I did a search but couldn't find the answer. I understand the rearview mirror is larger for '05. I want to remove the mirror for autocrossing. I have seen threads stating that to remove the prior year mirror you turn the base counterclockwise. That does not seem to work on my '05, it just sounds like the headliner is tearing. Is this still the way to remove the mirror on the '05? Do you really have to yank it with some force?

Thanks!

No one???

I replaced my 05 stock rearview with a homelink version, and it came off by twisting the entire contraption clockwise (as seen from below looking up).

You may have to press the headliner upward gently because the 'ripping' you think you are hearing is actually the plastic trim surround scraping against the headliner material. You see, the trim around the anchor point of the mirror is actually a two-piece snap-fit plastic clamshell that can be separated and removed from the mirror once you get the mirror away from the roof liner.

Even though I ordered my car with a stock rearview, it came pre-wired for the homelink/autodim, and there is an electrical plug you have to disconnect from the stock rearview.

Being pre-wired meant that installing the homelink rearview was a cinch, and I definitely recommend it to everyone!

I live in a gated community, so I have one button programmed to open the gate, and another button programmed to open my garage. That still leaves me a third button for future (landscape lights, door locks, coffee pot???) No more unsightly garage door openers clipped to my visors! It was $190 well spent!

MINI also offers the autodim mirror as a retrofit, but the cost was well over $400 so I passed on the autodim version.

Thanks, Tarzan!

So, do they all come pre-wired? I also live in a gated community and have to deal with a garage door opener - the homelink would be ideal. My wife has it on her Town and Country and it's very convenient!

Does it connect with a wiring harness - something that would allow me to easily remove the mirror for autocross, then pop back on? Or it is more of a 'once it's done, don't undo it' type of deal?

Again, thanks!

Hi In my 05 (10/04 build) MCS the rearview was pre-wired. Even though the stock mirror wasn't power-anything, it was still connected via a socket to the harness.

When I retrofitted on the Homelink mirror, I disconnected the stock mirror from the harness and plugged in the homelink one. That was it!

For autocross, you could just tuck the wiring connector up in the roof liner until you put the mirror back on. Just takes a second.

P.S. There's a whole line of products that can be activated by Homelink, such as deadbolts for locking/unlocking doors, lamp controls, sprinkler systems, landscape lighting, etc. Check out the Homelink website. I believe RadioShack sells Homelink compatible controls. The Homelink rearview comes with 3 buttons. I have 1 for the gate, 1 for the garage, and a third for future endeavors.

Did the new mirror you installed mount to the part that hangs down from the headliner, or is it a completely new part that attaches there?

I'm planning on installing the smaller rearview mirror from an '04 for my '05. I've also looked at some other mirrors (in particular one that has a compass in it) but am unsure about mounting and/or size. I really want a compass.

So, if the basic '05 mirror doesn't have any lights, dimmers, or buttons on it, what does the wiring harness do?! That seems weird. What wires are in that harness? Might be a good place to splice in power for a GPS, V1, compass, etc.

My dealership indicated that the wiring socket and the mouting flange was different between the smaller previous year rearviews and the 05's making it incompatible for a retrograde installation.

The car is pre-wired for the devices in there, but a 'dead' rearview without any additional electrical features does, indeed, have a socket for the wiring. I found this to be excedingly odd, but true...

Hrm. Do you recall if that mounting flange can be easily removed (and therefore replaced with one from an '04)?

You might have missed part of my previous question, but how'd you mount the homelink mirror? Does that just attach to the part that juts down from the mounting flange?

Is the homelink mirror smaller than the '05?

I didn't think of that as an option; I bought one of GBMINI's circuits and wired in my garage door opener remote. I like the super-stealth install; you trigger the garage door by holding the central locking toggle down. :-)

So did you get a universal HomeLink mirror? I went to there site and the MINI wasnt listed as a compatible brand.

The mounting flange for your rearview mirror is integrated into the roof of the car. The rearview mirror twists to lock and unlock from it. Allegedly, the entire flange in the roof is different from the smaller previous year's mirrors.

Within your own model year, you can get any of 3 mirror combinations: Basic, Homelink, or Homelink plus autodimming.

The car is pre-wired for any variation.

I bought the Homelink rearview mirror from the dealership and hooked it up in the parking lot before driving off. Homelink rearview costed me $180.90 at my dealership (with M2C2 discount). The autodimming/homelink version was over $400, so I am living without autodim. (I'm struggling through it..somehow...) <G>.

In hindsight, the extra package is a very good bargain, so I wish I ordered the car that way.

What's nice about the homelink rearview over Ian Cull's version is that 1. you won't get accused of tampering with your car's electrics if you encounter 'the warranty' issue, and 2. it has 3 buttons to control other devices. I live in a gated community, and have 1 button programmed to open the gate, and a second button to open the garage. I still have a 3rd button to use for something in the future.

Where can i find more info on these i went to homelink.com but there was no info about MINI mirrors.

I got the intergrated universal remote control/auto dimming mirror on my new Cabrio. Unfortunately I've tried every which way to program it for my garage door without success. I have a Sears Craftsman door opener. At the moment I have the Sears opener clipped to my visor-Arrrhhh! Any suggestions?

To answer both posters questions:

You buy the homelink rearview mirror from the parts counter at your MINI dealership.

To program for your craftsman garage door opener, go to www.homelink.com and pick your model. It will provide a custom set of instructions for you.

