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Folding Mirrors for USA-Spec Car

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Old 12-07-2020, 11:40 AM
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Folding Mirrors for USA-Spec Car

I believe power folding mirrors were available, or maybe even standard, on Canadian W204s ... has anyone added to a USA-spec car?

How does the folding function work, is it just tied to turning the car off and on, shifting into and out of Park, etc?

Thanks!
Old 12-07-2020, 12:02 PM
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Power folding mirrors

Power folding mirrors do come together with auto dimming mirrors.

At the very top in the middle is the button for the power folding mirrors.

They could be manually activated by using the center button in the top of the door panel.
Automatic operation (if activated) is tied to the door lock.
Unlock the doors —> mirrors fold out.
Lock the doors—> mirrors fold in.
Old 12-07-2020, 07:48 PM
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Good info, thanks! Manual mode is what I would be looking for when backing out of my garage ... I could fold in the mirrors and then be less worried about bumping one into the door frame, the Porsche, etc.

Auto mode also useful in parking lots, less likely someone walking between cars would knock it out of position. Though that doesn't happen very often.

Now, the big question ... what hardware required to implement this besides the door switch? Different outside mirrors with additional motor inside? Different wiring, electronics, etc?
Old 12-08-2020, 04:07 AM
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I think that, regrettably, the modifications necessary for the upgrade are rather extensive.

Hopefully some of our experts could chime in with more detailed info.

Last edited by Joe1959; 12-08-2020 at 12:53 PM.
Old 12-08-2020, 11:27 AM
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The switch unit in the door is quite inexpensive - $26 on EBay. Wonder what else one would need?
Old 12-08-2020, 12:41 PM
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you will need door control modules, power folding mirror frames, and the switch unit in the door as noted above, then have someone put code 500 into the VEDOC at Mercedes, then get it coded into the car
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Old 12-09-2020, 12:48 PM
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Thanks, I feel new 'dendrites' growing, as my old boss used to say.

Would the door modules be different (hardware) or does the circuitry in there already handle a different signal coming from the mirror switches?

Could I get a couple of used Canadian-model side mirrors and, heaven forbid, switch out the frame/motor elements into my USA mirrors?

And, finally, what is VEDOC exactly? A database of all the enabled features for each VIN? Thus associating code 500 with my VIN would 'authorize' this feature, so that it can in turn be downloaded into the car's computer/electronics as a supported feature?

Love to know the 'theory of operation' of Mercedes in-car electronics, I'm still back in the 90s and Porsche electronics, which were so simple by comparison :-)
Old 12-10-2020, 09:47 PM
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There is a post on this somewhere in the forum. Seems to me it said it was about $600 to do the conversion
Old 12-12-2020, 12:32 AM
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Mercedes and a lot of other manufacturers use LIN and CANBUS for its vehicle electronic systems. The door control module, in this case takes the signal from the folding mirror command from the switch, sends it to the module, which sends it to the power folding mirrors.

As far as VEDOC, Mercedes maintains a database of all the installed options for each VIN. In order to get a new retrofit to work, you have to have someone capable of submitting the requests into that car’s VIN by adding the particular option code. One the Mercedes database is updated, you can then fo to a shop to have the car SCN coded for that option to be activated. Very cumbersome, and very frustrating, but can be done
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Old 02-25-2021, 05:49 PM
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Hello capt,
There are a few threads on this, I believe this is the newest, hopefully you are still watching. You look like the forum expert on this topic, not sure who else actually got it done.

I talked to my local dealer and the shop foreman is reluctant to attempt the work, because there is nothing "official" from MB that describes the process or the parts to order. The specific part numbers haven't been confirmed, but I saw your reference to (Steve at mbenznl@gmail.com) in an older post. Is he still a resource?

There was a suggestion to grab a VIN from a 2015 car for reference to order parts.

I actually see folding mirror instructions in the owner's manual, so I don't understand why US cars were excluded. I can only assume over zealous regulations.
Old 02-25-2021, 06:11 PM
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Actually, I have a door panel from an '08 C43 (presumably a USA car) which has the switch for folding mirrors. However, since I kicked off this topic, I traded my car in on an S550, so no longer following W204 topics.

Nonetheless, good to know about how the datacard/codes/VEDOC system works, since that's common across all models and good for a Mercedes owner.
Old 04-21-2021, 11:50 AM
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Apparently this isn't just a matter of having a cooperative dealer, which was my original (incorrect) understanding.

My parts are installed, dealership has to reach MB Germany to "request" the VeDoc update and MB Germany refused.

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