Auto-dimming exterior mirrors

PrinceBarin · 05-31-2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micleg

Did anyone test my theory in previous post? I am about to order a car and can't decide if the exterior dimming is worth it.

I am overseas at the moment so cannot test for sure but when I tested it last time, the exterior mirrors dimmed in response to a flashlight being shone on the rear-view mirror. I didn't get any sense that the exterior mirrors had an independent light sensor of any kind. I will check when I get back in Monday if it's not too late.

svache · 05-31-2012, 11:15 PM

If I don't forget, I will try it later tonight

lbjgh · 10-13-2012, 10:31 AM

Hey svache,

Us guys over at the X3 forums are complaining about the wing mirrors not dimming very much either. I too did the flashlight test last night and the wing mirrors do dim but not very much.

I was wondering if you guys have heard of anyone adjusting the dimming using coding? One of the X3 members said the dealership can increase the mirror dimming... so a coding fix should be possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by svache

Well, I just checked with a strong flashlight and Raspartan is indeed right. It does get darker on the exterior mirrors but slower than the interior. Also I noticed it needs a LOT of light to actually get darker.

I think that we didn't notice it before as much as I did with my other car because of this delay and because it needs to be a lot stronger.

Also, something I noticed, is that there was no blank parts on the edge of the mirrors like I had with my X5 or like I see in my interior mirror. This especially made the difference very clear at night because you'd still see a bit of 'normal' mirror on the outer edges.

So yeah, it does seem to work, just not as obvious as the older cars had

edit: I just realize I also often have my rear window shade up at night (basically almost always) and this, of course, also stops light from coming onto the interior mirror.

fshubert · 10-14-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

I am overseas at the moment so cannot test for sure but when I tested it last time, the exterior mirrors dimmed in response to a flashlight being shone on the rear-view mirror. I didn't get any sense that the exterior mirrors had an independent light sensor of any kind. I will check when I get back in Monday if it's not too late.

Dimming is definately worth it especially if you travel frequently at night or live in a rural area where headlights are light pollution. I noticed the difference between my Chrysler and the new '07 3-series right away. In fact, my wife noticed immediately how the bright lights from the car behind us was not blinding her in the passenger side-view. I then realized how nice it was to have auto-dimming interior/exterior mirrors.

UhhItsANT · 12-08-2012, 09:42 PM

I too also experienced this tonight while driving home. When it got dark the internal mirror dimmed right away, but sides didn't. Later on it dimmed, but then after a while it was dimmed anymore.

Anyway to code it to just stay dim with the internal mirror. I look in the manual... there something about the blinding effect on page 53.

Cfichman · 12-09-2012, 06:28 AM

auto dimming rear view mirrors became standard in 2013 for all f30.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=692356

pkimM3r · 12-11-2012, 01:42 AM

Mine dim when a car is close eg blind spot and right behind. Yes my mirrors are pointed at the blindspots intentionally. But i hate auto dimming. I prefer to see what is behind me aka cops. Sometimes i cover the sensor (little dot) on the rear view just to check whats behind me. My ability to know what model a car is by headlights flashing is impeccable. Through years of paranoia. Lol.

G16grancoupe · 12-11-2012, 01:48 AM

It is standard now on 2013 f30 us. And I feel like my side mirrors now (f30) do not dim nearly as much as my 2010 Camaro...

Slagish · 02-23-2014, 03:46 PM

On my 320i I have the same issue where the outside only dim sometimes while the inside rear view would dim quite frequently.

Anyone find a solution to this?

Is coding an option to adjust the side mirrors?

lbjgh · 02-23-2014, 08:21 PM

There is no fix to this design fault. Sorry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slagish

On my 320i I have the same issue where the outside only dim sometimes while the inside rear view would dim quite frequently.

Anyone find a solution to this?

Is coding an option to adjust the side mirrors?

bucawke · 02-23-2014, 09:58 PM

I noticed tonight while I was driving that my outside mirrors responded more to halogen lights than HID lights.

kobebrain · 05-23-2014, 09:29 AM

Hi
I've rear view auto dim rear view mirror but no auto dim side mirror. There is a way to retrofit this function?

lbjgh · 05-23-2014, 09:56 PM

The side view mirrors do dim... they just take 3x as long as the interior rear view mirror and typically the glare is gone before the mirror has a chance to dim.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kobebrain

Hi
I've rear view auto dim rear view mirror but no auto dim side mirror. There is a way to retrofit this function?

kobebrain · 05-25-2014, 03:51 PM

I've de-code my vin and i've found that the auto dim mirror is only mentioned for the interior mirror not for the side. Also if I put my vin in realoem, if search for a spare side mirror glass and it give me standard glass not the auto dim version... So I think they are standard. There is a easy way to retrofit the auto dimming? Maybe I need only to change the mirror glass?

ft1330 · 05-25-2014, 04:42 PM

I have a dimming rear view mirror but I'm not too sure about the side ones. They don't seem to dim at all. However they are power folding, so I'm not sure what's going on. According to the VIN decoder I have:

S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip

So supposedly the side ones should be auto-dimming... Is is "dip" something else.

