Rear view mirror not dimming as much as I would like

lordbmw · 10-12-2016, 08:17 PM

I noticed that my rear view mirror doesn't dim as much as I would like sometimes especially around dawn or dusk.

The side mirrors seem to do a better job at that.

I bought the car used so I don't know if it was better at one point. May be that's just the way BMWs are.

I came from an older Mustang where you just flipped the rear view mirror down when you needed to.

I tested the rear view mirror dimming with a flash light and it's definitely working but not as well as I would like.

Anyone else experience this?

Bluewater328iT · 10-13-2016, 07:02 AM

I bought a stripper E91 with manual shift, seats, and mirror. Other BMWs I had did have the auto dim and there were times it did not seem to dim enough. Sometimes I just manually moved it a bit upward to reduce the glare, similar to what a flip button would do.

The auto dim mirrors do fail, but usually you see defects in the mirror and the car is a lot older than yours. RealOEM.com has the part numbers in the Vehicle Trim section. I recall there are vendors who rebuild these for a lot less cost than new.

Tom K. · 10-13-2016, 10:23 AM

If given the choice, I'd opt for manually dimming mirrors any day. Unfortunately, it is what it is.

Tom

justpete · 10-13-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordbmw

I noticed that my rear view mirror doesn't dim as much as I would like sometimes especially around dawn or dusk.

The side mirrors seem to do a better job at that.

I bought the car used so I don't know if it was better at one point. May be that's just the way BMWs are.

I came from an older Mustang where you just flipped the rear view mirror down when you needed to.

I tested the rear view mirror dimming with a flash light and it's definitely working but not as well as I would like.

Anyone else experience this?

How heavily is the rear window tinted?

lordbmw · 10-13-2016, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justpete

How heavily is the rear window tinted?

I think the car is stock - no tint.

I bought the car used.

R608 · 10-16-2016, 05:02 PM

I have the same complaint with mine. My old e90 had the manually-dimming mirror and there have been many times where I've thought about swapping the auto-dimming one for a simple manual type, but I suspect I'd then lose the dimming feature on the outside mirrors. I usually end up either aiming the mirror upward or raising the rear sunshade. "Progress"

galahad05 · 10-16-2016, 06:56 PM

Mine works very well--except when I have my rear shade up. Then it pretty much doesn't do anything. Same effect on my side-view.

unrulyteach · 10-16-2016, 09:17 PM

They work just not when someone is tailgating u

but then I just turn of my rear fogs and all is well

triax37 · 11-13-2017, 07:55 PM

If I replace the OEM mirror with a generic aftermarket mirror, will it trigger any codes or have any problems? My mirror has a few issues, and I don't care about the compass feature or Homelink that are on my current mirror.

From what I can tell, I have the 51169192321 mirror, EC/LED/GTO/compass/RC, but not alarm. I confirmed this at BMWVIN that I have S5GAA, Preparation for Alarm.

From another thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1244112

Alarm "LED" (is this identified by red dot?)
FLA = automatic high beam via light sensor
Compass
Homelink garage opener
EC = "Electrochromatic" Auto dim (dip)
Rain sensor
ETC = Electronic Toll Collection
RC = remote control (not sure what this is. possibly just the key FOB receiver)

10-12-2016, 08:17 PM	#1
lordbmw Captain 270 Rep 790 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 335xi Coupe (AT) Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	Rear view mirror not dimming as much as I would like I noticed that my rear view mirror doesn't dim as much as I would like sometimes especially around dawn or dusk. The side mirrors seem to do a better job at that. I bought the car used so I don't know if it was better at one point. May be that's just the way BMWs are. I came from an older Mustang where you just flipped the rear view mirror down when you needed to. I tested the rear view mirror dimming with a flash light and it's definitely working but not as well as I would like. Anyone else experience this?
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10-13-2016, 07:02 AM	#2
Bluewater328iT Lieutenant 87 Rep 471 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328iT Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Rochelle, NY iTrader: (0)	I bought a stripper E91 with manual shift, seats, and mirror. Other BMWs I had did have the auto dim and there were times it did not seem to dim enough. Sometimes I just manually moved it a bit upward to reduce the glare, similar to what a flip button would do. The auto dim mirrors do fail, but usually you see defects in the mirror and the car is a lot older than yours. RealOEM.com has the part numbers in the Vehicle Trim section. I recall there are vendors who rebuild these for a lot less cost than new. __________________ BMWCCA member since 1990 Mods: 330 intake, ECU reflash & tune, Magnaflow cat back resonator & muffler, BMW Euro airbox, tinted windows
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10-13-2016, 10:23 AM	#3
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	If given the choice, I'd opt for manually dimming mirrors any day. Unfortunately, it is what it is. Tom
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10-16-2016, 05:02 PM	#6
R608 Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 284 Posts Drives: 2011 328i M-Sport (RWD/6MT) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WNY iTrader: (0)	I have the same complaint with mine. My old e90 had the manually-dimming mirror and there have been many times where I've thought about swapping the auto-dimming one for a simple manual type, but I suspect I'd then lose the dimming feature on the outside mirrors. I usually end up either aiming the mirror upward or raising the rear sunshade. "Progress"
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10-16-2016, 06:56 PM	#7
galahad05 Brigadier General 158 Rep 3,158 Posts Drives: '07 335i e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	Mine works very well--except when I have my rear shade up. Then it pretty much doesn't do anything. Same effect on my side-view. __________________ Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. --Mark Twain
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10-16-2016, 09:17 PM	#8
unrulyteach Colonel 392 Rep 2,367 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: May 2016 Location: myrtle beach sc iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [0.00]	They work just not when someone is tailgating u but then I just turn of my rear fogs and all is well
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11-13-2017, 07:55 PM	#9
triax37 First Lieutenant 130 Rep 315 Posts Drives: 2017 F31, 2014 F15, 2002 M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (1)	If I replace the OEM mirror with a generic aftermarket mirror, will it trigger any codes or have any problems? My mirror has a few issues, and I don't care about the compass feature or Homelink that are on my current mirror. From what I can tell, I have the 51169192321 mirror, EC/LED/GTO/compass/RC, but not alarm. I confirmed this at BMWVIN that I have S5GAA, Preparation for Alarm. From another thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1244112 Alarm "LED" (is this identified by red dot?) FLA = automatic high beam via light sensor Compass Homelink garage opener EC = "Electrochromatic" Auto dim (dip) Rain sensor ETC = Electronic Toll Collection RC = remote control (not sure what this is. possibly just the key FOB receiver)
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