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This message is marked as Important.
Subject: Outside mirror covers with lights - installed OE style !!! (long)>>>
Author: zigor911 : member since February, 2004 : 2014 posts
Posted on: 2005-04-19 10:10:04

I got them from the only source on Ebay, in chrome, as I didn't want to go through the hassle of painting them. Also, chrome covers mix nicely with the rest of chrome exterior parts. Covers were shipped from Taiwan via EMS on Friday morning, and I got them on Monday – super fast!!! The quality of covers is good (9.5 out of 10), and everything fitted nicely. I’ll post some pictures later. The lights in covers flash with turn signals, emergency signal, and when locking/unlocking the car.

Wiring. This was the most interesting part of the mod. A few board members, that already installed these mirror covers, ran wiring to the auxiliary turn signals in the front fenders. In this approach, one would have to enter the front fender with wires in a small space at the bottom on the fenders, from the front door side. Then run those wires along the rubber door seal, enter door trim, and then run into mirrors.

From beginning I was determined to follow the factory door wiring harness path, and hook all the wires to the LKM. LKM located behind passenger side foot well plastic cover - easy to remove (3 clips). LKM itself is attached to the body by 2 (8mm) bolts – one on top, and another at the bottom. With help from WDS, I figured out the pins and wires that I had to tap in to get power and ground. I tapped into wires for the auxiliary turn signals, just near LKM.

Now the fun part – door wiring harness. There’s a flex tube with the wider, rectangular shaped ends that protects the harness as it leaves the body and enters front door. The end attached to the door is easy to remove – just work carefully with flatbed screwdriver, and it will pop out. The end that’s attached to the body is a bit trickier – there’s one 8mm bolt that needs to be removed first (there’s not a lot of room, but doable), then you have to slide the thing up to unlock and then pull it out.
After I did that - I found a big surprise: there’s actual connector (male and female) in there that connects the main harness in the body with the wires in the door (makes perfect sense, as it makes removing entire front door very easy). Moreover, the ending of the flex tube, which covers connector, is shaped accordingly, and THERE’S NO ROOM TO RUN THE WIRES bypassing connector. I took plastic connector apart (both male and female), and have noticed that they were made by AMP. The good news was that AMP used the same contacts (pins and sockets) as they did in 3 pin CDC connector [LINK], and I had a few of those left after my Ipod with Ice>Link+ project. Another good news was that connector had some unused slots (though I have power folding, auto dimming and heated mirror with memory), and I’ve plugged ground and power in positions 19 and 20.

The rest is very mechanical - no real tricks. I fished the wires from door connector point to LKM (on driver side I run the wires behind/under dash to the passenger side, to LKM), and from connector points via flex tube in to the front doors. Remove door trim [I followed TIS instructions, but on driver side I would suggest to NOT remove master switch, per TIS guide. Take the door trim out first, and then unplug the master switch (3 plugs)]. Then fish the wire through the weather protective cover. I’ve made a small hole if the stamped circle of the cover, in the lower corner closer to the door front. On a passenger side, I had to remove door module first. Then run those wires up towards the mirrors. Running those wires into the mirrors is not difficult – just need to be careful, and you should take your time. The last thing you want to do is to damage existing wires. I didn’t have to take out entire mirror assembly. There’s a small lid at the bottom of the mirror (easy to remove – just one small screw), and it gives enough room to fish the wires from the door and up into mirror covers area. I followed TIS instructions on removing mirror covers.

It took me total of 5 hours or so to complete this mod, including learning how to take trim pieces out, figuring out wiring, fishing the wires, etc. I think next install can be completed in 2 hours or so, especially if there are 2 individuals working

Finally, I would like to thank my dad for all his help and support


Next, I seriously consider adding Angel Eyes. I’m waiting on Matt to confirm whether he may have a solution for cold startup issue.

My 10/2000 "Silver Bullet" : MK3 with v24 [SPLIT SCREEN], BLUETOOTH, IPOD with ICE>LINK+, MUD FLAPS, SUNROOF DEFLECTOR
Xenon, PDC, S_EDC and Self-Leveling Rear Suspension, Active Comfort Heated Front Seats, Rear Sun Shades, Power Folding Mirrors





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