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Lets solve the folding ribbon mirror mystery

149K views 131 replies 29 participants last post by  OURMANDAN 
#1 ·
Okay, here is a picture of my ribbon connector mirror motor installed in the aftermarket folding mirror housings. Everything is connected like stock. The stock ribbon mirror adjust motor has two extra ribbon wires (circled in red). The wires circled in blue are for the fold motor. I'm wondering if these extra ribbon connections are to connect to the fold motor. I have tested them for voltage/ground. and I got nothing. Is there a chance I need to activate the feature in the software? Where do the fold motor wires normally connect to control the folding by the factory fold button? I'm hoping this can be solved once and for all..

Thanks, Will

 
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#48 · (Edited)
I'm about to attempt the same DIY during the winter break. Only I'm ordering my mirrors directly from the UK, and I'm ordering stock OEM power folding mirrors, ECU and the stock OEM switch (about $500 USD for everything)

There is indeed a Power Folding Mirror module that you would need that is usually mounted behind the glovebox;


BMW E46 3 series / Mini folding wing mirror ECU.

GENUINE BMW O.E.M. part.

BMW Part Number; 61.35-8 376 506 -

This is mounted behind glovebox.




I'm sure if your folding mirrors are OEM then your extra ribbon may need to journey to this ECU box in order to get the folding thing to work.

But if you are using aftermarket power folding mirrors, then the OEM ECU would not work for you.

Going from what I read about the famous JDM power folding mirrors that ricers put onto accords, aftermarket mirrors only need a fuse, a toggle style switch and two wires in completeing the circuit between the fuse, switch and motor. The switch is usually like a spring button/toggle switch where you flip the switch either way and it flips back to the original position after the circuit closes for a moment and a pulse goes thru the circuit and starts the motor to turn once in one direction.
When you flip it again the circuit closes again for a moment and the motors turn the opposite way.
That is a laymans explanation of how the motor on the mirrors work on a simple aftermarket circuit. You can get fancy and wire the circuit to other things and modules in the car so you can control the switch via a remote keyfob or what have you. I heard of someone splicing the power folding mirror wire to the alarm blinker lights wires that are already wired to the car's alarm/remote key fob.
That said, those are Hondas and Acuras that use the JDMs and simple circuitry. With BMWs I'm not sure what extra stuff you would need.

Also in terms of the OEM Mirror Switch there is a severe visual difference in the pin input between the power folding and non power folding as you can see in the picture below;
here on the UK originated Power Folding Switch the back is purple and the pin input is I think 6. This simple pin input of 6 further supports that another unit, most likely the ECU behind the glovebox, imust be needed to make the folding motor work.



On the UK originated non-folding switch the back in turquiose and the pin input is 12 or some other number depending on if you have memory. So it may be impossible to connect folding mirrors to a non folding mirror switch; vice versa.

 
#3 ·
maybe for memory function? :dunno:
 
#5 ·
there has to be someone out there that has factory autofold mirrors in a late model e46. Likely someone out of the US. It takes less than a minute to pop the mirror lens out and see where this cable connects. Or someone with access to the wiring diagram for the 2003+ e46 mirrors. My theory is these wires connect to the auto fold motor, but I think you must need to have the software activated or need another control module. Isn't there anyone out there that can help figure this out? These cars have been out 6 years. It's kind of embarrassing that no one has figured this out. I've read countless threads on here about installing the auto fold mirrors and none of them answer the questions I have posted here. With a little help I think we can figure this out. Work with me guys :)

Will
 
#7 ·
Are the wires to heat the glass?

Do you have the switch to fold the mirrors? You have to have that - and there is a "fuse" issue you may need to search and check in to.

Hope that helps a tiny bit...
 
#8 ·
Hi,
Thanks for the input. The wires to heat the glass are actually below in the picture with the larger black connectors. Have the switch and fuse 57. The thing is, there is nowhere in the door to hook up the extra fold motor wires. The only place I can imaging they would connect is to these extra ribbon wires. If anyone has a stock auto fold mirror from an 03-05 they could verify in 30 seconds. But so far, I guess nobody has them. Thanks again for contributing.
 
#10 · (Edited)
well the car (e46) has been out for years, but the ribbon connectors for the newer facelifted cars haven't been around for awhile. even then, no one has attempted to do anything with the ribbons as they are too much trouble.

anyhow, you said that it's your stock mirror motor in the housings right? if you don't have autofold stock, you need the autofold motor (which i think you have) and the switch (which you have) and you may need the module as well. you should check to have all those before continuing
 
#11 · (Edited)
I checked for voltage with the signals, nothing. Did any of the e46 sedans have mirror signals?

Yep, I installed the stock ribbon motors in the aftermarket housings. The fold motors are there, the input wires for the auto fold are circled in blue. I can apply voltage to the wires circled in blue manually to get them to fold and reverse it to get them to unfold.

Is there an seperate module to control the folding mirrors, if so any idea where it is located?

Actually, the ribbon style mirrors have been out since 2003. That's close to 6 years. I think this can be figured out if someone really wants to. Hopefully someone will chime in that has factory auto folds with ribbon connectors. That is the key to figuring this out.
 
#22 ·
Still looking folks.
You can't just hook the fold motor wires directly to the stock switch as it uses data bus signals. The fold motor has to be connected to some type of bus control/interface. I still believe the fold motor connects directly to the extra ribbon connectors on the stock mirror motor. All it will take it one person with stock folding mirrors on an 03-05 to verify this. So far no luck.
 
#24 ·
I'm not sure, but all the work may not be necessary. If I could verify where the stock ribbon mirror auto fold motors plug in, it may be as simply as plugging in a ribbon and turning on the feature in the software. Just can't find a single person in the whole world who has the stock auto fold mirrors on a late model e46.
 
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