The (most recent) side mirror rehash

[PropellerHead]

First of all.. the question:

Does anybody *really * care ab automatic folding mirrors? I mean, I get it. It's like the air suspension. F'it, right? Well.. I dunno.. I liked learning to tow and doing it with the air suspension. Air suspension stays. It was like that when new. Like the side view mirrors.. They should fold. They should not wobble. They should stay in place when asked. That shit oughta just work.

Now, about side view mirrors that stay in place? This fix only took me 5 years cause I have aspheric glass. Without it, I would have long ago changed lanes into a Buick. Anyway. I recently used bits from my own mirror, stuff I picked from a yard, and an eBay mirror to achieve the Holy Grail- Power folding side view mirrors that stay in place on an E53. If they had an Ohhhh-gasm emojii, I would use it. It's as satisfying a thing as I have done in awhile.

I got eBay mirror motor and gears in today. I found a $10 gear set on Amazon for the mirror arms (both sides). I really do thing that this fix will solve wobbly mirrors, folding mirrors that wont stay folded, and that terrible grinding noise when we try to fold them in.

Maybe nobody else has twin E53's with broke -a$$ sideview mirrors. That's OK. But As I have aluded in another thread.. The Prohpecy speaks of a man with 2 repaired N62 seals and water pipe... who then achieves operational wing mirrors. On them *BOTH*.

Look. I dunno ab you guys, but I just want to stop my wife from b!tchin. If I happen to be the lynch pin for the 4th horseman of the Apocalypse.. well so be it... A wife who's b!tchin ab her mirrors being floppy will make me beg for the relief that is... Famine. Pestilance.. War...

And an E53 with fully functional wing mirrors.

Anyway.. Like I like to do when I learn something, I can't WAIT to tell people about it... So.. If You wanna know ab stable wing mirrors on auto-folding E53's.. come along... I have had fun learning. I hope you do as well.

[X5chemist]

Nice work. Mine fold, just won't stay. The micro switches are a problem. The little nipples that hold the metal lever, are toast. Maybe, I'll try some plastic welding. Add enough then file them down to fit.

[x5Alpine]

My folding mirrors on my 4.6 were getting weak and sloppy so I replaced both with brand new units. Even if I don't really use the feature, It would bother me that something on the X5 didn't work as intended.

[timmyc]

Planning on grabbing a set at the local pick and pull. Mine still work correctly (fingers crossed) for the time being, but I know it's just a matter to time....

Carry on, my friend!

[80stech]

One of the big problems is that there is a bit too much clearance around the "tapered hat"
part which allows enough deflection for the too small gear teeth to lose their mesh. I was going to someday try a band of self adhesive teflon or high density plastic tape or maybe countersink some buttons to get a better fit.

It's crappy poorly designed third party part that wasn't designed by BMW.

The power fold mirrors still have the manual fold clutch/dogs or whatever you want to call them to allow the mirror to fold manually but the power mechanism isn't strong enough to take the pressure of the manual fold so I think that's where the trouble starts if the mirror gets hit or someone tries to fold it.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by timmyc

Carry on, my friend!

Ohhhh.. bro.. The tension is building...

Just in from the parts house...

[Clockwork]

https://youtu.be/XpjaA3eg4YY?si=hkeyagYUwqSYVFOo

This video I made may help someone

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[X5chemist]

Take my money.
Source? Two wires? I can swap the levers off mine to new switches. It's worn nipples that don't hold the lever so mirrors extend back out.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

https://youtu.be/XpjaA3eg4YY?si=hkeyagYUwqSYVFOo

This video I made may help someone

Hell, yeah it has! I watched that! Thanks for making it! I bought some eBay motor repair kit, but I do not like the plastic gear. I am hopeful I can reuse my OE housing and metal gears- wife's X5.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Take my money.
Source? Two wires? I can swap the levers off mine to new switches. It's worn nipples that don't hold the lever so mirrors extend back out.

They were supposed to have shipped me TWO so I could include one in the mirror box. I started a return for this one so I could get a package with two. That's shipping.

Meanwhile, I will test to see if this one- even as similar as it appears- will actually function. I found a series of these with different arms and switch resistance. None of them have the same arm we need.

If this one will function in place, I will send the extra to you with the mirror glass. Also, I am expecting an assembly today. I have had success building one mirror out of 3 so far.