[Monkeyman]

Sup, all. My name is Christopher and I just leased a 2019 EX AWD yesterday. I live in western NC (Blue Ridge foothills) but originally hailed from northern IN.

I needed something to replace my 2010 Buick Enclave CXL AWD. (195k miles but looks like 19.5k) I opted for the EX over the EX-L due to the cost but there are some things I'm just "missing" that I had and got very used to in the Enclave. I can do w/o the leather seats as I'll buy some nice sheep skin seats for the front (I'm the only 1 in the house so the rear seats will probably never get used and the front passenger side rarely) but I'm already finding it annoying not having a leather wrapped steering wheel. (No idea why but I don't like it.) I'm also not very happy w/a manual dimming inside rear view mirror. I'll miss a power liftgate but I'll get used to the manual one. Another thing I miss is memory drivers seat. I'm a big guy (6'1"/300#) so I like the seat all the way back/down getting in/out. I know I can manually move the seat when I get in/out then readjust it when I get back in but I have the EXACT position I like now. Nothing I'm going to try to change, just an annoyance. As I drive more, I'm sure there will be other things that I miss although I know no vehicle fits everyone perfectly.

Overall, I really like this. The gas mileage increase is GREAT! (The Enclave gets 11mpg in town and 18mpg on the highway.) I'm also digging the tech/safety features like the ACC and LKAS although I found myself driving about 12mph slower yesterday as I came up on someone slower and didn't think about the ACC. (10 miles later, I realized how slow I was going and passed.) I think the center display looks a bit cheap but it seems to work well. I like the digital gauge cluster/display. I'm finding new info there all the time. Having some minor issues w/Android Auto but that's probably just because I'm not use to it and/or I don't know how it works. No biggie. The auto high beams (never had them before) are a great touch, especially at this price point.

Anyway, I wasn't sure if there was a sub forum to introduce myself and since I had questions, I figured I'd posts here. (Please let me know if I've erred.)


1) How difficult is it to swap out an EX-L/Touring steering wheel? Cost?
2) Can an auto dimming inside rear view mirror be retrofitted? Cost?

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

You can get the Honda accessory heated steering wheel which is also leather wrapped for around $300 and install it yourself, or have the Honda dealer install it.

You can also add the Honda auto dimming review mirror with Homelink, around $250, and install it yourself or have a shop install it for you.

College Hills Honda sells the accessories online at a fair price.

Thanks but I only see a $360 HEATED leather wrapped wheel. I don't need heat. That was one of the 2 options my Enclave doesn't have and I've never felt the need for it. Also, a quick read through the .pdf install manual shows that this (at least the heated version) would be WAY beyond my capabilities. I guess I'll have to check w/the dealer to see what they'd charge for both a non-heated, leather wrapped wheel and installation.

I didn't see a mirror at all.

Welcome to the forum Monk.
As S2k_Duke said you can get the heated steering wheel but I have never seen a non leather version offered. I think short of using a wrap there is not much you can do about the leather.

As for the Auto Dimming rear view mirror I am in the same boat as you. I did buy one and figured out that Pin 1 & 2 are 12Vdc power. I THINK if memory serves that pin 1 was the positive.
The problem is that I cannot get the old one off. I see videos of people pulling them forward on other vehicles while doing a slight twisting motion. I tried that but the force exerted got me worried that the windscreen might shatter or the glued on block would break off the glass. So I basically gave up and made a post like yours but no one seemed to know how to remove the non dimming versions since NA only gets the dimming type.

I have looked from behind and I see no clip or screw but the Auto dimming model does have a single screw. My feeling is that even if you get it off, the holding block on the glass is not the same so you might have to remove it and glue in the correct one. This is only a guess on my part but I just abandoned the idea of finding out because the removal of the old one was getting too risky.


Rob

Unless I can verify that both the manual and automatic dimming mirrors mount the same, I'm out. I'm not replacing an expensive windshield just to get the auto dimming mirror.

Maybe someone else will chime in with more suggestions.

I appreciate both of your responses!

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

Let me add, I just found a brand new leather wrapped wheel on eBay for $75.

Any idea if swapping the wheel itself is as easy as pulling the old one off, swapping the "guts" on the new one and reinstalling?

 

[Monkeyman]

Thanks for the replies, all. I've never really cared for the place on wheel covers. They seem to loosen up with time although maybe the current ones are better.

The price difference between the EX and EX-L is about $2500. If I add $1000 (mirror, steering wheel and sheepskin seat cover), I'm still way ahead and have most things I really feel I need. I couldn't justify the extra money for a power passenger seat (nobody sits there), power tailgate (although it's nice) or memory seats (although that was almost a deal breaker).

I'll see about getting this new leather wheel off eBay and swap it myself. I need more info on the mirror swap. Since it's a lease and there's a chance I may not buy it out (although I probably will), I have to stick w/genuine Honda items and can't cut wires.

