OEM M3 mirrors with power autofold for convertible... Help me please

[sna77]

Hi all...

For my winter project, I want to retrofit M3 mirrors that will autofold... I have an 06 convertible so I think I have ribbon cables that need to be converted or something...

I swapped mirrors out on my sedan ages ago. I think I had to buy European mirrors, a new button for inside the car, and then have someone program the car to have some option in the VO.... Can't find my old notes, and that was for a sedan anyhow...

Would love some help, thanks!

Here's the cabrio btw:37473

[RUS_ZHP]

Talk to Charlie (cakM3) he did multiple conversion. He recently did auto-fold mirrors on his M3.

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[sna77]

Talk to Charlie (cakM3) he did multiple conversion. He recently did auto-fold mirrors on his M3.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Charlie has done conversions for sedan. I think the specific part I need help with is the ribbon cable conversion (my ZHP has ribbon connectors, M3 mirrors do not)....

[RUS_ZHP]

Charlie has done conversions for sedan. I think the specific part I need help with is the ribbon cable conversion (my ZHP has ribbon connectors, M3 mirrors do not)....I am pretty sure he did that on his Imola zhp as well and he is definitely planning to install M3 mirrors on his current mystic zhp.

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[sna77]

I am pretty sure he did that on his Imola zhp as well and he is definitely planning to install M3 mirrors on his current mystic zhp.

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Awesome, thanks. Paging @cakm3! ;)

[sna77]

From my research... Using OEM parts, this is what I THINK need so far:

Mirror housing:

For vehicles with Fold-in outside mirror S313A=Yes
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BR91-EUR-08-2006-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=51_4233

51167893567 Left primed exterior heatable mirror
51167893568 Right primed exterior heatable mirror

Mirror motors - DO THESE COME WITH MIRRORS OR NEED TO BUY SEPERATELY??
51167895275 Actuator left
51167895276 Actuator right

Mirror glass (OEM Euro)
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BR91-EUR-08-2006-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=51_4319

51167145267 Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, left
51167145268 Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, right


Power switch:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BR91-EUR-08-2006-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=61_1062#61316901383

61316901383 For vehicles with Fold-in outside mirror and Seat adjuster, electric, with memory: Switch f mirror adjust./fldng bck funct.

[sna77]

Found some useful links:

Charlie's install:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?9723-Retrofit-OEM-M3-side-mirrors-doityourself

My old sedan install:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7026-Retrofitting-sedan-power-autofold-mirrors-DIY-(although-stuck-on-programming

Terra converting M3 mirrors to power:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7122-DIY-Converting-Manual-folding-M3-Mirrors-into-Power-Folding-No-56K

[cakM3]

Steve,

I can help you do your M3 side mirror retrofit to your vert. I have done this to a vert in the Boston area (a white one) several years back... it is not as hard to do as the sedan retrofit.

The side mirror baseplates do not need to be modded. They are a direct bolt on for verts, that is the good news. What you will need to do is transfer your mirror motors from your OE side mirrors into the M3 mirror housings. Fortunately Sergy has the side mirror base plates you will need to help you make the conversion so that you can mount your OE mirror motors on to them.

I helped Sergy do his OEM M3 side mirror retrofit to his touring using his 3D-printed mirror motor base plates into his M3 mirror housings and they came out perfect. This is all you will need for your conversion.

We can talk more in detail when you call me later today. :thumbsup

As Sergy has said earlier, I will be doing this retrofit to my sedan once I have my side mirror baseplates modded and the mirror housings/baseplates painted.


Oh.... one thing more... the cables that are on the Vert aren't the same ribbon style cables you see in the ZHP sedans... they look to be much more durable than the sedan ones are...



