Yeah, I wish I'd gone the do-it-yourself way this time. Auto glass people do not remove mirrors from perfectly good glass very often. It's a lot easier to remove a mirror from an already busted windshield. I'm guessing that those who use a screwdriver in the middle hole are not really depressing a spring, because there isn't one in the middle that I can see, but just coaxing the assembly up slowly, overcoming the 2 side springs.

 

I installed a Mazda unit a couple years ago with temp, homelink, compass and autodim. The Mazda unit runs about $70 to $80 less and looks the same. If anyone is interested I can try and dig up the info.

 

I'm about to order, so yes please post the info on the Mazda unit. Thanks!

 

http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=1674

 

Thanks, looks identical to the Gentex mirror. Will it fit our mustangs?

 

I installed it on my 05 with no issues. Fairly easy.

 

anyone else try this Mazda version? I'm a little skeptical... I may stick with the household name of Gentex. Any last minute words? I'm about to order....

 

larmo - You are probably alright with the Mazda version since I'm pretty sure that these are all made by Gentex. I might be concerned if I were you about the harness that plugs into the mirror. If you get the Mito harness it is a direct plugin to the back of the mirror. I know that the people I ordered from wanted to know the year make and model of the vehicle I was installing the mirror on to insure the harness was correct. It may be that Ford and Mazda use the same harness or that you could solder the wires as necessary if you just use the Gentex rather than the Mito harness.

 

I may have a great group buy opportunity for a local Gentex distributor. Great price, just have to confirm. Stay tuned...

 

Group Buy is $160 shipped on the mirror... a small saving but a saving nonetheless.
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...49#post5556049

 

please check my response to that thread. There are better deals out there. Your dealer is ripping you off.

 

Deric, I appreciate the thought but I have read negative reviews of the Mazda mirror. Everyone can do as they please but as for me I will be dealing with a genuine Gentex mirror from an authorized Gentex distributor.

 

Here is the back of the stock mirror. Note the protrusion in the center. The flat bladed screwdriver MUST be applied against that protrusion GENTLY in order to release the tab.

BE CAREFUL!!!

 

The screwdriver method works for the base mirror. But the bracket for the factory electrochromatic mirror is a lot different. I found no way to push the leaf spring, it is very strong. So I called in a pro, who broke my windshield. I think the two-pronged tool that is available online might do the trick.