DIY JDM style side mirrors combo lights (Signal+Parking+Courtesy lights)

I'm finally done installing the JDM style side mirrors combo lights on my Prius II. The lights have exact dimension as the OEM with amber LED signal, white parking light, and courtesy light. :mod:
1. The set comes with 2 light housings, wires, harnesses, and 2 painted (cost extra) mirror covers.


Next, you have to take your original mirrors off from the doors. First, you have to remove the door panel on each front door. Use a flathead screw driver to pry off & disconnect the courtesy light (always from the right on both doors). There are only 2 screws holding the panel. 1) Use a flathead screw driver wrapped with a cloth to gently pry up the plastic cover edge at the interior door latch to reveal the screw. 2) simply use a Scotch tape or your finger to remove the plastic cover on the bottom of the door-grip handle and the screw is on the bottom. Now, there are just clips holding your panel.

Start pulling the panel out from the lower corner closest to the door hinges and work your way around. When all the clips are off the door, lift the panel upward and remember to disconnect all harnesses before you pull further!

You should be seeing this (I put the door handle back on because I didn't want it to dingle around while driving).

Disconnect the mirror cable. Use fingers to carefully pry up the black cover opposite to the base of the side mirror. Loosen the screws by a 10 mm ratchet wrench. Also remove the big black plastic cover on the door to free the mirror's wires.



Disassemble the USDM mirror housings for the signal lights. You don't need a new mirror housing, our USDM mirror housings already have screw holes and space to accommodate the additional lights.

First, to remove the mirror from the housing, you have to move the mirror angle upward. You will see 2 notches underneath the bottom of the black plastic mirror frame. Insert a small flathead screwdriver to the white plastic part and turn 90°. The mirror should come loose (as shown in the pic below)

Slowly detach the heated mirror connectors. Press FIRMLY on the metal leads against the mirror while pulling out the harnesses because they look very fragile to me!


Unscrew the motor module. Then, it's time to get your loose change ready to good use (especially dimes!). Use a flathead to pry and quickly insert a dime to hold each tag open. Once you get all 50 cents to keep those tags "opened", you should be able to separate the painted mirror cover from the housing.


Left: Aftermarket mirror cover. Right: OEM mirror cover.


Put the light housing in the front while organize all the wires neatly. Use three #8 x 1/2" sheet metal screws for each light housing (2 in front and 1 on the back) Yes, don't forget the one on the mirror side!!!




Now, put everything back on the car with the new mirror cover. Next thing is to feed the wires through the rubber loom. Use a 10mm ratchet wrench to take off the loom holder on the inner side of each door. Cut off the black electrical tape and carefully feed all 5 wires through the loom into the interior under the dash. (Note that I am also using automotive loom to protect the new wires and prevent short circuit. ~25 feet loom used in total)


It's time to take off the foot panel. Follow the instructions from fog lamp installation manual... credit to whom created that instruction.


Wire color codes on light housings:
-- blue (+): parking light
-- red (+): amber signal
the blue & the red wires share the common black wire as (-)
-- white (+) & the other black: puddle lights.



Parking lights:
Left - take off the panel where your mirror angle adjust switch is, look for the brown wire (+) on the upper right 36-pin harness next to the steering wheel.


Right - take off your glove box & connect the green-with-black-strip wire (+) on the compartment LED light OR if you don't feel like cutting or splicing wires, you can run the wire to the driver's side with the left light. In this case, I just want to minimize wire.

To connect the courtesy light with the dome light.
I kinda give up looking for the dome light wires under the dash. Following is what I did to tap power from the rear dome light:
Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the cover


Use the screwdriver to push the plastic tags all the way toward the center and pull down the frame.


You will see something like this except the golden color wires with the black loom. I was kinda modifying my earlier design to "door only" application. Use a small flathead screwdriver to separate the light housing from the frame and then the wires cover. IMPORTANT: You also need one constant (+), in this case, just tap the (+) using a ring terminal directly from the dome light.


Tap into the bottom (-) wire for mirror LEDs as shown in picture below


Feed the wires down the roof through the B pillar to the foot panel.

Connect the rest of the wires and enjoy!

 

@ DAFTEK: I bought them overseas and the cost is around US$185 (painted)
@ Shawnb2: There are 3 different lights in the signal housing. The white light you saw toward the front is what they call "pilot" light. It turns on along with the parking light constantly and turns off automatically whenever you are signaling. The courtesy light is located underneath and connected to the dome light.

 

I'd be happy to provide a link if the person has one. The seller is in Hong Kong but he doesn't ship international. With the help from my lovely mother in HK, I was able to get one set for myself. Lately, I bought another 2 sets for two of the members here. If the guy is willing to ship international, that would be easier for my mom. Wonder if the Prius store would buy a whole bunch of these at a time and sell in a slightly higher prices to members here?

 

The pilot light can be disable very easily by removing the blue wire from the source. But I kinda like it because it actually lights up the side of the vehicle at night (so that I can see!).
I found another auction for those light. He is selling double for what I paid for even without professional painted. Note: our Priuses (Prii?) share the side mirrors with Toyota Wish. Sorry! This auction page is in Chinese but FYI they are willing to send overseas.
http://hk.f1.page.auctions.yahoo.com/hk/auction/1125646248

 

You're welcome, Rodney!
I hope I can get more to the States for everyone. So far there are already 5 members asking me for one. I can email the seller in Hong Kong to see if he can do any special arrangement for a big order (at least my mom doesn't have to go to the post office herself while taking care of 2 grand kids.)