Auto dimming rear view mirror [Archive] - BMW E46 330 ZHP For Sale Forum

tkundhi

02-11-2014, 08:41 AM

BCS_ZHP

02-11-2014, 08:45 AM

The auto dimming rearview mirror is pricey, in the $500 range. I've seen them in some ZHPs but not sure if it was factory or the owner retrofitted it.

johnrando

02-11-2014, 08:47 AM

Mine has it, but I don't know if it was part of a package. I'll check my build sheet.

johnrando

02-11-2014, 08:58 AM

The Premium Package - which on
non-Performance Package 330i
Sedans includes rain-sensing
wipers, automatic headlight
control, leather upholstery, wood
interior trim, power lumbar
support, auto-dimming inside
rearview mirror and moonroof -
is not available in combination
with the Performance Package.

This is what I found from a brochure. Assuming that means it's standard on ZHP? Not sure.

PKR

02-11-2014, 09:04 AM

I have it on my 330Cic (not a ZHP). Be aware that its dimming functionality is due to a liquid sealed inside ... and that with time that same seal may dry out and ... leak. Its nasty stuff from what I've read on E46F. There is an outfit that will replace the seal and refill. Its best to do at the first sign of a problem because the stuff can damage your interior trims. You'll notice a wavy line across the mirror.

ELCID86

02-11-2014, 09:10 AM

cakM3

02-11-2014, 09:21 AM

radar-mirror.com will do the repairs to autodimming mirrors for $99.

Here's the link: http://www.radar-mirror.com/Mirror_Repair.html (http://www.radar-mirror.com/Mirror_Repair.html)

The liquid that leaks out from the autodim mirrors are highly caustic and will literally ruin anything they touch....that means your leather seats, console, dash trim....the finish will be ruined. Think of it like an acid on anything it touches....

You will know it's time to change out the mirror when you begin to see any discoloration on the mirror surface, then a bubble will begin to form as it worsens.....if you don't replace the mirror then eventually you will have a leak and it will be too late for your finish....

Dave1027

02-11-2014, 09:47 AM

My zhp has it but it does not work very well. Does not dim down enough for my taste. Also, I don't care for that clown nose. It's way too big and obnoxious.

ELCID86

02-11-2014, 09:53 AM

Also, I don't care for that clown nose. It's way too big and obnoxious.
YOu know it (can) serve another purpose, right? Blink, blink...

cakM3

02-11-2014, 09:55 AM

My zhp has it but it does not work very well. Does not dim down enough for my taste. Also, I don't care for that clown nose. It's way too big and obnoxious.

Dave,

You can retrofit a different autodim mirror that has the reduced profile clown nose....this is what I did for my ZHP. I ended up getting an E90 reduced profile clown nose homelink compass autodim mirror from ebay...and got everything to function :)

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/ZHP/ScreenShot2013-02-25at101609PM_zps75b1b371.png

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/ZHP/ScreenShot2013-02-25at101558PM_zpsab939996.png

Here it is installed in my ZHP :)
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/HomelinkautodimMirror_zpsabc67e05.jpg

derbo

02-11-2014, 10:03 AM

Charlie is on the money with it.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSmQYE5ohZuHUq94PbzCf694uPRcEApJ v-E62sLS5ceYLLKPAQI

There is even a clear clown nose one but I'm not sure which model comes with that and the red blinking light. The active 1 series has a blue led with a clear clown nose FYI.

I also noticed the older ones would turn more blue with the electrochromatic fluid where as the newer ones is more of a green-ish hue. Thats my opinion anyways.

OP,

Auto-dimming mirrors come in premium packages. I dont have premium and do not have an auto-dimming mirror.

The sensor on the windshield is actually rain sensor and is for the automatic headlights/wipers. The autodim mirror has a photoresistive diode on both sides of the mirror and it must do some comparison of resistance between the two sides to determine when to dim the mirror.

