Make sure that the little switch that designates which mirror u r controlling is set to the driver's side mirror, if it is set on the passenger's side mirror, then the mirror will not tilt automatically

 

make sure that the little switch that designates which mirror u r controlling is set to the driver's side mirror, if it is set on the passenger's side mirror, then the mirror will not tilt automatically

+1

 

Ahhhh, I remember the days when I would find out little details like this by accident.

 

I'll admit to being initially flummoxed by this little feature myself.
I also now keep that feature neutralized during the winter months so the mirror doesn't inadvertently move while it's frozen in place and cause harm to itself.

 

I'll admit to being initially flummoxed by this little feature myself.
I also now keep that feature neutralized during the winter months so the mirror doesn't inadvertently move while it's frozen in place and cause harm to itself.

Dumb question - how do you turn this feature off?

 

Flip the switch to the other position.

I know that part, but what if you want it neutralized through winter so neither mirror will tilt when in reverse should they be frozen and cause damage to motor?

 

I know that part, but what if you want it neutralized through winter so neither mirror will tilt when in reverse should they be frozen and cause damage to motor?

Door card off; unplug them, door card back on... About the only way you'll do it IIRC

 

Good point.

 

Thank you guys, your the best !

 

This is the best-kept secret of German engineering LOL.

PS: Personally, I do not care for this crap feature, so I turned it off.

 

This is the best-kept secret of German engineering LOL. PS: Personally, I do not care for this crap feature, so I turned it off.

I have a dumb question - how do you turn this feature off?

 

It's funny how people that ride with me are SO impressed by this feature.

The problem is that is never quite goes to the correct angle to help.

 

It's funny how people that ride with me are SO impressed by this feature. The problem is that is never quite goes to the correct angle to help.

Years ago, when I bought my Lexus, I shopped BMWs also and, I remember the salesman making a big deal about that feature.

Now, I never use it (and consider it an annoyance when I accidentally leave the switch in the wrong position).

It's useless, in my humble opinion.

 

its really useful when we are parking next to the curb or parallel parking

 

I find it useful occasionally when backing out of a narrow driveway, or certain parking situations, but could probably live without it. It's not as good as GM's implementation (Curb Assist I think it's called?) on my truck, where both mirrors move, and you can program the positions they move to.

Initially, I worried about premature motor wear in both vehicles, but eventually I just decided it doesn't matter. If it goes out, just push the mirror to the right position and leave it there. 98% of the time I'm the only driver anyhow. +1 on the impress you passengers comments.

 

I like it when im backing out of my friends steep and twisting driveway, and when im backing into a parking space, otherwise i just leave it off, but i think if u just turn it on and off when u want to, it doesn't become annoying, and also it is never in the right angle for backing into spaces

 

Ha, I like a lot of things about this car but my first few days in it, I thought the mirror feature was a BMW electrical glitch!

 

The only thing I use it for it to check the distance from the curb when parallel parked. We have nasty curbs here and scraping a wheel on one does not promote a pleasant experience.

 

Ah the automatic tilting passenger side view mirror... Mine also stops working once in a while. Love and hate that feature depending on where I'm parking.

 

On 2007 328xi the tilt is programmable. Check with dealer.

 

Mine seems to decide to work sometimes and not others (all the while with the mirror selector switch in the drivers position)

Sometimes it also goes down and not back up. Is there a known issue with this happening?

How does the mirror know you are in reverse? Does it have an independent switch (in the console somewhere) or is it just pulling the data from the central computer (that has to know in order to display the current gear in the info panel)?

 

...How does the mirror know you are in reverse? Does it have an independent switch (in the console somewhere) or is it just pulling the data from the central computer (that has to know in order to display the current gear in the info panel)?

Components communicate over the car's BUS system. The side mirrrors have feed back potentiometers...and when the gear shift lever is moved to reverse, the signal is sent over the P-bus for the mirror to tilt:

 

Gotcha. Thanks.

I took the mirror glass out and did some experimenting yesterday:

When I put the car in reverse the first time (with the mirror switch in the Drivers side location) the mirror dips. Back in Drive and it goes back. The second time it works occasionally. If I turn the car off, remove the key and start it again, sometimes it will dip in reverse and sometimes not. No changes to any seat or mirror switches, same key.

When I can get it to dip, sometimes it doesn't come back all the way.

I'm not thinking I'm going to get much help out of the dealer for a 10 year old car. What do you think my options are?

 

Did you ever get this problem fixed? I have the same exact problem. The mirror doesnt go down anymore. It tilts slightly but not the way its supposed to be.

