Oval vs oblong interior rear view mirror

Vertigo//SD · 02-03-2011, 10:39 AM

My '07 M Coupe has the oval mirror (just like my previous E46 M3). But I've noticed that some have the more oblong shaped ones. Was the change primarily due to remote issues or was there something else? Personally, I prefer the look of the oval.

FerRrari · 02-03-2011, 10:46 AM

I believe the roadsters have the oblong and the coupes have the oval ones? Neither have remotes.

scottyD · 02-03-2011, 02:52 PM

My understanding was that all Z4s (roadsters, coupes, Ms) came initially with the smaller oval mirror, and those that complained that the keyless entry range sucks were given the new updated larger oblong mirror under warranty (since it apparently has a larger antenna).

I have the smaller oval mirror and suffer through the short keyless entry range issue.

I agree - I think it looks better.

FerRrari · 02-03-2011, 02:55 PM

I have the oblong one and the range on my keyfob still sucks, the oblong is shaped to be the shape of the gap between the roll hoops, so that's why I think ovals are just for coupes.

If you get homelink then your mirror would be rectangular.

StigJ · 02-03-2011, 03:37 PM

What does oblong look like?
What do I have?

FerRrari · 02-03-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StigJ

What does oblong look like?
What do I have?

Oblong

Nikki · 02-03-2011, 04:55 PM

...is this also oblong? Sorry for the bad photo...I realized I haven't taken any interior shots except for this one.

Jbs · 02-03-2011, 05:08 PM

well that explains a bit...

r4gs · 02-03-2011, 05:15 PM

i have the older oval-shaped rear-view mirror, and i prefer them over the newer oblong-shaped ones. the oval style matches the side-view mirrors

ZStig · 02-03-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbs

well that explains a bit...

do you always keep plastic over your carpets?

Jbs · 02-03-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

do you always keep plastic over your carpets?

yea i keep it super fresh.... keeps the ash off the carpet

that was just after i bought it haha, it was raining that weekend

ZStig · 02-03-2011, 05:53 PM

you smoke in it to keep it super fresh? lol

XMetal · 02-03-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FerRrari

I believe the roadsters have the oblong and the coupes have the oval ones? Neither have remotes.

My MC have the oblong version.

StigJ · 02-04-2011, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r4gs

... the oval style matches the side-view mirrors

But the oblong matches the shape of the rear window when you see in the mirror

But I agree that the oval have a nicer shape.

pokeybritches · 02-04-2011, 03:15 AM

Oblong in both my roadsters.

itsregie · 02-04-2011, 04:49 AM

I have the oblong ones on my 2006 roadster and still have bad keyless entry range. Lose-lose

Nikki · 02-04-2011, 09:41 AM

Mine is oblong...but I think my 3.0si coupe was oval.

RCNet · 02-04-2011, 10:10 AM

One other subtle difference between the oval and oblong mirrors is that the auto dimming sensor moved from the bottom of the mirror in the oval to the top of the mirror with the oblong. When I went from the oval to the oblong to address the remote range problem, I noticed the auto dimming feature no longer worked with my coupe because the headlights from the cars behind never reached the top of the mirror.

I ended up doing a little surgery to the replacement oblong mirror and moved the sensor from the top to a new position in the clown nose. Problem solved.

I too think the oblong mirror frames the rear window of the coupe better than the oval.

Nikki · 02-04-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCNet

One other subtle difference between the oval and oblong mirrors is that the auto dimming sensor moved from the bottom of the mirror in the oval to the top of the mirror with the oblong. When I went from the oval to the oblong to address the remote range problem, I noticed the auto dimming feature no longer worked with my coupe because the headlights from the cars behind never reached the top of the mirror.

I ended up doing a little surgery to the replacement oblong mirror and moved the sensor from the top to a new position in the clown nose. Problem solved.

I too think the oblong mirror frames the rear window of the coupe better than the oval.

Interesting...I thought that the auto-dim just didn't work as well on my M...

johanness · 02-04-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCNet

I ended up doing a little surgery to the replacement oblong mirror and moved the sensor from the top to a new position in the clown nose. Problem solved.

A little surgery how? Details would be great. I think all M's have the non-dimming issue because of the reasons mentioned above

BlackMoupe · 02-04-2011, 11:29 AM

I have oblong, fits the rear window just right. But even in the lowest seat setting, I'm too damn tall so the mirror points at the ground behind me >

. So I have to tilt it to at least see the headlights of the car behind me, but then I lose half the view to the hatch....gggrrr

RCNet · 02-04-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johanness

A little surgery how? Details would be great. I think all M's have the non-dimming issue because of the reasons mentioned above

Here are the details back when I did the modification to the mirror. Sorry, no pictures, just text.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=37

