After a month of use with the Double Din Auto Dimming mirror with temperature and compass from The TJ Mirror Company I have some thoughts on the experience worth sharing.
TJMC offers a few versions of the auto-dim mirror.. Base model has just the compass display and no provisions for ambient temperature. The top of line model has both compass direction and ambient temperature displayed all the time. Between the two is the model that has both compass direction and ambient temp but only one is displayed at a time, with switching between the two done by pressing the appropriate button on the front of the mirror. Kits are priced at $100, $180 & $200 respectively. I bought the top of the line model.
The unit itself works just fine.. after all it’s a mirror. The slightly larger size when compared to the stock TJ mirror is welcome and the unit can be angled up higher than stock as well, so greater forward visibility. Its larger size means the sun visors hit the mirror, but it is a non-issue. The included harness is plenty long to reach the grill. Though I requested the harness for a 2000 TJ, the last five to six inches of the harness that runs around the windshield was unfinished and bare wires were visible where the harness enters the upper dash and had to be wrapped with expanded sheath so as to not look like crap. TJMC said they likely sent me the kit for the later TJs with the windshield trim. Otherwise the detailed install instructions made it all plug and play.
The auto dimming feature works perfectly. It’s bright and clear when ambient light is high and once it gets dark and the unit sees bright lights it dims just enough.
The compass has proven to be very accurate. No complaints there.
And so we come to the temperature. The temperature display has been inaccurate since the day I installed the kit. It displays a temperature that is consistently five to ten degrees warmer than all other temps I can cross reference to. Doesn’t matter if the Jeep is sitting or moving. The install instructions note that the temp sensor is most accurate at speeds greater than 8mph. I find speed doesn't make a difference either way.
I contacted The TJ Mirror Co and explained the situation and that even at cold start in the morning after sitting all night the temp is half a dozen degrees off. They agreed to send me a new sensor which I installed in the recommended location (behind the grill, mounted up high at drivers side) and that didn’t help. I removed the silly grill inserts the OP had installed on my Jeep (which I had left installed only because the paint damage on the grill caused by dirt trapped behind the inserts was more annoying than the look of the inserts) and that didn’t help. Last, I relocated the sensor up under the drivers side front fender (suggested by @Woodrow) and that did nothing. So I mentally dismiss the temperature when I look it.
Would I buy this piece of kit again? Yes. I like the larger display of the mirror & the auto-dim works as expected. Would I buy the Double Din unit with compass and temperature? No. If I could turn off the temp display on this unit and use only the compass I would but it’s either both or neither displayed. If I were to do it again I would opt for the base unit that is auto-dim and compass display only for half the price.
I may opt to unplug the ambient temp sensor altogether and go with the expected " - - " in the display.
TJMC offers a few versions of the auto-dim mirror.. Base model has just the compass display and no provisions for ambient temperature. The top of line model has both compass direction and ambient temperature displayed all the time. Between the two is the model that has both compass direction and ambient temp but only one is displayed at a time, with switching between the two done by pressing the appropriate button on the front of the mirror. Kits are priced at $100, $180 & $200 respectively. I bought the top of the line model.
The unit itself works just fine.. after all it’s a mirror. The slightly larger size when compared to the stock TJ mirror is welcome and the unit can be angled up higher than stock as well, so greater forward visibility. Its larger size means the sun visors hit the mirror, but it is a non-issue. The included harness is plenty long to reach the grill. Though I requested the harness for a 2000 TJ, the last five to six inches of the harness that runs around the windshield was unfinished and bare wires were visible where the harness enters the upper dash and had to be wrapped with expanded sheath so as to not look like crap. TJMC said they likely sent me the kit for the later TJs with the windshield trim. Otherwise the detailed install instructions made it all plug and play.
The auto dimming feature works perfectly. It’s bright and clear when ambient light is high and once it gets dark and the unit sees bright lights it dims just enough.
The compass has proven to be very accurate. No complaints there.
And so we come to the temperature. The temperature display has been inaccurate since the day I installed the kit. It displays a temperature that is consistently five to ten degrees warmer than all other temps I can cross reference to. Doesn’t matter if the Jeep is sitting or moving. The install instructions note that the temp sensor is most accurate at speeds greater than 8mph. I find speed doesn't make a difference either way.
I contacted The TJ Mirror Co and explained the situation and that even at cold start in the morning after sitting all night the temp is half a dozen degrees off. They agreed to send me a new sensor which I installed in the recommended location (behind the grill, mounted up high at drivers side) and that didn’t help. I removed the silly grill inserts the OP had installed on my Jeep (which I had left installed only because the paint damage on the grill caused by dirt trapped behind the inserts was more annoying than the look of the inserts) and that didn’t help. Last, I relocated the sensor up under the drivers side front fender (suggested by @Woodrow) and that did nothing. So I mentally dismiss the temperature when I look it.
Would I buy this piece of kit again? Yes. I like the larger display of the mirror & the auto-dim works as expected. Would I buy the Double Din unit with compass and temperature? No. If I could turn off the temp display on this unit and use only the compass I would but it’s either both or neither displayed. If I were to do it again I would opt for the base unit that is auto-dim and compass display only for half the price.
I may opt to unplug the ambient temp sensor altogether and go with the expected " - - " in the display.
Andy