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

It appears there's something different between the 17/18 & 19 steering wheels. (There are different selections for the heated wheel.) Is the non heated, leather wrapped wheel identical for all 5th gens? There's 1 on eBay (non heated, leather out of an '18 EX-L. I don't want to be 90% into a swap just to find out the splines are different or something.

 

[Monkeyman]

So, questions. Are the non heated (leather and non leather) wheels the same on ALL 5th gens? And is there any way to plug into something in the overhead console or is it necessary to run wires down to the fuse block for the mirror? Why not use an EX-L/Touring mirror?

 

[Monkeyman]

All CRV steering wheels are black, it doesn't matter what the trim level or interior color.

I wanted homelink and auto dimming. Upper trims use homelink buttons in the overhead console.

No reason why you can't install just the auto dimming mirror if you don't need homelink.

I mispoke. I understand they're all black. (I'm good w/that.) My question is that it looks like the heated steering wheels seem to have different part numbers for the '17/'18 and '19. I wonder if the difference is in the heating part or in the wheel itself. I mean, if the wheel itself (which is what I'm after) is identical from '17-'19 (other than the lack of heating elements), it's all good. I'll get the $75 unit on eBay and do the job myself. If the '19 wheel is different (different number of splines?), that limits my options.

I don't have a garage so I don't care about Homelink. I only care about the auto dimming function. I'm not sure I'm up to runninbg wiring all the way down the A pillar. I was hoping there would be someplace in the overhead console to plug into.

As always, I appreciate everyones help.

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

Seems like I read on this forum that the 19's have a different volume control switch/slider on the left side of the steering wheel. Did a quick search but didn't find it. Perhaps this is why the 19 has a different part number? Just a guess, and based only on a questionable memory of another post.

While I'm sure that's true (my '19 doesn't have the slide feature, only + (up) and - (down)...I was looking forward to the slide thing), the new wheels I'm seeing only come w/the wheel itself (no switches) and are still different part numbers. If I do the work myself, I have to know that everything from my '19 will swap into the '18 wheel and that the wheel itself will mount on the car. (Of course, I'd also need to make sure I didn't need any extra parts.

I'm also sure the '17/'18 switches are a little different because of the volume slider (or lack thereof) and on this '18 Touring (non-heated) wheel for sale (https://www.crvownersclub.com/forum...g-model-brand-new-leather-steering-wheel.html). You can see the Main button is in the middle position where mine is on the left of the 3 buttons. Still, I would swap my controls/wiring to the new leather wrapped wheel. (Just using this as an example.)

This is getting more confusing by the minute. 1/2 tempted to drop the cash ($170) on a new OEM wheel just to make sure I get the right one.

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

Double post. My apologies.

 

[Monkeyman]

I haven't read all 23 posts to date but why didn't you just get the Touring and not deal with the band aids?

I just couldn't justify paying $5000+ more for a few things I either didn't need or want. For a fraction of the upgraded cost of the EX-L, I can have everything I "need" and most of what I "want". I'll buy a set of very good leather or sheepskin seat covers (for the front only/I'm the only one who will be in the car), I'll swap in a genuine Honda leather wrapped steering wheel (not heated as I don't need heat bad enough to pony up the extra few hundred bucks for that) and I'll probably swap in a genuine Honda auto dimming rear view mirror. For $800, I'll have all that I need and most of what I want. Much better than spending $2500 (for the EX-L) for basically the same thing.

I hope that answers your question.

HAGO!
MONK

 

[Monkeyman]

I didn't mean to be nasty. I was just wondering about parts/labor and time lost to get it just how you wanted your car. It seems easier to come from the factory as you wish and have the other non important things to you be available at trade in

I didn't take your post as being nasty. No worries. I have a 3 year lease so however this is/will be set up is what I have to live w/for the next 36 months. What's important to me isn't necessarily what's important to Honda, at least for the masses (i.e. leather bolsters, leather wrapped wheel and auto dimming rear view mirror are important to me). The other vehicle I was looking at was a 2019 Subaru Forester Sport. For the same money, it has the same amenities that the EX-L has. I got a better deal on the Honda so that's what I have. If I had it to do all over, I may very well have gone w/the EX-L trim. Now that I've signed the papers and have almost 100 miles on this, it's mine.

FWIW, even my old 2004 bare bones Chevy Blazer (S10 based) had a leather wrapped steering wheel.

 

[Monkeyman]

I have no plans to swap the wheel, but will apply a wrap.

So, what's a good-great wrap? If I can't find an OEM leather wrapped wheel to swap, I might have to go w/a wrap. The only wrap I'd be interested in is a lace on where the ends tuck under the switches, etc so it looks OEM. As much as I'd hate to spend an entire Saturday wrapping/stitching a wrap, I just can't stand this bare wheel.