Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
clown nose transplant?
- Sidewaze Samm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 1:11 pm
- Location: Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
clown nose transplant?
So two days after driving home my new Zed, I noticed. There is nothing at the bottom of my rearview mirror - no flashing light and no dome-shaped thing.
So what's the best way to sort it? From what I've read I gather a 1 series uses the same mirror - should I contemplate replacing the whole mirror or just attempt a transplant of the clown nose.
If it makes any difference, the mirror is auto dipping and the car also has rain and light sensors. The photo shows what I have (haven't) got under my mirror.
Thanks
So what's the best way to sort it? From what I've read I gather a 1 series uses the same mirror - should I contemplate replacing the whole mirror or just attempt a transplant of the clown nose.
If it makes any difference, the mirror is auto dipping and the car also has rain and light sensors. The photo shows what I have (haven't) got under my mirror.
Thanks
2008 E85 3.0si
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26544
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:42 pm
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26544
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
clown nose transplant?
Should look like this.
I think the sensor dims the mirror when it detects head lights behind you.
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:42 pm
clown nose transplant?
Mine has a red cover, I thought it was for the blinking led for the alarm system. Isn't the dimming sensor housed just below the glass itself? That tiny hole?
- Sidewaze Samm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 1:11 pm
- Location: Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
clown nose transplant?
Yep, I know what it should look like (that's how I noticed it was missing )
But what is missing besides the dome cover? Is a transplant feasible or even possible?
The dipping sensor is on the mirror housing itself, and I presume the light under the mirror sticks in the hole showing in my photo. Is that right and is it replaceable?
But what is missing besides the dome cover? Is a transplant feasible or even possible?
The dipping sensor is on the mirror housing itself, and I presume the light under the mirror sticks in the hole showing in my photo. Is that right and is it replaceable?
Last edited by Sidewaze Samm on Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
2008 E85 3.0si
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
- ben g
- Lifer
- Posts: 7858
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
clown nose transplant?
Im thought the glass dims itself (something to do with liquid inside it).
The dome underneath the mirror is simply the flashing red light for the alarm.
The dome underneath the mirror is simply the flashing red light for the alarm.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.
-
- Member
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 10:43 pm
clown nose transplant?
Well i think the mirror has electrics in for key fob reciever, but yes others have swapped everything over, or jus tthe red nose. Bit pricey for just that though.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alarm-LED-Co ... rk:13:pf:0
have a look for auto dimming glass replacement few have done it
viewtopic.php?t=68814
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alarm-LED-Co ... rk:13:pf:0
have a look for auto dimming glass replacement few have done it
viewtopic.php?t=68814
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26544
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
clown nose transplant?
Well I had a quick look on Beemer posts. Options ranged from Alarm armed LED to passenger ejector button.
- Sidewaze Samm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 1:11 pm
- Location: Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
clown nose transplant?
OK - so understanding that a 1 series mirror is 'the same' as a mirror for E85, I bought one from ebay to be the donor for the clown nose transplant. But, after popping off the 'nose' (it just pulls off, thankfully) it was apparent that it would not be just a case of replacing a missing LED, as the pcb is not the same as in mine.
Could anyboby pop off their cover and post a photo of what's underneath, so I can see what I'm missing?
My first thought was to just swap the complete mirrors over, but I then notice that the 1 series mirror has a different radio frequency to the one in my car (868MHz instead of 434MHz). So the mirrors I have are the same in function and appearance, but it's no use to me (not used in E85 but realoem says it is used in E89 models with part no 51169134394, 51169125561, 51167118331, or 51169320281 - if anyone wants it...)
Further, I've now realised that the mirror in my car is in fact permanently slightly dimmed and have discovered that this is a precursor to a leak of the corrosive dimming liquid!
So, any helpful suggestions on how to proceed, without paying hundreds for a new mirror, would be gratefully received.
PS - if a complete new mirror is fitted, does it need to be coded?
Could anyboby pop off their cover and post a photo of what's underneath, so I can see what I'm missing?
My first thought was to just swap the complete mirrors over, but I then notice that the 1 series mirror has a different radio frequency to the one in my car (868MHz instead of 434MHz). So the mirrors I have are the same in function and appearance, but it's no use to me (not used in E85 but realoem says it is used in E89 models with part no 51169134394, 51169125561, 51167118331, or 51169320281 - if anyone wants it...)
Further, I've now realised that the mirror in my car is in fact permanently slightly dimmed and have discovered that this is a precursor to a leak of the corrosive dimming liquid!
So, any helpful suggestions on how to proceed, without paying hundreds for a new mirror, would be gratefully received.
PS - if a complete new mirror is fitted, does it need to be coded?
2008 E85 3.0si
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
- Sidewaze Samm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 1:11 pm
- Location: Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
clown nose transplant?
OK so having got hold of a cheap used replacement mirror, I'll answer my own question: no, it doesn't need coding. Now fitted and everything working fine
2008 E85 3.0si
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
- ph001
- Lifer
- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
- Location: N. Yorkshire.
clown nose transplant?
well done Sam. Did you suss out what is under the red dome?
- Sidewaze Samm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 1:11 pm
- Location: Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
clown nose transplant?
Just a circuit board, that looked different in the first mirror I got from a 1 series (although the glass is indeed the same, so I'll keep it for possible future use), and the LED that was missing from the mirror in the car. Who knows why the LED and dome cover were missing, but at least I didn't need a brand new one at £400 or so!
2008 E85 3.0si
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
Space Grey, Dream Red New England heated Msports.
Xenons, MFSW, cruise, PDC, wind deflector.
ZHP, stubby, gloss black grilles, DLV box, gaptech, no CDV.
-
- Member
- Posts: 703
- Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2018 12:47 am
- Location: Shropshire
clown nose transplant?
Somebody no doubt decided they didn’t want a flashing led. God knows why but there’s “ nowt so queer as folk”
Ex E86 Z4 3.0si coupé facelift blue now Z'less
Porsche 997 C2S black-gone-, Mazda Eunos 1.8 yellow-gone-, Audi S4 Avant v6 Quattro 3.0 supercharged red-gone. Abarth 500 red. Abarth 124 Spider GT black. Porsche Cayenne red.
Porsche 997 C2S black-gone-, Mazda Eunos 1.8 yellow-gone-, Audi S4 Avant v6 Quattro 3.0 supercharged red-gone. Abarth 500 red. Abarth 124 Spider GT black. Porsche Cayenne red.
- skmattwell
- Member
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:55 pm
- Location: London
clown nose transplant?
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but Ive noticed that my mirror looks exactly the same as the original post. I would post an image but it looks identical.
No clown nose, no led, maybe other parts missing. Was there ever an explanation as to why this would be the case? Do people hate the light so much they rip it out?
No clown nose, no led, maybe other parts missing. Was there ever an explanation as to why this would be the case? Do people hate the light so much they rip it out?