Dimming Side Mirrors?

The dazzle light settings you mentioned may be the key to this...

CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_00_LIN "normal" setting for sensors
74
Werte = 4A
the hex equivalent of 74 is 4A
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_01_LIN "dark" setting for sensors
26
Werte = 1A
again hex equivalent.
same for
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_02_LIN "light" setting for sensors
100
Werte = 64

These may change the way the mirrors respond to light but wouldn't necessarily differentiate between inside and outside mirrors.

Originally Posted by jdg857

The dazzle light settings you mentioned may be the key to this...

CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_00_LIN "normal" setting for sensors
74
Werte = 4A
the hex equivalent of 74 is 4A
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_01_LIN "dark" setting for sensors
26
Werte = 1A
again hex equivalent.
same for
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_02_LIN "light" setting for sensors
100
Werte = 64

These may change the way the mirrors respond to light but wouldn't necessarily differentiate between inside and outside mirrors.

Hmm, sounds like all my values for those settings match yours though. I'm looking for some values which differ between our vehicles.

I don't know where to look next...

i too have the same problem - my wife's 2013 x3 (with premium package) side mirrors do not dim. I cannot accept "this is how it is" answer from the dealer/BMW. We should all complain to force BWM to correct the issue. Remember people, we paid for the dimming feature. The auto-dimming glass costs more than double the non-dimming one. I know, i just paid $350 to replace an auto-dimming side mirror glass on my 2008 335. By the way, the side mirrors on my 335 dim beautifully. I would not buy another car without this feature.

Brought the car to the dealer for checks. They found the rear mirror defected. Apparently, the (inside) mirror controls how the side mirrors dim with its front and back light sensors. Will have rear mirror replaced in two weeks and let you know if this fixes the problem.

I'm glad your car is getting fixed.

... looking forward to the update.

Originally Posted by 862743

Brought the car to the dealer for checks. They found the rear mirror defected. Apparently, the (inside) mirror controls how the side mirrors dim with its front and back light sensors. Will have rear mirror replaced in two weeks and let you know if this fixes the problem.

You should see like a greenish tint on the glass when it dims

Originally Posted by 862743

Brought the car to the dealer for checks. They found the rear mirror defected. Apparently, the (inside) mirror controls how the side mirrors dim with its front and back light sensors. Will have rear mirror replaced in two weeks and let you know if this fixes the problem.

Hopefully this works for you. It is strange because that is what the dealer said was wrong with our X3 as well so I was all excited for the fix (after waiting 2 weeks because they kept sending the 2012 mirror). Unfortunately, the mirrors still didn't work after that. Apparantly there is a difference in sensitivity that we still can't pinpoint for 2013. For all those with 2013's- keep complaining because the more complaints that are generated, the quicker corporate will find a fix.

Wouldn 't there be an analog voltage that we can measure at the side mirrors ? (the "control" voltage that must be sent to vary the dim level) I'm not quite sure how it works or which wire to check, but maybe we could compare 2012 to 2013 voltages ? Or we could manually vary the voltage and see if the mirror goes from bright to dim ? Just to see if it's a "hardware" or "coding" issue ?

I didn't see any mention of it in this thread, but according to page 54 in the pdf manual... turning the security light dome on the bottom of the rearview mirror should adjust the dimming level. I'm on vacation right now so I can't test in my vehicle, can anybody confirm?

Just to add my 2 cents on the original question.

I can visibly see my side mirrors dimming at night when a car with bright lights is behind. I can detect an edging effect where the edge of the mirror stays as normal, but the main body of the mirror dims a little. Then you can see the difference in shading.

Maybe try this at night. My stupid idea would be to park up at night and shine a torch on the rear view mirror sensor to make it dim. Check the rear view dims, then check on the sides?

J

Originally Posted by SpaceManGray

turning the security light dome on the bottom of the rearview mirror should adjust the dimming level

Nevermind, I had a closer look at the manual and that is not the security light dome, it is a knob that is only on the non auto dimming mirror.

Originally Posted by 862743

Brought the car to the dealer for checks. They found the rear mirror defected. Apparently, the (inside) mirror controls how the side mirrors dim with its front and back light sensors. Will have rear mirror replaced in two weeks and let you know if this fixes the problem.

Update: Called the dealer today and found out all 2013 X3 rear mirrors are on backorder! They said maybe another month

got the rear mirror replaced. The rear mirror now dims well at night, but the side mirrors still do NOT dim very well. I did a test with the flashlight beaming on the side mirror while covering the light sensor on the rear mirror (no light) - the side mirror seem to work in this test i.e. the glass turn greenish. my conclusion would be the dimminsg function on the side mirros does not work properly. Maybe it has some ting to do with programing. Brought the car back to the dealer. They did a few tests and said it's just the way it is No sure what to do next, but won't ive up.

