Love my 02 XJ8L, VP with all it's whistles and bells. It is the (almost) perfect 'old farts' car! But it galls me that it does not have a compass and my wife's 02 Chrysler minivan does. My inside mirror has a sensor for automatic windsheld wiper action and perhaps other sensors as well. Jag dealer and also my trusted independent Jag mechanic both say trying to retro-fit an 04 mirror (with compass) is too expensive and complicated to be practical. Too much difference in the wiring, etc. Some high-end aftermarket mirrors are a possibility but I haven't found any that will fit on the Jaguar base attached to the windshield. If all else worked, I would gladly give up the rain-sensor wiper system; to me it is just a useless gimic. Has anyone successfully 'upgraded' to add a mirror w/compass? Thanks.

 

Try one from a Lincoln Towncar (an older model '96-'97 - a few bucks at the junk yard) but be advised that the sensor/compass is not built in the mirror (a separate box as big as a pack of cigarettes - make sure you buy the complete system) that you'll have to hide somewhere under the headliner and hook up the wire to the mirror. It is doable but nowadays even the cheapest GPS has a compass...I wouldn't do it (to quote you: it is another "useless gimmick")

 

Well for me giving up the sensor for the wipers would be a no go. Without the sensor you would not have any intermittent wiper function.

The problem you may encounter is that normally the dimming function for the outside mirrors is controlled by the inside review mirror. Although this is a rather standard + - 12v output - you would need to know if the x308 is different. Also, are the mounts for the x308 and the x350 the same -- that would surprise me - And is the compass a separate unit with the mirror being only the display?

I had the same problem with my Porsche Cayenne. Shockingly, the dimming mirror was an option as was the compass and mine did not have it. I tried to go the aftermarket route but could not find one that would allow the factory wiper control to work. I picked one up from a Porsche wrecker and wired it up. While researching I discovered that they all work basically the same way and actually are mostly made by the same US company. So I bet you have all the wires to make it work.

 

meaculpa and yeldogt, thank you both for your kind responses. I will definately go the GPS route and forget the retro-fit. It never occured to me that giving up the sensor would cut out ALL intermittent operationsl And I don't want to mess with my headliner. So my local Jag advisors were correct, weren't they? One of these days I'll probably trade up a few years, get my coveted compass and start worrying about leaking air bag suspension instead. Thanks again!

 

The only way this would work easily is if the x350 mirror has the same mount and the compass electronics are in the mirror.

In my Porsche I was just changing the mirror so I would get the dimming function -- so it only required a few wires. The compass is a separate display in the dash.

What people don't understand is that depending on the features -- the aftermarket units can have many wires going to them. They actually have a wire to the backup light circuit to tell the mirror to turn off the dimming when you place the car in reverse

 

hey guys...i am trying it...i bought an X350 mirror off ebay for $45...can't believe i got one so low, so i'll give it a go and let me know how it goes...i checked the wiring and it looks like i might be able to jerry rig it, and yes, the mount seems like the big unknown...will let you all know how i do...and yes it drives me crazy to, that our cars don't have a compass...my 99 blazer did...

 

PDog, problem solved for $2:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/window-...r-compass-8351

 

It so did not work....the dimming function works different and the mount didn't work...I destroyed my old mirror trying to get it apart so i could get the old mount out so i could gerry rig the x350 mirror to use the x308 mount...

 

Is the rain-sensor for the wipers at least still intact?

Seriously man, you need this for $2.47:
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