Hey...

I am looking to purchase a reasonably priced new auto-dimming rearview mirror with electronic compass for my '99TL. However, I am hoping to find a place to buy one by Saturday or Sunday afternoon at the latest! Someone is coming over Sunday afternoon who would be able to install it for me. I live in Canada - so ordering online from the States is not an option right now. It would be great if anyone can suggest a Canadian store that will carry some decent ones that are accurate and will last! Also, does anyone know what kind of rearview mirror "mount" we have? I've noticed there are three different kinds... 'wedge'/'camlock'

Info much appreciated!

 

I know mazda dealers sell those mirrors to be fitted onto Protege 5. Check there

 

Check with your dealer to see if they can replace your mirror under goodwill. I did, and my dealer swapped out my old mirror for a new one in under 15 minutes. The only thing I had to pay was for the labour.

If goodwill fails, then your only choice would be to get a replacement mirror from your dealer or getting an aftermarket mirror. If you had more time to look around for mirrors, I would suggest going to this site and look:

http://www.donnelly.com/products/int...ecrearview.asp

I heard that Donnelly makes OEM mirrors for the Honda Odyssey, and perhaps for the TL as well (not 100% sure). I'm sure they would have an application for the TL if you gave them a call. Good luck!

 

doesnt our TLs already come with a rearview mirror that does this?

 

Yes, our TLs do come with the auto-dimming feature. I'm assuming that Street Spirit's mirror had lost this auto-dimming feature (as mine did last year), and hence his question about getting a replacement mirror.

 

Actually, the auto-dimming feature on my mirror still works - well, 2/3 of it anyway... some of it doesn't. What I was looking for was a replacement mirror that also has an electronic compass built into the mirror - in the corner. I know Toyota, Lexus and Mazda have them in their cars. I've found that the Mazda one is the cheapest and that the other ones seem to cost as much as a new set of tires (ouch!). I've also learned that it's not so simple to find one that is compatible with the Acura (mounting system)!! Every place I've called (including wrecking yards) have said that mirrors to fit an Acura are probably impossible to find. It looks like the only option is to stick with the OEM. Hrmph! Acura does not make ones with built-in compass or temperature, etc... just plain ole mirrors. The mirrors listed on the website mentioned above will not fit Acura -- if you scroll down on the page, it says cannot replace Acura, BMW, etc.....

Are we seriously stuck replacing this part only by ordering one from the dealer??

 

Contact Bob Prim (see his e-mail contact in the link below), and ask him directly if an application for the Acura TL is available. He works for Donnelly (if I remember correctly) and he would know for sure. And if you order from him, you get factory direct pricing (skip the distributor/middleman).

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showth...light=donnelly

If you send him an e-mail and gets back to you, post back and let us know. Thx.

 

My SSM 200 TL-P is suffering from macular degeneration. The area tha dims has diminished to an oval 1/3 the size of the mirror. I have never used cleaning products on tthe surface as I know this can lead to premature failure. It appears that my mirror is simply sufferng from old age.

I would like to buy a replacement mirror, although I do not need to have one with a compas. What are canadian dealers charging for this part? I heard that Magna makes the mirrors for Honda and would think that this may be advantageous for us Canadian TL drivers.

 

Lemme know whatever info you find out, Zed's.... I don't believe Honda rearviews will fit the Acura... already looked into that. Let me know if I'm wrong though....

 

I also looked into getting an EC rearview mirror with compass so I contacted Donnelly. Here are the emails I sent and received:

From Donnelly:

> > Please contact our distributor:
> >
> > Cipa, USA
> > 3350 Griswold Road
> > Port Huron, MI 48060
> > Contact: Jane Stahl - Customer Service Representative
> > Phone: 800-872-2472
> > Email: jane@cipausa.com
> >
> > Cipa can answer all your questions, and put you in touch with a retail
> > store in your area.
> >
> > Thank you for your interest in Magna Donnelly products.
> >
> > Best Regards,
> > Carol Engelsman
> > Magna Donnelly Corporation
> > Sales Administrator
> > Phone: 616-786-7967
> > Fax: 616-786-5414

My email to Jane at CIPA USA:

> Jane,
>
> I originally sent this inquiry to Magna Donnelly customer service and they
> advised me to contact you. Here is the message I sent:
>
> I have a 2000 Acura 3.2TL and I noticed that it the EC rearview mirror is
a
> Donnelly OEM item ( Donnelly p/n 11530, Honda/Acura p/n 76400-S0K-A01ZA) .
> I would like to upgrade it to either an EC model with a compass (Donnelly
> p/n 19709 or 19707) or EC with compass and maplights (Donnelly p/n 19705
or
> 19703). I see by your website that you have the mirrors I'm looking for
but
> I don't know if my mirror uses the wedge or cam style mount.
>
> 1) Does the rearview mirror you supplied to Acura for the 2000 3.2TL use
the
> wedge or cam mount?
>
> 2) Is the OE electrical connector the same as that used with mirrors with
> the compass and/or maplights or does it use a unique connector?
>
> 3) Are the compass components contained in the mirror or are there any
> external sensors/devices that have to be mounted in order for the compass
> function to work?
>
> As you can see, I'd like to upgrade my car's rearview mirror but I'm
hoping
> it will be a clean and simple swap without modifications.
>
> If a direct replacement EC rearview mirror with compass (and maplights
too)
> is available, please let me know the part no. and a retailer where I may
> purchase it.
>
> Thank you for answering my questions about this upgrade.