You will need the following to do your M3 auto fold side mirror retrofit:

- Power switch: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BR91-EUR-08-2006-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=61_1062#61316901383

- Side Mirrors: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BR91-EUR-08-2006-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=51_4319
51167145267 Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, left
51167145268 Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, right

- Mirror motors - these do not come with mirrors but you have to verify when ordering
51167895275 Actuator left
51167895276 Actuator right

- Then you have to have the VO changed so that you have auto fold. I have a friend who can easily do this for you Steve :thumbsup

As for wiring up the auto fold motors (blue and white wires) I am not sure where to hook them up to verts and sedans so this is something I intend to pick your brains on when I am ready to do my auto fold side mirrors...the rest I can help you do. :thumbsup

[sna77]

Steve,

I What you will need to do is transfer your mirror motors from your OE side mirrors into the M3 mirror housings.
I helped Sergy do his OEM M3 side mirror retrofit to his touring using his 3D-printed mirror motor base plates into his M3 mirror housings and they came out perfect. This is all you will need for your conversion.


OK--So I actually don't have anything yet--no mirror motors in my current car etc. I need to source everything now. :)

1. M3 mirrors (and paint them)
2. Mirror glass
3. Mirror motors (acutaters)
4. power switch
5. program car

Will call you tonight!

[cakM3]

I priced OEM Auto Fold M3 side mirrors and at $1600 just to have OEM I don't feel it is worth the coin so I was able to source OEM M3 manual side mirrors for $350 from a friend of mine to convert instead.


OEM M3 auto fold side mirrors:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Genuine-M3-Side-Mirror-Power-Autofold-Retrofit-Upgrade-Package-OEM/201814188455?fits=Model%3AM3%7CMake%3ABMW&hash=item2efd1021a7:g:XMUAAOxyGxxSKOnS


For my M3 what I did instead was get an M3 rep (aka M5 style side mirror) auto fold mirror for around $200 with $45 shipping and pulled the auto fold motor from the mirror arm and transplanted them into my M3 manual mirror arm to get the auto fold functionality. From there it was just plug and play and I now have auto folding side mirrors on my M3.

Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Coupe-1998-Auto-Folding-Mirrors-M5-Style/283663923121?hash=item420baff7b1:g:bQQAAOSw3xJVXco L


I don't know about you Steve but to have auto fold functionality where you can program the car so you can use your key fob to auto fold your side mirrors just like factory and spend $200 + shipping to do this... I would go this route rather than spend $1600 just to have this functionality... just my opinion.

Call me tonight and we will discuss this in more detail. :thumbsup

[sna77]

I priced OEM Auto Fold M3 side mirrors and at $1600 just to have OEM I don't feel it is worth the coin so I was able to source OEM M3 manual side mirrors for $350 from a friend of mine to convert instead.


OEM M3 auto fold side mirrors:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Genuine-M3-Side-Mirror-Power-Autofold-Retrofit-Upgrade-Package-OEM/201814188455?fits=Model%3AM3%7CMake%3ABMW&hash=item2efd1021a7:g:XMUAAOxyGxxSKOnS


For my M3 what I did instead was get an M3 rep (aka M5 style side mirror) auto fold mirror for around $200 with $45 shipping and pulled the auto fold motor from the mirror arm and transplanted them into my M3 manual mirror arm to get the auto fold functionality. From there it was just plug and play and I now have auto folding side mirrors on my M3.

Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Coupe-1998-Auto-Folding-Mirrors-M5-Style/283663923121?hash=item420baff7b1:g:bQQAAOSw3xJVXco L


I don't know about you Steve but to have auto fold functionality where you can program the car so you can use your key fob to auto fold your side mirrors just like factory and spend $200 + shipping to do this... I would go this route rather than spend $1600 just to have this functionality... just my opinion.

Call me tonight and we will discuss this in more detail. :thumbsup

I'm thinking of sourcing used from ebay UK etc..

The Euro ones should be power:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Series-E46-M3-1998-05-Titan-Silver-N-S-Passenger-Electric-Door-Wing-Mirror/164391158905?epid=17026062272&hash=item26467a0479:g:5P0AAOSwLeZfZgq-

[RUS_ZHP]

Charlie, I am glad you chimed in. You are definitely experienced with it.

