Folks, the auto dipping mirror on the e60 stopped working yesterday, yet the mirror can still be adjusted using the driver's door controls as usual. I was pinning my hopes on it being the reversing switch but the reversing lights still function as normal when reverse is selected. Any ideas as to the cause? An extra motor inside the mirror housing? Thanks in advance.
John do you mean the pax door mirror? There is no extra motor just the normal move it to adjust. Mine used to dip as intended when reverse selected, but then obstinately refused to budge when Drive selected. I got my own back and ignored it after resetting. Was a right PITA but after a suitable sulk decided to work properly. I don’t know what caused the hiccup. I do know that under the plastic mine were badly corroded. Took them off and tidied them up during the past summer as there was a nasty aluminum flake on the surround and a horrible drip of crud down the door. If yours aren’t similar I would be surprised. Mind I think the problem probably lies in the signal as they move manually ... Pat
Yes Pat, it's the passenger side mirror. Hopefully it'll get over its 'strop' and start working again. Do you know if the reversing switch is clever enough to send a signal, other than being a simple on/off device? It's not the end of the world, but funny how you miss these little things....
I never looked into it in detail as mine decided to play ball after being left out in the yard for a while. I would imagine it is one of the numerous black magic boxes that is responsible for sorting it out. I had a chaffed loom going into the abs unit which caused all sorts of fun. How healthy is the 12V thingy in the boot?
Battery was replaced last year so it should be good, no other signs of low power. I'm just going to leave it meantime and hope it comes good. #bigfingerscrossed
Actually thinking about it that chaffed abs loom might have had a hand in mine misbehaving. It certainly has some gearbox info/logic going through it. Mine is located just behind and below pax headlamp, mind it is a tractor engine. Wore through two wires and fused some others. Was great craic .... not
Hope that's not the case here, I hate messing about with wiring. It's usually tucked behind other components (as you discovered) and can result in broken plastics through their turning brittle with age.
Update: How foolish do I feel? Very......!! Turns out to have been the door switch had been moved - moved it over again and all's well with the world. As you were, nothing to see here........
Nice cheap fix ! Mind you SWMBO has been complaining to me that only one of her wing miirrors moves when she engages reverse. Adamant that previously both did so. Only when i got the handboom out and read it to her did she accept its only the passenger side mirror that moves. And she has clearly kerbed another front wheel but is in denial about that ! She did admit to reversing into a gatepost £450 damage, and scratching one of the rear doors....and she wonders why i offer to drive ??
