2003 E85 - auto dip mirrors don't undim when putting in reverse

[x-driver]

Hello everyone!

I'm having an issue with my 2003 Z4. I have the ext/int auto dip mirror option. The mirrors seem to work, except they won't undark when I put in reverse, therefore I find it hard to drive in reverse at night as I can't see anything.

They don't look too dark at daylight, so they are not permanently darkened. I did some testing with covering the sensors and I saw the mirrors dimming slightly. So they are not dead.

But when I put in reverse, they stay dark while they should undim so you can see where you are driving in reverse at night.

I'll attach some pictures at daylight where mirrors can be seen how dark they are. I believe they are normal at daylight.

Any idea how to solve this problem with reversing? I didn't try the selector button trick which works with passenger mirror moving down when reversing. I believe undimming when reversing should be always on.

 

[x-driver]

I documented some testing today. You can see the mirrors dim when I cover the sensor facing the windshield.

 

[x-driver]

I got an opinion that the problem might be in mirrors not receiving signal from the gearbox. However the reverse light works. I even tried to use LED in it, Osram... Doesn't help.

Anyone familiar with how the mirrors receive a signal when I put in reverse? Where to look for faults?

 

[enuff_zed]

Not sure what the spec is of your car, but I don’t recall seeing anything in UK brochures about this actually being a feature?
In fact I know someone who changed to plain glass for exactly that reason.
Also don’t think the passenger side moving down was ever a feature either?

 

[pvr]

It is not a feature on the Z. On my X5M it is, but was never an option on the Z.

As your user name is X-driver, if you have or had any top range X5 models (you needed one with electric seats and mirror package), then it would have worked there.

 

[smorris_12]

My 2p, if it is a feature, I'd only expect it to work when the headlights are on.

 

[x-driver]

I believe the term "dip" means the option of passenger mirror moving down for you to see the kerb, while "dim" means darkening the light.

As I already wrote, my options list says I have the option S430 Interior/Outside Mirror With Auto Dip.
This is the only option that mentions mirrors.

So I don't have the option where passenger mirror moves down when reversing. Or at least I haven't noticed it yet as I don't know if I was ever reversing with the mirror selector button switched on each side. I only own this car for half a year.

______________
Regarding the un-dimming when reversing, the car should do so as it's specifically stated in original user manual. But I don't see it happening and there is really bad visibility in the mirrors when reversing.

The only other option could be that the mirrors are already a little permanently dimmed, but they still work and you can see the difference between "light" and "dark" mode. They look toned at daylight but the picture in them doesn't seem darkened.

I'll do the test again, this time including engaging reverse as I totally forgot to do so the last time :headbang:

 

[Street]

I had a very similar convo with a friend recently. He found this on google:

The auto dip option code S430a is oft misunderstood & is not what most owners think it is.

The feature where the passenger mirror tilts downward when reverse is selected…is commonly misperceived to be the “auto-dip” feature…when it is actually the auto-tilt feature.

Auto-dip refers to the auto-dimming feature of the interior rear view mirror and exterior mirrors. Somehow the term “AUTO-DIP” has never been dropped from when the interior rear view mirrors actually “DIPPED” back in the late 1980s/early 1990s. This dipping mirror technology failed royally…but then the electro-chromatic mirror technology debuted and BMW took that path…but never dropped the “auto dip” nomenclature.

Out of interest when do you find yourself reversing into a bright light? I’ve never noticed the undimming of the passenger wing mirror on reverse but I can’t recall when I would.

 

[smorris_12]

Somehow the term “AUTO-DIP” has never been dropped from when the interior rear view mirrors actually “DIPPED” back in the late 1980s/early 1990s. This dipping mirror technology failed royally…

And the 60s and 70s. The dipping is the mechanical adjuster almost all rear view mirrors had for donkey's years so I can't see why they said it was a failure.

But this is just car nomclature that goes back a long way. Like sidelights, wing mirrors, hood, trunk[1] and dashboard (these two genuinely go back at least 300 years.)


[1] Boring side note: A lot of Americanisms are actually 17th century English so when people complain about Americans mangling our language, it's actually back to front. We changed it and they didn't. So feel free to use gotten and sidewalk knowing that you're talking Regency English!

 

[x-driver]

Some interesting reading

However I don't reverse into bright light, it can be a complete darkness.

Sadly I didn't perform a test yet.

 

[enuff_zed]

Some interesting reading

However I don't reverse into bright light, it can be a complete darkness.

Sadly I didn't perform a test yet.

I've done the checks on my wife's car which has the same spec mirrors.
They dim fine, but don't lighten again when you select reverse. So I'm guessing they are not that clever.

 

[x-driver]

Wow... Anyone else?

The mirrors SHOULD lighten up, it's written in user manual that they do! Have a look below...

 

[enuff_zed]

Don’t believe the Germans!
They said they wouldn’t invade Poland :rofl:

 

[x-driver]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: