Custom (low budget) Homelink Installation

[PACMK02]

I bought a used 2008 Mazda 5 ES (that's kind of a GT minus leather here in Puerto Rico) recently and one of the things I missed from my previous car was the Homelink transmitter. I visited a local dealer and checked the web in order to find a suitable alternative and found the OEM Homelink rearview mirrors but the price always exceeded $250 plus shipping and taxes, kind of pricey in my opinion since I didn't need a compass and didnt think the auto-dimming feature works as well as flipping the little tab behind the mirror. Then I found various forums and saw that a lot of people were installing used homelink transmitters bought via Ebay and that the installation was very simple and straightforward, just connecting the positive and the ground cable to a 12v source, usually the overhead light assembly. I then bought the used transmitter for $30.00 (I bought the more expensive one with rolling codes) and decided to try. And... Voila' in less than 30 minutes I had a homelink transmitter in my car. No more fumbling with remote controls inside the car.
I don't have pic's of the installation process but I'm including 2 to show you how it looks. Imo it looks great, doesn't look out of place and it's much cheaper and easier to install than the rearview mirror. The only thing I was a little affraid of was the small cut I had to do in the headliner but thanks god, I didn't ruined anything.
This is the link I used as reference for my installation. It has pics of the installation process:
http://www.newscionxb.com/135-do-yourself/5729-installing-homelink.html

 

[manualist]

Looks good. It's fun to do stuff to your car. But I wouldn't go that far for a garage remote though - my 2012 has a little cubby/pocket on the left side of the dash, and that's where my remote neatly resides. It's easy to reach and, when it's dead, easy to replace.

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

if you check around on ebay, you can always find homelink mirrors for as cheap as $50. thats the route i took. i actually got mine for like $28 shipped. lol

the reason i did it is i have 7 cars. and swapping garage door openers between whichever car i drive that day gets kind of annoying.

 

[PACMK02]

I also have another remote on that little cubby/pocket that, by the way, fits perfectly. The problem was that I had to store the other remotes in the center console, the glovebox, door pockets, etc... and never found them when i needed them. I also looked for a portable/ battery operated homelink transmitter intended for bikers but was told wasn't manufactured anymore, so that's why i decided to go the used homelink transmitter way. You can bet had I just needed only one garage remote I'd just use the little cubby/pocket.

 

[manualist]

LOL I never thought of it that way. If you have multiple garages to open, then drastic measures need to be taken Or a non-trivial number of cars, as in xxx's case.