KevinC

02-11-2014, 10:48 AM

I have an auto-dimming mirror, with the SOS (BMW Assist) function built in, but it also has Homelink built in, which was only on convertible mirrors from the factory. Bought it off Ebay with a bubble, meaning it needed to have the auto-dimming fixed.. $99 later from radar-mirror.com, and it's good as new.

johnrando

02-11-2014, 11:18 AM

What came with my car is the auto dimming mirror with home link. I like the big red clown nose blinking as it appears to lesser knowledgable people as a car alarm sensor, especially at night.

Dave1027

02-11-2014, 11:22 AM

Dave,

You can retrofit a different autodim mirror that has the reduced profile clown nose....this is what I did for my ZHP. I ended up getting an E90 reduced profile clown nose homelink compass autodim mirror from ebay...and got everything to function :) Hey, that is slick. I'll have to look into it. I don't have homelink with mine. That would be a nice function to add.

cakM3

02-11-2014, 11:29 AM

Hey, that is slick. I'll have to look into it. I don't have homelink with mine. That would be a nice function to add.

Dave, my ZHP did not come with any autodim mirror. Mine was the manual twist type mirror so with knowledge, you can pretty much retrofit anything into our cars :thumbsup

jiggz

02-11-2014, 12:32 PM

Anyone have this on their ZHP. Was it part of some package? How was it listed on the build sheet?

Our E46 touring has the auto dimming. The ZHP has a manual mirror. The way to identify the auto dimming mirror is the clown nose is fixed and there is a small area in the top center of the mirror for the light sensor.

Curious minds want to know.

t.

As others have noted, the auto-dimming mirror is part of the Premium Package (and could not be optioned separately).

However, the clown nose has nothing to do with the auto-dimming mirror. Neither of my E46's had the auto-dimming mirror, but both had the clown nose.

cakM3

02-11-2014, 12:56 PM

With the manual mirror, you twist the clown nose to go between day and night mode. In both cases, manual and autodim, the clown nose is used to flash when the alarm is active.

Sent from my iPad Mini using Tapatalk HD

derbo

02-11-2014, 02:29 PM

Yup. That clown nose is just an alarm beeper. In a manual mirror, it also functions has the twist to get the night mode reflection vs the day reflection. Fascinating how the day mirror is a highly reflective one and the night one is less reflective.

amunsey688

02-11-2014, 04:07 PM

On my 330ci, I don't have an auto-dim mirror or homelink in my car. If i got one of the E90 mirrors with both of these features, could I get them to work?

johnrando

02-11-2014, 04:28 PM

My clown nose is coded to blink but I don't have the alarm.

ELCID86

02-11-2014, 05:00 PM

My clown nose is coded to blink but I don't have the alarm.
COlin's blinks with Tony's coding, and mine does not for some reason (I blame BP!). --no really, its strange. Not sure why it doesn't.

derbo

02-11-2014, 05:13 PM

On my 330ci, I don't have an auto-dim mirror or homelink in my car. If i got one of the E90 mirrors with both of these features, could I get them to work?

Absolutely! I retrofitted an E90 one into mine.

amunsey688

02-11-2014, 06:12 PM

Awesome! If I got one of the E90 mirrors, will I lose BMW Assist functionality? (not that I really use it, just curious)

Also, would the E46 convertible mirror work for my coupe? They have auto dim, homelink, and BMW assist all integrated into the mirror.

derbo

02-11-2014, 09:18 PM

BMW Assist will be removed. You will need to repin the mirror harness to eliminate the SOS Assist. E90 mirrors have homelink, compass and autodim as well.

az3579

02-12-2014, 04:40 AM

This is my autodim. It was retrofitted with the assistance of Charlie. I friggin' LOVE this mirror when used in conjunction with the OEM M3 side mirrors as well. It looks PERFECT from the front or back of the car.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/10466062146_4dca6b68a2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/10466062146/)
20131024-3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/10466062146/) by botond.pal (http://www.flickr.com/people/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/10466059425_08802dd29f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/10466059425/)
20131024-4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/10466059425/) by botond.pal (http://www.flickr.com/people/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

generalvp

02-12-2014, 07:13 AM

My ZHP didn't come with the premium package but I was able to retrofit an E90 mirror that had the low profile LED nose, auto dimming, homelink, and hidden compass! All the features work flawlessly, plus the rain sensor! One of the best mods IMO!