Steve,
This is the pictures from this past July, where Charlie helped me to install mirrors and modify doors on my touring.
I purchased them from another member, who did a motors swap.
I just need to paint them and modify doors my car.

Charlie, how come I didn't find any pictures of you working on my mirrors-:)))) There are somewhere. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201118/4621a097782aec7ede99c1e6f27f0c32.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201118/a4f5e5b20c2ebc56ced96aa3bc5021f2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201118/1280170675ddfe2c6850003e2736ba91.jpg

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[RUS_ZHP]

One more thing. This is the mirrors glass that I went with. They are cheap Ebay parts, but for the money, they works fine for me.
Not sure if this helps. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201118/d5eb027501e3137f542737355ae7f562.jpg

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[sna77]

Thanks guys... Spoke with Charlie--he's the best. We've got a game plan!

[cakM3]

I will be updating my DIY to include installing OEM M3 side mirrors and updating them into auto folding mirrors for Verts...pictures will be taken throughout the process when I help Steve install his set on his ZHP :drevil

[cakM3]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201119/cf4c97c14dadbcb9e85de0823f874a54.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201119/1562d5e527389a408e4c90076bb5ec21.png

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201119/a1811ec7eae5df36c94daf6fbb14cda9.png

This was the result of installing OEM M3 side mirrors on Sergy’s touring in July. At the time Sergy was not sure we would have enough time to install them and since Botond was there to take care of any coding needed I said let’s do this and off we went. The car looked so much better with the MTEC II bumpers and OEM M3 side mirrors. Gave this beautiful Touring a more aggressive and sporty look.

I know Steve’s vert will look awesome when we are done installing OEM M3 side mirrors to his summer ride[emoji57]


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[sna77]

Game plan:

1. OEM Used US-spec M3 mirrors (paint them)
2. OEM Euro Mirror glass: 51167145267 & 51167145268
3. OEM power switch (purple back): 61316901383
4. Mirror motors from eBay m5 replica mirrors --> transplant to the OEM m3 mirrors
5. 3D printed bases -- they line up the OEM M3 mirror mounts with the eBay rep motors
6. Program car: allow mirrors to both flip with button and remote key...

I think anyhow lol

[cakM3]

Today I worked on Steve’s OEM M3 side mirrors for his upcoming project and set up the mirror motor base plates that will be going into his OEM M3 mirror housings.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/0cf18c6c32084379fdf306243a2145c7.jpg
I did some trimming of the posts before mounting a set of Sergy’s 3D mirror motor base plates [emoji41]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/4cf4173af81e9a00a71e4ea0b732546c.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/d022f57a17994c6c53956958e61caf5b.jpg

Then I proceeded to reinstall everything for the trip to Steve’s place in the morning where I will take everything apart again to transplant in the autofold motors he has so I can transform these OEM M3 side mirrors into true auto folding M3 side mirrors[emoji41]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/3fb950dd792a27405437552a5f2acaa5.jpg

Driver’s side done... found a broken wire on one of the heating wires so I gave this wire a proper fix. :)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/e64572913a582ba010c9e4653bb5efa7.jpg

Then the passenger’s side
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/d8bfd14f11d3531ae43edd0f00eacc68.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201121/c350503c1a170d2591c80b93a096e370.jpg

Sergy’s mirror motor base plates really help the retrofit process here and since I helped Sergy do his retrofit in July, I know these base plates will work out perfectly[emoji41]

There is still more work involved before Steve’s retrofit is completed but progress is being made towards installing this on his ZHP[emoji57]

This is something that ZHPs should have gotten from the factory in my opinion and something I am happy to help correct in a friend's car. It will add to the look and in the end it's about friends helping each other out. :thumbsup


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[cakM3]

Thanks to Shawn, I have a solid idea what I need to do to wire in the auto fold motors so everything will work when plugged in. This is the only thing that stopped me from doing the auto fold on my first ZHP... I now know how to do this so my current ZHP will also be getting auto folding functionality just like what Steve's ZHP is about to get...

