..  ;D   I'm going to continue the search for one of these things with map lights though..  Mostly it was GM that had the compass and temp IIRC and I'm pretty sure the mounting nub is different..  Still surprised that Ford and VW used the same thing..

 I don;t use the side mirrors so I have them turned down.. AS of yet I don;t have any good fixes for those...
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: burn_your_money on March 28, 2010, 06:58:08 pm
Thank you for posting this. I wish I had read it on saturday when I was in the J-yard though.
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: ToddA1 on March 30, 2010, 04:53:49 pm
Interesting.... why would you want it to shut off when the reverse lights are on?

-Todd
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: theman53 on March 30, 2010, 05:24:55 pm
so that it doesn't dim and you can see where you are backing.
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: ToddA1 on March 30, 2010, 05:38:02 pm
Duh, I wasn't thinking...  I was thinking adjusting, not dimming.

-Todd

Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: maxfax on March 30, 2010, 08:05:57 pm
Thank you for posting this. I wish I had read it on saturday when I was in the J-yard though.

It's supposed to be nice this weekend, sounds like an excuse for a junkyard trip to me!!  ;D    I also wanted to add, make sure you grab some of the wire and plug  coming out of the ceiling..  I'll post up the wiring diagram as soon as I figure it out..  Somewhere up there there is a connection where the three wires go from their respective colors to all black wires down to the mirror..  I may venture back to the yard and rip the headliner down and see what is what...
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: rallydiesel on March 31, 2010, 12:34:19 pm
Is there something wrong with me when I get more excited about a junkyard visit than christmas?
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: rabbitman on March 31, 2010, 01:36:16 pm
Is there something wrong with me when I get more excited about a junkyard visit than christmas?

Junkyards are a blast!!!!!!
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: 8v-of-fury on March 31, 2010, 05:46:57 pm
Is there something wrong with me when I get more excited about a junkyard visit than christmas?

Junkyards are a blast!!!!!!

%100 agreeableness :) I love junkyards! lol
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: maxfax on April 01, 2010, 03:27:14 am
I've always dreamed of having my own junkyard to roam about whenever I want.... Oh wait....... ::)

When I was in college most of my friends always went to Cancun, New Orleans, or a beach somewhere for spring break..  Myself and a select few of us made the pilgrimage to West Hazelton PA to go to Harry's U-Pull it..  ;D
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: Familydiesel on April 23, 2010, 09:04:26 pm
Hey anyone found an application that would mount the outside temp and compass like the Suburbans?  Or, does anyone know what you would need to hook up one off of a suburban? :-[

The auto dimmer is cool!  Thanks,
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: lovinthedeez on April 24, 2010, 08:33:25 am
awesome idea.  wonder if my neighbors long busted t-bird sitting in our lot has one. 

 got the box yesterday brett.  treating me like a king as always ;).  thanks a million
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: maxfax on April 24, 2010, 03:51:57 pm
Glad to hear it!!  Will those light sockets work for you???


I did a bit of snooping on the mirror with the compass and temp..   The compass is completely integral to the mirror..  THe temperature reading is taken from a sensor mounted behind the grill..   It appears to connect directly to the mirror as well..  I think all you'd need is the temp sensor mounted out front and wired to the mirror, along with the proper power and grounds.. I don;t know how much they may vary by year but if anyone needs a wiring diagram to do so I can post them up, jet let me knwo the year and model...
Title: Re: Rearview mirror upgrade
Post by: Familydiesel on April 24, 2010, 04:41:54 pm
Oooo, Maxfax your talking my language, LOL!

I have a 99 GMC Suburban 1500 and might try looking for one for that or 98 year.  If it is this simple, I want to try to make it work.  I would be interested in the wiring diagram for this year; then go and see if I can find one.  Is true that one would have to change the mirror mount, but that shouldn't be too bad.

Oh, I like your idea of the mirror with map lights also.  We have a 2004 Impala which has 2 map lights on it.  I wonder if one could find an Imala mirror with the map lights, compass and temp (LS models?).  That would be a cool upgrade. 

I have also thought about mounting a light/sunglass dome from another vehicle that mounts near the sunvisors since VW's mk1, skimpy light is always falling down, and doesn't give much light anyway. 

I wish Ford had some temps/compas lights also, much like you found.  Cool find you had.  It got me thinking!

I love to hunt at the junk yards too!   ;D
Thanks