HOW-TO: S13 Folding Mirrors

[xsparc]

**UPDATED***

First thing to do is get of a set of folding mirrors and the switch with the correct plugs. I got mine from PandaGarage.. awsome people, they showed me to the back and let me pick the ones i wanted/needed.

Bench test them to make sure they work
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC070395.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC070396.jpg

Next you need to swap that base parts (cover piece and mount piece) from a LHD s13. There is a small cover on the bottom that gives access to 3 screws.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC100413.jpg

Then take out 3 more screws that hold the cover on and also remove to wire retainer.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC100415.jpg

Now you need to de-pin the connector because it wont fit out the hole. Its not hard at all. Just open the back of the connector, then inset a needle above the pin on the front and pry the retainer up (not alot of force is needed, if you bent the needle your using too much) and pull the wire out.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC100416.jpg

As you can see they are different, JDM on the left and USDM on the right.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC100417.jpg

Now just reassemble with the LHD cover and base.

I had to make my own interior harness because my car didnt have power anything, but i did get the power door harnesses when i installed my OEM power windows and locks.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC070398.jpg

The folding mirrors have 2 extra wires for the fold motor that isnt in the stock harness, a solid blue and solid green one on the door harness side. On the mirror harness side they are pink and orange. Folding one is on the left and stock is on the right.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC070399.jpg

The switch connector should also have the exrta wires, make sure you have the right one. Folding one is on the left and stock is on the right.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC070401.jpg

To start, just match up the wires in the door harness... see the blue and green ones, those are the ones that make it fold.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC080402.jpg

Now for the 2 extra wires, i found 3 in my door harness that arnt used for anything, a green, blue and black one that go to the speaker area. For this I used the green and blue ones. I had to add some extra wire to make them reach to the mirror.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC080404.jpg

Now on the inside, find the 2 wires that we just used for the folding motor and extend them all the way to where the switch is located. Ignore my consult interface board.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC080403.jpg

All thats left is to plug the switch in and watch them fold!

Now if your like me... and didnt have power anything... you need to make a full harness for this :rant:

But a good place to get power is from the auto seat blet controler harness like this. The far right red wire is a const 12v source and the second from the right is a switched 12v source. I went with the const source so i can fold without the car on.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC080406.jpg


Last thing to do is swap out the glass from your original mirrors into the new ones. The US drivers side glass is curved to make things look closer, thats the only real difference. The just pop off like so...
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/PC080408.jpg

[punxva]

very nice writeup, i know people are stupid sometimes and would ask about how to do this.

[g-via]

i've contemplated getting these more than once before

[sillyvia13]

You also should swap the bases ... I dont know if you said that... skimmed by.
but fuck yea!
shits nice.
+2635 for that! I gotta wiring mine in

[upSLIDEdown]

You also should swap the bases ... I dont know if you said that... skimmed by.

I didn't see that anywhere, and that's part of the reason I read this. I have these too, but they're not on yet. I mounted the driver's side, and the angle was all wrong. I was told to swap the bases/housings. Use the USDM bases with the JDM housings. I haven't tried getting them apart yet, because I didn't see an obvious way to do so, and I didn't want to break them.

[xsparc]

You mean swap the base, as in the part that mounts to the door right? I didnt really look at it to see if they were different but i will when i get home.

To take it off, there is a small rectangle cover on the bottom that pops off, under that there are 3 screws. take them out and thread the cable out.

[upSLIDEdown]

You mean swap the base, as in the part that mounts to the door right? I didnt really look at it to see if they were different but i will when i get home.

To take it off, there is a small rectangle cover on the bottom that pops off, under that there are 3 screws. take them out and thread the cable out.

Correct. The angle is different because they're from a rhd car, not a lhd. I had the mirror adjusted all the way out and it was still not going out far enough for a good view.

[projectRDM]

On my S14 I did that, I used the US base and housing, JDM motor and harness, with UK heated glass. I had mirror parts all over the carport. I didn't see any real difference in the base but mine were painted already to match the car, didn't want to have to repaint the JDM ones. It also gave me the opportunity to run the two extra wires for the mirror heater through with it all taken apart.

[jon_mr2]

Also, i dont know if anyone is going to ask this, but USDM manual mirror bases will work with swapping the bases onto the JDM housings. I wasnt too sure if there was a difference between the auto and manual ones, but when i did mines it worked.

[VAs13]

i remember when i had to do this in my coupe, no power anything, i didnt have to switch out the glass tho, because my car is rhd.

[xsparc]

Ok yes you will need LHD bases, the angle is drasticly different. Ill put up the pics and everything in the morning.

[xsparc]

ok add the pics and stuff the the main post

[ZooMxxl]

would like to add to this as i just finished doing my passenger side myself. the manual mirrors (usdm) have (4) wires connecting from the manual knob to the mirror itself (adjusting wires). in order to use the lhd mirror (usdm), i had to rip the wires off from the holder (easily rips off with a little force). in doing so, the usdm mirrors are done for so i hope you dont mind trashing the set (there may be enough slack if you dont pull the mirror off as hard as i did). also, when using the usdm base with the jdm mirror shroud you would need to grind down a small piece on the usdm base. the usdm mirror shroud has a notch that this piece sticks into place for better fitment. on the jdm mirror shroud it is on the opposite side. i just replaced the RHD passengers side mirror with the LHD drivers side mirror because it didnt appear too of to me. it should become clearer when you actually do it yourself if this is too hard to understand.