How to disable mirror dimming on F30?

Anyone know how to disable the auto-dimming on the F30's mirrors? Lived with it for 5 weeks and I really do not want to keep this up now that it's dark in the morning when I leave for work.

So is there a DIY?

If it's the same system as the E90 you cannot disable it. The solution which is not elegant is to cover the sensor in the mirror. Then again, the auto-dim should not dim unless someone behind you has their brights on.

if you tint your windows the side ones have no idea how bright it is back there and stop dimming. The rear view mirror still dims tho.

I found it very annoying that the dimming feature could not be turned off as every other car that I ever had with that feature had a switch that let you turn it on and off.
I blocked the sensor but I did not want to disable the feature, I wanted to control it.

I finally came up with this low-tech solution that I made from the lid of a Tic Tac box.

The lid can be opened and closed to unblock and block the sensor.

^^ sweet. Simple and functional.

Originally Posted by jlukja

^^ sweet. Simple and functional.

The BMW logo is adorable. Not as good as my iPod Velcro mod, though.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

The BMW logo is adorable. Not as good as my iPod Velcro mod, though.

BJ

Pics or it didn't happen!

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I found it very annoying that the dimming feature could not be turned off as every other car that I ever had with that feature had a switch that let you turn it on and off.
I blocked the sensor but I did not want to disable the feature, I wanted to control it.

I finally came up with this low-tech solution that I made from the lid of a Tic Tac box.

The lid can be opened and closed to unblock and block the sensor.

Thanks. Where's the sensor?

And agreed about the dimming function. Only BMW demands the mirrors dim automatically at night, which drives me nuts, as it makes the mirrors feel pretty much worthless. There's never a time I will want the mirrors to dim so I just need to figure out where it senses it's dark make it stop blocking me from seeing things in the mirrors.

Originally Posted by brkf

Thanks. Where's the sensor?

And agreed about the dimming function. Only BMW demands the mirrors dim automatically at night, which drives me nuts, as it makes the mirrors feel pretty much worthless.

The sensor is at the top center of the rear view mirror. If you look closely (at least on the E9x) you will see a small silvery circle about 1/8" in diameter.

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

The sensor is at the top center of the rear view mirror. If you look closely (at least on the E9x) you will see a small silvery circle about 1/8" in diameter.

CA

I see a sensor up there. I'll put some electrical tape on it and hopefully that will fool it into never dimming my mirrors.

Originally Posted by brkf

I see a sensor up there. I'll put some electrical tape on it and hopefully that will fool it into never dimming my mirrors.

That's what I did but then I realized that sometimes I wanted them to dim so I thought about coming up with a way to block and unblock the sensor.

CA

Wish BMW would allow a delete of such worthless things. Unfortunately, they went a step further and made it standard for 2013.

Originally Posted by brkf

I see a sensor up there. I'll put some electrical tape on it and hopefully that will fool it into never dimming my mirrors.

I really hope it works out for you so it stops your whining. Good luck
cheers
vern

This is the best feature since sliced bread in a car and I don't see why anyone would want to delete it. I'm tired of getting blinded by bastards who have their lights too high.

Originally Posted by bt1337

This is the best feature since sliced bread in a car and I don't see why anyone would want to delete it. I'm tired of getting blinded by bastards who have their lights too high.

I would not want to delete it either but there are times when I want to be able to temporarily override it,

CA

Originally Posted by vern

I really hope it works out for you so it stops your whining. Good luck
cheers
vern

Unlikely since his car is not a E46. But one less thing to gripe about.

Originally Posted by bt1337

This is the best feature since sliced bread in a car and I don't see why anyone would want to delete it. I'm tired of getting blinded by bastards who have their lights too high.

+1 Most don't realize its a safety feature that stops one from being blinded,like you said from those "bastards".I don't have the dimming mirrors on my X3 and its a PITA.
cheers
vern

I like the feature as well, but I also agree they should have a switch (like my A4 had) to disable the feature if someone strongly detests it... as brkf obviously does.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

I like the feature as well, but I also agree they should have a switch (like my A4 had) to disable the feature if someone strongly detests it... as brkf obviously does.

I don't strongly detest it and most of the time I realy like it but depending on the environment I am driving in I would like to be able to turn the feature off.

