This is a primer on the hardware installation on these replacement cases side view mirror with LED lights. This is posted with the intent of demostration of the grade of difficulty on the partial job of installation and to help others in the desission of acquiring this product. It worked for me, the product is well made and the paint job on my cases has a perfect finish and color match. Dissasembly and wiring instruction can be found at DCVJAY's posting on the full replacement of similar assemblys for now. At this moment I'm presenting the pictures of the actual installation of the cases, showing the not so complicated job, after doing the first one, is no more than 10 minutes the next one. Actually, I'm replacing and existing working signaling system where the wiring is already in place. The full installation instruction that came with the accesories will be posted later. So after removing the mirror with the mirror heater that is afixed to a sturdy plastic base, prying in a clockwise motion with an wide flat blade screwdriver and then pushing up and lifting on the M it will get off the control base. Here you will apreciate what it is behind the removed mirror and already removed ouside case for ilustration. After installing the replacement case it shows the 2 plastics studs in the corners and the "silver" plastic tong with a catch in place. On this one, the only the 2 screws are already attached with some provided square plastic plugs, one of them, lower left corner, has a chamfer base matching the corresponding side on the mirror housing. After your wiring is installed through the car folowing the provided instructions and testing the circuit, reinstall the mirrors in it's place, check for NOT banding on the remote mirror operation and VOILA, is done!!!
Here is a comparison to the other mirror kit: I notice one difference. The eBay kit does not extend quite as far around the side. The Toyota kit goes all the way to the edge of the black plastic. A significant difference? Can't say, I guess it's a matter of preference.
Also, the OEM ones lights up the entire clear plastic. The ebay one seems to light up only at the end. I wonder which can be seen from the side but behind the vehicle.? Some OEM mirrors have it setup that you can see the light even though you're behind the vehicle in the next lane.
mrbigh, thanks for the pics. They, and the others posted in the other thread and on DocVijay's site, help explain it all.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 16 2006, 11:55 PM) [snapback]333821[/snapback]</div> The pictures where taken outdoors, in day light and in a sunny day. Also trying to catch up a frame while shining took some time and coordination, my camera was at auto settings. Now if you locate your face by the car tail, about a feet from the car body (and if any car get so close you may be in trouble) and looking at the LED signaling, these are very visible an not hidden at all. In the way the refracting multi facet prism inside the glass is made, allows the LED to shine very bright and all over. Each lense has 6 LED in two rows, single color (amber) and blink at the same time, not in sequence. I’m not selling any product here, only explaining questions for another’s right decisions.
I think they both look great and will compliment our Prius's either way you look at it. Quality wise from what I can tell they look comparable. I can't wait to get my black ones and get them on! B)
