homelink

tuj · 05-25-2013, 09:45 AM

Hi all:

I was wondering if the Homelink rear view mirror can be retrofitted to a car that came with a standard mirror?

JimD · 05-26-2013, 08:36 PM

I don't know if you can change the mirror, I suspect you can. But if you want an integrated garage door opener (only), you should check out "flash2pass". Two pulls on your high beam switch and your garage door opens. About $100.

Jim

bradleyland · 05-26-2013, 08:48 PM

I wouldn't bother. I've had the homelink mirror in my last two BMWs because it came with a package, but the transmitter in them is so weak, I have to be almost in to my driveway for the thing to work. You also have to hold the button down much longer than I do on my regular garage door remote.

I wouldn't spend a dime on one.

tuj · 05-27-2013, 01:29 AM

Wow that's funny because both my RX-8 and my NC Miata have Homelink mirrors and the transmitters are much more powerful than my garage door openers. I'll check out flash2pass.

Shep1 · 05-27-2013, 10:08 PM

I have homelink on both of my cars and it works great. I like not needing a separate remote opener junking up the interior. Hope you can get it retrofitted.

JimD · 05-28-2013, 06:44 AM

flash2pass has more limited range than my regular garage door opener too. I have to be almost to the driveway for it to work. I can be a little up the street with a regular opener. That doesn't bug me. Not having to take my hands off the wheel to open the garage door is a significant plus to me.

Jim

tuj · 05-28-2013, 06:56 AM

How hard was the flash2pass to install? Just splicing a couple wires onto the high beams and securing the transmitter somewhere?

tuco44 · 05-28-2013, 08:15 AM

Not sure you can do it, but IMO, why bother? I now have HomeLink again, but after having a non-HomeLink car for a while, I can't see the point in going to a lot of work and expense to add it. To me, it contributes little to the overall package.

Section147 · 05-28-2013, 08:37 AM

OP...I suspect it can be added as well, but that's a question for a service adviser you trust. I've had Homelinks in all
of my cars for the past 10 years or so and love the convenience. I have had no problem opening the garage from 8
houses away. Those who have to be in your driveway to do so, it's the receiver...not the transmitter.

exPat · 05-28-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section147

OP...I suspect it can be added as well, but that's a question for a service adviser you trust. I've had Homelinks in all
of my cars for the past 10 years or so and love the convenience. I have had no problem opening the garage from 8
houses away. Those who have to be in your driveway to do so, it's the receiver...not the transmitter.

I love the convenience of Homelink, plus the fact that I don't have a garage door opener rattling around in my car. But there was absolutely no way I was going to buy the Premium Package to get it. (Bean counters strike again!)

By the way, a lot of garage door motors have a wire antenna connected to the receiver. Try repositioning to see if that helps your reception. (That's always worked for me but you could probably change out for a longer wire if needed.)

JimD · 05-28-2013, 01:53 PM

Installation of flash2pass is in two parts. To install the receiver in your garage, you take off the existing push button typically located next to the garage door into the house. The flash2pass receiver is a slightly large button you just attach the two wires to and put on the wall. On your bimmer, you need to locate the wire to the high beam. You splice into that and use it to power the transmitter. No batteries to worry about at either end. I put the transmitter close to the shock tower on the passengers's side but anywhere convenient is fine. It weighs almost nothing.

If you want a second car on the same system you just buy another transmitter so it is significantly cheaper.

I've been using it for several years with zero problems.

Jim

exPat · 06-27-2013, 03:37 PM

I think you can retrofit the OEM rearview mirror with HomeLink, but it looks like you need to have a sunroof. The mirror apparently draws power from the sunroof switch unit. Realoem isn't completely clear, just says "Optionally available with garage door opener and/or compass."

I was kind of interested, but since I don't have a sunroof I didn't really dig into it.

Edit for clarity

MysticblueX3 · 06-28-2013, 01:00 AM

I have the standard mirror and I retrofitted an auto dim mirror with homelink and compass. All you need is a retrofit wiring harness. Everything is plug and play. Do a search on the DIY section.

TheSt|G · 06-28-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyland

I wouldn't bother. I've had the homelink mirror in my last two BMWs because it came with a package, but the transmitter in them is so weak, I have to be almost in to my driveway for the thing to work. You also have to hold the button down much longer than I do on my regular garage door remote.

I wouldn't spend a dime on one.

