I live in Dallas Texas, anyone know where can I retrofit the clearsight rear view mirror beside the dealer?

 

I'm not aware of any dealer offering this service, as they aren't willing to go and change the CCF (car configuration files) files. You're better off doing it yourself (it is a fairly easy job) or finding an indy shop that is willing to install the parts. There are a few companies out there that do remote activations, or you can buy a GAP tool to change the CCF files. You can't just install the Clearsight mirror and turn it on and it will work. The CCF files need to be changed for it to work.

 

DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Mirror Clearsight retrofit

If you follow this link it gives great instructions and part numbers for what you need. I got the parts off ebay and it only cost me £500 and a couple hours to do.

 

Since you say you are in Dallas, just be sure to get the North American spec #'s for the antenna/camera/sharkfin part number. It is different and make sure you don't wind up with an EU spec. Not sure how much of a pain it would be but I'm pretty pessimistic that it won't work (or won't be as easy).

 

Before you go through the trouble and pay for it, I'd encourage you to maybe Turo (rent) a Defender with one and drive it at night and inclement weather for a few days. Not to start a Clearsight debate, but I never use mine - I have found it useless and it points up too high to be of any use to really be helpful. It's definitely not a substitute for the backup camera (which of course, you also already have --even when you angle the clearsight camera all the way down, it has a function for a digital movement).

I also find the eye adjustment (change in focal length ??) from looking out to the screen and back out the windows and back at the screen again to be more difficult than it's worth (I'm in my 40's) - something to consider if you have eyesight like mine.

To me, it's a neat idea that is poorly implemented. But -- others disagree.

 

I like my Clearsight mirror, but... couple gripes:
1) while the camera angle IS adjustable, I feel like it doesnt lower enough. It's fine on highways when you want to see distances, but around town or in my driveway, I'd like to be able to see a bit lower/closer to the ground. For example, when parked at a red-light, I only see the roof of the car behind me. I'd prefer to be able to see thier windshield/face...
2) you can easily flip a **** to turn off the screen and use it like a traditional rearview mirror, but then you need to change the mirror angle. As a digital screen I want it to face me more "straight-on", but as a mirror it must be angled more "away" in order to poiint out the back of the car.
3) I used to use my mirror to occasionally glance at people in the backseat, like when talking or if you have as kid. Or even to look at myself - check my hair, something in my teeth, etc... But you cannot do that with Clearview. Takes some getting used to.

I do think it's cool, but not sure it's "better."

 

The term is accommodation
Spot on.

Counterpoint, though - these days, a lot of people have a Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS in short; no single good explanation, search for yourself). One particular reason for it is prolonged staring at screens without changing accommodation. This leads to losing ability to accommodate (dead ringer: if you need at least progressive or bifocals, and/or more than one pair of eyeglasses to exist). This camera offers a good chance to practice accommodation - while painful and slow, it's an exercise anyway, and it's exactly the kind of exercise people with CVS get prescribed with.

And another thing - while the camera is on, the mirror/display unit does catch some outside glare, it's more noticeable than in the mirror mode.

 

I do use mine all the time, especially in the early morning or at night - really when its super dark outside. Being that the 130 is much longer and the tinted back window, I sometimes can't see anything at all. I'm super happy that I opted for it and do use it all the time. I do agree with the accommodation aspect. It does take me a few secs to readjust and figure out what I'm looking at and focusing on. But I haven't had to change the angle of the rearview mirror at all. again, it's all personal preferences and what one gets used to.

 

It's a little off-topic, but since others have chimed in, here's my 2 cents on the clearsight debate:

I was skeptical and did not like it during my test drive (the first time I used a camera "mirror"), but I ordered mine with it anyway as a safety measure. I'm very glad I did!

The camera and display system is sharp and fast. During the day it is almost like an analog mirror, though one that is unobstructed and wide-angle (which is useful!). At night, the view is like there's a thick fog everywhere, and lights and objects get fuzzy, but it's still much brighter and more informative than a mirror peering into semi-obstructed darkness.

Yes, it's weird to see half of a car disappear behind you if they pull right up, and I too wish it had a bit more downward flexibility, but I got over that after a week or two.

As for eye accommodation, namely switching between looking far away to close-up at the mirror: I think at first nearly everyone finds having to refocus at it a slightly-disturbing nuisance, and my eyes aren't perfect anyway. But again, after a week or two, my eyes simply knew what to do, automatically, and it completely stopped being an issue.

You can flip the screen to turn it into a normal mirror, but two caveats: First, it is darker than a plain mirror due to the half-silvered glass (the LCD has to project through the mirror). Second, after you are used to the camera and screen, you will recoil at the mirror's very dark (at night), tunnel-vision-narrow, considerably-obstructed view, and I'd wager that you will immediately flip the mirror right back to the camera with a sense of relief!

 

@Hieu Nguyen - If you want to DIY, here's a Link of another option. I just aftermarket added my own. It's effectively a dashcam that's a rearview mirror with a rear camera. Works for me. Has all the benefits and limits of the OEM version without the price. It is a redneck install so ymmv. There has been a lot of pros/cons posted re: the mirrors. If you want a sample, here was a longer thread a while ago - Link. Some love it. Some hate it. Some are meh. Like most features in life. Me: It's great when it works, not when it doesn't. Mine has the typical problem at night where it doesn't function as well as a trad mirror. So, like many, when I need a trad mirror: I just hit a button and turn off the digital display and back to "old school" I go.

Good luck with choosing what works for you.