I was wondering if anyone knows if the Auto Dimming/Garage Opener mirror can be installed as an upgrade or did it have to come from factory that way. Our F56 has alot of options and don't know why this one was left out. I have seen others with less options have this one. It would come in handy as your standard remote opener clip is much smaller than the thick sun visors.

 

I asked this question at my dealer when I bought my car (without one). I was told that it could be done, but would likely be pricey because of the wiring, and potentially new windshield necessary. That windshield part had me scratching my head because it doesn't make any sense. I'd imagine they'd remove the stock mirror (a portion of which is def on there with adhesive)... reglue the new one.

Unless it has something to do with the rain sensor / dimming electronics being mated to the windshield.

So, yes, it is possible, but it'll cost WAY more than the price of the new mirror part.

 

I had the garage door opener on my 2007 MCS but it's not an option on the Coupe due to the different roof probably. I bought a little programmable one at True Value for $30 that fits in the armrest (which is very small) and it's as easy to use as the one in the mirror was. It's about 3-4" long with no clip and 2 buttons.

 

Also be aware that it might not be compatible with your garage door opener. I got it but I can't get it to work with my door. Sucks.

 

I'm bad at remember the parts number stuff, but I recall seeing a post sometime back and there are entirely different windshield and mirror mount parts based on the autodimming or not. That black square section that has the rain sensor if you have auto wipers gets something more, like sal1k was thinking.

I think a good general rule is adding any factory option after the fact is going to cost you 2-5x as much as getting it in the first place. BMW also seems to have a lot of those options controlled by the computer which requires an activation code as well (foglights are like this as I've read?), so you've potentially got parts, labor, and then activation. Activation alone can be more than the price of the option.

 

My garage door opener is over 20 years old and it worked with my 2007 Mini. Sometimes you pair it with the remote and sometimes you pair it with the actual opener I think.

 

Hmm, maybe I did it wrong then. Ours is only 4 years old.

 

It should for sure work. Hit the "help" button lol.

 

Exactly what TheBigNewt said.

I got mine for about $15 from Home Depot. I have clipped it to the inside edge of the door pocket with a small shammy between the clip and the door plastic for a tight fit. Works like a charm.

FYI, the face (button side) of the remote is facing inside the pocket (toward the outside of the side of the car) so nothing is hanging in the interior waiting to get knocked off or loose. I reach down and the button is there without even looking at it.

 

My opener is relatively new and when I paired it with my current Subaru mirror setup I had to press an extra button on the back of the opener itself to put it into a broadcast type mode and then hold the opener in a specific position near the driver's side headlight and hold the button for a while. It was not a simple 'point current opener at the car and press a button' kind of thing. Maybe the MINI is similar?

 

My opener apparently has a "rolling code" so when pairing the car remote I have to push a button on the garage mounted mechanism first and then have 30 seconds to push the button on handheld remote while holding button on car remote.

 

Ah 'rolling code' - I knew there was a name for it. Same process I had for mine.

 

Pretty sure that's how I had to get the one on my 2007 Mini to pair. I remember hustling down from a ladder into the car!

 

Me too, a common procedure.

 

I saw a video of someone burying his garage remote in a panel in his Jeep and soldering a switch to it.

That makes me want to find a way to open the garage with my iPod, either bluetooth or wifi, but I can't find a smart and cheap solution.

There's one called SecuRemote, but it's $150 and only operates one door.

The Chamberlain MyQ Garage would be good except it requires you to register on the internet. Why would you want to open your garage from Tahiti? Why would you want to let the hackers have at it? It has you pair it with bluetooth, but only so that you can connect it to the internet. That's bizarre. I have to look into if it can be wrestled into something.

There are a few bluetooth relay controllers out there that I could solder to a remote but the apps are not very good, and they are not designed to be momentary switches.

 

There are app for iPhone but you need to have the correct opener to make it work

 

http://www.f2ptechnologies.com/

interfaces with your high beams...flash to trigger the garage door mechanism...discreet...lotta bikers (motorcycle) use this as they dont' want to take their hands off the handlebars.

Marco

 

Oh man, I want that for my bike so bad. I was thinking I'd have to store my opener in one of the hidden pockets of my jacket.

 

Vicskimmer,

A friend of mine bought one from Home depot and wired it to his battery. Got a momentary switch from radio shack and mounted it to the side cover and wired it into the circuit board of the opener.....voila problem solved.

Im looking for one that is 12v powered and works with my door opener, then I will do the same thing on my mini and put the switch under the dash or near the hatch button.