DIY: Disable Compass Rearview Mirror (Auto-dimming Mirror)
 

This is for anyone that hates the compass feature. Every time I start the car I have to turn off the compass because it annoys me.

Step 1: Remove the mirror with a T20 Torx bit. Slide the base up towards the ceiling. Disconnect the connector behind the mirror.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps7da287b9.jpg

This is what you're working with. You will need a plastic pry bar or something similar to open the casing without damaging it. I think I got mine at harbor freight.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps817888b5.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps61bf8ba1.jpg

Step 2: Pinch the top and bottom of the casing near the side with your fingers and slide the plastic pry bar into the side of the casing. You need to get it in about ¼ inch and then proceed to slide the pry bar around working your way around the top of the mirror across to the other side and down to the bottom. Work on the bottom portion last as it is more secure there. ***You DO NOT need to twist or pry the plastic, just slide the pry bar around the edge about ¼ inch deep***

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps2c6002a4.jpg

Now you can lift the housing off:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps90ac76bd.jpg

This shows all the brackets around the edge:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...psf73a48f9.jpg

Step 3: Flip the mirror over and the internal parts should fall out of the housing. On the back of the circuit board you will see a positive and negative cable attached to posts. I disconnected these by sliding them up with the plastic pry bar.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfc488dae.jpg

Step 4: Separate all parts.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps42265f62.jpg

Here is the Compass Display:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps9d272c05.jpg

Step 5: Cover the Compass Display with electrical tape so you don't have to mess with the any of the circuits and it can easily be reversed. ***If you want to protect the display from the sticky electrical tape, cut a piece of paper the size of the display and put it between the tape and the display.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...psdfae63cd.jpg

Step 6: Reverse order and put it back together. Enjoy not have a Compass in your peripheral vision and reflecting off the dome light.

Thanks for making it so simple to disable, Subaru!

I have a standard mirror, just wondering what makes it so annoying?

It's annoying to me because I can't stand the red light in my peripheral vision and it reflects off the map lights above it making it double up. It's really just personal preference. I also don't need a stupid little compass to tell me which direction I'm heading.

Never bothered me, but kudos.!

If anything, now people know how to open the mirror up. That's why I put the tutorial together anyway. I couldn't find anything on opening it up.

Thanks for the images. Might be helpful if and when I decide to look into putting my radar display into the mirror.

The only comment I have is to be cautious of handling circuit boards on or near a carpet/rug. My friend fried his motherboard from the static buildup from his rug.

You must have an excellent sense of direction! Are you part carrier pigeon?

Well, I'm not out 4x4ing my BRZ. When you live somewhere for 30+ years you kinda know where you're going. Thanks for your concern though.

why would this annoy anyone?

Are you just trying to get your post count up?

That's a lot of trouble for a red light. Must be really annoying.

Yup, highly annoying and nope, not much trouble at all. Probably take about five minutes out of your day.

Gotcha. I am going to buy an autodimming mirror from SubaruPartsOnline. Was going to get the one with compass built in only because it has the Homelink. Good to know it can be easily disabled.

Yes. Can you make your next DIY write up about disabling the speedometer. I hate being able to see how fast I'm going.

Grow Up. If you don't find this DIY helpful then move on. It's not only meant for hiding the compass, but a general tutorial on how to get it open without damaging it. This could be useful if people are trying to get it open for power for an aftermarket radar detector or anything else they might want to do. I apologize for trying to be helpful.

***Any further contact just PM me so this thread can remain helpful and not filled with useless banter. Thank You for your cooperation in this matter***

This is an awesome teardown guide, but does anyone have more detailed shots of the board? I wanted to do this but take it a step further: add a little micro controller that "presses" the compass button a second after power-up. I figure there must be convenient places to tack to +V (5 or 3.3 I'm guessing), gnd, and the button's sense line, which I'm guessing has a pull-up.

I too was annoyed by the reflection of the compass letters in the dome light. I followed the instructions here for my 2018 BRZ and it worked perfectly.
Some variations (perhaps the mirror is slightly different in my later year?) - the mirror connector is not accessible until you open the mirror housing, so I worked to open the housing while the mirror is in the car and still connected to the glass (i.e. didn't remove the Torx screw). I used 3 layers of black construction paper - just cut out small rectangles that fit into the mirror side rubber shroud around the compass display (you'll easily see it once the mirror is open).
The biggest challenge is getting the housing started - once you pop the first clip, the rest are much easier. I did use some mild prying/twisting force on the plastic picks, and don't forget the clips around the buttons (the housing will almost open, but you have to unclip those clips properly as well).