Another little mod - dimming driver's door mirror

[Duncan]

Did this little mod the other week. With my car having the auto-dimming interior mirror, the wiring has always been there in the wing mirror for the dimming glass. Simple reason why I haven't done the mod before is that I'm not paying £80-100 for the dimming mirror glass!

Situation arose recently where I could get the glass for peanuts, so I jumped at the chance. Simply a case of removing the original glass from the housing then fitting the dimming glass and connecting up the plugs that were previously unused. Voila! - now have auto-dimming door mirror.

It probably won't get activated much as with having heavy rear tints the interior dimming mirror itself doesn't get activated much these days - and both mirrors work off the same sensor on the interior mirror - but it's there if someone does decide to try and fry my eyeballs with their high beams! lol and it cost next to nothing so made it a no-brainer.

[ed taylor]

Good idea. It would be a popular mod if the mirror was not so expensive.

[lofty]

on my list of to do, but I think I'll need a new housing

[Duncan]

Why's that? You not got the wiring in your folding mirror housings?

[Ian T]

Do you have to have electric folding mirrors to start with Duncan?

I already have the dimming interior mirror

[Duncan]

I don't think you have to have folding mirrors specifically. The standard mirror housings that came on my Elite didn't have the wiring. When I did the folding mirrors mod and changed the housings, the extra plug was in those and the car already had the required wiring to the mirror housing.

When I got the folding mirror housings, I got the parts based on what it said on EPC as being compatible with memory seats and it so happened they were also compatible with the dimming mirror. What I don't know off the top of my head is whether there is a housing that is non-folding that has the dimming glass wiring. I'm pretty sure there must be. I think what you need to check is the number of wires running into the housing from your loom. If it hasn't got the full quota (I'll have to check how many are in mine for you) then you won't be able to use a housing that takes the dimming glass.

You may be lucky - your car may have the wiring loom and a housing with the dimming glass plugs already.

[cameraman]

It was standard on my 06 design, it got knocked off (the casing was damaged not the glass), the bodyshop replaced the whole assembly. Wish I'd have asked for the bits back, as all the laquer is peeling off my new cover & I could have made a few quid on the glass

[Thunder]

What I don't know off the top of my head is whether there is a housing that is non-folding that has the dimming glass wiring. I'm pretty sure there must be.

It looks like Facelift Design & Elite have dimming drivers side mirror with non folding mirrors

[kenp]

humm does that mean id have to check wires in doorloom before id buy the parts for folding/dimming wibg mirror.

[Duncan]

It looks like Facelift Design & Elite have dimming drivers side mirror with non folding mirrors

Yep, you're quite right - so dimming mirror is possible without having to be folding.

humm does that mean id have to check wires in doorloom before id buy the parts for folding/dimming wibg mirror.

Probably be a good idea to.