Do I have Power folding mirrors? (Post face-lift)

[Raistlin]

I have recently seen several post face-lift S-Types where the owners had no idea that they had power folding door mirrors.

It seems that such conveniences are soon forgotten and as a result, dis-similar metal corrosion takes hold and seizes the bearings.

So - do you have power folding mirrors?

Unlike the post face-lift cars which had an additional switch in the driver's door pocket, the later cars have no visible indication.

To operate the power folding mirrors post face-lift, ensure that the mirror selection switch in the driver's switchpack is set to the central position. Then press the circular positioning switch momentarily down at the rear most edge of the switch whilst watching your mirrors and listening.

If your mirrors move smoothly in and out with alternate presses of the switch then all well and good

If there is absolutely no discernible movement or the slightest creaking or clicking sound then you probably don't have power folding mirrors (simple enough to retro-fit though).

However, when pressing the switch you might see the slightest twitch from one or both of the mirrors and / or hear a slight sound contemporaneously with the operation of the switch. This means that you have seized or partially seized power folding mirrors.

My suggestion to free them off is as follows and has been tested on several S-Types with success:-

Pop the mirror cover off if you can. Usually this can be achieved with a little judicious probing with a fine edged trim tool or CAREFUL probing with a small screwdriver. PLEASE be careful though as the clips are prone to break, especially in cold weather.

In addition, if possible, remove the small lower pivot cover to give even more access.

With the cover(s) off you will almost certainly see a load of white powdery corrosion. Brush this off as much as you can. Now, the ideal solution would be to dis-assemble the mirror and give it a darned good clean up but this option appears to be next to impossible, but I'll be grateful if somebody can gainsay me on that .

Instead, use a can of spray lithium grease and spray the area of the pivot bearing copiously including externally straight into the joint between the fixed stanchion and the mirror body. Allow a few minutes for it to penetrate (the pressure of the aerosol assists in forcing the lubricant to where it is needed), then, with the engine running, to keep the battery charged, operate the switch and at the same time physically move the mirror on one side of the car. This is best done with two people for the driver's side and impossible to do without two people on the passenger side.

You may need to be a little robust initially but feel for the mirror trying to move and then assist it to either fully retract or fully extend. Once the mirror moves full range with assistance you can then gradually reduce and then stop the assistance to gauge the efficacy of the lithium grease.

Be prepared to take some considerable time doing this. The longest I've needed was 40 minutes. However the combination of the forced injection of lithium grease aided by the physical assistance will eventually free the mirror pivot up to the extent where it has free unassisted range of movement on both directions for most of the time. Further applications of lithium grease will assist as you progress.

Once the mirrors are moving reasonably well, you can replace the covers and clean off the excess grease from the bodywork. Lithium grease is unlike normal grease in that it will quickly disappear when polished off with a rag.

SOMETIMES, you can achieve the same result without removing the cover, just by spraying the grease into the joint. However, I would still advocate removing the covers to get a more comprehensive job done.

Regular operation of the mirrors will keep them moving freely although you might like to add the lithium grease procedure to your normal maintenance, perhaps on a bi-monthly basis?

The following Youtube video, which is not mine and which I hereby acknowledge the originator, may be of assistance but you really do not need to go to the trouble of removing the complete mirror assembly from the door, or removing the mirror glass, in my judgement.

S-Type door mirror maintenance

I hope this is of help

[Mr Lawrence]

Quality write up there Paul 

[Stevefoxton]

Well.....I'm one of those who didn't know I had powerfold.....until you told me when I was with you. As said they have been lubricated and are working a treat.

cheers paul....these little gems are a huge help to us learners.

[jestersmile]

Hi  Gentlemen ,  I am new on here and I have bought my first S type 2.7d se . it has most of the extras , sat nav , memory seats ect  but I would like to retro fit power folding mirrors .

I don't think the ones fitted are power, I have tried the normal things like cleaning and spraying wd-40 and nothing so presuming they are not power.

How easy / hard is it ot retro fit please. Thank you, Mally.  sorry it is a 2007 .

