Topic: Cipa 36500 Auto dimming mirror

[Critterman]

Anyone looked at this mirror as a replacement?  I think it will only work in the 06 as it doesn't have onstar.   It is auto-dimming and has outside temp and a compass located in the housing below the mirrow.  Don't know how well it will mate to our existing plug.   And finally I think we need a wedge mirror not a cam, correct?


Thanks in advance for all your answers to my questions.

[tazz]

So If a person doesnt have onstar would it work also?

[Carbon Sky]

From what I can tell, if you don't get it with thermometer, it's only 2 wires, power and ground.  If you have the thermometer, it's just one more plug.

So yah, wouldn't matter if you had OnStar or not.

[Critterman]

What about  the map lights on it, can they be rigged to work like ours, map lights and door lights?

[Carbon Sky]

I know that they will function as normal map lights.  But I do not know if they will be able to function as door lights as well because that system is fed by the BCM.  And from what I've read, the BCM controls the ground.  It never fully opens the circuit, and controls the dimming as well.  I'm not sure if this dimming effect coming from the BCM would cause problems.  I know that the Cipa and the Gentex can tap a signal to turn on the door lights on some models.  But I think it may be a better idea to tap that door open signal from somewhere else that would be a clean on/off signal as opposed to the variable one from the BCM.  An easy alternative could be the door switch itself.  Just tap it in either foot well from either door.

[DeepBlueGXP]

I used a solid state relay to turn off my lights and dim them.  been a while, don't rem how I did it.  Find my mirror thread on the BB

[Carbon Sky]

I went over that thread and am a little confused as to how the relay works.  But from what I understand, as long as you get a mirror with map lights, and get a relay, you can get the map lights to behave like door lights, and have them dim slowly as they shut off.

[DeepBlueGXP]

yes

[Critterman]

Joe,
Get your remember fixed, mod meet is coming up soon.

[Chemist]

Joe,
Get your remember fixed, mod meet is coming up soon.

And this Texan wants to install the same mirror in June.

[Critterman]

Joe, once the rememberer is fixed pm me what I need to get besides the mirror for this mod, Thanks, J.

[Carbon Sky]

Just as an update.  I've now confirmed the GENK31/GENK30 and the CIPA 36500 all have the same functions like auto-dim, temperature/compass read out, and map lights.  The GENK31 and GENK30 are identical except for the wiring harness.  The GENK30 has a harness that comes with a relay so that the map lights can function like courtesy/auto-door lights.  If you add a relay to the GENK31 and the CIPA 36500, you can get the same courtesy/auto-door lights function.

[DeepBlueGXP]

About a year ago I installed the GENK31 and added the relay.

[Carbon Sky]

Yah, I've seen your thread.  However, if anyone is looking for an alternative to the Gentex, now they know the Cipa can have the courtesy/auto-door light feature.

Actually, I think I'm gonna go with the Cipa over the Gentex.  I feel like I've been spending a lot lately, and as much as I want to get an auto-dim mirror right now, I feel like the $200 or so I'd spend on any mirror is a bit much these days.  I'm a headhunter and I've got a candidate going in for an interview this coming Monday.  Who knows, if it goes well, I'll probably spoil myself a little.  I was thinking Cipa mirror, Windblox wind blocker, tinted side windows this spring

BTW, from what I gather, it looks as though on our cars, the courtesy light function is in the BCM.  Our courtesy lights "go to ground" as controlled by the BCM.  Is this correct?

I believe this should be the correct way to wire up the relay.  I have not even ordered the mirror yet, so I have absolutely no way to confirm that this wiring diagram is correct.  Perhaps DBGXP or someone else that has done this relay mod can.  Feel free to link the picture for future reference:

About a year ago I installed the GENK31 and added the relay.

[Critterman]

Let me know what you find out Carbon, this is a mod I plan on Joe doing at the meet

[Carbon Sky]

I just tried ordering one from Amazon.com as it was the best price.  But they won't ship to Canada I think.  When did this happen?  I remember buying from Amazon.com before.

[Sly Bob]

I too tried to buy something from them a few years ago and they wouldn't ship to Canada then.

[Sly Bob]

Carbon Sky, I would call Amazon as this page says that they DO in fact ship to Canada and gives rates.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=596192

Maybe there is a problem with their ordering system that they aren't aware of. 

Be careful of brokerage fees though. Perhaps they have a shipping option that you can pay those up front. Here is a Canadian shopping forum that you might find useful regarding taxes and brokerage feed when shopping in the U.S.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/dhl-brokerage-accurate-information-547986/

[Carbon Sky]

I called Amazon, and apparently Amazon and the manufacturer do not sell to Canadian directly.

Anyways, simple solution would be to have it shipped to a friend in the US near the border and meet up with him.

[Sly Bob]

Road trip!  

[Critterman]

Just send them all to Joe's house, everyone comes by Joe's sooner or later

[Carbon Sky]

Ha ha, I really should get to know this Joe then.  Actually, I haven't bothered renewing my passport yet, but I just so happen to have a friend in Buffalo coming into town at the end of the month.  So I shipped a Cipa 36500 from Amazon to him to bring in for me.

Got free shipping, but had to pay some taxes on it.  But I got it for about $30 less at Amazon then anywhere else I could find it for ($159).  The price was so good, there were many 36300s, without the temp probe and display going for $180.  Plus the free shipping, and the fact that having my buddy bring it over will mean no import fees, it worked out best this way.

Also when I inquired with Cipa about wiring in the courtesy light feature, they provided me with 2 extra terminals.  Very kind of them.  They had no way to confirm if I was actually going to order a mirror.  It probably cost them a total of a $1 or something, but it was some pretty amazing customer service.  Definitely sealed the deal on getting the Cipa 36500 over the Gentex GENK31/30.

Furthermore, apparently, the map lights in the gentex are non-replaceable LED's, while the Cipa uses replaceable bulbs you can readily find at your local auto-store.  And if you check the details, the Gentex uses a gel type electrochromatic dimming system, while the Cipa's is a solid system of some sort.  Couldn't get solid answers on it, but based on the Gentex and Cipa fact sheets, the Cipa reacts much faster, and better in cold temperatures.

By the way, here are the terminals they sent me:

[Critterman]

kewl, let me know when you have this done, I'm still looking to do this

[Carbon Sky]

Will do.  I'm gonna try to wire it up the courtesy/auto-door light function using a diode instead of a relay.  From what I can gather, there is no need for a relay because there is constant 12V supplied to the light, it's just waiting for a ground to light up.  If I connect the ground from the light to the "go to ground" signal from the door switch, and use a diode to prevent flow when the door is closed, it should work.  And the best part is, no clicking of the relay, which is particularly an issue with the slow theatre style dimming that causes ridiculous clicking as the ground slowly disconnects.

kewl, let me know when you have this done, I'm still looking to do this

[numbbers]

Anybody looked into this mirror?  GPS, backup cam, ect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1zhyRO9csQ