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      06-12-2012, 10:40 PM   #1
Mark86
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2013 X3 Side Dimming Mirrors

Hey all,

I noticed that the auto dimming side mirrors on our X3 don't dim to headlights at night. I brought it to the dealer and they said that we had a faulty rear view mirror. Got the vehicle back and the dealer said everything works fine. I drove the vehicle for the past few nights and my side mirrors do not dim to the headlights behind me. My rearview darkens but the side mirrors don't. The dealer keep putting tape on the back of our mirror and showing how the side mirrors work. We drove in a 2012 X3 loaner with auto dimming mirrors and they definitely worked differently. When I told the dealer this, they said that the 2013 may work differently. I will try posting a video I took with my iphone later.

Thanks in advance,

Mark
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      06-12-2012, 11:18 PM   #2
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      06-12-2012, 11:37 PM   #3
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There is no difference in dimming mirrors, it's the same tech as the rest of the BMW lineup, the only difference is the size.

Ur dealer is bsing u
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      06-13-2012, 04:08 AM   #4
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My guess is that the connector is faulty to allow change to dip, if they aren't dipping you need to go back to your dealer.

You should notice a clear reduction in glare from the headlights behind in the dark.
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      06-13-2012, 04:33 AM   #5
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Your dealer isn't listening to you. Don't talk to the service folks, go to the sales manager, hand him the key back and ask him how to get a check for the refund since they didn't provide the car you ordered and don't seem willing to make it right. If he seems confused ask him if it would be easier for your lawyer to send over paperwork explaining it.
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      06-13-2012, 04:51 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
Your dealer isn't listening to you. Don't talk to the service folks, go to the sales manager, hand him the key back and ask him how to get a check for the refund since they didn't provide the car you ordered and don't seem willing to make it right. If he seems confused ask him if it would be easier for your lawyer to send over paperwork explaining it.
Yep, that should do it....
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      06-13-2012, 05:23 AM   #7
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I think my car dims only the rear view too.
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      06-13-2012, 09:23 AM   #8
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Thanks for the replies so far. That will be my next step. I have already been in contact with BMW corporate and they are useless. Basically, the dealer puts a piece of tape on the rearview mirror sensor and shine a flashlight to show me how the side mirrors are darkening. I told them that these mirrors aren't working in practical situations like when I am driving down the Garden State Parkway at night and there are bright lights behind me. So frustrating!!!
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      06-13-2012, 09:30 AM   #9
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The configurator is specific on what they do assuming the wording is the same in the US.
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      06-13-2012, 09:47 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by lbjgh View Post
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I think my car dims only the rear view too.
It shouldn't be. I wonder if this is a 2013 glitch? Did you ask your dealer?
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      06-13-2012, 10:07 AM   #11
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In US, all X3 are not equipped with auto dimming side view mirrors as one needs to select an option to get them. Please check if you had ordered the correct option and mounted mirrors are auto dim type.
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      06-13-2012, 11:48 AM   #12
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410 Auto-Dimming interior and exterior mirrors
431 Auto-Dimming rearview mirror

Both of these are part of ZPP Premium Package.
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      06-13-2012, 06:23 PM   #13
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Be aware the dimming function only happens when it's dark at night (front sensors detect that) and there are bright lights close behind you (rear view mirror picks that up as I recall, but I suppose there are individual sensors in each mirror as well?). Just the presence of headlights on low beam behind you is not necessarily enough to trigger the dimming feature. They need to be close behind you or using their high beams to trigger dimming. Otherwise, they stay clear to make it easy to see everything behind you that is dimly lit.

If this is your first time using this feature, give yourself some time to get used to them. I was new to this in 2003 when I got my 325xi and it seemed odd to have the mirror so clear at night, but I quickly got used to it and I liked how they stayed clear when there were no annoying headlights behind me. The transition from clear to dim and back again is very subtle.

I'll take a look at my own this week to see how that goes, but with over 17 hours of daylight right now, it's hard to test this out.
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      06-13-2012, 07:44 PM   #14
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The angle of your mirror might be a reason. I believe each mirror has a sensor that requires the vehicle behind you to strike with their lights
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      06-13-2012, 09:33 PM   #15
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K, auto dimming side view mirror are included with the premium pkg which my car has.

