A hinge actuator for a wing mirror unit, comprising a base plate for mounting on a motor vehicle, which base plate is provided with a base shaft having a mirror support pivotably arranged around it, wherein base plate and mirror support are provided with cooperating stops for defining a folded-out position of the mirror support relative to the base plate, further comprising a gear wheel arranged around the base shaft so as to be rotatable and axially movable under spring action, which gear wheel cooperates with an output part of a drive arranged on the mirror support, and which gear wheel further cooperates via coupling elements with a coupling ring which is likewise arranged around the base shaft so as to be axially movable under the action of the spring. The coupling ring is furthermore arranged about the base shaft so as to be rotatable with limited travel between a first angle alpha1 corresponding to the folded-out position and a second angle alpha2. The coupling ring furthermore can cooperate with the mirror support via a first set of stops, and can cooperate with the base plate via a second set of stops, such that in the first angle alpha1 of the coupling ring, the spring force is transmitted, through cooperation of the first set of cams, via the mirror support to the base plate, and in the second angular position alpha2 of the coupling ring, the spring force, through cooperation of the second set of stops while leaving the mirror support clear, is transmitted to the base plate. |