I want to add the electric folding feature to my Z's side view mirrors. Coolness factor aside, I would also like to have the mirror tilt down when in reverse like the '06 Nissam Maxima side view mirrors do (it would help eliminate curb rash!!!). My options at this point are:

(1) Buy a set of 2006 Maxima side view mirrors and the related wiring and switches then paint to match and install.
(2) Mod the Z's side view mirrors by adding the motors and switches.
(3) Buy aftermarket side views and assorted switches, harnesses and wiring then paint to match and install.

Any other ideas on how to approach this???

 

If Maxima mirrors will mount up (which I doubt), that may be the easiest way; but no way is going to be "easy" for this project.

Definitely would like to see it, if you pull it off. Probably not worth the $$ though...

 

Bending the mirrors in is going to be tough.

Getting them to tilt downwards is going to be easier ... but not easy. Motors don't memorize positions so you're going to have to connnect up an encoder system to monitor and store two motor positions. The first is the motor position at rest during normal use - the second is a vertical tilt downwards. Double your cost of your system to make them tilt inwards or outwards a bit.

You're basically going to program a robotic system to turn the power mirror until the voltage on the position sensor matches that stored in memory when it detects a reverse condition - tapping the current reverse light circuit would be easy. When that signal is gone indicated a forward gear the system returns to the previous position stored. Probably a couple hundred dollars worth of chips, gear trains, and sensors plus a bunch of hours of work.

A simple system would be to play with the mechanical limit switches on the vertical motor. Adjust the top for normal use and the bottom for backing. When the transmission is shifted into reverse a simple relay would close across the tilt down command on the switch driving it down against the lower mechanical limit switch (a mechanical reed switch would work). When a forward gear was selected the relay would be restored connecting power to the switches tilt-up command and drive the mirror to the upper limit mechancial stop. Problems - One, I don't know if they use mechanical limit switches, and two, you could only adjust the upper limit switch for one person's use height.

 

Might do a search, I remember reading awhile back about a system you can buy that does exactly what you want... Just don't remember who posted the thread..

 

^^^^^^

Great reply Paul!

 

Paul - That was... ingenius... you must be an engineer of some sort! You lost me after the third sentence, but I think in general you were saying:

"This is going to be a bit$ch to do..."

 

If you can buy an aftermarket kit that does this then you are ok. But with stock mirrors, as Paul said, you need sensors to sense the last position memory so it comes back to your original setting, now that is where you also need a software to control it.

There are aftermarket mirrors that also switch the mirrors to blind spot when you use turn signal in unlocked position for a few blinks when changing lanes. The same setup also works with reverse to lower the mirrors.

http://www.lanefx.com/

 

Don't the 350Z in Europe have this feature, so can't you just get some of those mirrors?

 

Colleagues,

the European version of the 350Z has the same mirrors than the US version. So this function is unfortunately also not available.

 

The Z's in Australia have folding mirrors. And if you want them to automatically face down when you go into reverse, goto http://www.kptechnologies.net/ and talk to the guy there. He was working on a chip to do this just a few months ago. He had it working on his G35.

-Acree

 

I was just on Nissan's Japanese website and LO AND BEHOLD WHAT DO I SEE?? They have the EXACT THING I'M LOOKING FOR. The side view mirrors that fold in AND tilt down!!! Anyone know how I can order JDM parts??

FYI I have included the link:
http://www.nissan.co.jp/OPTIONAL-PAR...ING/index.html

 

First, you must be able to read Japanese ...just a guess

 

but the pictures are so pretty....

 

I came across the following Japanese characters and was able to translate...here goes:
#$%^&*() = You dum fu_k.

(roflmfao) j/k

 

I believe this is what we are looking for. Specifically for the Z.

http://www.nissan.co.jp/OPTIONAL-PAR...3/z_op23d.html

I am very interested to see if anyone has imported this from Japan and have it working on his Z here in North America.

 

i would be very interested as well

 

subscribed

 

UPDATE: I contacted a source for JDM parts. They informed me the Japanese mirrors could be had but the glass in the mirrors are designed for LHD and would not work on US spec cars, and you can't swap glass between models. I am determined to have this on my Z, and I don't want an "aftermarket" look. I am now searching for schematics of the JDM and US spec parts. I want to figure out how to have the motors and related wiring swapped into the US spec mirrors. If anyone has diagrams / schematics showing an exploded view I would appreciate it. Obne I complete the design I will give more details.

 

the glass is designed for RHD ^

only thing I could see working is having new glass cut and literally overlaying them ontop of the old glass. Of course this also may limit the amount of movement the glass has inside the housing as it will be twice the thickness it was before

 

If that's the case would you know the price on the JDM units???

Also..I have found a custom electronics manufacturer by the name of KP Technologies that makes electronic modules that interface withe the OEM electrical wiring systems to do the following:

VDC memory setting
Door lock/unlock
Speed (RPM) sensitive Door lock .....

and more. They are currently working on a module that will provide the reverse tilt down feature. I am researching to see how the folding would be done; If I can replicate that function then I would just add the KP module to that.