so since i guess i like doing this mod and have an odd infatuation with folding motors etc... i've become quite intimate with ribbon cable mirrors and retrofitting them into m3 housings.
i started going on a buying spree looking for good deals on parts.
ideal id love to offer 2 services:
1. when you have purchased your own M3 mirrors, looked and read through the DIY threads and still just dont feel comfortable doing it on your own with the currently available DIYs and info (which in their own right are great and very informative) and you just want to hand everything to someone and have them do it for you and ship back a complete sedan M3 mirror set ready to bolt on.
2. the ability to offer a complete set of M3 mirrors already retrofitted with ribbon cable motors and modified door base plates ready to bolt on. (this one is obviously more expensive.)
Considering M3 mirrors average $350-$500 for decent sets then ribbon cable motors average $75 a side or $140-200 for a pair.. you are looking at close to $600 in parts alone yuck not including power fold motors. calculate power fold motors and you are looking ar another $200 on top in parts alone.
clearly this is a niche product and you have to really want this to spend the coin on it. i dont predict there being a big market for this but at least its something I can do that expands my knowledge, lets me recoupe some small costs for things and keeps my hands busy for now.
either that or i will have a stock pile of m3 mirrors for ribbon sedans stashed in my closet for 30 years later LOL
power fold motors arent sold on their own so i have to purchased damaged ones from M5s then refurbish them with repair kits available online and even then not ALL parts are available which stinks. ive even reached out to people online wholesalers and no one can tell me where they get specific parts im looking for.
anyways i have quite a few pictures from my recent adventure with this :lol
i've also purchased a complete 2005 ZHP GM5 module with plugs and wires, mirror switch and wiring and will be using WDS for wiring pinouts so that I can power up the GM5 standalone and wire in the mirror switch and a custom harness that will let me plug in both mirrors outside of a car to be able to test functionality. currently i have to plug them into my car which is cumbersome. this step should help immensely.
First me scavenging and hoarding mirror motors from salvage yards when possible. sometimes they are damaged in the ribbon part and I have to fix them. #savetheribbons
IMG_20170614_165318 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_013240 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_013313 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_015126 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_015549 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_015848 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170615_015853 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
hoarding motors for future projects and my living room is my work bench lol
IMG_20170615_021102 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170613_221025 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170613_212751 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
completing a set for someone else with power fold motors
IMG_20170602_020001 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170602_015956 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170602_015943-01 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr
IMG_20170602_015438-01 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr