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Subject: Installation of M5 rearview mirror with map lights Author: davidc (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 10263 posts Posted on: 2004-04-23 02:27:20

The '86 735i lacks good map lights, IMHO. The interior dome lights on the left and right sides of the headliner just aren't enough when you're trying to see something in the dark.

While perusing parts at Alpharetta Auto Parts in Alpharetta last summer, I came across an M5 rearview mirror that appeared to be nearly identical to the one in the e23, with the exception that it had a wiring harness coming out of the end of the bracket and two map lights beneath the mirror.

Well, many months later my wife and I finally manged to get around to installing it. This is a pretty easy project, but it will require an hour or more of your time. The process involved splicing into the power and ground wires for the passenger mirror light. This is a good choice because (a) the wires are nearby, and (b) the mirror is already wired so that its powered only when the main headlight switch is activated.

To begin, remove the two screws holding left and right sides of the visor in place. Remove your current rear view mirror by popping it down and to the right (or left, either way will work). It's held in place by a really strong spring and two round metal stubs.


The M5 rear view mirror with map lights on the bottom.


Snake a length of black wire though the right ceiling hole and through the headliner trim over to the mounting hole for the rear view mirror. The brown wire pictured above is the ground lug for the visor mirror. Attach a spade plug and receptacle (available at Radio Shack) to splice into the existing spade lug on the brown wire. This will provide the ground connection on our black wire.


Use a butt connector (also available at Radio Shack) to attach the other end of the black wire to the new rearview mirror's wiring connector as shown above. Next, thread a red wire up into the rearview mirror mounting hole in the ceiling and over to the adjacent hole for the visor clip. Use another butt connector to splice into the existing power wire for the visor mirror. Now we're tied into power and ground for our new rearview mirror.


Attach the new spade connector to the ground lug on the right side of the visor and carefully push everything up into the ceiling.


Plug in the connector for the rearview mirror then carefully push the wires back into the ceiling.

Now it's time to mount the rearview mirror back into the ceiling. It's a bit difficult unless you know the trick. Place one side of the mirror bracket into the hole so that the end of the spring is holding the unit in place. Place the opposite side of the bracket next to the ceiling and get ready to push upward. Here's the trick. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to compress the spring-loaded clip inward enough so that the bracket can slide upward into the roof. If you don't do it this way, you'll frustrate yourself to no end by banging the bracket and trying to compress the spring with brute force.

Re-attach the mounting clips on the left and right sides of the visor and you're done!

David Cecil
'97 740iL, 120k miles
'86 735i, 91k miles
'77 320i, 140k miles

www.e38.org has links for everything about your BMW 7-series automobile

• Installation of M5 rearview mirror with map lights (pic) (url) - davidc 2004-04-23 02:27:20 (4427 views)
  • got one in mine, a bit narrower then stock, but good. out of some e30s also (nt) - danw2002 2004-04-29 05:17:17 (355 views)
  • Did they have any more mirrors? How Much? (nt) - Kevin '86 735i VA 2004-04-26 19:59:54 (321 views)
    • Not there, but I've seen them on ebay from time to time. Cost was $75. (nt) - davidc 2004-04-26 22:12:14 (380 views)