Just before christmas i got my automated Folding mirror Kit. An OEM Mazda accessory piece, which came installed from factory in some trim levels and some versions. The kit kontains of some sort of a relay, a little wiring-harness extension, some zip-ties and an additional plug, plus the manual and some double-sided tape.

With the additional help from Mr. Google, i was able to remove the doorpanels:

I also recommand to shorten the original wiring harness protection a bit. without that it’s impossible to install it later…

You have to install the wire harness extension be removing some pins from some plugs, and add them to the new plugs, etc. I recommend this type of work only if you have experience with plugs and wires. otherwise you might destroy actually more then you improve the whole thing. This is how it looks when finnished:

And after everything is assembled: The mirrors magically fold in, once the car is closed (by key-unit), or once you start the car (power button). Only made a little test-drive after install, but already love this little addition 🙂 And took me roughly 1,5 hours to install it…

And while at it anyway, i also installed the 2020 highway toll sticker 🙂

Once the optional roof spoiler is back from the paintshop i will have more work done on the mazda. And then i guess i should concetrate mor on my datsun again 🙂

For small work i prefer to bring my stuff for painting to a local paintshop. It’s a Paintshop shared by multiple painters and they do all kind of work. Even if it’s a kind of backyard operation workshop, their work is very professional and the man who paints my stuff is very nice, helpful and experienced too. So just before the end of year i brought my mazda roof spoiler to paint it in 25D Mazda Snowflake white pearl.

I thought i’d just leave the paint-code and part to get the work done and pick it up in a few weeks again. But once The painter realized that it’s a metallic AND pearl-effect paint he noted it’s a bit tricky to get the right amount of the effect-layer (metal-flake and Pearl-effect) to have the exactly same hue as the rest of the car. So he decided to give it a test-run and check it out with the rest of my car to match it perfectly.
So here he starts to mix the paints:

Here you can clearly see the Pearl effect colour:

Multiple layers of base colour, Effect (Metal flakes and Pearl-effect) and clearcoat sprayed in the cabin:

And then we went out in the sun to compare it with the original colour on the car. Luckily he hit the effect perfectly in the first attempt.  So i guess soon i will be able to pick up a spoiler in the correct colour. I guess this was an unexpected hour spent well 🙂

Got a package from the UK Today with a little upgrade for my Mazda 6:
The C850-V7-650A Mazda OEM Auto folding mirror kit
I know this item was available on higher trim-levels but not on mine. And now it’s not available as an optional upgrade item in switzerland anymore. You may still be able to order it from an local mazda dealership most probably, but i bought it pretty cheap on ebay new and original while browsing through some ads.
The kit will automatically fold in the mirrors, once the car is shut down. Since i have to park in a tight spot at my work, i really like the idea to prevent the mirrors from damage and save some space between the cars.

The kit containts more or less of a small add-on wiring-loom with a relay-socket. A motor controller relay and some zip-ties and mounting equipment, as well as an 53 page printed manual on how to install it. This will be a fun little side-project over the next few weeks 🙂
The kit fits on a variatey of other cars in the current mazda lineup too.