[terrypin]

On half a dozen occasions in the couple of months since I've had my 2012 328i Luxury, the interior mirror has needed adjusting in the morning. Bizarrely, it seems to have become tilted down overnight.

On page 50 of my Owner's handbook I see a a feature called Interior mirror, automatic dim, but I don't see its relevance here. Even in the unlikely event that a nearby streetlamp or passing car headlight had triggered this while parked overnight (surely impossible anyway with all power off?) then it would presumably have reverted to the normal position.

And, of course, it's not loose; it's quite stiff to tilt back up again.

Am I missing some obvious cause please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[noein]

happens to me too...unfortunately mirror just becomes tilted down.

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by terrypin

On half a dozen occasions in the couple of months since I've had my 2012 328i Luxury, the interior mirror has needed adjusting in the morning. Bizarrely, it seems to have become tilted down overnight.

On page 50 of my Owner's handbook I see a a feature called Interior mirror, automatic dim, but I don't see its relevance here. Even in the unlikely event that a nearby streetlamp or passing car headlight had triggered this while parked overnight (surely impossible anyway with all power off?) then it would presumably have reverted to the normal position.

And, of course, it's not loose; it's quite stiff to tilt back up again.

Am I missing some obvious cause please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

The mirror doesn't have any actuators to control its tilt.
The automatic dim, refers to the mirror itself becoming darker when there are headlights from the back (not it tilting)

I think the mirror just moves due to bumps/potholes in the road.
It could be that during the day when it's hotter, it's much easier for it to move, than say in the morning when you tilt it back.

[KevinLevin]

Hi, the automatic dim refers to the glass part of the mirror housing, when driving in dark situations (night and in tunnels) it turns green which effectively dims any lights from behind your car.

If your mirror is dropping this is not mechanical, it's gravitational.

[EJL]

Yup. Happened on my E90 and on my F30.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by EJL

Yup. Happened on my E90 and on my F30.

Happened on my E91, only when the car got really hot inside, when all closed up.

So never happened much at all, even mid summer, being up here in the Highlands.

HighlandPete

[CHCCubs]

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Mirror

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by terrypin

Am I missing some obvious cause please?

Poltergeists.

[campinoboi]

This might be a bit far-fetched but I've heard somewhere that people are taller in the morning as when you sleep there is no vertical gravitational force on your spine so your torso is actually a bit longer when you wake up in the morning after staying horizontal for an extended period of time. Therefore, if you're taller in the morning when you get into your car, it would appear as if your mirror has tilted down when in fact, you got a bit taller. Then as the day goes on, gravity makes you shorter again as the spaces between your vertebrae compress.

http://www.businessinsider.com/talle...p-night-2014-8

[ji99lypuff]

Hahah thats so funny as i thought about this exact thing this morning. I have to adjust it in the mornin and again adter work on my drive home. I mean not everyday. Must measure height when i wake up vs adter working all day.

Originally Posted by campinoboi

This might be a bit far-fetched but I've heard somewhere that people are taller in the morning as when you sleep there is no vertical gravitational force on your spine so your torso is actually a bit longer when you wake up in the morning after staying horizontal for an extended period of time. Therefore, if you're taller in the morning when you get into your car, it would appear as if your mirror has tilted down when in fact, you got a bit taller. Then as the day goes on, gravity makes you shorter again as the spaces between your vertebrae compress.

http://www.businessinsider.com/talle...p-night-2014-8

[QuikSilver_]

Originally Posted by campinoboi

This might be a bit far-fetched but I've heard somewhere that people are taller in the morning as when you sleep there is no vertical gravitational force on your spine so your torso is actually a bit longer when you wake up in the morning after staying horizontal for an extended period of time. Therefore, if you're taller in the morning when you get into your car, it would appear as if your mirror has tilted down when in fact, you got a bit taller. Then as the day goes on, gravity makes you shorter again as the spaces between your vertebrae compress.

http://www.businessinsider.com/talle...p-night-2014-8

LOL! I never would have thought it to be that, but I guess it does make sense. I've noticed a few times when I get my car on different occasions, I have to adjust the mirror slightly when I thought I had adjusted it perfectly the previous time. I never paid attention to what time of day it was, but now that I think of it, I always feel like I sit higher during my morning commute to work. I always thought it was cause having my shirt tucked in didn't allow me to slouch

[pz619]

Same issue, but I just learned to deal with it. I basically need a fulcrum and a lever to move the mirror up, but every few days gravity wins and pulls it back down.

[campinoboi]

Originally Posted by ji99lypuff

Hahah thats so funny as i thought about this exact thing this morning. I have to adjust it in the mornin and again adter work on my drive home. I mean not everyday. Must measure height when i wake up vs adter working all day.

LOL, you should let us all know the result and put this issue to rest.. I found it weird too because everyone always mentions that the rearview mirror is really tight and takes some muscle to shift, so it doesn't really make sense that gravity is pulling it down over a single night..

Originally Posted by gpjustinn

LOL! I never would have thought it to be that, but I guess it does make sense. I've noticed a few times when I get my car on different occasions, I have to adjust the mirror slightly when I thought I had adjusted it perfectly the previous time. I never paid attention to what time of day it was, but now that I think of it, I always feel like I sit higher during my morning commute to work. I always thought it was cause having my shirt tucked in didn't allow me to slouch

Yeah, it'd be interesting to know if people are adjusting near the end of the day too but just aren't noticing it as much because it's not first in the morning for whatever reason..

[X2 Monstah]

Originally Posted by campinoboi

This might be a bit far-fetched but I've heard somewhere that people are taller in the morning as when you sleep there is no vertical gravitational force on your spine so your torso is actually a bit longer when you wake up in the morning after staying horizontal for an extended period of time. Therefore, if you're taller in the morning when you get into your car, it would appear as if your mirror has tilted down when in fact, you got a bit taller. Then as the day goes on, gravity makes you shorter again as the spaces between your vertebrae compress.

http://www.businessinsider.com/talle...p-night-2014-8

I actually believe this.

[Golden Arrow]

I have this issue with my mirror as well. Took the car to the dealer for something else and mentioned the problem to my service advisor. They gave me a loaner and kept it overnight to check and see. They reported no movement because either they're blind, or don't want to fix it.

I have been told the fix is simply to replace the entire mirror assembly, but as far as I know BMW hasn't made any design changes to the mirror from the beginning of production in 2011. Therefore, even if we all had them replaced, they'd be swapped with the same faulty item.

First world problems.

[terrypin]

Had it looked at while horn was fixed this morning.
Service advisor: 'Little they can do, just a ball and socket'
Me: 'Did they tighten it a bit?'
SA: Yes.

I'll report back if it happens again.

[doza88]

I thought I was the only one that encountered this random issue. I thought it had something to do with the mirror vibrating with the bass of the stereo.

[metrathon]

I have the same problem. Took it to dealer, fixed it for a few months, then it came back. But, hey, who needs a rear-view mirror when you have the Ultimate Driving Machine? Stop whinning you puss