Just wired my power fold mirrors to my ignition to auto fold in/out
 

After retro fitting the power fold mirrors with the switch module a few months back I always folded them before leaving the car but a few weeks ago both mirrors became intermittent responding to the switch so I decided I'd re wire them to auto fold,

so I set about investigating how there wired armed with my Power Probe I discovered the motors have 2 wire and there fed with a + and - to fold them in then the polarity reverses down the wires to make them go back out so I knew I'd need a dpdt relay (double pole double throw) I also discovered the + and - was only fed down the wires for 10 seconds or so before they became nothing so I then knew I'd need to source some timer relays and Id need 1 standard 5 pin relay to activate everything off the ignition.

So picked everything up and set about drawing out the wiring diagram (looked like spaghetti junction wires everywhere) after I checked and double checked everything for back feed issues and things i then set about hooking it all up, I managed to do all the wiring in the passenger footwell behind the glove box where the fuse box is located so I could tap into an Ignition switched + and a constant + and a - all one place and all I had to do from there was lay the wires through into the doors to tap into the mirror circuit.

Anyway here's the finished product:

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

My hat is off to you, kind Sir!!!

care to share the schematics and the part numbers for the relay(s)?

Will do but Im just off out so I'll sit down later when I get back and draw it all out neatly in an understandable diagram unlike my messy hand drawn one I used.....

:thumbup: and waiting for the DIY

Very cool. Nice work

wow this is so cool!

Looking forward to watching a DIY on this.great work!

Is it just me or my mirrors actually fold all the way in parallel with the door
Op's mirrors seem to stop somewhere in the middle?
I didn't sleep well last night maybe I'm seeing things..

Very cool indeed. Would love to have my X5 do this, once I know how to. Over to you.........Dpbayly.

Oh, oh... just thought about this.....while it looks cool but if it does this and I'm parked in my garage, there's potential of it hitting something when pulling out. I'd rather flip out the mirrors manually once I've pulled out of the garage. Could also happening in public parking if you happen to park in a tight spot...granted, you'd have to remember to close it before pulling out..but I can just imagine forgetting to do this and cursing thereafter....just marveling.

it seems that this issue may have been mitigated already - when you pull the key out, the mirrors fold. when you put the key in, the mirrors open but you can fold them AGAIN using the stock fold button. and then, pull out the garage, and unfold them again...

at least, this is how i got this pictured in my mind...

As promised here's the wiring diagram ( a little confusing but it's as simple as I could make it look)

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps53079bfd.png

Click the image to see full size.

I'll try and explain it.

The 5 pin relay is fed permanent fused power to pin 30 and when the Ignition is switched on the relay switches to pin 87 activating the 2 timer relays which only power up for 12 seconds before switching off and when the ignition is switched off the 5 pin relay switches back to pin 87a which fires the timer relays up again for 12 seconds before they shut off again.

The timer relays when triggered one feeds earths to the DPDT relay but each side of the switch at opposite sides and the other timer feeds the power (12v) to the DPDT relay each side of the switch again at opposite sides this allows the switching of the polarity down the 2 wires.

The DPDT relay when not being switched by the switched ignition it feeds the positive and earth to the mirrors one way round for just 12 seconds ( fed by the timer relays) folding them IN then when the Ignition is switched on it activates/switches the DPDT relay and this then feeds the power and earth the other way round to the mirrors folding them OUT

Best part is as the timer relays only feed power and earth through the DPDT relay to the mirrors for 12 seconds then the wires have nothing fed through them till the timer relays are next powered up, so the switch inside the car the can still be used to manually fold/unfold the mirrors and there is no back feed issues.

Nice work man!

I did remote controlled power folds on my E38 and love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Yb...detailpage#t=5

As TerminatorX5 said due to the timer relays only powering the mirrors for 12 seconds then the wires fall to nothing so the original switch inside the car can be used with no issue with back feed.

Nice,

I think this is how it would work if you install the intravee module which I believe costs £150 GBP,

I went to wire mine up using the output wires from the central locking control module but they pulse so quick I would need a different type of relay which I didn't have, but if I was to get the correct relay It could easily be wired to work off the remote locking.

Marvelous!!!

part numbers for the relays? (since you already listed the pins for the relays, might as well use the same relays)

the WDS puts those mirror motor wires into the door module area... i have those wires at pin 3 (red/blue) and pin 10 (green/brown) of the door modules connectors - same pins on the left and right. WDS does not differentiate between LHD or RHD.

Nice job Sir

Thats correct pin 3 and 10 straight off the back of the window switch units.

The relays are as follows (obviously Im in the UK so it would be easier to source the same product from the States)

Timed 12V relay X2

12V VOLT TIMER TIMED RELAY WITH POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE OUTPUT NEW | eBay

DPDT relay

DPDT 12VDC Plug in Relay | eBay

Standard 5 pin relay

5 Pin Changeover contact STANDARD (mini) Relay | eBay

wow, that omron relay is some serious ass relay!!!

thank you very much for the part numbers, thank you for the schematics - this one definitely goes on my to-do list (http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...done-list.html)

:)

Sorry I posted the wrong link to the DPDT relay

Here's the correct one 12V

DPDT 12VDC Plug in Relay | eBay

I'll modify the other post....

il have to consider doing that

Can you still control them with the switch in the door? BMW recommends folding the mirrors in before entering a car wash.

Also, doesn't it make more sense to have them fold in before you shut the ignition off? For instance tight parking?

they do operate with manual switch, next to the mirror control switch...


i just checked the prices for the DTDP relay on RadioShack - under $5 in the US, while over $12 in the UK... WOW!!!

dp, as i am studying your diagram, i got a question on 5-pin relay... it seems that the relay provides only a brief interruption for the constant +12V - is this the change of state that triggers the countdown on the timer relays, or the 5-pin relay could be bypassed?

could you elaborate on it, please? if you think it will be too much for audience at large, you can PM me...

thank you man, you rock!!!

