Auto dim rear view sucks; gentex real world performance? is there one better?

I've never liked factory auto-dim rear view mirrors in any vehicle that has had them because they never dim enough.

I've seen the gentex homelink but I don't need all the extra features...I really never even use the compass...and the dash has it's own display for compass direction if I really wanted to see that...but I never want it displayed all the time, just a curiosity really.

I'm not sure about it's performance regarding how dim is it with an fx50 behind you (with brights on too...so many idiots come racing up behind me with their high beams on thinking that's gonna make me go even more than the 10 over I already am!!)

BTW---fx50 meaning ford f150, 250, etc...they actually had a safety recall years ago regarding factory lights being too bright...it would seem they never actually fixed that and kept doing so with even current years...when I think an oncoming or behind me truck has it's brights on but it doesn't...almost ALWAYS an Fx50 with it's low beams on!!

I'm looking mostly for something that will, at the very least, dim like an old school flip type at night. When fX50's are behind me, even with their low beams on, it's like a cop is shining a spot light in and with the auto-dim type mirror I'm still getting blinded from behind!!!!

My '04 camry has the old school flip type and that is just perfect. Since my '17 comes with the auto dim I'd like to put that type in. I really only have that one requirement, I don't NEED the extra features but that's fine, I really only care that it be at least as dim as the flipped '04 but A LOT dimmer than the factory auto

 

Have you been to this site?
https://www.bobsmirrors.com/

 

not yet! let me alter that
* well they just sell gentex and a few other brands...but still...I don't know if those brands are any different than the oem

I'm asking if anyone has a real world comparison of gentex(or other) vs oem auto dim...more options to question is nice but doesn't really help, lol. I mean if the gentex dims enough I'll get one, seems to be a well rated product, and is priced the same as the other brands on the site listed above...but I'm not going to buy one if I don't know it works better than oem on dimming amount.

 

I always find the dimming to be more than adequate which is probably related to being blinded in my side-view mirrors by the same people behind me.

 

It is better than not having one. I do not see any problems with mine it works fine but you know there is always someone complaining about something here. just saying

 

I don’t have a garage and could absolutely deal with a manual flipper.
If it could adjust closer to the ceiling and had a smaller footprint than gentex, I’d be in heaven

 

I cannot tell if you don't like that the sensor is not sensitive enough or if you don't like how dim it is at that max level. This is my solution to get it to dim sooner and to cover the stupid green LED:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mirror-dimming-mod.708387/

 

Try mirrored finish tint on rear glass or polished chrome-like wrap on tailgate to give some of that excess light back at them?

 

I so wish.

I have a rear white light that is not connected at the moment. The thought has occurred to me to use it for high beam dolts. But then, peeps coming the other way refuse to dip their beams not to mention the idiots running light bars or full intensity fogs like the DD Pros.

 

Rear facing light while not traveling in reverse is a legal question. Wrap or tint not so much in most areas.
I agree about the DD Pro fogs and oncoming traffic. They may be street legal but they are not nice even when aimed correctly. I treat mine similar to high beams.

Lot of low rolling hill terrain around me. I sometimes get flashed by idiots thinking my oem headlights are too bright when reality is that there is a hill or something that is making my lights point high at that exact moment and if they could wait 1 more second instead of activating instantaneous Karen mode then the terrain will change to put their ugly faces back above the headlight pattern cutoff where they won't catch so much light.

 

You've thought about this.


No! The Sports are DOT, but the Pros are not. Saw one Taco twat with four of them blazing the other day.


Yeah. A lot of new cars with OE LEDs have hella glare on uneven roads. That's one thing for the most part, but Ferd should get a slap for the work trucks with four massive low beam halogens with tons of glare. It looks like they are continuing that trend on the model update also.

 

folks...listen, listen. I'm not here to start some debate on obscure reasons as to why or if you agree or understand my reasoning...I don't care what anyone thinks of my view. please leave your opinions of my view out. I explicitly stated over and over no auto-dim gets dark enough...pretty clear what I mean
I'm not going to explain myself any more than I already have, which is;

Oem isn't dim enough, I'm blinded by regular vehicles low beams when they are approaching from behind (ooo I know, let's start a debate on whether my eyes are too sensitive to light and discuss medical conditions related to that!!!!)...high beams are worse...fx50's are beyond unbearable. My '04 camry's flip is darker when flipped.

I do know about the existence of window tint...etc etc...thanks but that's not what I asked.

I'm JUST asking IF anyone has compared the two. Like if someone bought a gentex or other, installed it, and noticed if it was darker OR the same...that's literally it.

aight...thanks anyway
I tried

 

Lol.
Fair request to be on topic. Sorry.
I have sort of compared them just not in same vehicle. I have pulled Gentex from junk yard cars a few times and thought they were fine where i used them. The oem in my Tundra feels weak compared to the salvage i put in 4Runner. Noticed oem in Tundra also seems erratic like sometimes it does almost nothing other times it is noticable. Maybe there is a toyota thing.

 

I’m with you. The old school flippers are superior in every way in my opinion.

 

Hahahahaha

 

If your going faster than 25MPH you can shift into reverse for a few seconds to flash your reverse lights at them, (yes you can do it look it up)

But other than adding some tint to the rear window ?

 

*Adds flip it rear view mirror dimming to the growing list of why the Tacoma SR is a superior truck*

 

How about just replacing the Gentec with a regular flip style mirror?
Nothing more than unplugging the Gentec, loosening the screw on the windshield mount, and sliding it off.
Then replace with the manual flipper style, tighten the screw, and adjust - DONE

 

OEM is a Gentex and so are the homelink mirrors. The homelink mirrors aren’t going to improve it if you don’t like how the OEM is functioning. Personally I say just get over it, but if it’s that big a deal go back to a flipper style mirror. I wish mine would go a bit more dim but for the functionality of homelink and compass, I’ll stick to the fancy mirror.

 

I’m confused. I had the DD Max’s in the SAE fog pattern. They were advertised as street legal and were right at the legal limit of maximum lux for road fog use. I looked at them from in front and they were not painful to oncoming cars at all. They put out a bunch of light but it was a very sharp cutoff and all the light went to the road.

That said I didn’t like them and ditched them for other reasons.

Also I find that the oem led headlights I just installed have a ton of glare.