I am a new owner of a Subaru 2014 Outback limited edition that has the moonroof package.
I really thought that the rearview mirrot would come with a compass. The sticker said "Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink". Granted it doesn't specifically say "compass". But the one we test drove originally had it; it was also the limited edition.
You are not missing anything. My OB mirror has no compass as well and I miss that feature that was on the car I traded in. I guess they feel we don't need one. The only consolation is that nav system provides a bearing.
First, congratulations on your new Outback. I really miss mine, while it is in the body shop, due to a run-in with a deer.
If you have a moonroof, you cannot have the compass in the rear view mirror. I've been told it has something to do with placement of the compass sensor being where the moonroof goes.
Hopefully Subaru will fix this soon. But meantime, enjoy the other great features on your new Outback.
First, congratulations on your new Outback. I really miss mine, while it is in the body shop, due to a run-in with a deer.
If you have a moonroof, you cannot have the compass in the rear view mirror. I've been told it has something to do with placement of the compass sensor being where the moonroof goes.
Hopefully Subaru will fix this soon. But meantime, enjoy the other great features on your new Outback.
I believe it's a vestige of the old "backup camera in the mirror" option. Before 2014, the Premium edition had the backup camera in the mirror, and the one with compass wasn't compatible. They have since changed it so you can see the backup camera in the radio display, but they might not have updated their preferences to show you can now have the compass with the moonroof option.
From my understanding and I'm still awaiting delivery of mine they decided not to include this because the navy system has a compass.
What I'm wondering what's preventing someone from getting the mirror with compass and installing it? Is the wire harness different? Everywhere I've read it said that it's not compatible.
What's even more strange is that on cars101 under the 2013 outback it said there is a dealer available swap for one with a compass. It's a bit strange really it should just be standard.
Speaking of the compass feature in the Nav system. I only get a heading when I am on surface roads. Once I enter an interstate I no longer know what direction I'm heading (other than of course the general direction of the interstate I'm on). Is this normal for anyone else with the Nav?
I have the auto-dimming mirror with compass option - no moonroof. FWIW, I am disappointed with the compass and am sorry I got it. It displays only the 8 points of the compass (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) ... I had hoped/expected something more granular like actual degrees or every 5 degrees or so. Having a granularity of 45 degrees seems all but useless to me.
Auto-dimming compass mirrors are available as accessories
for all 2014 OB/Legacy trim levels. The "Build Your Own"
dialog on Subaru.com hides that option if you've selected
the moonroof package -- but I'd be very surprised if the
dealer couldn't retrofit one to a car with the moonroof.
If your car is equipped with navigation it will not have the compass mirror because you have a compass on the nav unit. if you dont have a nav unit it should have the compass in the mirror. this is usually how it works unless subaru changed something recently.
I've got a compass in the mirror and I have built in navigation (2011 limited). I've never, ever used the thing, and can't think of a use for it, even if I didn't have the nav. I usually stick to the mountains close to home that I know pretty decently though. Wish I could turn the dang thing off and have it stay off. It turns back on every time you start the car.
Compass was dropped in 2013. My 2012 limited had both a compass and a backup camera in the mirror. My 2013 has Nav but I don't always have it on so I wish I still had the compass.
I suggest to Google Gentex website (OEM supplier of rear view mirrors for Subaru and other fine cars), if you want to "upgrade" your rear view mirror. You can "upgrade" your rear view mirror to whatever you need to have there, as long as the plug works (plug-n-play). Most Subarus are pre-wired; open the map light fixture and fish out the pre-wired plug under the headliner. I have "upgraded" all my rear view mirrors that way (05 Forester and 10 Forester).
The only "extra" wiring you would need is if you want a rear view mirror with outside temp. sensor - than you will have to run wire to the outside of the cabin. All Gentex mirrors come with installation instructions. Some Gentex mirrors come with "wires" so that you can hard wire them to whatever plug you have under the headliner.
Compass sensors are integrated inside the rear view mirror, as Looby posted earlier.
I am in process of upgrading my rear view mirror on my 05 Baja so that I have a compass in there as well as map reading lights (left and right) - not that anybody actually "read" maps anymore but a passenger can read books or illuminate his/her area without distracting the driver since those lights, integrated in rear view mirror, are recessed and therefore, when they are on, they don't distract the driver at night.
There are plenty of Gentex mirrors on Amazon and eBay.
I just bought 2014 Outback Premium with Moonroof Package and Popular Package #3 - it also has auto-dimming mirror with Home Link and no compass. I don't have navigation either.
It doesn't seem like a big deal and I didn't use the compass much on my 11 but I do miss it on my 14. If I didn't have gps going or my phone handy I could at least tell if I was heading in the right direction by looking at the compass on the mirror. So swapping the mirror out with one that has a compass works with no problems? I don't see how having a moonroof affected its operation.
As posted earlier, ANY Subaru OEM rear view dimming mirror with compass and/or home link (manufactured by Gentex) will fit as long as the socket under the headliner is the same and the bracket on the window fits - if bracket doesn't fit, you can buy an adapter - see my previous posts...... I have replaced so far 4 rear view mirrors on various Subarus - Forester, Outback, Baja-Legacy (sunroof/moonroof or not) and they all work fine. Likewise, I have replaced numerous rear view mirrors on other makes as well and I haven't found one that would not fit!
So why did Subaru say the mirror with the compass is incompatible with a moonroof? No doubt the no compass model can be swapped with a compass model but does it work just fine? Im not sure what interference they think will happen to make it incompatible.
The interference is probably from the bean counters. I don't understand why you are expecting Subaru to say it is ok to install a mirror with compass on a moonroof equipped car when they don't make them that way anymore...
It has been posted here previously both, by members as well as vendors, claiming that these mirrors will NOT fit ... I do not know reasons for that.
I do not know, why OEM vendors do not confirm fitment and I don't know, if it really affects any other components or electronics on these cars. I can tell you, from my own experience, that they do fit and I never had any problems. The wiring under the headliner is nowhere near the sunroof/moonroof mechanism and I haven't seen any interference with NAV or any other electronics in cars that I have installed them in.
I suggest for those, who really want them, get them from any OEM Subaru supplier (don't order them for your car but just order them by "part number") or from Amazon and try them. Just don't get or order parts that are non-returnable!
Subaruonlineparts, subarugenuineparts, subaruparts4you (and many others) all confirmed to me, via email, that these have to be ordered not for your specific model (or VIN) but as P/N; skip the section, where it asks you for your model/year Subaru or VIN number...if you put VIN number or your model/year you may get an error message that mirror will not fit.
It works like a breeze, if you do it as described above.
I used to keep the old ones but I couldn't sell them afterwards - I tried on eBay and Amazon but never got any "bites" - so now, when I replace a rear view mirror, I just "chuck" the old one...LOL