Finally bit the bullet

Well I finally gave in and ordered some stuff for my car.  Item number one (and two?) are heated side mirrors that will come on with the defrost.  I plan on doing it the same way that billm on mazda3forums (those of you who have been reading the "side mirror broken" thread should know what I'm talking about) and just replace the glass and run the wires myself vs. a full replacement.  Really I've been wanting to do this for nearly two years but just kept putting off the order.  Also I ordered some superflux 4 chip LEDs from oznium.com to mount as courtesy lights under the dash/seat/side mirrors, plus two in the cargo area since the cargo light sucks.  All but the cargo lights are going to be wired to come on when: 1) I unlock the car, 2) I open a door, 3) I turn off the ignition.  The cargo ones will just come on with the cargo light when the hatch is open.

that sounds nice.  ive always wanted heated mirrors, too.  let us know how it works out for you.

Well I have a pretty good walkthrough from billm so it should work just fine...... I do need to go buy a new soldering iron though as mine's broken. :(  I would love to just buy the full replacements except I don't want to have to store the old mirrors, and I can't really justify spending twice as much to get new ones over just the glass replacement.  Plus it's fun to do this kind of stuff with your car. :)

I also want to put heated exterior mirrors on. I just didn't know how difficult the process was. Also post plenty of pics of the lights. can't wait to see what they look like.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lev

I also want to put heated exterior mirrors on. I just didn't know how difficult the process was. Also post plenty of pics of the lights. can't wait to see what they look like.

If you get the full replacement mirrors (~$205 for both sides) It's a super easy ~5 minute job for each side.  You pop off the triangular panel where the tweeter is, unplug the harness, remove three 8mm bolts and then the mirror is off.  Reinstall in reverse order with the new ones and you're done.

If you replace just the glass it's a little more involved.  You have to remove the mirror from the car and disassemble the base.  Then you have to run new wires from the glass, through the articulated joint, and fabricate pins into the mirror side of the harness plug.  You don't have to alter any of the stock wiring as it's all there up to where the harness ends at the mirror.  If you don't mind playing with wires and doing a little soldering then this way is both more fun and much cheaper (~$80)

I'll definitely take pics of the LEDs and the install.  Currently I installed three blue LEDs that come on with the headlights.  One on each side of the dash and one in the back of the center console.  The intensity matches the light above the ashtray and they're very sublte (though I need to make the driver's side one more subtle) 

 
Well!!!  Hallelujah!!  It's about time.      I would ask you to finally change your sig to go along with it, but I can't, cause mine is so out of date now too.
 
Yeah, I DEFINATELY wanna see how your LEDs turn out. 
 

Ditto on the LEDs.  Look forward to seeing and hearing how it turns out!

Thanks for the info. I will prob go with the just the mirror and have a friend help me. Where did you get the mirrors from?

Well I can't change my sig. until I've actually done the mod. :P 

I ordered from Jason at www.onlinemazdaparts.com.  He's super helpful and has done a lot of research for both the heated mirror mod and the flip keys.  Plus he has fantastic service.  While I was ordering stuff I also ordered a JDM coin holder that replaces one of the blanks by the dimmer dial, and a replacement clip for my driver's side visor as it broke and the visor won't stow properly.

Most of the Canadian models come standard with heated side mirrors...
 

 
I ain;t movin' to Canada just for that, that's for sure!!     
 
 

^^ Unfortunately none of the US models come with them..... it's not even an option!

My mirrors, and coin holder came in today.... along with two free oil filters.  I really do love buying from Jason, free stuff and overnight shipping. :)  I'm leaving town tomorrow night for the weekend, back to work for two days (and maybe go to court) then I'm in Denver for the rest of next week so needless to say I won't be installing these right away.  I mean I want to go downstairs and do them now but it's kind of cold and dark.... and I still need to buy a soldering iron.

Bought my soldering iron, extra wire, etc. today....... actually I forgot to get some diodes (use them to fab. new pins for the plug) so I guess I'll be going back. <sigh>  I still have to work today and tomorrow and then I'm gone for the rest of the week, but hopefully these will be in next Monday.  Also all the LEDs came in from oznium on... Thursday.  They are super bright and I can't wait to get them installed.  Now if only I were at home and could put up some teaser pics. :P

Made it back by Rat Shack and got my diodes.  All day long I've been trying to think of how I was going to wire up the LEDs in the mirror.  I mean I could push a wire through the two connectors and run it to the LED but then I'd have a solid wire going through and I wouldn't be able to move the mirror should I need to.  The answer came to me when I: A) looked at the connector in the door/mirror, and B) rummaged through my tool box.  I found a random old molex connector with four slots in it.  Four slots, two wires per mirror...... After looking at the connector I found that there are at least three empty spots on the plug, and my test fit shows that these connectors will fit into the plug.  So then I just need to grab another pair of diodes to use as pins and I can have the whole mirror wired up through the OEM plug and still have it removeable. :)

I know it's not that interesting but I like it when things work out like this.

Well I finished one mirror last night.  I'd say it probably took me about 45 minutes to an hour.  That included disassembly/assembly of the mirror housing, installing one LED, running the wiring for both the LED and the mirror, making a few pins for the harness plug, and putting the heated glass in.  I've tested it out and everything works well, though currently the LED isn't wired up past the mirror plug.

quote:

ORIGINAL: virgin1



Well!!!  Hallelujah!!  It's about time.      I would ask you to finally change your sig to go along with it, but I can't, cause mine is so out of date now too.

Yeah, I DEFINATELY wanna see how your LEDs turn out. 

Are you happy now? :P