Auto Dimming RVM on a W124

[hitt]

Has anyone tried fitting an auto dimming rear view mirror into a W124?

I know many of the newer cars come with this feature, but is there any easy way to retrofit one into a W124 based car. I'm not sure if the W126/W140 models had this feature . . if so are the mountings quite similar?

I assume a 12V supply is required, but this should be easy to tap off from the internal light.

Thanks

 

[jberks]

I don't know about fitting points, but one word of caution. The interior light is a constant 12V so the mirror will be active 24*7, as against the switched power of the factory one - I imagine the load is relatively small but it may flatten your battery over a week or so. If you go to the trouble, I'd run a switched live up to the console, or perhaps you can tap off the ambient temp fan or sun roof switch.

 

[hitt]

Didn't think of that!

Thanks jberks

Thats a very good point, and not something I had considered.

 

[mlc]

I wouldnt have thought the power consumption was great. I dont know the MB unit, but on my Mondeo it has an off switch on the mirror. Assuming that the MB unit is similar you could turn it off when parking the car for extended periods

Mark

 

[jberks]

Mark,
No switch on the MB one I'm afraid.

 

[panason1c]

There is a 'on/off' switch on the auto dip mirror on my ML.

 

[jaques2k]

Interesting...

That feature sounds interesting. Could anyone say an "about" price for the mirror? Is it possible to get an MB original??

 

[panason1c]

This is a BMW one but i'm sure it can be made to fit anything.....



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....;item=4521321982&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[joe bloggs]

12v ignition supply already in place, used to flash seatbelt reminder and turn out int lamp instantly (cancells delay)

 

[jaques2k]

Thanks a lot panason1c! =D Maybe a trip to the scrap would be a good thing... =D

 

[bazza]

While you are at the scrappy, look out for a Scrpio Ultima. They have an auto dimming mirror in them as well


Bazza

 

[Andy Cottrell]

The auto dimming mirror in my (1994) 124 is a lot smaller than that fitted to my 1990 124, therefore, the view rearwards is not as good. Don't know whether thats important to you but something to perhaps be aware of.

 

[talbir]

I just did this on my W124 500E over the Christmas break - since W124, W126 and W201 mirrors are all identical, the process would be exactly the same for the SEC's. Indeed I am going to be doing this on my 560 and 500SEC's shortly - the process will be exactly the same.

I updated the rear view mirror to one from a late 1998 W140 mirror - this mirror is AUTO-DIM, and has red and green LED's for the alarm system. Moreover, the late W140/r129 mirrors just look so much better, rounded and updated - and as can be seen from the pics, the mirror really does update the interior. Best thing is, late w140/r129 mirrors are color-coded to the interior. This one I have fitted is black, as it matches my black 500e interior. I have a grey w140 mirror for my 560 which is grey interior and beige one for my 300Se beige interior. The original w124/w126/w201 mirrors are very dated, flat and all black.

However, this auto dim mirror, brand new from MB, costs approx $500. The standard W140 mirror (with LED's but no auto dim, costs approx $200). So it ain't cheap - I was lucky to get one new from my breaker at half-price....there are electrically adjustable ones too, but we'll save that for another day....

Here is a link to the pics - there are other pics from upgrades on my 500E, namely

- fitment of electric steering column
- refurbishment of AMG 2-piece alloys
- lowering of rear suspension
- late 1998 W140 walnut/leather steering wheel fitment
- late W220 walnut/leather gearshift fitment


http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=hakkinen&album_id=191832


The W140 mirror spring, which hooks up to the mounting plate on the roof is identical to the spring on the W14/w126 - so the mirror can infact be hooked straight up and all you need do then is wire up the loom for the auto-dim sensor and alarm LED's sensors. BUT, and this is the sticking point, the W140 mirror stalk base is very different to the stalk base on the W124/126 - as a result, you have gaps showing, and it ends up looking tacky. The other major difference is that thw w124/w126 stalk attached to mirror from the back, whereas the w140 stalk attaches to mirror from back but comes into it vertically.

So a little work is requried to make it look original :

- open up w140 mirror and remove circulating ball, which is held onto stalk with T15 torx bit

- open up W124/w126 mirror and remove stalk, which is held onto circulating ball by Phillips screw

- attached w124/w126 stalk to w140 ball - they fit onto each other perfectly. The w124/w126 stalk has a sqaure piece of metal which fits into ball and then screw holds it in place. The w140 ball has a recess for this square piece, and it's exactly the same size as on the W124 stalk. So the w140 ball bolts straight up to the W124 stalk.

- attach w124/w126 stalk with w140 ball to w140 mirror, reassemble mirror and casing. Rear casing has a cut-out at top for stalk - this may need to be filed to make it slightly bigger to allow more adjustment room with the w124/w126 stalk (which is angled more). The casing is plastic and is easily filed down and if done properly with correct tools, looks very original

- now a 3mm hole needs to be drilled into the w124/w126 stalk, at an angle, to allow the loom to be run from mirror, up stalk, and then under headliner down to the alarm control unit and power distribution unit, to power the auto-dim facility

- wiring is simple. two wires for auto-dim, brown wire to ground and grey/blue wire to night-time illumination wire (which is also grey/blue on w124/w126 wiring), so auto-dim facility is only activated when you turn on the lights.

- alarm led's - this depends on alarm system in car, but I wired up the red LED so that it flashes when alarm is armed, and green LED flashes with indicators when alarm is being armed via remote. A relay was used to ensure green LED only flashes when indicators light up with alarm arming/disarming - green LED's will not light up once key is in ignition. The red LED was made flashing through use of a flasher diode and flashes only when alarm/immobiliser are armed.

And that's it. Once wiring was complete and stalk transfer complete, simply push in the mirror onto the existing roof mount. Running the loom up to the mirror is a bit tedious, but straightforward.

The auto-dim is brilliant - mirror glass turns dark within seconds of light shining onto it brightly. The mirror has a rotating knob on the bottom, as all w140/r129 mirrors have, but on this mirror that knob is not functional, since it is auto-dim. On the standard mirrors, that knob has the function of dipping the mirror to make it dimmer.

 

[panason1c]

This is auto dim and incorporates a compass and outside temp guage...........



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...091829&category=33699&sspagename=WD2V

 

[panason1c]

Here is a auto dip mirror for the ML............

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10398&item=4530810997&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[shirubaby]

here's something I've found...hope this helps


http://www.2phast.com/190E/default.htm

checkout CLK auto dimming mirror

 

[shirubaby]

and this....

http://www.2phast.com/500e/interior.htm