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One of the biggest issues I have with my car is it's width, being wider than a standard car is a pain in the neck when it comes to parking in public car parks. There just is not enough room for people to walk between the car without smacking the wing mirrors. So when I discovered that later versions of the GTO came with electric folding mirrors I kept an eye on a popular auction site to land me a cheap pair.

After parting with a few pennies I was in possession of a pair of black mirrors, which obviously is the wrong colour for my silver car, a quick dismantle of the mirrors, a couple of coats of silver paint and laquer I was ready to try to wire them into my existing electrical loom.

I decided not to wire them into the alarm/central locking, as if/when I ever wanted to lock the doors whilst driving the mirrors would fold. So it's wired to the ignition system.

And here's how I did it......(some of the photo's where taken from others as I forgot to photograph my progression)

First here's what you will need.

  • 2x relays (maplins PN: N41AW: 5A DPDT 12VDC Relay)
  • Approx 2mtrs of two core (speaker wire)
  • Approx 2.5mtrs of single core (a mix would help to you know what is +live or -ground
  • Multi-meter
  • thin cable ties
  • soldering iron
  • Insulated crimp eyelets
  • Insulated crimp terminals (bullet plugs & sockets)
  • Insulated Butt Splices

  • Snap lock connectors


Step 1 - Find the power!
You need to find two power sources, the 1st is permanant +12, this can be a splice off the doors light, use the multi-meter to find the +live. The 2nd is a switchable +12, I decided to get this off the electric window switch, once again use your multi-meter which one is live when the ignition is switched on. The -ground is easy, that can be off the metal work of the door.

Step 2 - Prep the relay
- Cut 2x 150mm lengths of single core wire for the permantant +12 (red)
- Cut 3x 150mm lengths of single core wire for -ground (black)
- Cut 1x 700mm length of single core for switchable +12 (blue)
- Cut 1x 1mtr length of two core for link from relay to mirror

I chose to solder these to the relay, but you could get some small spade connectors, or even use a
holder/mount (PN: N36AW:8Pin Relay Skt DIN ) from Maplins.



Here's the order -
4 & 5 = +12v
1 & 8 = earth/ground
9 & 12 = wires to mirrors
14 = earth/ground
13 = switchable +12v
(if the mirror opperate the wrong way just switch 9 & 12)


Once soldered/connected to the relay do the following:
- join 4 & 5 together with the male end bullet connector
- join 1, 8 & 14 together with the eyelet crimp
This keeps it tidy and less wires to deal with.

Step 3 - Getting connected
Now it's time to connect all the wires and test the mirrors.
  1. Fix the ground wires (1, 8 & 14) to door (there's plenty of bolts to connect to, I used one just left of the door light connect block)
  2. Feed wire and secure the switchable +12 feed (13) along the existing wiring loom upto the window switch and use the 'snap lock connector' to splice into the switchable live.
  3. Run the two core wire (9 & 12)inside the door, I found that you can easily follow the existing wiring loom upto the mirrors, using cable ties to secure in place.
  4. Now assuming that your mirrors are not fixed in place the two core should be pushed through the hole in the door where the mirror is connected.
  5. Take a look at the connector block on the mirrors, you will notice there are 7 wires, where as the old only has 5. The two outside wires (in the picture below are Green (left) and Yellow (right), I used a small electrical screwdriver to pull them out of the connector block. These wores controll the folding motor, and it's these that you connect to the end of the two core wire you just threaded up through the door. Use the 'butt splices' to connect.
  6. Now lastly using a 'snap lock connector' connect a 60mm length of wire to the permanant live feed from the door light, on the end of this connect the female bullet connector. You can now connect the male end of the permant live (4 & 5) to this. If at this stage the mirrors either fold out or stay in the folded out position, you need to switch the wires (9 & 12) around.
  7. If in step 6 the mirrors are folded, turn on the ignition (you don't need to start the car) the mirrors should now fold out. If all works correctly you can fix the mirrors in place and secure the relay to the door. I used a cable tie to fix it to the wiring loom near the door light as there is plenty of room there.
  8. Repeat steps 1 - 7 for the other door!!
Note: Due to power being present in the window switch after the ignition is switched off, there is a delay before the mirrors re-tract/fold. I find that if I open the driver door and close it again this usually does the trick, or just count to 20sec you will hear the door relay click.