I just drove home tonight and didn't notice any glare from the sideview mirrors so maybe the auto dimming is working. That said the interior mirror is a fair bit darker (more dimmed) than the side mirrors.
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      06-14-2012, 12:12 AM   #16
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I have had older X5's and Lexus with the feature and they definitely worked better.
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      06-14-2012, 12:13 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lbjgh View Post
K, auto dimming side view mirror are included with the premium pkg which my car has.

I just drove home tonight and didn't notice any glare from the sideview mirrors so maybe the auto dimming is working. That said the interior mirror is a fair bit darker (more dimmed) than the side mirrors.
I believe that the side mirrors dim with the central rearview mirror, which is where the light sensors are located (one on the mirror side facing you and one facing out the front). It would be cool if they dimmed independently based on their own sensors but alas that is not the case. Sometimes when you have someone seated in the center position of the rear seat, they block the light coming from behind which causes the mirrors to remain un-dimmed leaving you high and dry if you've got a car on the side lasering your eyes with their headlights.

Its pretty easy to tell when they're dimmed as they take on a bluish hue. Much easier to tell on the eurospec mirrors since they don't have that plastic border around the mirror glass which obscures the border between the dimming and non-dimming zone.
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      08-16-2012, 04:32 PM   #18
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2013 X3 side mirrors NOT dimming

Just to let you all know that my 2013 X3 (with premium package) both side mirrors do not dim - no reduction in glare from behind head lights at night. It's quite obvious since I also drive 2008 335 with this feature and what's a difference! I suspect faults in the electrical wiring (the dimming function requires small voltage supply to the glass) or the glass, or simply wrong glass (without dimming function). Will bring it in and expect the dealer/BMW to fix. I won't except "this is the way it works".
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      08-16-2012, 07:26 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 862743 View Post
Just to let you all know that my 2013 X3 (with premium package) both side mirrors do not dim - no reduction in glare from behind head lights at night. It's quite obvious since I also drive 2008 335 with this feature and what's a difference! I suspect faults in the electrical wiring (the dimming function requires small voltage supply to the glass) or the glass, or simply wrong glass (without dimming function). Will bring it in and expect the dealer/BMW to fix. I won't except "this is the way it works".
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      08-16-2012, 10:22 PM   #20
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I've added the dimming mirrors to my "issues " log whenever I can get my car in for service.
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      10-02-2012, 02:53 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 862743 View Post
Just to let you all know that my 2013 X3 (with premium package) both side mirrors do not dim - no reduction in glare from behind head lights at night. It's quite obvious since I also drive 2008 335 with this feature and what's a difference! I suspect faults in the electrical wiring (the dimming function requires small voltage supply to the glass) or the glass, or simply wrong glass (without dimming function). Will bring it in and expect the dealer/BMW to fix. I won't except "this is the way it works".
This was the FIRST thing I noticed with my 2013.

The simplest thing you can do is in the sunlight put your hand behind the mirror, watch it dim, and notice the side view mirrors DO NOT DIM. This is a feature included in the PREMIUM PACKAGE which I have.


OF NOTE though, I did notice the side view mirrors dim in a VERY SPECIFIC instance on the highway where it was very dark, I was the only one on the road, and someone with bright headlights was a very specific distance from me.

This leads me to believe it isn't the mirrors that are bad, yet the sensor, or sensitivity of the side mirrors.


This is definitely an issue, we're not idiots here. I've been driving BMWs since 2007 and all of them with the premium package - a little unusual for this to be the first thing I noticed.

I'd love to hear others input. What I'm going to do is I'm going to go outside in the dark tomorrow and shine a flashlight in the sensor to see if I can force them to dim.
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      10-02-2012, 10:16 AM   #22
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I have ZPP in both my 2013 X3 and 2011 328, I found the dimming is much more subtle in the X3 than the 328 and I noticed this the first day (night) I had the X3.

It feels like its always on at night in the 328 and it self-adjusts in the X3. I'm not unhappy with either as both work for me.
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