stephenkirsh

02-12-2014, 08:39 AM

How much is an e90 mirror?

johnrando

02-12-2014, 09:01 AM

Looks good BP.

derbo

02-12-2014, 09:12 AM

BP, I love the M3/5 mirror. Wish they had a temperature one. I would love to have temp up there. Hmmm :idea

sent from Moto X Dev edition

KevinC

02-12-2014, 08:01 PM

Scott @ radar-mirror.com also added Homelink to my M3-style oval mirror in my Z4MC. Crackin' job, though a bit pricey. But it's worth it. Criminal that the Z4M had NO factory Homelink availability whatsoever.

Scott does EXCELLENT work and turns everything around in one day whenever possible (2 for 2 in my case). Highly recommended when it comes time to have your failed self-dimming mirror fixed.

http://www.kcphotodump.net/Cars/BMW-Z4-M-Coupe/i-MwWwZvd/0/XL/IMG_0267-XL.jpg

http://www.kcphotodump.net/Cars/BMW-Z4-M-Coupe/i-H4v9p7C/0/XL/IMG_0270-XL.jpg

328ioc

02-13-2014, 04:54 AM

Damn....you and BP are making me tempted to buy an M3 oval mirror.....it does look good.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

cakM3

02-13-2014, 05:18 AM

Damn....you and BP are making me tempted to buy an M3 oval mirror.....it does look good.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Devlin, the M3 oval mirror looks awesome! I had this in my ZHP for over a year until I sourced a BMW homelink/compass/low profile clown nose mirror. You can even use a Z4 autodim mirror on our cars... anyway, with the OEM M3 side mirrors I thought the oval mirror would look right, and it does...I just felt that with a 4-door luxuary sports sedan, the BMW homelink/compass/low profile clown nose mirror would suit the ZHP better.

If you want to retrofit the M3 oval mirror Devlin, by all means.... go for it! :thumbsup

KevinC

02-13-2014, 05:49 AM

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 05:50 AM

Does a manual dimming M3 mirror exist?

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3

02-13-2014, 06:26 AM

Does a manual dimming M3 mirror exist?

Sent from my GS3.

No Justin, they do not.

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 06:29 AM

Yeah...just looked on my computer to see what eBay has to offer. I found several manual dimming units from the e86. Oval shaped, but not as round as the M3. Looks like the regular e46 mirror inverted.

Think I may spring for one of those.

Do we think that the Autodim feature is worth it? M3 mirror aside.

johnrando

02-13-2014, 06:52 AM

Not that much of a big deal to me Horny. But, it is a nice to have feature.

328ioc

02-13-2014, 02:17 PM

Watch Ebay, BMW mirror prices are ALL over the map. Beware of getting one that already needs to have the day/night function repaired.. or find one on purpose that does for cheap, and pay the $99 to get it fixed after the fact. Sometimes they turn up at great prices.

To be honest. If I ever do pick one up. I'll send it out to be repaired even if it does look ok.

I feel like 100 bucks is cheap insurance compared to the damage that fluid can do.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 02:46 PM

Not that much of a big deal to me Horny. But, it is a nice to have feature.

Yeah...my 328i had the feature. Also had lumbar and heated seats! This ZHP is no frills. I am thinking of trying the z4 mirror to see what it looks like. But that will be a while as my money is better spent elsewhere in the interior.

Sent from my GS3.

KevinC

02-13-2014, 03:42 PM

E46 M3 mirror is same as E86 Z4M mirror.. and yes, available in non-auto-dimming.

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 03:57 PM

Hmmm will be on the look out for the manual dip.