Many garage door openers require you to press or press/hold a orange or blue button on the actual garage door motor unit at some point during the programming process. Grab a step stool and climb up and look at the back of your overhead motor unit. There's probably a decal with programming instructions on it as well.


Here's the instructions from the Homelink website for a Craftsman opener:

1.For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink buttons, releasing only when the HomeLink indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink buttons.)2.Position the hand-held transmitter 1-3 inches away from the HomeLink surface (located on your unknown), keeping the HomeLink indicator light in view.

3.Using both hands, simultaneously press and hold both the desired HomeLink button and hand held transmitter button. DO NOT release until the HomeLink indicator light flashes slowly and then rapidly. When the indicator light flashes rapidly, both buttons may be released. (The rapid flashing indicates successful training.)

Note: Some garage door openers may require you to replace step 3 with the “cycling” procedure noted in the “View Canadian Instructions” section.

4.Press and hold the trained HomeLink button and observe the indicator light.

• If the indicator light is solid/continuous, training is complete and your device should activate when the HomeLink button is pressed and released.
• If the indicator light blinks rapidly for 2 seconds and then turns a solid/continuous light, proceed with the following training instructions for a rolling code device. A second person may make the following steps quicker and easier. Please use a ladder or other device. Do not stand on your vehicle to perform the next steps.

5.At the garage door opener receiver (motorhead unit) in the garage, locate the “learn” or “smart” button (usually near where the hanging antenna wire is attached to the unit). If there is difficulty locating the training button, reference the garage door opener’s manual or contact us.6.Press and release the “learn” or “smart” button (the name and color of the button may vary by manufacturer). NOTE: Once the button is pressed, there are 30 seconds in which to initiate the next step.7.Return to the vehicle and firmly press and hold the trained HomeLink button for two seconds and release. Repeat the “press/hold/release” sequence up to 3 times to complete the training process.
HomeLink should now activate your device.

Retain the original hand-held transmitter of the RF device you are programming for use in other vehicles, as well as for future HomeLink programming. It is also suggested that upon the sale of the vehicle, the programmed HomeLink buttons be erased for security purposes. To erase the programmed buttons, perform the procedure shown in step number 1.

**To train additional HomeLink buttons, begin with step two.

What's this, eh? Canadians are trained differently?
(from the above post):
Note: Some garage door openers may require you to replace step 3 with the “cycling” procedure noted in the “View Canadian Instructions” section.

Our building uses a 'Linear' brand automatic gate opening system. Before I got my '05 MCS with the "Convenience Pack" (Homelink/Rain sensor/auto dimming mirror/Automatic headlights) I was SICK and TIRED of carrying a brick sized remote garage door opener in the car. Best $400 spent on the Convenience Pack IMHO

The day I took delivery of my MCS, I brought with me the old remote and did the programming of the Homelink right there in the showroom. When i got home, it worked perfectly And has been ever since. It has good transmission range. The other 2 homelink buttons can also be programmed for other garage/gates or Homelink remote devices to turn on the lights in your home when you arrive at night, set the house alarm, etc.

If you depend on an automatic garage/gate system on a daily basis, the Convenience Pack should be considered when speccin' the car.

Do you know if the earlier years' mirrors can be removed in the same fashion? I've got a friend with an '03 at work and I could probably convince him to let me try matching them up.

I have an '03 as well.......is tis car pre-wired??? Thanks!

I dunno, but it's easy to find out...pluck your rearview off and look! Just turn it 1/4 turn and it comes off. Reinstallation is reversal of removal.

It's kind of like how the pre-2004 cars (or maybe pre-2005, I actually have no idea when they changed the taillights!) come with bulbs in the upper half of the taillights, but they don't light up EVER unless you get the kit from mini-rolls or do a similar mod yourself to power them. The options are so profitable for MINI that it's actually cost-effective for them to wire all the cars, and then collect the cash from the people willing to ante up.

I have been searching for a viable Homelink transmitter for my 2004 since I have TWO garage remotes in my car. I have it on my 2002 Ford truck and LOVE it. I removed my mirror and there were not any wires attached to it.
Is there a Homelink mirror available for the 2004?

Time to ask a dealer on that one...

The MINI homelink rearview does have 3 buttons, so you can program up to 3 devices.

Got an email reply from the parts dept. No retrofit is available for 2004 and older models. Bummer.

Tarzan, I too live in a gated community, and know the frustration of the double-opener clutter. I've just put a deposit on an inbound MCS which unfortunately does not have the Convenience package (it was either Convenience or LSD - my priorities are in the right place! :-P)

Anyway, I'm a little confused why the Homelink mirror doesn't have the auto-dimming feature. I thought the two features are only available in tandem, in the convenience package anyway. Is the Homelink mirror available on new Minis as an option without the Auto-Dimming feature as well?

Yep. Your car will be pre-wired for the retrofit whenever you are ready to do so. At Hendrick MINI (with my M2C2 discount) the Homelink Only rearview was $198 (tax included)

The auto-dim rearview with homelink was over $400.

I opted for the homelink only version, but both are available. In theory, they may also make an auto-dim without homelink, but you'll have to ask the dealership about that one.

Either way, you can sure see what a good bargain the packages are when you start retrofitting stuff later. The only regret I have ever had with my MINI was not ordering the last 2 packages when I ordered the car.

Can someone please post the part # for the Homelink only mirror (no auto dim)? I was at the dealer today and they only show a listing for the mirror with both options. Thanks!