Just need a bit of foil:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=658337

05-25-2013, 09:45 AM	#1
tuj First Lieutenant 49 Rep 379 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Stamford, CT iTrader: (0)	homelink - can it be added? Hi all: I was wondering if the Homelink rear view mirror can be retrofitted to a car that came with a standard mirror? __________________ Living the 1-life since 2013.
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05-26-2013, 08:36 PM	#2
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	I don't know if you can change the mirror, I suspect you can. But if you want an integrated garage door opener (only), you should check out "flash2pass". Two pulls on your high beam switch and your garage door opens. About $100. Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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05-26-2013, 08:48 PM	#3
bradleyland TIM YOYO 1504 Rep 3,283 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW R1250GS [0.00] 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i [0.00]	I wouldn't bother. I've had the homelink mirror in my last two BMWs because it came with a package, but the transmitter in them is so weak, I have to be almost in to my driveway for the thing to work. You also have to hold the button down much longer than I do on my regular garage door remote. I wouldn't spend a dime on one. __________________ His: *2019 R1250GS* - Black Hers: 2013 X3 28i - N20 Mineral Silver / Sand Beige / Premium, Tech Past: 2013 ///M3 - Interlagos Blue Black M-DCT Past: 2010 135i - TiAg Coral Red 6MT ///M-Sport**
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05-27-2013, 01:29 AM	#4
tuj First Lieutenant 49 Rep 379 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Stamford, CT iTrader: (0)	Wow that's funny because both my RX-8 and my NC Miata have Homelink mirrors and the transmitters are much more powerful than my garage door openers. I'll check out flash2pass. __________________ Living the 1-life since 2013.
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05-27-2013, 10:08 PM	#5
Shep1 Private 3 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 335i msport;135i m convertible Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kitchener, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I have homelink on both of my cars and it works great. I like not needing a separate remote opener junking up the interior. Hope you can get it retrofitted.
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05-28-2013, 06:44 AM	#6
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	flash2pass has more limited range than my regular garage door opener too. I have to be almost to the driveway for it to work. I can be a little up the street with a regular opener. That doesn't bug me. Not having to take my hands off the wheel to open the garage door is a significant plus to me. Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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05-28-2013, 06:56 AM	#7
tuj First Lieutenant 49 Rep 379 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Stamford, CT iTrader: (0)	How hard was the flash2pass to install? Just splicing a couple wires onto the high beams and securing the transmitter somewhere? __________________ Living the 1-life since 2013.
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05-28-2013, 08:15 AM	#8
tuco44 Colonel 644 Rep 2,294 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada iTrader: (0)	Not sure you can do it, but IMO, why bother? I now have HomeLink again, but after having a non-HomeLink car for a while, I can't see the point in going to a lot of work and expense to add it. To me, it contributes little to the overall package. __________________ 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Sunset Orange Previous BMWs - 19 others since 1971.
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05-28-2013, 08:37 AM	#9
Section147 Good To Be Alive! 13 Rep 617 Posts Drives: Lotsa Stuff Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The North Coast iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 Corvette Grand ... [0.00] 2017 VW GTI [0.00] 2017 Mazda CX-3 [0.00]	OP...I suspect it can be added as well, but that's a question for a service adviser you trust. I've had Homelinks in all of my cars for the past 10 years or so and love the convenience. I have had no problem opening the garage from 8 houses away. Those who have to be in your driveway to do so, it's the receiver...not the transmitter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-28-2013, 01:53 PM	#11
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	Installation of flash2pass is in two parts. To install the receiver in your garage, you take off the existing push button typically located next to the garage door into the house. The flash2pass receiver is a slightly large button you just attach the two wires to and put on the wall. On your bimmer, you need to locate the wire to the high beam. You splice into that and use it to power the transmitter. No batteries to worry about at either end. I put the transmitter close to the shock tower on the passengers's side but anywhere convenient is fine. It weighs almost nothing. If you want a second car on the same system you just buy another transmitter so it is significantly cheaper. I've been using it for several years with zero problems. Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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06-27-2013, 03:37 PM	#12
exPat Private 6 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 128i 6MT Join Date: May 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I think you can retrofit the OEM rearview mirror with HomeLink, but it looks like you need to have a sunroof. The mirror apparently draws power from the sunroof switch unit. Realoem isn't completely clear, just says "Optionally available with garage door opener and/or compass." I was kind of interested, but since I don't have a sunroof I didn't really dig into it. Edit for clarity
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-28-2013, 01:00 AM	#13
MysticblueX3 Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I have the standard mirror and I retrofitted an auto dim mirror with homelink and compass. All you need is a retrofit wiring harness. Everything is plug and play. Do a search on the DIY section.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

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