HOW TO: Heated mirror install, & LED puddle lamps

[icspots]

The torx screws are T-25 on 07 and newer. I just found out right now because a lawn mower hit my passenger side mirror Taped it back up for now!

Thanks I'll update the OP.

very nice... i want  to try this out

It's super easy and very useful.  Even where I am in NC we don't get frost so much, but it's great for fogged up mirrors as well.

[DUBS]

well all i would need is the LED puddle lights... dont need headed mirrors on this island... lol

[icspots]

well all i would need is the LED puddle lights... dont need headed mirrors on this island... lol

Oh well in that case it's slightly less super easy (stupid rubber boots!!!!!) but still totally worth it.  Especially if you park in dark places.

[Chupacabra]

big thanks again for the walkthrough. i FINALLY got around to getting some of the parts to do this.
i didnt do the puddle lamps yet, that will have to wait until spring, i just wanted my heated mirrors hooked up for winter.
i bought the speedline blue tinted wide angle heated mirrors from a forum member for 50 bucks a few weeks back.
good news for those that want to invest in those, they already come with wires. and they have spades to plug into the mirrors on an end. a little less materials to have to worry about and all you need to do then is solder on the diode leads.

[icspots]

big thanks again for the walkthrough. i FINALLY got around to getting some of the parts to do this.
i didnt do the puddle lamps yet, that will have to wait until spring, i just wanted my heated mirrors hooked up for winter.
i bought the speedline blue tinted wide angle heated mirrors from a forum member for 50 bucks a few weeks back.
good news for those that want to invest in those, they already come with wires. and they have spades to plug into the mirrors on an end. a little less materials to have to worry about and all you need to do then is solder on the diode leads.

Happy to help, and I can totally understand waiting on the puddle lamps.  I mean for the mirrors you can just work inside where it's warm.  One of these days I'll sell off my standard glass and get the blue pantoscopic glass.   Any thoughts on how well the tint reduces glare?

[large_x7]

Thanks for the super write-up.  I took advantage of our 60 degree weather here to install the heated mirrors.  All told, the whole install took me about 2 hours, including driving to Radio Shack to get the wiring and the diodes.

One additional note: I have a late-model '06 (purchased in June 2006) and I also had the Torx screws in mirror.

[icspots]

Thanks for the super write-up.  I took advantage of our 60 degree weather here to install the heated mirrors.  All told, the whole install took me about 2 hours, including driving to Radio Shack to get the wiring and the diodes.

One additional note: I have a late-model '06 (purchased in June 2006) and I also had the Torx screws in mirror.

Happy to help.  I'll update the OP with that info.

[Krazee]

I'd love to put these in my 2008

[icspots]

I'd love to put these in my 2008

Like the walkthrough shows it's a pretty easy install.  Actually I'm going to be selling my OEM heated glass once I get my blue wide-angle glass from the speedline GB.

[Chupacabra]

Actually I'm going to be selling my OEM heated glass once I get my blue wide-angle glass from the speedline GB.

oh. yea. i forgot about that. she (my brothers wife) is not going for it. "a car is just a way to get from point a to point b" i tried to reason with her.  but shes not having it. haha i'm sure someone will pick these up.

[icspots]

^^ Yeah I was going to PM you earlier to see if you were still interested but then I got distracted.... I think a colorful bird flew past the window or something.  I need to get some pictures of them so I can make a FS thread..... though honestly they look just like any other mirror unless I pull them off the car, so I might wait until the blue ones come in.

[stl202]

Just did these. Total cost? $25 and 1 hour. Let me know what you guys think. I am considering changing the color.

[stl202]

one more.

[icspots]

Look nice.  Do you have them wired as courtesy/entry lights like I did mine?  It's hard to tell from pictures but do they provide enough light to see around the car or are they more aesthetic?

[stl202]

Look nice.  Do you have them wired as courtesy/entry lights like I did mine?  It's hard to tell from pictures but do they provide enough light to see around the car or are they more aesthetic?