[cakM3]

The power fold mirror motors have been removed from the M3 rep mirrors and transplanted over to the OEM M3 mirrors... the base plates and mirror housings have been removed so they can be sent to paint. When Steve has everything together he will contact me and I will stop by with additional connector plugs and wiring to complete the power fold motor connections when we put everything back together....

[johnrando]

Good stuff!

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[sna77]

The power fold mirror motors have been removed from the M3 rep mirrors and transplanted over to the OEM M3 mirrors... the base plates and mirror housings have been removed so they can be sent to paint. When Steve has everything together he will contact me and I will stop by with additional connector plugs and wiring to complete the power fold motor connections when we put everything back together....

I took the OEM M3 baseplates and shells, cleaned them thoroughly (dirt in cracks etc), and dropped them off at the body shop this morning to be painted)... Let's see what comes in first--painted mirrors or the Euro lenses and power switch from Germany...

[cakM3]

Seriously looking forward to completing this project with you Steve :cool We will detail this process with lots of pictures for the vert crowd... you guys who own verts and want to do this don't realize just how easy this is to do... Us sedan/touring owners have to mod our baseplates and drill additional holes into our doors to make this work.

[cakM3]

There will be movement on Steve's OEM M3 side mirror retrofit project now that everything is ready to put together and set up...

[sna77]

There will be movement on Steve's OEM M3 side mirror retrofit project now that everything is ready to put together and set up...

There sure was! Thans to @cakM3 the mirrors are on! We still need to figure out the rest of the power fold, but for now the mirrors are on and look perfect

37622

37623

[cakM3]

Looks perfect Steve! Like I said yesterday, this is something that BMW should have done to further separate the Performance Package option 3-series from the others. I'm glad to have helped make this correction to your ZHP Vert :cool

[johnrando]

:LIKE

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[Will]

@sna77, that looks fantastic, both the mirrors and the car overall. Wow, really pops.

[sna77]

@sna77, that looks fantastic, both the mirrors and the car overall. Wow, really pops.

Thanks! She’s really coming along. Has 90k miles. Bought from the wife of the original owner this summer - it was his summer car, always garaged, not a drop of rust. Had it shipped to my friend’s BMW shop in Belmont and we swapped out ~$20k in new, OEM parts. Currently waiting for the last of a few trim pieces to come in—I’m replacing all the plastic trim in the car—it’s going to look amazing! Speaking of—I need to update my build thread with new pics

[BH93]

Sorry to bump the thread, but has anyone ever figured out the M3 base not "fitting" 100% with the door mounting area?
When I did this on my silver ZHP sedan, there was gap on the bottom of the mirror base and the hypotenuse of the base was not parallel with the door line.

[cakM3]

Sorry to bump the thread, but has anyone ever figured out the M3 base not "fitting" 100% with the door mounting area?
When I did this on my silver ZHP sedan, there was gap on the bottom of the mirror base and the hypotenuse of the base was not parallel with the door line.

There is a Rogue Engineering DIY for sedans and tourings where you mod the baseplate (shaving off some of the baseplate) to fit properly. You can't just mount them "as is" like you can with coupes and verts. That is why this mod is not done extensively on sedans because it is more difficult. Also, you have to
drill extra holes in the sedan door so that the screws align from the baseplate.

[BH93]

I've done the shaving/drilling and whatnot, but it still seems like you still have the gap at the base of the triangle, because the M3 housings have a different triangle shape than the door mounting triangle as well as that aluminum strip that shows. I believe I've read people just put like silicon to seal the base of the triangle and trim the aluminum strip so it doesn't show past the hypotenuse of the m3 mirror base. Do you have a closer picture of what it looks like mounted to your sedan, specifically the base?