I am sure there is some wire that could be tapped in to to install a switch that would break the circuit but at this point my Tic Tac lid serves the purpose,

CA

The permanent nature of the auto-dimming mirrors is absurd, and the fact that even my wife's five year-old Subaru wagon has a simple "on-off" button for the feature on the center mirror and BMW does not, is twice as absurd. If you drive on the freeways of downtown LA at night, surrounded by dozens of buzzing and slicing lowered Honda Civics, you want to know exactly where every bit of every other car is, every second. The BMW auto-dimming mirrors get so damn dark, that you notice the arrival of new cars several seconds later than you would have otherwise, usually when they are right on top of you or crossing behind you into a space you had your own eye on. Plus, the devil is in the details; I notice or see plenty of information in the shadows - the rear 1/3 of a car who's headlights I never would have seen because of alignment in any mirror but I spot them instantly because of reflections and highlights in an un-dimmed mirror. With the stupid-dark BMW dimmed mirrors, you will NEVER see a bit of that same car if you didn't see their headlights first. To me the system is ridiculously unsafe, for that reason. I don't care at all about how bright somebody else's headlights are; I can always move to wherever I have to to lose them. But even that is harder with a "Blacked-Out" side mirror, since any delay in figuring-out what you're seeing is not what driving or the "Ultimate Driving Machine" is supposed to be about. So I have my little systems also, to block the sensor - but the Tic Tac door takes the cake. Proof of how stupid the system is? When I open my garage from inside the car in broad daylight, the ambient daylight outside completely sends all my mirrors black, when I need to check them on general principle to back-out past the afore-mentioned Subaru. Please...

if i want returning my car in 2 weeks i would offer to swap with you lol

Originally Posted by Stelvio

The permanent nature of the auto-dimming mirrors is absurd, and the fact that even my wife's five year-old Subaru wagon has a simple "on-off" button for the feature on the center mirror and BMW does not, is twice as absurd. If you drive on the freeways of downtown LA at night, surrounded by dozens of buzzing and slicing lowered Honda Civics, you want to know exactly where every bit of every other car is, every second. The BMW auto-dimming mirrors get so damn dark, that you notice the arrival of new cars several seconds later than you would have otherwise, usually when they are right on top of you or crossing behind you into a space you had your own eye on. Plus, the devil is in the details; I notice or see plenty of information in the shadows - the rear 1/3 of a car who's headlights I never would have seen because of alignment in any mirror but I spot them instantly because of reflections and highlights in an un-dimmed mirror. With the stupid-dark BMW dimmed mirrors, you will NEVER see a bit of that same car if you didn't see their headlights first. To me the system is ridiculously unsafe, for that reason. I don't care at all about how bright somebody else's headlights are; I can always move to wherever I have to to lose them. But even that is harder with a "Blacked-Out" side mirror, since any delay in figuring-out what you're seeing is not what driving or the "Ultimate Driving Machine" is supposed to be about. So I have my little systems also, to block the sensor - but the Tic Tac door takes the cake. Proof of how stupid the system is? When I open my garage from inside the car in broad daylight, the ambient daylight outside completely sends all my mirrors black, when I need to check them on general principle to back-out past the afore-mentioned Subaru. Please...

In your case I wouldn't drive the BMW at night and don't park in the garage. Use the Subaru. Or better yet trade it in on another Subaru
Good luck
cheers
vern

I can think of absolutely no reason why BMW did not provide a defeat switch for the auto dimming feature.
There are some driving conditions where I find that the dark mirrors make it difficult to see what is behind me such as when driving on crowded freeways after dark. There are some situations when I want to be able to reduce the glare from bright lights behind me and I want the mirrors to dim.





CA

Exactly what my wife said: "gee; can't turn off your dimming mirrors, eh? - just don't hit me on your way out. And until you get "Last User Mode" for the Stop-Start, I wouldn't drive that car anyway". I have nothing to say. Cheers

Originally Posted by vern

+1 Most don't realize its a safety feature that stops one from being blinded,like you said from those "bastards".I don't have the dimming mirrors on my X3 and its a PITA.
cheers
vern

Never been blinded by another car's lights. 20/20 vision and been driving for 28 years. Dimming mirrors make me feel like I'm driving with someone obscuring my vision, akin to really cheap sunglasses.