They are more aesthetic than anything else, that is why i am considering changing the color or completely remove them. There isn't any practical use except that they look nice. They are wire to the dome/map light so they only come on when I remotely unlock the car and when I open the door(s).

[icspots]

Look nice.  Do you have them wired as courtesy/entry lights like I did mine?  It's hard to tell from pictures but do they provide enough light to see around the car or are they more aesthetic?

They are more aesthetic than anything else, that is why i am considering changing the color or completely remove them. There isn't any practical use except that they look nice. They are wire to the dome/map light so they only come on when I remotely unlock the car and when I open the door(s).

Yeah I imagine if you threw some white ones in there they'd be pretty useful as puddle lamps.  Oh and I think you'll find they turn on when you turn the car off as well.

[ramosdominicano]

Oh my, I think I want.
Great write up Remi . Are you an electrician by any chance?

[icspots]

Oh my, I think I want.
Great write up Remi . Are you an electrician by any chance?

Thanks other Remi.   If you want them there's a second GB going on for heated/wide angle/blue tinted ones right now.  Actually the second GB.  Oh, and I'm a paramedic not an electrician.

[ggeinec]

If I don't want to mess with the wiring that heats the glass do I still need to remove the mirrors from the car in order to remove the old glass and replace it with the new glass? Thanks!

ggeinec

[icspots]

If I don't want to mess with the wiring that heats the glass do I still need to remove the mirrors from the car in order to remove the old glass and replace it with the new glass? Thanks!

ggeinec

No, you don't have to remove the housings to remove the glass.  Just follow the same instructions for where to pull and be gently forceful.  Your choice, but you're missing a great feature if you don't wire them up..... esp. in Maryland.

[corwest]

So are the heated mirrors always on or are they on a switch? and also do you need the diodes for them or do you just hook them up to the stock plug to the mirror? I guess im kinda confused what all you need to do for the heated mirrors. ( I did do the puddle lamps btw and they are great!)

[icspots]

So are the heated mirrors always on or are they on a switch? and also do you need the diodes for them or do you just hook them up to the stock plug to the mirror? I guess im kinda confused what all you need to do for the heated mirrors. ( I did do the puddle lamps btw and they are great!)

Once connected the the wiring already present in the car the heating elements come on with the rear defroster.  That means they also time out with it so they don't get burned out.

As for the diodes, you're not buying those for the diodes themselves, rather just to use the "legs" of the diodes and new pins in the mirror side of the plug.  Tool-wise there's a list at the beginning of the thread, same with supplies.  The absolute minimum supplies you need is:
-wire
-spade connectors (x4 -> the speedline mirrors come with both wire and connectors)
-solder
-diode pins

[Youngun]

dude I would remove them all together, it makes your car look like a tractor trailer.

[icspots]

dude I would remove them all together, it makes your car look like a tractor trailer.

Mirrors make the car look like a tractor trailer?

[Chupacabra]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

[icspots]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

In light of that I think you're right.

[bombsquad]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

In light of that I think you're right.

I think what stl did has the potential to be cool, but with the red short angle leds it looks a little odd.  If he uses white LEDs with a wide angle or diffuser on them, it might work better.

[icspots]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

In light of that I think you're right.

I think what stl did has the potential to be cool, but with the ride short angle leds it looks a little odd.  If he uses white LEDs with a wide angle or diffuser on them, it might work better.

Agreed.

[Youngun]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

yes I was referring to stl202 and his running light setup

[stl202]

i was confused by his statement too...
i doubt he even read the thread, i think he's just referring to stl202 who i think also didn't even read the thread. just posted pics... haha

Pardon me but doesn't the tittle say "plus LED puddle lamps"? I agree that the color is not the best and IF YOU GUYS READ THE TRHEAD you will read that I posted i was considering changing to white leds or completely removing them. Had a winter storm in NYC and they came off due to lots of snow. Will consider putting whites in spring.