Kevinmacd

Got in the car today, and the review auto diming mirror seems to have fogged up at the top. Looks like the liquid has escaaped. This morror also has the two brightness led, and windshield wiper sensor. Anyone have this issue , and what's it cost to replace?

raineycd

Here are a few from another forum:

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...r-failure.html

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...im-mirror.html

Renn 951

Hmm... I noticed on my new tt that the auto-dimming mirror had been replaced with a regular one. Probably because of the leaking problem, which the 6speedonline posts indicate can ruin the center console. The mirror on my '00 Audi S4 had fluid "disappear" (i.e., a thin clear band at the top appeared as the fluid level dropped) but it never actually "leaked" on anything. It was more like it just evaporated.

Kevinmacd

Thanks will be checking the contacts.

Kevinmacd

Anyone know how to remove the auto dimming rearview mirror? Foundo ut that a company by the name of Sybesmas thanks to raineycd does do a replacement for a fee. They need pic of the mirror, back and front, mounting, and the pins that connect. So any help on removal would greatly be appreciated.

They only fix Donnelly with a triangle with a G embedded in the triangle markings. This is on the rear of the mirror itself.

My mirror looks like liquid has drained and I have a little fogging and big bubble witihin the mirror.

Dock

Is the factory OE mirror still available through Porsche?

jpflip

Factory part# 996 731 511 02 and it is $428.25...

Removal and installation is in the repair manual page 1000 to 1003...

Dock

If it were me, that's the way I'd go.

Kevinmacd

Thanks for the info. Why go with $400 some odd dollars when there is an exchange policy for $75. These particular mirrors had issues, and the the exchanged unit is up to date. The manufacturer Magna Donelly is providing the exchanges through this third party organization. The policy is once you identify the faulty mirror meets the exchange policy they send you one and then you return yours in a prepaid shipping box. So you are not waiting on one, and can use the vehicle.

Dock

It didn't sound like the replacement mirror was a factory original part. If the replacement is a rebuilt factory mirror, I might personally consider it.

Michael-Dallas

Oh geez, the BMW M oval mirrors had this same problem (also Magna-Donnelly sourced). I thought I left those problems when moving on to Porsche -- guess not.

Personally, if you have tinted windows, then I'd opt for a regular, non-electronic mirror. Heck, I have the auto-dimming function turned off on mine right now. I just hope that helps alleviate the risk.

Michael.

Dock

I wonder how common the problem is? From reading various forums, it doesn't seem to be brought up very often. Of course that is only a small data point, but certainly a few instances does not indicate a trend.

Michael-Dallas

Well, when I had to replace mine, I contacted Magna-Donnelly directly and got a new one for free (I shipped my defective one back). About 3-4 years ago, Magna-Donnelly stopped doing this and started deferring people to contact Sybesmas where they will perform repair for $75. I can point you to one of the bigger threads on E46 M3 forum. I still get email response notification to this day in that thread.

To give you some sort of background, I had found out about Magna-Donnelly after I took apart my defective one and found their logo. A Google search w/ the name and some other choice keywords landed me to an Acura CL forum (remember that car?) where an owner had filed a lawsuit against Magna-Donnelly. Apartly, the auto-dimming fluid contained a toxic chemical (mercury?) and the Acura CL owner fell ill from it.

You won't find exact numbers, but my gut tells me it's common enough to worry and gripe about.

EDIT: when I was doing all of this research, I found out that BMW sources auto-dimming mirrors from Magna-Donnelly or Gentex. The Gentex mirrors uses a different type of auto-dimming technology. Unfortunately, the M Ovals in the E46 M3, E39 M5, and Z3/Z4 M were Magna-Donnelly sourced, unless you had the square mirror w/ BMW Assist/Homelink/Compass (those were Gentex sourced).

Michael.

If it's any consolation, my friend's Lamborghini Murcielago had a leaking auto-dimming mirror too. He's since replaced it w/ a regular mirror.

Dock

That's good information. Maybe the lack of forum threads with the Porsche mirror is because they have a different design and are not too prone to leakage.

I've been fortunate...my mirror is over 9.5 years old and is as good as new. Of course it could fail tonight though...

Michael-Dallas

Yip, yip, and for posterity...

Here's the thread w/ my posts back in Fall 2006: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...33#post1704433

Here's a 51 page, ongoing thread: http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=160179

Here's the Acura thread that I found after I took mine apart (it's the TL, not CL, dangit): http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602694

In the Acura thread, please do read about the lawsuit against Magna-Donnelly.

Michael.