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C30 / S40 & V50 '04-'12 / C70 '06-'13 General Forum for the P1-platform C30 / S40 / V50 / C70 models |
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Retrofit rain sensor & auto dim mirrorViews : 2767 Replies : 16Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Aug 29th, 2018, 15:57 | #1 |
V50 2.0D 2009 R-Design
Last Online: Jun 16th, 2021 06:54
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
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Retrofit rain sensor & auto dim mirror
Hi yous,
I am toying with the idea to retrofit a rain sensor and an auto dim mirror in my V50, 2008 2.0D R-Design and as such opening up a can worm 🐛! Can someone shed some light as to how much could it cost? is it possible? Is it worth it? Is there anyone out there who done this? I just dont wanna go and take the car apart and find that the wiring harness is not there. I would not wanna go to that distance. Just not worth the hassle IMHO! Thanks in advance for your input Greg
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Greg, proud owner of a V50 '09 2.0D R-Design Progress thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=286968 XC90- sold | XC70-sold | C30- sold | V70- sold |
Aug 29th, 2018, 16:12 | #2 |
Junior Member
Last Online: Aug 14th, 2021 22:28
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: De Whest of Ireland
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Plenty of threads about installing the auto dim mirror. Just make sure to get the right one a) for the year of you car (pre or post 2008), and b) whether you have a rain sensor or not (2 different wiring harnesses). If you're doing it, you might as well get the one with the digital compass. They're very expensive new, but very reasonable secondhand.
Which leads on to installing the rain sensor. I really doubt it's possible. You won't have the wiring, the button on the stalk and probably won't have the cutout for it in the black part of the windscreen. So even if you managed to get the wiring (which in itself is unlikely), the new stalk (unlikely you have the wiring for the button) and a new windscreen, you won't have the software. I doubt it's even possible to get the software from a main dealer, but even if it was, it would cost hundreds. So even if it was technically possible (which is unlikely), and even with second hand parts (can you get a second hand windscreen? Will insurance pay for a rain sensor one when your car doesn't have it?) it would cost a lot. Which is probably too much to pay for the small convenience of not turning on your wipers yourself. That said, it it a feature I use daily. And when I got my car, it didn't work, as the previous owner replaced the windscreen, and they forgot to fit the clear silicone pad over the sensor. I fitted that bit myself, and it's worked great ever since. But aside from that, I wouldn't have gone to any great effort to get it if the car didn't have it installed already. Last edited by phutyle; Aug 29th, 2018 at 16:22. |
Aug 29th, 2018, 21:19 | #3 |
FCW Auto Service
Last Online: Yesterday 23:31
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Gloucester
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Interesting that you want to fit the rain sensor.
I've had this in previous Volvos yet my current car doesn't have it and I absolutely don't miss it! The fact that when in "rain sensing wipers" mode, the scroll wheel allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor kind of defeats the point in having the sensor in the first place! I would always be adjusting the scroll wheel on the sensor because I could never get it it quite right, at which point you may as well just use the normal intermittent wipers and use the same stalk to adjust the frequency of the swipe. I did have a rain sensor in a Peugeot 406 years back and that (surprising) worked REALLY well, because A) there was no sensor adjustment and B) There was no manual intermittent setting. It was either Wipers OFF or Rain Sensing Wipers ON, or Wipers on full. Volvos system seems like overkill to me. |
Aug 29th, 2018, 21:38 | #4 |
Master Member
Last Online: Mar 14th, 2024 16:24
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Location: South
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Maybe it's just me but I find the Volvo one great.
I did a 3 hour journey on the weekend in all kinds of rain, I just have the adjustment 3 clicks up and leave it on auto, it handles the different speeds spot on for me. Personal preference of course. I wonder how many times they updated the software for it and how much that altered the usage.
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2006 Volvo S40 T5 SE Sport
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Aug 29th, 2018, 21:51 | #5 |
V50 2.0D 2009 R-Design
Last Online: Jun 16th, 2021 06:54
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
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Okay, I guess you kinda answered every of my questions never asked.
I defo think the weakest link in this whole is the windscreen. TBH its a new car for me, never had a V50, and wanna bring it up to my standard. Just kinda measuring up the devil how much it can hurt. Others on my list is the heated seat, auto folding mirrors, and tow bar. these are on top of my list. OH, and to fix that flippin' mic on my BT. for whatever reason does not work. Grr...
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Greg, proud owner of a V50 '09 2.0D R-Design Progress thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=286968 XC90- sold | XC70-sold | C30- sold | V70- sold |
Aug 30th, 2018, 08:46 | #6 |
Senior Member
Last Online: Apr 4th, 2023 19:12
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: London
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I miss rain sensor wipers in my C30 but not enough to buy a new windscreen etc to sort it. Just one of those things you'll eventually get used to not having I guess.
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Aug 30th, 2018, 19:59 | #7 |
V50 2.0D 2009 R-Design
Last Online: Jun 16th, 2021 06:54
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
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True dat!
I reckon I'll have to get used to it too.
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Greg, proud owner of a V50 '09 2.0D R-Design Progress thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=286968 XC90- sold | XC70-sold | C30- sold | V70- sold |
Aug 30th, 2018, 20:51 | #8 | |
It's just a name!
Last Online: Mar 31st, 2024 23:12
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire
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Quote:
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Current: 2015 S80 SE Lux D4 Previous: 2010 C70 2.0 SE Lux, 2004 V40 2.0 Sport Classic Founder member of the X40 In Dash Cup Holder Owners Club 😋 |
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Oct 15th, 2018, 22:22 | #9 |
V50 2.0D 2009 R-Design
Last Online: Jun 16th, 2021 06:54
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
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Funny enough you said that. I need one of those as well. But not even sure as yet if I can! I shall figure it out soon. Is the tow bar prep present in every v50 or should I look for something specific?
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Greg, proud owner of a V50 '09 2.0D R-Design Progress thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=286968 XC90- sold | XC70-sold | C30- sold | V70- sold |
Oct 16th, 2018, 11:32 | #10 |
Premier Member
Last Online: Apr 24th, 2024 19:28
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Location: Glasgow
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With all the stuff you want to add to the car, it might seriously be worth considering selling up and buying a V50 R-Design Lux instead (my SE Lux has all of these gadgets you want). This is probably the cheapest, quickest and most hassle free way to get what you ultimately want.
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2009 S40 SE Lux 2.0i | 2022 Suzuki V-Strom 650 | 2002 Audi TT 225 Previous: C70 Coupe 2.4i | Saab 9-5 Aero | Daihatsu SporTrak |
Tags |
dim, mirror, rain sensor, v50 2.0d automatic |
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