Reply from Jane at CIPA USA:

Answers to your questions.
1. We are an after market company we do not supply any OEM mirrors to
manufacturers. The only way to determine which button you have is to remove
the existing mirror. If it slips straight off the button it is a wedge
mount. If you have to take the mirror from the horizontal position and
turn to vertical then slip off button it is a Camlock mount.

2. Electrical connectors can very between aftermarket mirrors and OE
style. We only carry the aftermarket 7 pin connectors. We do have some
wiring guides for the 3 and 4 pin connectors.

3. The compass pod is a external sensor on the arm of the mirror. As far as
an OEM mirror I would not know.

Attached is a listing of our catalog and website dealers. Thank You Jane

If you guys find an EC mirror with a compass with the direct OE mount let us know. The TL uses a unique bracket so you can probably get one to work but it will probably look like an afterthought.

 

Acura having a "unique" mount is right!!! Sheesh! You'd think they'd make it a little more compatible with other mirrors considering it's such a simple part! But nope - sounds like Acura wants you to spend your money with them. Anyway, wanted to let you all know I sent Bob an email (from that OdyClub Forum thread) and I'll let you know what I hear back....

 

Just kidding! The email I sent to Bob a few minutes ago was returned. He's probably not using that email addy anymore.

Patrick -- If you are still a member of the Ody Forum - could you see if anyone has a different email for this Bob person re: the rear view mirrors? It appears that your link was from quite an old thread and he might have a different addy...

 

I've put an SOS out on the Ody forum. Will let you know right away if I hear something.

 

Street Spirit:

Check the Ody link above again...Bob has replied and states that his e-mail address still works (maybe you typed the wrong e-mail address?). Try sending him another e-mail. Let us know what you find out, as I'm interested in finding out myself.

 

Hey...

Just wanted to let you guys know that I heard back from "Bob" - the guy who provided the ECT rear view mirrors to the Odyssey forum. This is what he wrote:

---------------------------------------------------
So...onto the bad news...I don't think any of the mirrors I have will work. I have yet to find any Acura products with the camlock type of mount like the one used in the Ody and other products. By some odd chance, does yours have a camlock mount? If not, then I can't really help you unless you feel like removing the existing mirror AND mount, and then gluing a new windshield mount onto the glass...by doing this you would then have to install a wedge mount mirror.

Email me back & let me know what kind of mount you have and I'll see if I can come up with something....
---------------------------------------------------

Anyone have any other info I can pass along to him? Looks like we're stuck with OEM/non-compass/non-temp gauge/non-maplights.... Anyone know what kind of unique mount Acura uses for their rear views? When I called a dealer, he had no idea what a wedge/camlock mount even was!!!

Patrick: Thanks so much for all of your help with this!! He did say that some people haven't been able to email him with that addy in the past, so I don't know what's up with my server not wanting to get mail to him... ?!

 

Street Spirit:

No problem mang! Always happy to help out a fellow TLer! Actually, this could be a mod that you could do...if you replace the Acura OEM mount and glue a new mount in place, your options for mirrors will be extremely selective. You'd be the only TL to do this mod, and be way cool (see what my mirror can do that you guys can't)!

 

I replaced my mirror two month ago with an OEM one I purchased from RayLaks.com. The mount is hidious; a simple set screw would have sufficed, but no, they had to be different. Anyhow, It is a pain to remove. I ended up using a a large flat bladed screw driver to pry it off the windshield (there is no other apparent way to get it off).

 

Actually.. I just spoke with my cousin... she said it's the simplest thing to do - she said it takes ten seconds. She actually did it in her VW -- got a mirror from a Toyota Avalon and glued on a totally new mount underneath her OEM mount - then attached the ECT mirror to the new mount and wired it up to the fuse box! Since the Acura OEM mount is right at the top of the windshield, it leaves some room to put a new one on anywhere below it. The only thing that might bother me is that the windshield isn't very large in height and placing a mount a bit lower on the window might obstruct a bit of my view or bother me by always being in my line of sight.

I might get some prices on this....

 

TLMugen:
Seems someone lied to you when she said that they don't supply OEM mirrors to manufacturers (either that or Donnelly screwed up). Check post #19 by mdavisii in this thread ( http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...752#post768752 ) - he clearly stated he got his replacement OEM mirror from Donnelly. So Donnelly does indeed make mirrors for Acura.

 

Yeah, Donnelly makes the mirror for Acura, that's why I contacted them first (I forwarded my initial email to Donnelly to CIPA USA "My email to Jane at CIPA USA). You'll see that my correspondence to Donnelly and CIPA USA included both the Donnelly part number as well as the Honda part number so that they would know EXACTLY what I was talking about. I think Ms. Engelsman didn't read my email properly or couldn't be bothered to see if there was a compass version of the OE EC mirror, that's why she just handed me off to CIPA USA. On the passenger side of the back of the mirror you can see "Donnelly 11530".

I'm sure an EC/compass mirror could work in the TL, it's just that the mirror "arm" has a unique cover on it that hides the wires so an aftermarket mirror won't mount as cleanly as the OE mirror. Also the connector may be different.

Like I said, if someone is able to retrofit an EC/compass mirror in their TL, post pics; I'd like to see how it came out. For now I'll just stick with the OE mirror.

 

OK, understood. But if you ever decide to retrofit an aftermarket mirror, give Bob Prim a call (he's a good guy willing to help out). And of course, post pics!

 

does anyone know how to replace a oem rearview mirror on a 2000tl?

 

I had the same problem with my 00 tl's mirror. Acura mech told me to bring it in and they'd replace it no charge under the goodwill policy.