Side mirror diagnosis. Got a better hypothesis than mine?

Projectile · 01-22-2013, 02:46 PM

This morning, I started my M3 coupe and hit the button to "untuck" my side mirrors. BOTH of them opened/unfolded past the stop point so that they were pointing straight forwards. I wish I took a pic on my phone because they really looked ridiculous.

I hit the button again and the tucked in properly, and when I hit the button a third time, they both opened/unfolded past the stop point again to point straight forwards. This happened again a few times until the passenger side mirror stopped appropriately, but the driver's side mirror continued to malfunction.

I managed to get the driver's mirror to stop in a usable position by just manually provided some resistance to it as it unfolded at the stop point.

About an hour later, both mirrors were working fine again.

What's your diagnosis?

Vic311 · 01-22-2013, 02:48 PM

Something defective in the motor's stopping mechanism

///Matt.BLU · 01-22-2013, 06:58 PM

i laughed a little when i read how they were pointing straight forward. i could only imagine the reaction. i also want to know why the left and right mirrors tend to open and close at different speed after a while.

shendrick · 01-22-2013, 10:54 PM

Since you have a 2011, time to see the dealer. Never heard of this before.

luis_m3 · 01-23-2013, 01:40 AM

First time I read about this issue as well... take it to the dealership.

Class-of-2016 · 01-23-2013, 05:55 AM

Did you look around your car and see if she was standing there? The car is smarter than you think

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1sikbmr · 01-23-2013, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Matt.BLU

i laughed a little when i read how they were pointing straight forward. i could only imagine the reaction. i also want to know why the left and right mirrors tend to open and close at different speed after a while.

I always just assumed it was a delay in power delivery.

blackmist222777 · 01-23-2013, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Class-of-2013

Did you look around your car and see if she was standing there? The car is smarter than you think

Attachment 810952

my jaw just fell to the floor...

Projectile · 01-23-2013, 11:43 AM

She would have caused more than just my mirrors to stick out all funny.

Projectile · 01-23-2013, 11:44 AM

Here's another detail. The day before this ill-fated morning, I washed the car, and it has been pretty cold in Calgary these days ... -12 to -15 degrees C.

White 13 · 01-23-2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Projectile

Here's another detail. The day before this ill-fated morning, I washed the car, and it has been pretty cold in Calgary these days ... -12 to -15 degrees C.

This would be my guess. Something frozen.

Does it get a heated garage?

Projectile · 02-01-2013, 12:59 PM

It seemed to me that there must be something in the opening mechanism that was frozen and prevented the mirror from stopping. Later, when warmer, the mirrors worked properly and, when opened, did stop at the right point.

Perhaps there is a small stopper that needs to pop out to stop the mirror at the right spot and it was frozen "in"?

Can anybody confirm? Anybody know exactly how or what makes the mirrors stop where they do when opening them?

01-22-2013, 02:46 PM	#1
Projectile Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Side mirror diagnosis. Got a better hypothesis than mine? This morning, I started my M3 coupe and hit the button to "untuck" my side mirrors. BOTH of them opened/unfolded past the stop point so that they were pointing straight forwards. I wish I took a pic on my phone because they really looked ridiculous. I hit the button again and the tucked in properly, and when I hit the button a third time, they both opened/unfolded past the stop point again to point straight forwards. This happened again a few times until the passenger side mirror stopped appropriately, but the driver's side mirror continued to malfunction. I managed to get the driver's mirror to stop in a usable position by just manually provided some resistance to it as it unfolded at the stop point. About an hour later, both mirrors were working fine again. What's your diagnosis?
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01-22-2013, 02:48 PM	#2
Vic311 Banned 42 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Something defective in the motor's stopping mechanism
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01-22-2013, 06:58 PM	#3
///Matt.BLU Second Lieutenant 31 Rep 215 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	i laughed a little when i read how they were pointing straight forward. i could only imagine the reaction. i also want to know why the left and right mirrors tend to open and close at different speed after a while.
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01-22-2013, 10:54 PM	#4
shendrick Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3, 05 e46 zhp, 07 X3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Boston MA iTrader: (0)	Since you have a 2011, time to see the dealer. Never heard of this before.
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01-23-2013, 01:40 AM	#5
luis_m3 Low Pro... 35 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	First time I read about this issue as well... take it to the dealership.
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01-23-2013, 05:55 AM	#6
Class-of-2016 First Lieutenant 89 Rep 325 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Driving iTrader: (0)	Did you look around your car and see if she was standing there? The car is smarter than you think
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01-23-2013, 11:43 AM	#9
Projectile Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	She would have caused more than just my mirrors to stick out all funny.
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01-23-2013, 11:44 AM	#10
Projectile Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Here's another detail. The day before this ill-fated morning, I washed the car, and it has been pretty cold in Calgary these days ... -12 to -15 degrees C.
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02-01-2013, 12:59 PM	#12
Projectile Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	It seemed to me that there must be something in the opening mechanism that was frozen and prevented the mirror from stopping. Later, when warmer, the mirrors worked properly and, when opened, did stop at the right point. Perhaps there is a small stopper that needs to pop out to stop the mirror at the right spot and it was frozen "in"? Can anybody confirm? Anybody know exactly how or what makes the mirrors stop where they do when opening them?
	Appreciate 0 Quote