Homelink/auto dimming mirror

Dealer don't know, but service dept. does! at least mine did.

Had installed on 2005, they pull down the head liner.

Mirror,ADIM,Prius = $238.00

Mirror Install = $194.40

Also had cd changer installed, I'd rather them pull my dash apart! Install price was $90.00

 

ADIM is some ID that Toyota put on the parts invoice. auto dimming / infrared / mirror. or something like that.

Yes it included homelink.

 

Hello from a new prius owner. This is my first post.

I've had my black 2006 package 3 for 3 weeks and I absolutely love the car! Before I decided on a prius I drove a friend's 2005 that had the auto dimming mirror and thought it was realy cool. The dealer where I bought the car wanted to charge $552 to install one, which I though was too much so I declined. Now I think about it every night when I flip the mirror, and every time when I fumble for the garage door opener. So I called another dealer and was told they would charge $39 to install the mirror. The parts guy I talked to said there was a note in the book that the auto dimming miror conflicts with the side curtain airbags. I asked what that meant, but he didn't know. Since my dealer wanted over $280 to install the mirror, I have doubts the one that quoted $39 knows what's involved. But my main concern is that either they'll get the headliner off and then discover the power connection is not available (being used by the air bags), or that they will disable the air bags. Anyone have any ideas what this conflict is about? Anyone had a miror installed on a prius with side curtain airbags?

Thanks. I've found PC to be a wonderful resource.

 

My 06 came with both the Auto-dimming mirror, and the side curtain airbags. Mirror works, I have no desire to test the airbags.

BTW, FYI, in another thread, I read that one can control the aggressivness of the dimming feature of the mirror by covering a small sensor on the back part of the mirror with something. Piece of celephone tape about 1/2" long would work, darker the tape, more aggressive the dimming feature. I have thought about using black eletric tape, and just covering part of the hole.

 

I have an '06 package 4 that came from the factory without the auto-dimming/Homelink mirror.
When we bought the car a month ago, the dealer agreed to put the mirror on for us for the "factory option" price of $269.
Just got it installed today & it works great....apparently no conflict with the side curtain air bags.
$39 sounds too good to be true and $500 sounds more like a rip off to me.
Your dealer should be bending over backwards to make sure you're happy.
Good luck in your negotiation.

 

The airbag conflict is because the wiring in the A-pillar is installed before the airbags at the factory. A field install must avoid the airbag so the wiring doesn't snag the airbag should it deploy.

Some shops probably want to avoid going near the airbag.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Apr 5 2006, 10:51 PM) [snapback]235691[/snapback]</div>

Installing and avoiding the airbag wiring is trivial, though, as the wiring is tucked up tight against the A-pillar.

Instructions for the install have been available at VFAQ.NET since late 03.

 

If you are so inclined to find a installer and want to avoid the overpriced retail,
I have a unused homelink dimming mirror I would sell.
I prefer the old fashion mirror and took this one off my #6 first day.

Do find someone that knows what they are doing for the work.

And elsewhere on PC here many have used black tape on the front of the mirror (can't see it) and just use the power button to turn off and on, pretty cool.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(craigcush @ Apr 12 2006, 10:38 PM) [snapback]238980[/snapback]</div>

Have you sold this yet? I am SO jealous of my husband's built in garage door opener! Although, if I get it, he will doubtlessly tease me to hell! He had the pieces of the portable one stuck together in his old car...when he came home with a 2002 BMW 5-series in March (while I was in London visiting my parents, the sneaky devil) and told me about it, I told him that next time, he was not going to spend 30k on a new garage door opener, he should go for the 25 buck one like I got...tee hee...Anyway...if you still have the mirror, please pm me or something w/ price etc. <div align="center"> </div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobSoNH @ Mar 25 2006, 08:26 AM) [snapback]229943[/snapback]</div>

I bought my 2005 package 5 a few weeks ago - it has the side curtain airbags AND the auto dimming mirror factory installed. If there's a conflict, Toyota wouldn't sell packages 5, 6, 7 and 8!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Jun 17 2006, 05:00 AM) [snapback]272632[/snapback]</div>

I think the issue is--there might be a conflict for aftermarket installation. It is NOT a problem if it is all put together at the same time.

 

My dealer said if your car comes with the side curtain airbags they wont do it because they have to run it to the pillars and it might deploy the airbags...so they do not want to risk it. It can be done but there will be a big risk....

 

The concern certainly is the curtain airbag in the pillar.

One thought I have always had that can reduce the problem is picking up 12+ and ground from the overhead console, but you still have to route one wire down through the pillar to get ACC+. If you don't do that, then the mirror dimming function would constantly be on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(craigcush @ Apr 12 2006, 10:38 PM) [snapback]238980[/snapback]</div>

Craig...many apologies for contacting you this way. My email told me I had a PM from you, but my PM seems to have crashed and burned. No incoming or outgoing available. PLEASE email me with your info!
Thanks!

 

Is the Homelink basically the autodimming and the garage door opening ?? I have it...I love the garage door opener...it works better than my handhelds...

I don't drive at night...

terri

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ched1968 @ Jun 17 2006, 12:53 PM) [snapback]272738[/snapback]</div>

It's NOT a big risk, and your dealer is gutless and lazy. They can pull up the install instructions on TIS, it's a dead simple install that has ZERO risk of messing with the airbags.

Just because you have to pop the A-pillar off to run the wires doesn't mean you are going to be risking the airbags in any way.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ched1968 @ Jun 17 2006, 10:53 AM) [snapback]272738[/snapback]</div>

The Prius Guru at the Service Dept. of my dealership said they would do it...and he has been working on Prii since 2001, so I believe him. (And he didn't just say it off the top of his head...he checked, found out what extra parts I might need, and called me back.)

 

I also just picked up my 2006 Prius Package 4 and was told that I cannot have the Homelink Mirror installed because of the Side Air Bags. It must be a standard answer by all Toyota dealers. When I go back to the dealership I am planning on taking a print-out of the chat and give it to them and see what they say.

I really do want the homelink, but I also don't want them butchering the car in the process.

Are all these mirrors made by GENTEX?

Thanks for all the excellent information provided here. If there is anything else that I should be telling my dealer, please let me know.