Carbon.F30 · 06-18-2016, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svache

Is there any way to check if I really received these on my car?

Thing is, I had this on my X5 and compared to that car, and compared to my interior mirror, it is almost as if my exterior mirrors are not dimming at all. The lights are brighter and it does not appear as if there is a layer on top of my exterior mirrors like the interior has (you can see this at night because the middle of the mirror is darker than the outer edges).

Hey, I've been getting the same issue with my F30 where it seems like it's not dimming. Apparently when I asked my SA and looked in the OM the car uses the sensor from your rear view mirror to dim the sides as well. Try pointing a light at the sensor (small circle) in your rear view. When I did that, both of my exterior mirrors dimmed along with the rearview. HOWEVER since I have a tint, they don't work too well when there is a giant truck behind me. Hope that helps!

PS: Might be an unsaid rule but MAKE SURE your headlights are on.

05-31-2012, 11:15 PM	#46
svache Lieutenant Colonel 267 Rep 1,879 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Hawaii iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW F30 328i [5.74] 2009 BMW X5 xDrive30i [0.00] 2004 BMW M3 SMG [8.66]	If I don't forget, I will try it later tonight __________________ F30 328i Luxury w/ Mojave metallic, beige interior (timeline) Note: Many PM me for links to the software needed to code. Please note that I do not have download links to this software. Your best bet is using the search function in the coding thread
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12-08-2012, 09:42 PM	#49
UhhItsANT Captain 77 Rep 664 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2013 BMW 335i [0.00]	I too also experienced this tonight while driving home. When it got dark the internal mirror dimmed right away, but sides didn't. Later on it dimmed, but then after a while it was dimmed anymore. Anyway to code it to just stay dim with the internal mirror. I look in the manual... there something about the blinding effect on page 53.
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12-09-2012, 06:28 AM	#50
Cfichman Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 224 Posts Drives: Tesla M3P Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M340I (wif ... [0.00] 2019 Tesla Model 3 ... [0.00]	auto dimming rear view mirrors became standard in 2013 for all f30. http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=692356
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12-11-2012, 01:42 AM	#51
pkimM3r Banned 205 Rep 7,298 Posts Drives: m3 saloon in granny mode. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lost angeles iTrader: (0)	Mine dim when a car is close eg blind spot and right behind. Yes my mirrors are pointed at the blindspots intentionally. But i hate auto dimming. I prefer to see what is behind me aka cops. Sometimes i cover the sensor (little dot) on the rear view just to check whats behind me. My ability to know what model a car is by headlights flashing is impeccable. Through years of paranoia. Lol.
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12-11-2012, 01:48 AM	#52
G16grancoupe Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 266 Posts Drives: 2019 f90 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: So CAL, LA iTrader: (0)	It is standard now on 2013 f30 us. And I feel like my side mirrors now (f30) do not dim nearly as much as my 2010 Camaro...
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02-23-2014, 03:46 PM	#53
Slagish Enlisted Member 4 Rep 30 Posts Drives: '14 F30 320i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	On my 320i I have the same issue where the outside only dim sometimes while the inside rear view would dim quite frequently. Anyone find a solution to this? Is coding an option to adjust the side mirrors?
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02-23-2014, 09:58 PM	#55
bucawke Private First Class 21 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW x5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW x5 M-Sport [0.00]	I noticed tonight while I was driving that my outside mirrors responded more to halogen lights than HID lights.
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05-23-2014, 09:29 AM	#56
kobebrain Enlisted Member 0 Rep 35 Posts Drives: F31 Sport Line Join Date: May 2014 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	Hi I've rear view auto dim rear view mirror but no auto dim side mirror. There is a way to retrofit this function?
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05-25-2014, 03:51 PM	#58
kobebrain Enlisted Member 0 Rep 35 Posts Drives: F31 Sport Line Join Date: May 2014 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	I've de-code my vin and i've found that the auto dim mirror is only mentioned for the interior mirror not for the side. Also if I put my vin in realoem, if search for a spare side mirror glass and it give me standard glass not the auto dim version... So I think they are standard. There is a easy way to retrofit the auto dimming? Maybe I need only to change the mirror glass?
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05-25-2014, 04:42 PM	#59
ft1330 Major 231 Rep 1,267 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	I have a dimming rear view mirror but I'm not too sure about the side ones. They don't seem to dim at all. However they are power folding, so I'm not sure what's going on. According to the VIN decoder I have: S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip So supposedly the side ones should be auto-dimming... Is is "dip" something else.
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