[The HACK]

Or for that matter, anyone who has the Bentley's manual and can read electrical diagrams. I'm trying to figure out why my newly installed autodimming mirror isn't working. I orignally have the none-autodimming mirror in my car and I swapped with my friend's M3 mirror, which are all autodimming. I noticed there are only two wires leading into the wiring harness, while there are pins in the harness as well as 5-6 wires leading OUT of the wiring harness into the mirror. I've tried installing the fuse in fuse #24 (which controls the PDC and autodimming mirrors), but now I'm afraid that the wiring for the autodimming mirror is simply none existent in my car.

Vince, if you have time can you decipher the wiring diagram for me in the back of the Bentley's manual? I think its ELE-176 was the page...But it's the one labeled "Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror." I can't make sense of that diagram...

 

[Kaz]

I'd hafta go home to look at it, but I'll tell ya 2 wires ain't gonna cut it.

clown nose
autodim power
autodim control

Remember, there are 2 photosensors in the mirror that determine how dim it goes, but there has to be an outside signal to tell it that you threw it into reverse so it can undim.

If ground is shared, and all reverse does is cut power, that's still at least 3 wires.

 

[The HACK]

I'd hafta go home to look at it, but I'll tell ya 2 wires ain't gonna cut it.

clown nose
autodim power
autodim control

Remember, there are 2 photosensors in the mirror that determine how dim it goes, but there has to be an outside signal to tell it that you threw it into reverse so it can undim.

If ground is shared, and all reverse does is cut power, that's still at least 3 wires.

Damn...I thought so. However, there's a lot of electronics inside the mirror that I can see. Is it possible to splice in the clown nose power to supply the mirror with power? That's why I need someone to decipher the diagram for me. I don't really need the mirror to be dimmed on back up (I always look instead of using the mirror).

Again, much appreciated...It's that or I'm going to HACK it.

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Alpina nut to the rescue!

Hmm, we are looking at ELE-178 right? That seems to be the autodimming mirror, cos like Kaz said, we have a photosensor (or light diode) in A22. However, I am highly suspicious that ELE-178 is complete though, cos it shows only 2 wires: RED/BLACK and GREY/BLACK/YELLOW. The R/B one leads to a 5Amp fuse and the G/B/Y leads to the General module (ELE-133, 2 of 6).

Are you able to identify these two wires? If so, good. Set them aside and tell me what are the colours of the other wires? Take a pic or something.

Now back to ELE-178. Something even more interesting. See that white arrow pointing to the right of the page? The one between A22 and F67. Now that is a crucial CLUE there. Bentley did not provide further information where this signal is being tapped to. Cos this might lead to the dimming function.

Or for that matter, anyone who has the Bentley's manual and can read electrical diagrams. I'm trying to figure out why my newly installed autodimming mirror isn't working. I orignally have the none-autodimming mirror in my car and I swapped with my friend's M3 mirror, which are all autodimming. I noticed there are only two wires leading into the wiring harness, while there are pins in the harness as well as 5-6 wires leading OUT of the wiring harness into the mirror. I've tried installing the fuse in fuse #24 (which controls the PDC and autodimming mirrors), but now I'm afraid that the wiring for the autodimming mirror is simply none existent in my car.

Vince, if you have time can you decipher the wiring diagram for me in the back of the Bentley's manual? I think its ELE-176 was the page...But it's the one labeled "Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror." I can't make sense of that diagram...

 

[Kaz]

OK, I just looked at my special-order autodim, and it doesn't look good for our Mr. HACK.

The 2 wires in the Bentley are there. So are 3 others. :yikes: Feel lucky that not all 9 wires coming out of the mirror itself are used.

All 5 of mine get wrapped up in tape and then wrapped with some of the other harnesses that live up there.

You wanna re-trade with me? At least I could likely put the autodimming to good use.

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Wait a minute..you're saying yours isn't autodimming?

Wonder what the other wires are for... :dunno: Compass maybe?

OK, I just looked at my special-order autodim, and it doesn't look good for our Mr. HACK.

The 2 wires in the Bentley are there. So are 3 others. :yikes: Feel lucky that not all 9 wires coming out of the mirror itself are used.

All 5 of mine get wrapped up in tape and then wrapped with some of the other harnesses that live up there.

You wanna re-trade with me? At least I could likely put the autodimming to good use.

 

[nate]

:dunno:

http://e46fanatics.com/members/nate328Ci/mirror_diagram.jpg

 

[Kaz]

Wait a minute..you're saying yours isn't autodimming?

Mine is... so if I got the M3 mirror, it would work in my car.