Automotive Tools: Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass

Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass
Customer Rating :

List Price : $329.00
Price : $279.00

Product Description

Eliminate dangerous glare from the vehicles traveling behind you with an Gentex rearview mirror. It detects glare and automatically dims to preserve driver vision and make nighttime driving safer. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirror becomes. An *ICE indicator will display for one minute when the temperature is at or below 37 degrees. This feature cautions you to anticipate road-icing conditions. Compass and external temperature readouts also ensure that while you are driving safer you are also driving smarter. This mirror also has three HomeLink buttons. About HomeLink :: activates RF-controlled garage door openers :: operates RF-controlled lighting, gates, entry door locks, and more :: can be easily programmed to meet your needs for security, efficiency, and convenience.

Auto Dimming rear view mirror
Includes wire harness
Controls 3 HomeLink compatible devices
Compass and temperature display
Mirror will fit standard GM/Chrysler type windshield wedge mount. Installation of this windshield-mounted mirrors electronic components requires some hard wiring experience or professional installation recommended. The supplied wire harness must be used.

Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass Reviews

Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

GENK51a mirror, May 8, 2010

pwrplayhockey "JK" (Columbus, OH, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass

I purchased the GENK51a mirror for my 2010 Ford Fusion and it works great. The trim level of my fusion didn't come standard with the outside temperature gauge, so I thought I'd get that and a little more. I could get about the exact same mirror from Ford for $400 without installation. $260 for this mirror is a good price. I've had an auto-dimming mirror with Homelink in the past, and really liked it. This one is almost the same mirror, I had in the past, but it has the temperature and compass built in. The temperature and compass are well placed and they're not distracting. The instillation took some time, due to getting the proper wires to wire the mirror into, and finding the best way to get the sensor wire through the firewall. I found a great place for the outside gauge behind the grill. I did find that when I park close to my garage, the sun reflection heated my sensor up to give me a reading about 5 to 8 degrees over, but otherwise I find it's very accurate. I was a little over... Read more

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

I like it alot but fairly involved install for non-mechanics, April 23, 2009

H. Zite "Garfoon" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass

I really like this mirror. It works just as advertised and I assume that Gentex makes these for the auto makers.

The install is fairly involved. If you are not comfortable getting cables through the firewall (the temp probe is mounted to the front bumper) and pulling the radio, or something else to get to the 2 required 12v sources (one switched, one unswitched) you might be best finding someone else to do the install. Luckily my niece married a guy that restores old cars but even for him it took 4+ hours to do.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Allowed me to enjoy "Luxury Features" on a base model car., January 22, 2011

Haywire (Greencastle, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gentex GENK51a Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink, temperature and compass

I've had this installed now since a few weeks before Christmas 2010. I bought it for my wife's base-model 2008 Toyota Highlander. Since she was spoiled with an "LT" model S10 Blazer that had the compass and temperature in an overhead console, she was seeking to have these features on the Highlander. If you can wield a volt-ohmmeter, a pair of pliers, and have an attention for detail (while running the wiring for the temperature sensor), you can probably do the install yourself like I was able to. A wiring diagram was available via an online search for the Highlander (for the purpose of installing a factory Toyota chromatic mirror) that enabled me to tap into the +12V always, and the +12V switched supplies already in the overhead console wiring harness. Although it was still necessary to run the wire for the outside temperature sensor, this simplified the install greatly.

The operation of this unit is amazing. The auto-dimming feature works great, and has a... Read more