[Raistlin]

Hi Malcolm,

Welcome to the JoC.

If you contact your local dealer they will probably provide you with your car's original specification. As well as other interesting things it will tell you if you have powerfolds.

You can get a good idea if when you operate the button, you hear a slight click, even if there is no discernible movement.

Retro-fitting powerfolding mirrors is ridiculously easy 

[jestersmile]

Hi Paul , thank you for the welcome .

I did phone jag dealer earlier and give the vin number and the Lady informed me that they were not fitted at manufacture .

I still believed they were power so my friend said go onto vindecodez my car came up as a 4.0l ? . strange .

To retro fit then Paul what is involved in that please , thanks Mally.

[Raistlin]

You'll need a pair of powerfold mirrors, of course.

Then, the best way forward, if you have a donor car is to get the driver's door electronic module and either or both of the keys. The module is a direct replacement and you need to transfer the PCB of the key(s) into your own key(s) so that they will then operate your door locking alongside the replaced powerfold programmed module. You will, of course, have to retain your original immobiliser chip(s). The whole job is risibly simple and takes less than an hour. The scariest part, for somebody with no experience, is getting the door cards off

If you were to obtain the parts but were not keen on ripping your car apart, you could always turn up at the nano-meet(s) I hope to get off the ground in the near future.

Alternatively you need to visit a dealer or indie to get your original powerfold module enabled (programmed) for powerfolds, in which case you only need install the mirrors. Programming modules is something I hope to be able to do when I get my head around the SDD / IDS software.

If you have a donor car though it's a lot more convenient as it doesn't require any programming. The powerfold mirrors do NOT have to come from the same donor car but, clearly, the key(s) and door module must.

I hope that helps?

[jestersmile]

Hi Paul thanks for the swift reply.

Yes I will definitely need a pair of them lol.

I have changed the batterys in the 2 key fobs I have for the car , so I know how to change the pcb's in them just the one small screw.

The drivers door electronic module where is that Paul behind the door card ?

I don't mind taking them off that was easy to be fair , but I did put a hairline crack in one putting them back after fitting laser projector lights there wired into the puddle lights.

So also Paul you are saying that there is a powerfold module all ready in the door ? and I can get this programmed to the mirrors that I buy.

 

Cheers Mally.  

[Raistlin]

The driver's door module, as in the picture, is programmed to operate the powerfolds Malcolm.

As you say, the module is behind the driver's door trim card and is obvious with the card removed. it is easily removed with three 8mm bolts or nuts if I remember correctly.

[jestersmile]

Hi Paul , Good morning thank you for the pic ,  i will have a go now just have to source 2 mirrors .

I will get back to you when fitted Sir. with some pics. Cheers Mally. 

[jestersmile]

Hi Paul , I have sourced 2 complete units and collecting them in the morning. £140. I will fit them over the weekend . I phoned Ryan up at jag indie and he will programme them for me at a nominal cost.  so looking good .

Thank you for your advice and help it is much appreciated.

[Instagram at HardestStype]

Hello @Raistlin, I’m new to this community, not new to having a Jag. I’ve been obsessed w/ trying to figure out how I can get the powerfold mirrors as I’m outdated by manually folding in my mirrors Everytime I park my car. I just located some powerfold mirrors on eBay that I’m looking to purchase from another S type but I’m reading these PCB comments and it’s making the process seem more and more unlikely to get done. Can you help me figure out how I can make these work, after purchasing powerfold mirrors but w/ the possibility of not being able to obtain the original PCB from that Jag I bought the mirrors from. I tried the automatic fold in method and I do not have them. I’m willing to make any mods to make this possible. 

[Instagram at HardestStype]

Hellooooooooo

[O.T.H]

Hi Roy-- Sorry to hear you have this problem but you are on a 7yr old Raistlin topic so you may not get a answer 

+ we have a lot of members on holiday at this time of year ??? please try as  new topic  ????

[Instagram at HardestStype]

I see it’s 7 years old, it’s the only forum with this topic🥲

[Instagram at HardestStype]

It says he’s still active so I gave a shot.. does he have an email?