Hi, I've got a 2007 Octavia vRS TDi and was wondering how easy is it to retrofit the maxidot display, a self dimming rear view mirror and those little rear view camera kits off eBay. Mines got the Columbus nav in it so I don't know if that makes any difference with the maxidot and I am assuming, weather it be rightly or wrongly that I can get one of those little cameras that go into where the rear number lights are to work? There are lots of golf rear view dimming mirrors on eBay too, just not sure how they would be wired in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The auto dimming rear mirror is a pain if you don't have the automatic wiper/daylight sensor pod stuck to the screen, you either get both or neither on UK Octavias.

I was lucky with my Superb, it had the sensor pod but not the dimming mirror (crazy UK spec!). I fitted a mirror to the existing mirror mount and routed the cables through the pod and up inside the plastic tube from the pod to the roof lining etc etc.

The wiring actually runs through the ball joint at the back of the mirror via a 6 pin plug. The connections are fairly straightforward, if you know the pin numbering you just run a 12v supply from the correct (ignition switched) fuse in the dash box and a ground to the chassis. There are additional wires to cut the dimming if the interior light or reversing lights are activated but they aren't critical to the operation of the mirror.

If you can suss out how to actually fit a dimming mirror to the car it is easy to wire up.

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Self dimming mirror - I asked about this the other week and as dstev2000 says, if your car doesn't have the light sensor, its a real pain the neck, both physically and financially.

Maxidot - few threads about this and it seems relatively easily done.

Camera too - few threads about this. Not sure how compatible it is with the Columbus. The threads I've seen have been using non-OEM head units.

Dimming rear mirror, probably not worth it if you don't have auto lights/wipers, the maxidot is a dash pod change, Shark can do that, I know they have done a few in the past. The camera in the Columbus is possible, I have thought about it, useful when backing up to caravan. I think that is a case of camera where mumber plate light is, a controller and plugging it into the Columbus, I'm not sure if you need to code the car for the camera but pretty sure you need to for the maxidot to integrate with the car and Columbus.

Ian

Edited 31 December, 201213 yr by countryboy