Basic Rearview Mirrors vs Upgraded Rearview Mirrors
If you have a broken rearview mirror, take it as a blessing in disguise. This is the perfect opportunity to upgrade or downgrade your rearview mirror. You have so many different options to choose from. If you’re not sure what kind of rearview mirror you want, we can help with that.
Read on to find out what your rearview mirror options are.
What Is A Basic Rearview Mirror?
A basic rearview mirror doesn’t have any electronic features. It only serves one function, and that is to provide visibility behind your vehicle. A basic rearview mirror has several components:
- Mirror housing
- Mirror mount
- Mirror
You’d find basic rearview mirrors on all older vehicles and some newer models.
The Benefits Of Having A Basic Rearview Mirror
Some drivers believe that less is more. Having a basic rearview mirror in your car presents several benefits, including:
- No wiring: you won’t run into any electrical issues with a basic rearview mirror
- Easy removal and installation: you don’t have any wiring to worry about
- Affordability: basic rearview mirrors cost much less than upgraded mirrors
All The Cool Features Upgraded Rearview Mirrors Come With These Days
Some newer cars come loaded with cool features. These features include heated seats, satellite radio, and upgraded rearview mirrors.
What are upgraded rearview mirrors, exactly? An upgraded rearview mirror is has electronic features that improve your driving experience. It's like a basic mirror, but it's wired to the vehicle's electrical system. The most common features found in upgraded Nissan mirrors include:
- Backup camera: Some rearview mirrors come with a built-in LCD monitor. When activated by shifting into reverse, the monitor shows images from the high resolution camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle. It makes backing up the vehicle easier and safer. Some vehicles allow you to use the rear view camera when you're moving forward. This feature allows a much better view behind the vehicle than a standard mirror.
- Garage door opener: If you sync up the rearview mirror with your garage door opener, you can now open the garage with a button on the mirror. This can be made possible if your mirror comes with HomeLink. Mirrors that come with HomeLink also enable you to control your home's entry door locks, security system and lighting.
- Compass: If you're not sure which direction you're going in, you don't need to dig up your smartphone. If your rearview mirror includes a compass, all you need to do is look at it. The compass is usually located in the upper right corner of the mirror. It displays the direction in which you're going: N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, or SE.
- Auto dimming: Some upgraded mirrors come with auto dimming. This feature comes in quite useful when the sun or another vehicle's headlights are shining right into your mirror.
Some upgraded rearview mirrors include all the above features. Others have only some of the features.
One Drawback Of Having An Upgraded Rearview Mirror
The more features a rearview mirror has, the more likely you'll run into technical issues. The good news is as long as you use an OEM replacement unit, you shouldn't worry about this. The likelihood of technical issues is quite low.
Is It Easy To Upgrade Or Downgrade A Nissan Rearview Mirror?
It depends on what your original setup is like. If your Nissan already comes with wiring for the rearview mirror, upgrading or downgrading should be easy. If you want to upgrade, all you need to do is hook up the mirror like you normally would. If you want to downgrade to a basic mirror, you don't need to hook it up to anything.
If your Nissan came with a basic rearview mirror, it's a little harder to upgrade to an electric mirror. Yet, it's still doable. All you need to do is wire it up to the nearest power source, commonly the courtesy lights.
Finding An OEM Nissan Rearview Mirror At Wholesale Pricing
You may feel tempted to get an aftermarket replacement rearview mirror. We say this is a very bad idea. Aftermarket rearview mirrors can have a lot of issues. This comparison guide concludes that OEM mirrors are the much better investment.
Many car owners settle for aftermarket rearview mirrors, though, despite all their faults. It’s because aftermarket mirrors cost less than OEM mirrors. What if we told you that you can get the best of both worlds? We offer genuine OEM Nissan parts at wholesale pricing. We have a large inventory of OEM rearview mirrors for a variety of Nissan models. Check it out here!