02-03-2011, 10:39 AM	#1
Vertigo//SD First Lieutenant 39 Rep 362 Posts Drives: X1 xDrive28i (temporarily) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (1)	Oval vs oblong interior rear view mirror My '07 M Coupe has the oval mirror (just like my previous E46 M3). But I've noticed that some have the more oblong shaped ones. Was the change primarily due to remote issues or was there something else? Personally, I prefer the look of the oval.
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02-03-2011, 10:46 AM	#2
FerRrari First Lieutenant 19 Rep 389 Posts Drives: Catrinel Menghia Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (1)	I believe the roadsters have the oblong and the coupes have the oval ones? Neither have remotes. __________________ '12 Nero/Rosso 500 Abarth '07 IR/SBL ///M Roadster (GONE), '08 Tornado Red Triumph Daytona (GONE), '09 BRG/Cloth 6MT MINI Cooper S (Spontaneously Combusted), '06 IR/IR ///M3 Convertible 6MT (GONE), '04 JB/CR Z4 2.5i SMG (GONE)
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02-03-2011, 02:52 PM	#3
scottyD Private First Class 2 Rep 136 Posts Drives: 07 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC/Baltimore area iTrader: (0)	My understanding was that all Z4s (roadsters, coupes, Ms) came initially with the smaller oval mirror, and those that complained that the keyless entry range sucks were given the new updated larger oblong mirror under warranty (since it apparently has a larger antenna). I have the smaller oval mirror and suffer through the short keyless entry range issue. I agree - I think it looks better.
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02-03-2011, 02:55 PM	#4
FerRrari First Lieutenant 19 Rep 389 Posts Drives: Catrinel Menghia Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (1)	I have the oblong one and the range on my keyfob still sucks, the oblong is shaped to be the shape of the gap between the roll hoops, so that's why I think ovals are just for coupes. If you get homelink then your mirror would be rectangular. __________________ '12 Nero/Rosso 500 Abarth '07 IR/SBL ///M Roadster (GONE), '08 Tornado Red Triumph Daytona (GONE), '09 BRG/Cloth 6MT MINI Cooper S (Spontaneously Combusted), '06 IR/IR ///M3 Convertible 6MT (GONE), '04 JB/CR Z4 2.5i SMG (GONE)
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02-03-2011, 03:37 PM	#5
StigJ Lieutenant 333 Rep 509 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 Coupe & '14 F30 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	What does oblong look like? What do I have? __________________ My Hellrot '06 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe and My Mineral Grey '14 F30 (sold) New daily: Sunset Orange 330E G20 Instagram: @StigJ77 & @bmwe86driver
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02-03-2011, 04:55 PM	#7
Nikki Major General 990 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	...is this also oblong? Sorry for the bad photo...I realized I haven't taken any interior shots except for this one. __________________ Nikki
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02-03-2011, 05:08 PM	#8
Jbs The Photographer 76 Rep 628 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC BSM/Black extended Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	well that explains a bit... __________________ John Batte Photography / Flickr / Facebook 2007 ///M Coupe BSM/Black Extended/Loaded \| RPi GT Exhaust w/custom gloss black tips \| KW V3 \| Michelin PSS 245/265 \| Pinnacle F1 Tint 35% \| ZHP Shift Knob
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02-03-2011, 05:15 PM	#9
r4gs Viper Driver 36 Rep 1,311 Posts Drives: F-16 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Singapore iTrader: (2)	i have the older oval-shaped rear-view mirror, and i prefer them over the newer oblong-shaped ones. the oval style matches the side-view mirrors
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02-03-2011, 05:53 PM	#12
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	you smoke in it to keep it super fresh? lol __________________
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02-04-2011, 03:15 AM	#15
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	Oblong in both my roadsters.
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02-04-2011, 04:49 AM	#16
itsregie New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 Roadster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I have the oblong ones on my 2006 roadster and still have bad keyless entry range. Lose-lose
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02-04-2011, 09:41 AM	#17
Nikki Major General 990 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	Mine is oblong...but I think my 3.0si coupe was oval. __________________ Nikki
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02-04-2011, 10:10 AM	#18
RCNet Woof!! 5 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 2006 Ti Silver Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SW Washington iTrader: (0)	One other subtle difference between the oval and oblong mirrors is that the auto dimming sensor moved from the bottom of the mirror in the oval to the top of the mirror with the oblong. When I went from the oval to the oblong to address the remote range problem, I noticed the auto dimming feature no longer worked with my coupe because the headlights from the cars behind never reached the top of the mirror. I ended up doing a little surgery to the replacement oblong mirror and moved the sensor from the top to a new position in the clown nose. Problem solved. I too think the oblong mirror frames the rear window of the coupe better than the oval. __________________ 2006 Ti Silver Z4 M Coupe 2009 Deep Sea Blue 535i xDrive Sports Wagon
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02-04-2011, 11:29 AM	#21
BlackMoupe Mouper 114 Rep 1,064 Posts Drives: _____ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: _____ iTrader: (1)	I have oblong, fits the rear window just right. But even in the lowest seat setting, I'm too damn tall so the mirror points at the ground behind me > . So I have to tilt it to at least see the headlights of the car behind me, but then I lose half the view to the hatch....gggrrr
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