Lets solve the folding ribbon mirror mystery

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

There must be someone who know what these wires are?

maybe for memory function?

nope, the mirrors have the memory function intact without these wires.

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

I guess the problem is the people who have them don't care to help figure this out. Hopefully there is someone out there who wants to help solve this.

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...

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.

Turn your turn signals on while checking for voltage.

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

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.

i believe there is, but i'm not entirely sure where it's located. looking at the bentley manual, it says there is one and it's located by the asc/dsc unit.

Thanks for checking. Any idea where the asc/dsc unit is? Did you look up for a face lift car?

Anyone else know for sure about the control unit for autofold?

the book is for all e46's, it's just a general guide. as far as i can see there is no mention about ribbon connectors in here since there's not much on the side mirrors.

So the book won't tell me anything concrete since the ribbon cars could be wired completely different. Back to the search. Folding mirrors are an option on 03-05s, right?

yea, but only in europe. it'd have to be a special request over here. you will probably need more specific wiring diagrams from bmw like tis or etk or something

Originally Posted by notslow

So the book won't tell me anything concrete since the ribbon cars could be wired completely different. Back to the search. Folding mirrors are an option on 03-05s, right?

The ribbon, does it go to the mirror switch ? If it does, then we can try to do some wire matching at the plug.

The only wires I need to figure out is the two fold motor wires. The rest are all working. There is just nowhere I can see to connect the fold motor wires. Does anyone know where they hook up on the standard 6 or 12 pin set ups?

On the 6 pin plug there are no folding wires.

On the 12 pin:


Blue & White

6 pin:

A buddy of mine sent me this a while back. I'm not sure this helps but here it goes:

http://www.rlcc.co.uk/stakesuk/carr/mirr/m3mir.htm