Well, I placed a piece of tape with a small hole cut in it across the sensor on the back of my mirror to see if it improves the dimming feature. My thought was that there must be comparison between the ambient light (rear of mirror) with the light from the front mirror side.

To be honest I can't tell very much difference. My next test is to completely cover the rear sensor to see if the mirrors dim more quickly.

I can't believe I have to use duct tape on a (near) $70,000 car.

Originally Posted by lbjgh

Well, I placed a piece of tape with a small hole cut in it across the sensor on the back of my mirror to see if it improves the dimming feature. My thought was that there must be comparison between the ambient light (rear of mirror) with the light from the front mirror side.

To be honest I can't tell very much difference. My next test is to completely cover the rear sensor to see if the mirrors dim more quickly.

I can't believe I have to use duct tape on a (near) $70,000 car.

Hold on to your duct tape, the sensor works with light not darkness...

Hey guys any update on the coding option to fix the auto dimming mirrors?

Originally Posted by jdg857

The dazzle light settings you mentioned may be the key to this...

CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_00_LIN "normal" setting for sensors
74
Werte = 4A
the hex equivalent of 74 is 4A
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_01_LIN "dark" setting for sensors
26
Werte = 1A
again hex equivalent.
same for
CODDT_00_SCAL_SEN_DAZZ_02_LIN "light" setting for sensors
100
Werte = 64

These may change the way the mirrors respond to light but wouldn't necessarily differentiate between inside and outside mirrors.

Brought the car back to the dealer 2 more times. They admitted that the side mirrors do not dim very well at night and blamed it on the tinted tailgate glass and the height of the X3 (as compared to a 335 with no tinted glass when I said the side mirrors work fine on my 335). They said that the tinted glass and height prevent or limit the light sensor on the (inside) rear mirror to detect the lights from behind. And since the dimming on the side mirrors works on much light detected by the rear mirror at night (the sensor activates the computer to send electrical current to the side mirror), the less or no light detected, the less or no dimming. I tried to convince BMW that they should modify their program coding to increase the current sent to the side mirrors, but no luck so far.

Originally Posted by 862743

Brought the car back to the dealer 2 more times. They admitted that the side mirrors do not dim very well at night and blamed it on the tinted tailgate glass and the height of the X3 (as compared to a 335 with no tinted glass when I said the side mirrors work fine on my 335). They said that the tinted glass and height prevent or limit the light sensor on the (inside) rear mirror to detect the lights from behind. And since the dimming on the side mirrors works on much light detected by the rear mirror at night (the sensor activates the computer to send electrical current to the side mirror), the less or no light detected, the less or no dimming. I tried to convince BMW that they should modify their program coding to increase the current sent to the side mirrors, but no luck so far.

It doesn't make any sense if the same sensor (in rearview mirror) causes the rearview mirror to dim OK.

asked the same question. they said that the rearview mirror dimming works on different current ???

Likely the stealership doesn't know how the mirror dimming works... Most probable they are just guessing.

I'll likely find a fix on the forum before the manufacturer even acknowledges the fault.

Noka is right... If the interior mirror dims the sideview mirrors should too. Likely bmw saved a nickel on some component creating the problem.

Originally Posted by lbjgh

Likely the stealership doesn't know how the mirror dimming works... Most probable they are just guessing.

I'll likely find a fix on the forum before the manufacturer even acknowledges the fault.

Noka is right... If the interior mirror dims the sideview mirrors should too. Likely bmw saved a nickel on some component creating the problem.

Or something not calibrated correctly. The post above about coding with 3 adjustments probably affects inside and outside mirrors (but would be great if it is only for the outside). If it affects all mirrors, and if the setting is on the lightest by default, maybe going to the middle setting would make the outside mirrors dim enough (just a guess). I cannot tell what setting above is the default. Will have to wait until someone tries it. The other thing is to push the service manager to contact BMW support/engineering and at least get their take on it.

The duct tape reduces light on the back off the mirror simulating night conditions. The sensor on the front reads light intensity from following cars.

It is too bad I would even have consider duct tape to fix a design flaw on a $70k car.

Originally Posted by Big W

Hold on to your duct tape, the sensor works with light not darkness...

If I get a chance I'll try the mid setting noted above.

Originally Posted by noka

Or something not calibrated correctly. The post above about coding with 3 adjustments probably affects inside and outside mirrors (but would be great if it is only for the outside). If it affects all mirrors, and if the setting is on the lightest by default, maybe going to the middle setting would make the outside mirrors dim enough (just a guess). I cannot tell what setting above is the default. Will have to wait until someone tries it. The other thing is to push the service manager to contact BMW support/engineering and at least get their take on it.

Originally Posted by lbjgh

If I get a chance I'll try the mid setting noted above.

A more drastic (simple) test would be to shine a bright flashlight into the rearview mirror (to simulate obnoxious traffic behind you ) in addition to the tape you added to the front of the mirror to cover the ambient light sensor.