Yep the standard switch is still 100% operational.

Yep the 5 pin relay is only there to momentarily interrupt the 12v source so that the timer relays reset and powers up the timer function.

Instead of ignition switch live wire, can we use a remote lock/unlock wire (such as interior light) for it, so it would fold in and out when lock/unlock?

i don't see a reason why not - the trigger as designed so it will start the process of timed relays when the 12V is momentarily interrupted


but the question with the interior lights is that you can use the lights not only for the lock/unlock but for any other reason... or not turn the interior lights on completely...


as your significant other is turning the lights on to look for her cellphone in the purse, your mirrors will fold at 75 MPH on the highway... lol...

but something else in the circuitry for remote operation - sure, why not...

I looked at wiring it to work with the central locking once I had everything apart before wiring it to the ignition and the easiest way would be to use the trigger wires from the control module behind the glove box the lock/unlock trigger wires are the big blue (pin 14) and big white (pin 13) BUT these wires only have a brief (1sec) 12V pulse fed down them so they wont work the timer relays as they need a constant live, it could be done but would need 2 additional relays that switch with a pulse that can then feed the 12v to the timer relays, OR see if a self powered timer relay is available that only requires a pulse then it would be easy.

As I already had the gear to wire it off the ignition I just went ahead and did it that way.

Forgot to say in the earlier post with the constant and ignition switched live I was able to get these from the fuse board behind the glove box from empty fuse slots some are ignition switched and others are permanent and the earth if you remove the plastic kick panel there is an earth point behind there.

i have put together the relays for the mirror controls. the project is mid-stream, but here are the parts used ( i ordered double of everything, as i anticipate the same relay bank for another sub-project within the car):

2 x Power Relay Coil 12VDC 12V DPDT Contact Rating 5A 240VAC 24VDC | eBay

2 x Power Relay Coil 12VDC 12V SPDT Contact Rating 10A 250VAC 30VDC | eBay

5pcs DC 12V Delay Timer Switch Adjustable Relay Module 0 to 20 Second NE555 | eBay

I have not tested the relay bank - i ordered a 5VDC(!) SPDT relay by mistake, so I am waiting for the correct relay (12VDC) to come...

On the picture,

the black wire - ground

the red wire - battery +12V

the green wire - trigger wire...

the wires for the actual mirrors are not soldered in yet, as I did not have an adequate colored wires - you can see 2 vacant pins on the white "underbelly" of the DPDT relay (between two blue relays).

next step is to identify a good box to contain the relays and good set of connectors... I will keep you guys posted...

Lovely!!!! Just lovely.

If only I could persuade my mirrors to fold, when I press the switch, I would do this mod! Alas, it seems my passenger mirror is gone and doesn't fold, so neither of them does (at least that's what the BMW mechanic told me).

But Iv'e bookmarked this thread for future reference.

Nice mod, but that's a lot of in and out cycles, most of them break or are broken just from using them a few times a year. I'm guessing yours won't be working too much longer from repeated in/out cycles.

http://forum.m1911.org/images/smilie...hing-horse.jpg

Good point!

DP, got a wiring question...

as i studied the wiring for the door modules, it seems that i can't get away from pulling wires through the door boot to the main body - my question, do you have any pointers on how to do it, before i devour the wires???

I was hoping to see full-time 12V (which is present in the door) and K72 "closed circuit cutoff relay" feed (which is not present) and this way I would just build two relay banks and hide them inside the door cavity under the door switches... since there is no ignition nor K72 (power-on-LAN wake-up signal) power feed inside the doors, I have to run wires from the door to the car... wonder if you could shed some light into this process...

Hi TerminatorX5,

Reviving an old thread here I know but... Did you ever run these wires? I am about to attempt this mod so any advice would be great! Thanks

You guys, I am about 90% sure you can code the mirrors to fold with ignition key. I didn't because I don't want them folding all the time.

Can you elaborate on this. I’m interested.

I can't remember which module it is in but I am pretty sure it is a coding option. Hopefully someone else who has done it, or remembers seeing it, could chime in.

I was looking into this as well! The schematic on the first page won't load unfortunately. It's probably the GM module, if it can be coded?
Has anyone else done this mod?

Could you not code them to do that? Mine do that as they were coded to.

Did you code them yourself or did someone code them for you? Just wondering how you know yours were coded and not hardwired, for example.

It's coding. I have a Resler module with the app. The app offers the ability to have the mirrors auto open and close via the OBC.

Is that through an aftermarket headunit that you have the resler module?

I went through all the coding options and no luck for now. Mirrors won't fold or unfold by locking or unlocking with the key.

https://i.ibb.co/4P376yQ/20250105-144733.jpg

It is. I have an Avin Avant. It's my understanding the Resler unit modifies the coding that's available. Maybe not?

I think there is "coding" - items that can be altered via settings in code tables (using NCS, PASoft etc.) and there are items that can be activated via datagrams or messages on the various buses, via either factory modules or aftermarket units like a Resler/iBus combo or a BlueBus.

A good example is using the AE Halo lamps as DRLs - this cannot be "coded" as such but the Resler/iBus or Bluebus units are able to activate this "feature" via a datagram or message via the appropriate bus.

I think the mirrors folding on ignition is like this - the Resler/iBus unit is sending the same datagram or message (command) as would be sent when you press the mirror fold button but there is no coding option to activate this "feature".

Interesting! I learned something new. Thanks