Is There a NON-Folding Mirror Option?
 

Hello,


The folding mechanism on the outside mirrors seems to have been made utilizing leftover toy parts made by the Chinese back in the 1970s, and I'd like to get rid of them in favor of a fixed mirror, and preferably also without the reverse dip feature as well. Was there a factory option mirror that had just the basic mirror controls and heated defrosting? I'm not even sure I care about the defrost feature as I live in the S.F. Bay Area, so it doesn't get that cold here. I have tried replacing the rotator mechanism on one side, along with the button/module in the driver's side armrest, and they don't work any better. The mirror housings flop all over the place and the mirror glass on both sides always seem to steer itself all the way in and up when shifted into reverse. They're still junk.



Thank you for your suggestions.

You don't need to fold your mirrors. Also put your mirror adjust switch to passenger side and it won't do the "over dip" (points at whatever you just ran over rather than what you want to avoid running over)

I set my seat memory 3 to have both mirrors point down aiming at curb a few feet behind the car.

As far as folding; just don't use it. I'm pretty sure you could use a shim in just the right place to snug up any wobble and to keep anybody from accidentally using the feature unplug the button

You guys have folding mirrors? (My 2003 does not)

I "technically" have folding mirrors... [emoji1787]

Sent from Embassy network using Tapatalk

Yup, lower spec E53's had NON-folding mirrors without dimming (All came with heated glass & electric controls).

You can easily downgrade from Folding to non-folding if you are handy. But going from Heated/Dimming glass to just heated glass would require "new" mirror motors/mounts.

I found out by literal accident at least my passenger mirror will fold and very very quickly if I pass too close to a parked minivan.

Luckily for the minivan it also folded forward. A few scuff marks nothing broken on either offense or defense.

Having added dimming mirrors to my e39 that did not come with them, I suggest that all you need to do to disable dimming mirrors is clip the same wires (2) that I installed and connected to the rear view mirror harness. It's where the side mirrors get the signal to dim. Though I cannot understand why anyone would want to disable dimming mirrors. :dunno:

Black tape over the sensor will disable the dimming but I think changing from dimming might be due to the current dimming mirrors aging out from the silver coming off the back and being much more expensive to replace with dimming vs. just heated. Just a wag


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That's a fine guess. I have found plenty of functional mirror glass in the bone yards. Hell, I may even have a set extra- OP If you need some, I'll go look.

If you block the sensor, you also block diming for the rear view. Also- 90% certain I have a spare rearview mirror sitting around. :eeps:

I have the opposite problem I want to engage the dimming long before the car does and no manual override.

Fortunately it's only by a few seconds usually but it's annoying when driving freeway at night when it goes bright/dim dozens of times per hour