Reverse dipping mirror working intermittently

[SpokenHands]

Hello All

So have a 63 plate Gran Coupe and I have noticed that while the folding mirrors work flawlessly,
The reverse dipping function on the nearside only works intermittently.

Is there anything I can do (a reset) or is this something more serious?
Any advice greatly appreciated

[Opie55]

You probably know this, but for that to work the switch on the door has to be set that mirror. I thought mine was broken until I remembered that.

[Havy]

Which mirrors in the UK is folding? Passanger side?

[FBMWWINS]

The mirror selector switch has to be on driver's side position to start off with. Normally only the passenger side mirror tilts down as you manouver the car in reverse. When switching back to N or D gear the passenger side mirror will tilt back up. If it is not tilting down at all then the mirror adjustment selector switch is most likely NOT set to the driver's side.

[jjasonSU]

Just flipped the switched and noticed the tilting mirror.
I neverrr knew!!!!!!

[Qsilver7]

Just an FYI...the location of the mirror switch has always determined if the passenger mirror dips when the car is put in reverse since BMW started using this technology. It's become one of those BMW engineering designs you can pretty much depend to work the same way in all BMWs. Now that I've said it...watch the next generation of BMWs will no longer function this way!

{e32/e34 ~ 1988-1994}


{e38/e39 ~ 1995-2003}


{e53 ~ 2000-2006}

{F06/F12/F13/F10/F11/F01/F02 ~ 2010-2019}

[burkhacs]

^This is correct. To activate passenger side tilt you need the selector on the drivers side.

[SpokenHands]

Sorry I should have been clearer - the switch position is on the drivers side but the tilt function (that worked fine previously) is now intermittent1

Presume the motor for the tiltfunction is failing!

Oddly enugh the folding function works fine - seperate motor?

Any thoughts?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by SpokenHands

Sorry I should have been clearer - the switch position is on the drivers side but the tilt function (that worked fine previously) is now intermittent1

Presume the motor for the tiltfunction is failing!

Oddly enugh the folding function works fine - seperate motor?

Any thoughts?

If the switch to control the side mirrors is positioned to the driver's side...and the passenger mirror doesnt dip/tilt down when the car is put into reverse...then it is not acting correctly.

Over the decades...some have popped the mirror glass off to see if there's an obstruction (like spider webs or other debris)...and lubricating the working parts can sometimes be helpful.

The motor that facilitates the mirror glass movement is in the circular area directly behind the mirror glass: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...motor/1LIP3ldp

-

The fold-in drive of the side mirrors is located in a different location vs the movement of the mirror glass: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ive/1VnZA3LjAI

1 = Mirror housing
2 = Mirror fold-in drive
3 = Power supply
4 = Electric motor
5 = Transmission

[Flying Ace]

haha, the dipping mirrors typically don't break.

On my old M3, the mirrors once folded all the way forward though...lol. Took a while to figure that one out!

[FBMWWINS]

Speaking of folding what would you guys apply to lubricate the mirror somewhat? In winter especially the driver's side of my F32 makes quite a noise when folding in and out (cannot call it squeaking but clearly it isn't smooth and silent as should be). Would WD40 be safe? Never applied anything in that area so just wanted to hear some input.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by F06WINS

Speaking of folding what would you guys apply to lubricate the mirror somewhat? In winter especially the driver's side of my F32 makes quite a noise when folding in and out (cannot call it squeaking but clearly it isn't smooth and silent as should be). Would WD40 be safe? Never applied anything in that area so just wanted to hear some input.

My go-to lubricant for things of this nature is a product called TRI-FLOW. It contains TEFLON which helps things "slide" against each other as well as helps to release moisture, dust, dirt, grime, etc.

You can find local vendors that sell it by googling Tri Flow...or check your local bicycle shops because it is used a lot in that market for lubricating chains and cables etc.

[elvisisdog]

Might not be relevant, but it's not your wife moving it back to the upright position. My misses did that a few times to me back on my old e46, in that put in reverse and would then adjust the mirror back up by using the toggle and hence reset the mirror to this position the next time I put it in reverse. It wasn't until I was in the car when she went to do it that I pointed out it was by design and it was too so her hitting the kerb.

[steve640d]

Ironic that I'm reading this sat in the dealers and whilst they're trying to rectify squealing brakes for me, I've also asked about a mirror dip issue.

It appears that the mirrors do not return to the position you last left them when reverting to drive from reverse, instead revert to a default position (which is annoying). This didnt happen on my F10 but does on this car.

Sorry, i know it doesn't help the OP but seems to show different cars may be programmed in different ways (according to the dealer).