I tried checking to see if it was the motor but the mirror goes down and up just not in reverse...

 

Did you ever get this problem fixed? I have the same exact problem. The mirror doesnt go down anymore.

If you're mirror doesn't go down anymore you know your relationship has changed, lol

 

I'm guessing no one has ever actually came up with a solution for this problem?

I've tried searching and seen this problem arise but never with an actual solution.

 

Luckily it started to work in its own one day! I lucked out


Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

 

Is the tilting mirror in reverse an extra option? How do I figure out if I have it?

Only link in bestlinks (1) does not answer my question.

 

Passenger tilt not working in reverse

So what if the switch isn't on the passenger side mirror? Mine will tilt sometimes, sometimes it will jerk tilt, sometimes it wont move at all... How do I fix this?

 

So what if the switch isn't on the passenger side mirror? Mine will tilt sometimes, sometimes it will jerk tilt, sometimes it wont move at all... How do I fix this?

If the switch in pushed to the left for control of the driver's side view mirror...then the passenger side mirror should DIP when the gear select lever is put into reverse...per the owners manual:

If your switch is in the "ACTIVATED" position for the passenger mirror to dip and it jerks or doesn't move...then I'd recommend popping off the mirror glass to get a look at the mechanism. It could be jammed up or need cleaning from years of dust/dirt/grime build up. After popping off the mirror glass...clean up everthing and articulate the mechanism (electronically by using the power mirror switch) to see if you have movement. You can also move the mirror manually (carefully) to see if that frees up movement of the mirror.

{this is what you'll see once you pop the mirror glass off the e38/e39}


{the pic below is from an e34...but the mounting design is the same as the e38/e39 regular heated side mirrors...the electrochromatic mirrors mount differently but you'd need the auto "folding" option to have those types of mirror glass}

 

Since this thread has already been awoken - funny how these issues recirculate. Recently on BaT a guy was selling his E39 and reported the side mirror tilt function was "broken," one of the commenters learned him up on the switch.

 

Many dont read the manual and dont realize what they have.
Some features are useful, others never used.
Things you didnt know about your e39:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338188
Remember the first time my wife was in the car, I adjusted the volume on the radio via the botton on the steering wheel. She went like "how did you do that, sorcery, telepathic abilities..." hmmm...all she knows is that the seat can go backwards and forwards...not that she ever used it. Should I tell her about the little 1,2 and 3 bottons on the door? Better not.

 

Many dont read the manual and dont realize what they have...

Reminds me of a video of some young guy showing off a bunch of "hidden" features, most of which are right in the owners manual.

sent from the future using the bimmerfest app embedded in my nueral implant

 

Mine only 1 mirror tilts which is the passenger side. It used to be both that tilts. What do I do? Thanks.

 

You do nothing because you can’t do anything. Only the passenger side mirror tilts when the button on the switch is in the correct position and you put the gear shift lever in reverse. If I’m incorrect, then the description of the driver’s mirror tilt feature will be listed in your owners manual.…but again, I’ve never seen the driver’s side mirror tilt when in reverse unless the driver manually manipulates the mirror themselves.

Also see the last sentence in the “principle of operation“ info in post #22 above where it only mentions the passenger side mirror tilting when reverse is selected and the switch is set to the driver’s side.

This is a feature that has been on BMWs for multiple decades (like the 1970s & 80s). The driver’s side mirrror has never tilted when reverse is selected. It has always only been the passenger mirror that tilts…to help the driver know where the curb is located on the passenger side.

Info from my 1985 e30, 1991 e32, & 1995 e34 owners manual:

Info from my 1997 e38 & 1999 e39:

Info from my 2006 e53 X5:

Info from my 2013 f06 & 2014 f15 X5:

 

This is the way that it works on my 2002 540i, what I'm interested in is adjusting the downward tilt of the mirror. Mine tilts so far that I cannot see the curb, I see pavement. Is there a known method to adjust the tilt, other than just physically moving it when it is in the tilted position?

 

…what I'm interested in is adjusting the downward tilt of the mirror. Mine tilts so far that I cannot see the curb, I see pavement. Is there a known method to adjust the tilt, other than just physically moving it when it is in the tilted position?

It would probably take some coding software to change the parameters of the mirror’s tilt. Unfortunately the e39 isn‘t listed with some of the new BMW coding software apps like Bimmercode where it would be a simple procedure. I’m not sure if Carly or the more in-depth ISTA coding and programming software and systems allow for this for the e39.