But I kinda like the non-M z4 mirror...

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3

02-13-2014, 04:07 PM

Hmmm will be on the look out for the manual dip.

But I kinda like the non-M z4 mirror...

Sent from my GS3.

Justin... here's one for sale $140

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z4-Interior-Rear-View-Mirror-Non-Auto-Dim-/221365542904?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z4-Interior-Rear-View-Mirror-Non-Auto-Dim-/221365542904?_trksid=p2054897.l4275)

It dims manually by turning the knob at the bottom of the mirror. You don't find many of these so if you're interested then I'd jump on this if I were you....gl! :thumbsup

az3579

02-13-2014, 04:15 PM

To be honest. If I ever do pick one up. I'll send it out to be repaired even if it does look ok.

I feel like 100 bucks is cheap insurance compared to the damage that fluid can do.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

This.

cakM3

02-13-2014, 04:16 PM

E46 M3 mirror is same as E86 Z4M mirror.. and yes, available in non-auto-dimming.

Kevin, I think we're talking about the inside ///M oval rear view mirror....not the side mirrors. If this is the case then to my knowledge there are no manual non-auto dimming ///M oval mirrors.

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 04:54 PM

Justin... here's one for sale $140

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z4-Interior-Rear-View-Mirror-Non-Auto-Dim-/221365542904?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z4-Interior-Rear-View-Mirror-Non-Auto-Dim-/221365542904?_trksid=p2054897.l4275)

It dims manually by turning the knob at the bottom of the mirror. You don't find many of these so if you're interested then I'd jump on this if I were you....gl! :thumbsup

You're a bad influence...seller accepted my offer of $120.00. I guess I will be getting a new rear view mirror in the mail in a few days barring weather.

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3

02-13-2014, 06:19 PM

You're a bad influence...seller accepted my offer of $120.00. I guess I will be getting a new rear view mirror in the mail in a few days barring weather.

Sent from my GS3.

Awesome Justin!!! I just helped a little ;)

Hornung418

02-13-2014, 06:21 PM

:biggrin

Now if anyone wants an auto dimming mirror...I will have one available in a week I hope.

Sent from my GS3.

KevinC

02-13-2014, 07:19 PM

Kevin, I think we're talking about the inside ///M oval rear view mirror....not the side mirrors. If this is the case then to my knowledge there are no manual non-auto dimming ///M oval mirrors.

As was I. I believe there are indeed interior oval mirrors that are non-auto-dim, but I could be wrong.. the one Hornung just bought is not the oval mirror, but the trapezoid-shaped mirror, that appeared in Z4's but nothing else that I'm aware of. The oval mirror is identical to the M3 oval mirror.

cakM3

02-13-2014, 07:24 PM

As was I. I believe there are indeed interior oval mirrors that are non-auto-dim, but I could be wrong.. the one Hornung just bought is not the oval mirror, but the trapezoid-shaped mirror, that appeared in Z4's but nothing else that I'm aware of. The oval mirror is identical to the M3 oval mirror.

Okay Kevin, if you see one be sure to post a pic or PM me...I'd like to see it. I for one, have never heard of or seen a manual adjustment oval ///M mirror. I have fried/smoked one in my ///M though :)

Hornung418

02-14-2014, 08:49 AM

RealOEM.com doesn't list any manual M3 mirrors. I wonder if there is a way to remove the auto dim functionality.

I was reading and apparently the unlocking functionality of the M3 mirror reduces over time and the fix is the larger non M Z4 mirror. I for one and really excited to get it here.

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3

02-14-2014, 09:11 AM

RealOEM.com doesn't list any manual M3 mirrors. I wonder if there is a way to remove the auto dim functionality.

I was reading and apparently the unlocking functionality of the M3 mirror reduces over time and the fix is the larger non M Z4 mirror. I for one am really excited to get it here.

Sent from my GS3.

bad influence.....pffffft! Glad to see you're getting this Justin ;)