W203 Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror Retrofit

[lsaxh78]

Hi All,

I have done a search on this but my question doesn't appear to have been asked before.

So.......

I have purchased an Auto Dimming RVM for my CLC. It was out of a Sport Coupe but it will fit.

I understand that it will not be plug and play, as MB don't install prep for options not speced... The full retrofit with changing light switch and coding seems a bit too involved.

My question is, if I put 12V to this mirror, will it detect light on its own and just dim? Or does it need some form of control module as well?

If I can just add a Voltage source to it, what wire is what? The plug has a Brown, a Pink and Red and a Blue and Grey.

Thanks in advance.

 

[martyz]

Fitted autodim RVM and illuminated sun visors to my w202 awhile ago from a W210 and they just plugged in,would have thought the 203 was the same.

 

[lsaxh78]

I hoped it was but unfortunately, according to a site search, they aren't just plug and play.

Will remove my mirror at the weekend and check for defo but I think I need to get custom, running a supply to the mirror.

 

[1998K]

I hoped it was but unfortunately, according to a site search, they aren't just plug and play.

Will remove my mirror at the weekend and check for defo but I think I need to get custom, running a supply to the mirror.

Let me help you if I remember what I did on my 203.

If, let's say, the hardware fit you are fine, since even if the plug conection does not fit, you can just feed with an "underkey" +12V (i.e. from cigarette lighter) and a ground.
If I do well remember, unless you have other feature on your mirror, the basic dimming mirror needs just +12V (underkey), ground and the reverse (from the gearbox).

But the reverse if you want is optional since it just put off the dimming feature when you are in reverse.

I did in this way when I bought, here from the forum, a dimming mirror from a W210 to fit my old W202.
Then I moved it to my W203, and here I did not bored myself to conect also the reverse.

Hope my tips may help you butof course pay great attention to avoid electric damages and if not confident go to a specialist.

cheers

 

[lsaxh78]

Thanks for your reply.

It is exactly what I was hoping to hear!!

I think the cigarette lighter is the way to go. I don't think I will bother with the reverse function.

I know it's probably quite an ask but can you remember what colour wires are what? I know the Grounds are usually brown, but what is the the live (12v).

Thanks in advance!!

 

[1998K]

Hi Lsaxh78, I'm very sorry but I do not remember wires colours...

 

[lsaxh78]

No worries,

Thanks again for confirming it's going to work!!

Cheers.

 

[1998K]

No worries,

Thanks again for confirming it's going to work!!

Cheers.

Did you solve?

 

[hercules]

I did retrofit Auto Dimming RVM on my W203 2006MY and it was just plug and play.The OCP has a socket to accommodate it, I sold the car now but I kept the Auto Dimming RVM , but I'm not sure if it need coding to make it present

 

[lsaxh78]

I haven't actually attempted it yet. Will look at it tomorrow!!

If it's plug and play then happy days. Will report back tomorrow!!

 

[charliewade]

Hi i fitted a self dipping rear view mirror to my W203 coupe last week it was a diddle simply remove manual one and fit dipping one this then plugged into the light unit think it was the white plug at the front and it worked straight away no coding or anything, I've got one in my garage if your interested as i swapped mine for the later one with the led illumination on the bottom
Hope that helps

 

[charliewade]

This is the mirror i have its grey with a white three wire connector plug which has room for six wires in total hope that makes sense the part number is A2038100217

 

[2003-c180kcoupe]

This is the mirror i have its grey with a white three wire connector plug which has room for six wires in total hope that makes sense the part number is A2038100217

Is this still for sale ?

 

[charliewade]

Hi everyone mirror is now sold

 

[219]

I just bought one of these for my W140 ; it was a grey one out of a W203 , but I opened up the housing and the glass fitted straight into my W140 housing . I too have three wires into a six pole connector ; no matching socket in my car ; however , as with my dash cam , I'm going to pick up 12V in the interior light . I know brown will be ground , will try red for the +12V and see what happens .

 

[andy27168]

Hi, this should still be plug and play especially in an S class of this age.
Do look at all the existing plugs on the OCP as on my 202 1998, there was one plug car side that had an additional connector clicked into it.
On mine it was quite easy to spot as the main connector was white and the additional clipped in connector was black.

 

[219]

Hi, this should still be plug and play especially in an S class of this age.
Do look at all the existing plugs on the OCP as on my 202 1998, there was one plug car side that had an additional connector clicked into it.
On mine it was quite easy to spot as the main connector was white and the additional clipped in connector was black.

Hi Andy , thanks for your reply . I will check before cutting off the connector , but I did already look and there were no loose connectors on the loom , nor in the housing above the light . Nowhere within reach of the lead from the mirror . I already established a permanent feed for my dashcam, and could meter for an ignition switched supply if needed .

My W140 , being registered Feb 1999 is a fairly late one , but there is no obvious connector for this mirror , even though I’m sure it must have at least been an option

 

[219]

On checking again , no connector to just plug it in - however , taking brown as the ground I tried first the red for positive , then the blue - with the blue wire connected it works just fine .

No need for dimming whilst reversing as I normally either look over my shoulder through the rear window , or more usually use the side mirrors .

 

[Blobsta]

No need for dimming whilst reversing as I normally either look over my shoulder through the rear window , or more usually use the side mirrors .

It's a safety feature I guess but the reality of actually needing it as you suggest it slim and you can always turn around. I did this mod to my wife's Freelander years ago using a mirror from an E39 BMW 5 series. That mirror housing was big enough to fit a low profile circular switch to simply cut the live or earth to the mirror so if we needed to turn it off we could. I tested it at the time and I don't think the switch was ever touched again in the 8 years she owned it