I've been looking at and following some install threads for going from manual mirrors to power fold/telescoping. Most talk about how to and whether or not they were successful, but there are some things I was wondering when looking at what mirror to search for. Here is an example of one:

HC3Z-17862-AA
Power, power telescoping, without blind spot, without camera, without tow vision, black, without memory.

All of them start with power. What does that mean exactly? Does it have to do with the heating element, or the folding feature? Telescoping is the function of sliding in/out pretty sure but none specify folding. I'm assuming if it power telescopes it power folds so that's why i'm curious what the simple "power" means.

I do know what BLIS is and I'm not interested in it.

What is the camera good for? Is it what is used when backing up for 360 view? If so, is there anything else and if bought with a camera, is its functionality available even if I don't have a front facing camera? Has anyone tried this?

I'm not sure what tow vision is when it comes to side mirrors.

What is the memory function for and is it useful?

Some come with a spotlight but I'm also not interested in that.

When looking at mirrors they're all the same price regardless of what they have. They're expensive so I'd want to get it right.

 

I’m going to say the first “POWER” refers to power adjustment of the main mirror glass. My XLT has power fold and telescope. They don’t inspire a lot of confidence when listening to the motors whine and/or occasionally not working. It’s a real joy when they de-synchronize and one is folded in while the other is folded out. Easy to reset but c’mon Ford! If/When they stop working altogether, I plan to replace them with the manual version!

 

Power is power adjusted glass, i believe that all mirrors have the heated glass but I'm not a 100% sure.

Power telescope is power extend and fold

Blind spot or blis equiped mirrors have the light in the glass for use with blind spot detection system some trucks have.

camera and tow vision are the same thing it from trucks with the 360 camera.

memory mirrors have additional electronic in them that lets a module store and recall the position of the glass.

The spot lights will come equipped on most of the powered mirrors

For certain features to work with the mirrors you will have to add or replace modules and add additional wiring. It sound simple but its not and can get verry complicated .

 

So looks like the one I posted is the one I’d want. No need for any of the cameras unless someone couch chime in if the camera would work with forscan and show the truck screen while in reverse. Idk if it would without a front camera installed. Don’t need memory cause nobody drives my truck but me. Thanks for the replies.

 

MOST important thing said and should not be over looked. I wanted to upgrade to powerscope as well. After my last truck had them I swore I'd never buy another one without, then I got 2. There is nothing easy or cheap or maybe even possible about the upgrade. I've upgraded many a standard F150 mirror to tow mirrors and had always been plug and play, that doesn't exist with Powerscopes.

 

That is true. I’ve followed along with the F-150 upgrade thread and from what I’ve found their steps are the same for us. I’ve never used the stickied forscan spreadsheet on their forum and always use the F-150 one because it’s so much more robust. Looks like I’d need the mirrors, door harnesses, door switch and two modules. All you gotta do is copy the existing door module into the new one, then add features. None of that sounds too bad to me. It’s just the price of it all that may end it all.

 

The first power refers to the movement of the glass within the mirror housing, power up, down, left right. All power mirrors have heat, clearance lights, and turn signals since 2008.

Power telescope refers to sliding in and out as well as power folding, mirrors will have both or none (the 2 features don't exist independently), and powerscope mirrors also include the puddle lamps and spotlight features.

BLIS is the indicators in the glass when a vehicle is detected in the blindspot via the radar in the taillights.

The camera is connected to the 360 camera. IMO they're completely useless. My 2019 had them, and I hated them. The images produced are so horrible and skewed you can't tell what's next to the truck anyway, and the "tow images" produced by the mirror cameras are too grainy to see anything next to the trailer. Ford could take a lesson from Honda on this one, turn that camera on with the turn signal and show me a nice clear image of what's in my blind spot, but in their current 360 camera idea, hard pass!

The memory is a nice feature if you have multiple drivers, each has their own key, and when the get in the truck, the mirrors, seat, and pedals all go to their programmed spot. Hardly necessary if you're the only driver.

Again the spotlight comes in the powerscope mirrors, I find them useful on occasion at night in a dark area, finding addresses, etc, but depending on your use, may not be useful at all!

 

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. Now to determine if the price is worth it. Thanks.

 

On a new truck, the $280 upcharge to powerscope mirrors is worth every penny. To upgrade on an already built truck is very expensive and time consuming.