[cakM3]

I've done the shaving/drilling and whatnot, but it still seems like you still have the gap at the base of the triangle, because the M3 housings have a different triangle shape than the door mounting triangle as well as that aluminum strip that shows. I believe I've read people just put like silicon to seal the base of the triangle and trim the aluminum strip so it doesn't show past the hypotenuse of the m3 mirror base. Do you have a closer picture of what it looks like mounted to your sedan, specifically the base?

I have done this mod to my last ZHP following the Rogue Engineering DIY exactly and found no issues mounting my OEM M3 side mirrors to my doors. There were no gaps that you are talking about. I have pictures in my Imola ZHP project thread.

Click on the Imola ZHP project thread link at the bottom where my signature is and go to page 31...

If pictures don’t come out I will have to dig for them when I get home from work…

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[BH93]

38084

This is the gap I'm talking about (picture from another DIY post). Looks like from your DIY thread, Shawn decided to use garage sealer tape around the edges inside to make it even more weather proof. That gap may have also been the result of my poor workmanship... will need to revisit this mod again for my current zhp sedan as now there's apparently a 3D printed base available from RUS_ZHP (yay!).

What I've done for now is find some replica housing's on ebay with sedan base and fit my zhp motors inside. Driver side works perfect, but passenger side motor is oriented 90 degrees off... The housing uses the same 3 bolt pattern to mount the motor, but only fits 1 of 2 ways and neither are the correct orientation for just the passenger side so just living with rotated controls for that side for now...

This replica housing and base are made of plastic so not as rigid as the metal base... shakes a bit on the highway
38085
EDIT: replied to wrong thread... deleted and responded here

[thegenius46m]

Looking to do this mod on my M3 with my factory mirrors and planning to purchase the replica mirrors that Charlie recommended to extract the auto fold motors and put them in the m3 mirrors. For those that did this, how are the ebay components holding up? Any issues with the motors folding at different speeds between left and right or other random electrical issues due to low quality or are we in the clear here with these Taiwan ebay motors being "good enough?"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Coupe-1998-Auto-Folding-Mirrors-M5-Style/283663923121?hash=item420baff7b1:g:bQQAAOSw3xJVXco L

[thegenius46m]

Looks like Umnitza also sells these. Not sure if they're just reselling the same units or these are slightly higher quality but they look almost identical down to the wiring.

https://umnitza.com/browse-by-car-model/bmw/3-series/e46/for-bmw-european-auto-fold-mirrors-multiple-models.html

[thegenius46m]

Anyone able to comment on which mirror motors are the go to option for the autofold feature on the M3 mirrors? Ebay replica M5 mirrors for the folding feature my best bet here? @cakm3 care to comment?

[cakM3]

Anyone able to comment on which mirror motors are the go to option for the autofold feature on the M3 mirrors? Ebay replica M5 mirrors for the folding feature my best bet here? @cakm3 care to comment?

I integrated the M3 rep autofolding motors into my OEM M3 side mirrors and had no issues. The autofolding motors will transfer into the M3 mirror base using the torx screws from the M3 base. I have not had any issues folding the side mirrors on my M3 using these autofolding motors.

The autofolding motors that are on the M3 REP mirror assemblies are secured by three phillips screws. I just used the torx acrews used by the OEM M3 mirror assemblies (see my M3 mirror DIY install)

[dlucas589]

@cakm3 Looking to retrofit my vert ZHP. Can you point me in the direction for getting 3D printed baseplates?

[cakM3]

@cakm3 Looking to retrofit my vert ZHP. Can you point me in the direction for getting 3D printed baseplates?

I don't have any contacts for the 3D printed baseplates, sorry.

[BADCLOWN]

@cakm3 Looking to retrofit my vert ZHP. Can you point me in the direction for getting 3D printed baseplates?

If you have Instagram, touch base with shawnrphotography on there. He just documented his M3 folding mirror retrofit on his E46 M3 wagon