[i3illol]

Hi guys,

I sincerely need your help on my M3 mirror retrofit. I know this is not the most popular mod, and I've searched the whole forum, couldn't find ppl with same situation that I am currently experiencing right now.

Here's the story:
I bought these M3 e90 mirror kit from a ebay seller: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BM...:X:RTQ:GB:1123
They are brand new OEM mirror bodies. The listing says the mirror body is "NOT electric folding type", I didn't mind cause my car doesn't comes with this function anyway. So I confirmed with the seller if these ones are for RHD cars, the seller then confirmed that, fast reply and even offered me a discount. Then I paid the money, and a week later I got the mirror assemblies.

Here comes the problem, when I try to install them on my car, I realise there's no motors in them. I double checked with my mechanics earlier today, and there's NO MOTORS AT ALL. And then we tried to reuse my old motors from my none-M mirrors, but it seems they won't fit. Now I cannot adjust mirror angles by the switch panel on the driver's door, I have to adjust them with my hand... I mean come on even my neighbor's toyota yaris has electrical adjustment mirrors!

My questions are:
Is this normal for the none fold-in mirror bodies? Where can I buy these motors to work with e90 m3 wing mirrors? Or can I re-use the motors in my none M mirrors, does it requires rewiring etc.?

Btw my car is a 2010 e90 LCI model, with none fold-in mirrors.

Any help will be much appreciated!

[1QuikWS6]

Well, that pic on ebay is kinda blurry - but it looks as if the mirror glass motors are there - they are part of that round thingy in center of mirror that the glass pops on to. You can't have that without also having the mirror motor, they are 1 piece.

I retrofitted non power folding M3 mirrors (new from BMW) on my E92 & actually HAD to swap over my existing glass motors in to the new mirrors as the electrical connectors were different than mine and would not plug in. It was an EZ swap as there is only (1) screw holding the motors in. Hardest part was threading the wire down thru the mirror stem.

More than likely, the reason they are not working is because the electrical setup/connector is incorrect for your car. Cheapest route is to swap in your mirror glass motors as I did. You can also buy new motors from BMW (Tischer or BMWParts4U forum vendors), or used from ebay.

If you go the route of buying new - you must make sure you are buying motors that have the same features as the ones on your car. Most importantly, if your car does NOT have mirror memory feature - don't buy motors that do - they have different wiring & number of pins in connector, plus the wires are switched around in the connector from what you need.

More than likely, the mirrors you bought have the memory feature & your car doesn't. M3 mirrors all come WITH the Memory motors AFAIK. I knew this going in to the swap & totally planned on just swapping motors since my car does not have memory mirror feature.


By plugging the part number they supplied in the auction (if it is correct) these are RHD Heated/Memory E90 M3 mirrors:

RealOEM.com Home
Part 51168041933 (Outside mirror heated with memory, left) was found on the following E90 vehicles:
E90 M3 Sedan, S65, Europe RHD (VA91) : M Outside mirror
E90 M3 Sedan, S65, Europe, RHD (VA92) : M Outside mirror



I only searched on the part number for the left side, but other P/N listed is right side.

Item #6 in the diagram is the glass motor - as you can see, the part that holds the glass is integral to the motor.

I'm gonna guess your car did not have Memory Mirrors - these mirrors DO. Not gonna work on your car till you swap in your motors.


You needed to do your research before you just went out & bought the mirrors so you knew exactly all that is involved. - this actually IS a popular mod for non-M cars here in U.S. - there are numerous threads on the forum about the swap.

Unfortunately, not very many 'upgrades' or swaps on BMW between models, or with different functions, are simply PnP


So remove the motors from the new mirrors (look like item #6) & the wiring harness that goes to them thru the mirror stem to the connector at triangle mount. Replace with your motors & wiring harness, and all should be fine...

[ptpending]

actually, it is better to rewire car for these new mirror, because you get memory function and passenger mirror will move down when rear gear engaged
to prove this your new mirrors have 3-pin connector to door and your old mirrors have 5-pin
you need to bring LIN bus signal from window switch on driver side and bring LIN bus from JBE on passenger side

[1QuikWS6]

actually, it is better to rewire car for these new mirror, because you get memory function and passenger mirror will move down when rear gear engaged
to prove this your new mirrors have 3-pin connector to door and your old mirrors have 5-pin you need to bring LIN bus signal from window switch on driver side and bring LIN bus from JBE on passenger side

I didn't even want to get started (or mention) that, since he's having problems just getting the glass to adjust...

[i3illol]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I didn't even want to get started (or mention) that, since he's having problems just getting the glass to adjust...

Thanks man, for the very detailed info. I asked seller about it, and he replied that these mirrors are not come with motors. So that's confirmed. but tbh for a $900AUD, I thought it should have come with the whole deal..

You are right about my car, it doesn't come with memory seats/mirrors. I do have done some research before, I know it could be a lot of efforts for cars like mine to retrofit the auto fold-in function and auto dipping like @ptpending mentioned. Those are very cool functions to have, but I was simply want the look, so I thought it should be pnp.

Not enough research apparently lol

Thanks again for your help, I'll have a look into it next monday try to swap the old motors into the new mirrors and threading the wire down through the mirror stem like you suggested. altho is there a DIY guide I can use as a reference?

[ptpending]

the mirror assemblies you've got(according part numbers) already have memory function and motors but have another type of the connection (LIN-bus) instead of direct switch control
so he can not adjust glass because of this
if car will be rewired as i said before and coded memory option they will work

[i3illol]

Hi just wanted to say thanks for you guys's contribute in. Here's a quick update:

The mirror assemblies have no motors in them, that's like triple confirmed.

Now I have 2 options:

1. The ebay seller offered me 90GBP for each M3 mirror motor, free shipping from UK to Australia. Should I take this offer? Since I'm gonna need to rewire the car, shoud I just order the motor that has auto fold-in function?

2.Or simply just re-use my old motor and rewire the wiring on the mirrors.

------------------------------------
So to sum up,

The car: My car has no memory function neither auto fold-in function, but it has auto dimming function in the rear view mirror.

The options: I realize either way, I have to do some wiring job.
1.If I got the M3 motors for the mirrors, I'll have to rewire the car, then I'll hv all extra functions, i.e. auto dimming at night (if the glasses are the dimming ones), and auto dipping and when reversing etc.
2.Or if I reuse my old motors, I'll have to rewire the motor to fit the mirror, and I'll only have the basic electrical adjusting function.

Am I missing something here? Also can you please provide me some DIY guide on the wiring, if there's any? I tried to search the forum, but didn't find anything helpful on wiring matters.

Cheers

[ptpending]

we might speak about different motors
there are two:
motor built-in in mirror skeleton, to which mirror color cover and black frame attached - does mirror fold-in, motor not removable
two motors built-in mirror electric regulation assembly, such round plastic assembly to which mirror glass attached, removable part
memory function is part of second motor assembly with LIN bus, default on M3 mirrors

[i3illol]

Originally Posted by ptpending

we might speak about different motors
there are two:
motor built-in in mirror skeleton, to which mirror color cover and black frame attached - does mirror fold-in, motor not removable
two motors built-in mirror electric regulation assembly, such round plastic assembly to which mirror glass attached, removable part
memory function is part of second motor assembly with LIN bus, default on M3 mirrors

Okay understand. That explained a lot, thanks man. Altho I'm not with my car this weekend, will hv a close look when i got back Monday.