Plug and Play Homelink Mirror for FL5 -- 1 Hr Install

[beaterfl5]

Thanks for the write up and comments. Super helpful. Just tackled this and install fitdvr for radar detector as well. Installed thinkware but rear camera won’t work so I ordered fitcamx lol
Anyone had mirror fall off over and over. I’m about to try bending the pins in but mirror even after the click doesn’t feel very secure

I think it's really just luck? Many ppl say they have no problems with the mirror staying on tight, but mines would not stay on no matter what I tried.

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[S2K_MoZo]

I think it's really just luck? Many ppl say they have no problems with the mirror staying on tight, but mines would not stay on no matter what I tried.

So did you just go back to the original mirror? I love the auto dimming mirror especially due to the homelink so I don’t carry garage openers everywhere lol

 

[honman]

I think it's really just luck? Many ppl say they have no problems with the mirror staying on tight, but mines would not stay on no matter what I tried.

I'm beginning to wonder if the mixed luck is because of slight differences between the mounts in our cars or the mirrors themselves. They're Accord accessories so surely they all have to fit in any supported Accord models... right? My running theory is the FL5 mount & Accord mount aren't exactly the same, but similar enough that manufacturing tolerances make most mirrors perfectly compatible with most FL5's but not all.

 

[S2K_MoZo]

I'm beginning to wonder if the mixed luck is because of slight differences between the mounts in our cars or the mirrors themselves. They're Accord accessories so surely they all have to fit in any supported Accord models... right? My running theory is the FL5 mount & Accord mount aren't exactly the same, but similar enough that manufacturing tolerances make most mirrors perfectly compatible with most FL5's but not all.

That makes sense. Maybe if someone whose mirror fits fine in CO should try my mirror to see if it’s the mirror or the base. Worth a shot?

 

[beaterfl5]

So did you just go back to the original mirror? I love the auto dimming mirror especially due to the homelink so I don’t carry garage openers everywhere lol

i Frankensteined the FL5 mirror base and the home link mirror. I have photos somewhere in this thread. Fits extremely tight now.

 

[honman]

So I just took my mirror back off so I could compare the mounts and I'm pretty sure I figured out the main reason for the Accord mirrors being too loose or coming off really easily. Take a look at these pictures of the mounting spring. The first is the OEM FL5 mirror, the second the Accord mirror. Both mirrors mount with the same mechanism; the base has 4 pins and 4 spring clips. When mounting the mirror, the top of each pin contacts the bottom of the car's circular mounting assembly and the end of the clips slide up the outer edge of the mount. When rotated into place, the "tooth" at the end of each clip (the blue part I highlighted in the photos) slides into a groove. The spring tension in the clips hold them in their grooves and the shape of the tooth (which must match the curvature of the groove) keeps the clip, and therefore the whole mirror, from falling off.

As for the differences between the two mirrors and potential reasons for the issues people are having:

1. The shape of the clips' teeth is different. The FL5 mirror's is smaller and sharper while the Accord's is slightly longer and more rounded. This can cause the clip to not be fully engaged in the groove, making it easier for it to slide out, allowing the mirror to fall off more easily. This can happen even if the mirror isn't loose. For those of you that got your mirrors installed and they felt secure, but popped off if you pulled on them a bit, this might be why.
2. The pins on the Accord mirror may be too short or too long. Compare the distance between the top of the pin and the center of the tooth on both mirrors. If the pins are too short, the clips can wobble in the groove a bit, causing the whole mirror to feel loose. If they're too long, the clips won't be fully engaged in the groove and the mirror risks popping off.
3. The Accord mirror has a tab which may be interfering with the mount. This tab is the short, narrow metal piece jutting out the bottom center of the mounting spring (looking at it when it's mounted in the car) and is bent toward the car's mount. It rests on the same surface that the pins rest against. If it's bent too far it'll push the mirror away from the car's mount and risk the clips being pushed out of their grooves. However, if your mirror feels loose, you may be able to tighten it up a bit by slightly bending the tab towards the car's mount. That will apply tension to the clips and (hopefully) help prevent them from wobbling around. Just don't bend it too much or you risk the mirror not fully seating and popping off.

EDIT:
The pins also lock into a notch to prevent the mirror from rotating once it's installed. In my case the mirror is tight, the pins lock in, but the teeth of the clips aren't fully engaged in their grooves. I can pop the mirror out somewhat easily by pulling down on it, but it's secure enough that I'm not worried about it falling off.

I did try to modify the plate from the OEM mirror to fit on the Accord mirror. That was easy enough, but the pins were a couple mm too short so the mount was too loose. I 3D printed a spacer to make up for the difference, which got me a nice tight fit, but since it covered the tips of the pins there was nothing to prevent the mirror from rotating on the mount. To fix that I'd need to design & print an adapter to go over the Accord mirror's pins and make them long enough with an end that's the right shape to lock into the mount's notches. Since I'm satisfied with my mirror as is I'm not going to trial-and-error any further, but hopefully my findings are helpful to others.

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