Retrofitting folding mirrors to 2012 Tiguan

[Bambazonke]

Hi All

Thought I would let everyone know who is contemplating this upgrade, it is not a simple swop out and recode exercise as I am finding out now.

Firstly if you go down this road make sure if you buy new, the mirrors are for a RHD model or second hand from a RHD car. I bought mine secondhand from an ebay seller in Germany. The metal mounting brackets are different and as a consequence my mirrors do not adjust far enough in on the passenger mirror or enough out on the driver's side. I discovered this after removing the Chinese made foam cover to see RLD and LLD moulded into the metal on the passenger side parts which look identical but in reality have a slightly different offset. I am attempting to strip them down and see if I can swop brackets but it will be a major mission as there are spring loaded hinges etc.

Secondly you will have to upgrade your front door modules to support the additional functions I doubt if any Aus spec Tig will have them as it is not std here. Make sure you get the right ones as I have ended up with the wrong ones (I got the controllers which are compatible with the older four separate door module setup). Sourcing the right part is not that easy either as the controllers carry the same alphanumeric part number bar the last 2 letters. This appears to be how to differentiate the various types. The easiest way to check, is to look as socket B which has 6 pins as std and 13 if it is the "high line" version.

I will keep you all posted on my progress or lack of it!

[MGV]

Think i will just continue to fold mine manually when necessary...

[tigger73]

Looks like a good DIY project.

Looking forward to the photos and parts list once complete

Having a narrow driveway/carport, folding mirrors would always be a handy feature.

[Bambazonke]

New controllers purchased off ebay (AUD100 each!) ex 2012 Passat CC but are std on NAR Tiguan SEL's which come with all the bells and whistles. Will give the part numbers once I know they work.......
22 May modules have arrived...sadly installation can only happen on the 30th as I am out on site till next Wednesday!

[Bambazonke]

Update.......Good and bad news
My new highline UDS controllers arrived last week and I installed them and recoded them this morning so I now have puddle lights, folding mirrors AND mirror dip in reverse!! Contrary to popular belief,the new controllers now have their own memory chip and are now independent of the electric seats with the memory function. However you will still need the folding mirrors as the actuator mirror motors have additional wiring to send a predetermined signal to the actuator when reverse is engaged.

The bad news is I still haven't figured how to strip the mirrors completely down and switch the mounting brackets from LHD to RHD. The drivers door mirror is just ok but the passenger side is bad. I am contemplating striping out everything else but the folding motor at this stage which I can live with, now that I have mirror dipping in reverse. I am also looking at another option of getting wide angle mirrors that may allow better vision

[tigger73]

The bad news is I still haven't figured how to strip the mirrors completely down and switch the mounting brackets from LHD to RHD. The drivers door mirror is just ok but the passenger side is bad. I am contemplating striping out everything else but the folding motor at this stage which I live with now that I have mirror dipping in reverse!

So which bit is the problem? The actual mirror housing? Can't you buy these for RHD? I know they were probably hard enough to get in LHD.

Sounds like a good mod... Do you need to install another button/mirror selector switch?

[Bambazonke]

The bracket that mirror housing hinges on has a different offset for the RHD bracket which tilts the mirror in more than the LHD and vica verse for the driver's side. It is very suttle and the only way I found out as I said before the part number is different and LLD moulded on the metal bracket where as the original mirror has RLD on it.

It appears the motor for folding is sealed in the hinge as I have asked a VW techie and he said they normally replace the whole assembly even if the actuator for the mirror is faulty!

I got a new switch as part of the original purchase together with a set of non UDS highline controllers that support early 2012 and 2011 Tiguans. I cannot confirm if these have the mirror dip memory chip as they use short coding where as the UDS modules use long coding. I will be selling these module now I have the new ones installed.

[tigger73]

So long story short, the mirrors you bought are for a LHD car and won't adapt to a RHD.

Bugger!!!

[Bambazonke]

At this stage i have puddle lights both sides, mirror dip on passenger side and folding drivers side mirror only. I stripped out the wiring, mirror actuator and puddle light assembly from the lhd unit and put them in my original rhd unit just have to make a plan for the passenger side folding motor. May try the breakers yard for a damaged one to experiment on with the hacksaw, hammer and pliers!

[tigger73]

So do you know if you can get the folding mirrors for a RHD Tig?
And how much for the kit?
Seems a lot of stuffing around to convert LHD mirrors onto a RHD car...