Adding Power folding Mirrors to the Q45

[Infinitiguy19]

How hard of a task is it to add power folding mirrors and hook it up to the Automatic Drive Positioner and the Unlock mechanism of the OEM or factory alarm?

You would add it to the ADP so when you put in the key the mirrors would automatically fold out when you unlock the car with the key. (For us who choose to have the OEM key less alarm).

For those that have alarms you can hook it up to the alarm which is a much easier task I think.

The Questions:

To hook up the the power to the ADP can you just run a wire to the fuse?

But what would fold them in when you remove the key and open the door?

What kind of motors would you have to use for this?

Is this more of a VIP Mod because I wasn't really going for that, I was more aimed toward modernizing and adding convince.

[Q451990]

If I'm not mistaken, some of the JDM mirrors are folding? That's about the only way I think you could work it out. Triggering it with the alarm should be easy enough...

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

But those are impossible to find.

[unknown007]

But those are impossible to find.

just keep folding them manually hahaha thats what i do people ask if its electric.i was thinking of going to gmc and see if they can sell me the motor for the mirrors but thats something i rather not do.Just keep making people think its electric hahaha.

[Infinitiguy19]

Yes but constantly touching the mirrors just adds oil and what ever else is on your hands to the paint of the car. And in order to keep the paint looking good the car will require frequent washes.

Plus folding them in and out constantly will stress the plastic holding the mirror together.

Why fool people when you can have the real thing?

No offense.

[maxnix]

But those are impossible to find.

In the past, they have appeared on eBay occasionally. I think someone wrote an article on mounting them here. They are not automatic, but manually switched.

[SteveTheTech]

If you are going to add ADP to a car that does not come with it you will need to add the LAN wires that are related to the circuit. The operation signals are pulse signals over shared common lines. I do not know if this is a practacle mod. I would like to see if you can make it happen though, I wish you the best with it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Q already has ADP. The ADP just doesn't have anything to do with folding the mirrors. I can't figure out why you'd want it to either. Why would you want the mirrors to fold in while the car is off? I fail to see the point.

My parents' '04 Maxima has power folding mirrors and I've used them once in 4 years, and that was just to play with the mechanism. I've never needed them.

I hate to sound negative, but it just sounds like a lot of effort for no point.

[Rex]

There was set listed in the Classifieds section, probably more than a year ago. I don't know if the seller had ever installed them??

My best guess would be over $250 for the mirrors ... seems like something you'd only want to do on a car if you were into the "show scene".

[SteveTheTech]

Yeah your right now that I actually look at it on some years the ADP controls the mirrors and every other seat adjustment,windows,steering wheel and all the other fun stuff.

[slybydesignq45t]

As I stated in a previous post, I think this feature ether manual or automatic is great. Where I live people get their mirrors smashed in all the time, from people not parking right, bikers, stupid kids and drunks.

I think not folding causes more damage to the paint. Odd scratches you didn't have days ago. Just normal wear and tear. I fold all the time. I can feel if the tension is loose. I have been doing this since I have owned the car and feel no difference in tension. The only thing that sucks is walking around the car smoothly so you don't look like your trying to show off.....

All in all I wish I could have done this to my other cars.

[Infinitiguy19]

That Why i want to add them (For preventative measures). Not for flash or VIP crap. (No offense).

[SteveTheTech]

The work that would be required to add this feature would be interesting, if you have the time and money and the right tools it could be pretty fun I think.

You will need to find the motor operated mirrors, then you can decide where you want to get your power from and wire it all together.

[maxnix]

If I remember correctly, the person that added it to a US car lost the heater function as he needed it to power the mirror folding motor.

Not a good trade to me.
Modified by maxnix at 6:52 AM 10/4/2008

[Infinitiguy19]

Wow, how would you lose the heated mirror, I mean why use the heated mirror wires to power the folding mirrors?

Was it because he was too lazy to install the relays and the switches but did 80$ of the work?

[SteveTheTech]

Maybe using the heated mirror feature is an easy way of using an existing circuit for a different purpose. If you are in an area that doesn't require use of heated mirrors it might not be a bad idea. Depending on the signal sent and duration of the supply voltage and the requirements for operation of the mirror it might work without much modification. I have always been a fan of using factory switches for other purposes. I like a clean stock looking interior, plus tons of aftermarket wiring under a dash or hood looks cheesy.

[Infinitiguy19]

Yeah I like the factory look as much as anyone else here, but I need the heated mirrors.

If only some one else had done this before or there was a writeup.

[GaR]

Folding mirrors are a decent feature. I was quite surprised to find my Q45 didn't have them, since my piece of crap '91 U13 Bluebird does.

I find them quite handy for squeezing through tight spaces, and for keeping them out of harm's way in public carparks, etc.

I personally wouldn't bother doing the conversion to my Q unless it were extremely cheap and easy, since I'm fairly lazy.

[paranoidjack]

Yea I like the factory look as much as anyone else here, but I need the heated mirrors here in New England .

If only some one else had done this before or there was a writeup.

GO SOX! What a great game that was......!!!

[Infinitiguy19]

...

[maxnix]

If only some one else had done this before or there was a writeup.

I believe there is.

[velvet hammer]

If I'm not mistaken, some of the JDM mirrors are folding? That's about the only way I think you could work it out. Triggering it with the alarm should be easy enough...

Heath

The mirrors on my 1990 jdm q45 are electric folding ones(pretty certain theyre not heated though). There is a switch on the dash to manually or automatically retract and extend .I use them daily because my garage is a tight fit. I have a friend that is living in Japan at the moment , i will ask him to get a price on some mirrors for you.

[maxnix]

Thanks VH. I thought the add on used a different door switch plate. Didn't recall the additional switch being added to the dash.

[goody90q45]

The mirrors on my 1990 jdm q45 are electric folding ones(pretty certain theyre not heated though). There is a switch on the dash to manually or automatically retract and extend.

It's starting to look like the harness to the mirror may be the same but with a different function at the control- Folding mirror button for JDM, heated mirror button for USDM. It may be possible depending on how badly you want folding mirrors.

Where's the switch located VH? Pic?

[Infinitiguy19]

Its on the same switch as heated mirror and contol for the heated mirror, There are just 2 extra buttons on the control switch for the heated mirrors.

[goody90q45]

Without having the mirror or switch in hand you'd have to get ahold of a JDM FSM and compare schematics to verify that the connectors and wiring were the same up to the switch and to the mirror.

[Infinitiguy19]

Nope, I don't think they would easily. This was like my idea of adding tweeters to a 93 Q45, There would have to be some modification done as always.

[qship96]

Folding mirrors are for off road traveling SUV`s and JDM sedans that have to squeeze into the tiny garages typical in Japan....hardly the conditions most of us here experience with our cars.

[velvet hammer]

Heres a pic of the switch

[Infinitiguy19]

That's not the one I saw in Nissan Fast but nice though.