Need assistance with dimming mirror
 

I would like to get a little help from the E53 community. I purchased n new dimming mirror with compass for my 03 e39 5 series wagon. Got the mirror hooked it up and the alarm LED (clown nose) works and the compass works, but it will not dim. Took it to the local dealer for new parts warranty, and they look up the part number and tell me the mirror is made for the e90, e61, and e53, and was not made for my e39, and that for a couple hours of labor they will wire it correctly and make it work... At over $100/hr I took a pass at letting them wire it.

I've done a lot of research, and everything I have found tells me my car is wired just fine for this mirror. What I'd like a little help on is to see how the X5 is wired, or specifically what color of wires run into the 10 pin conncetor from the car side on your mirrors that dim. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

A part number of the mirror you bought would help.

Here is the part number 51-16-7-148-838. Sorry should have included that.

I don't know the model or date of production of your car, but I guessed 525i and 2/2003. If that's the case then your part is not compatible with the E39. You bought a part for an E53 (is that why you are on the E53 board asking questions?). To use in a E53 X5 you would also need the retrofit cable 61-12-0-140-175 $29.18 retail. My suggestion is to sell this one and buy the correct part for your car.

Thanks Meister, I do have a 03 525iT. The dealer told me this mirror was for the e90, e60, and e53 cars. Looking at the ETK parts catalog this mirror was used for european e39s as well.

Can you tell me why this mirror is not compatible? All the wiring diagrams I have been able to find basically show switched power to pin 3 and ground to pin 10 with the side mirror dimming to pins 4 through 7, the alarm LED is on pins 8 and 9, and the reverse signal is on pin 1 to kill the dimming function. The e39 is wired the same as the E53 with the exception that it does not have the side dimming mirrors. Any idea what that retrofit cable looks like or includes? I appreciate your help.

I have no idea about the wiring of it. Yes it was compatible with European E39's, but not US ones. while it was compatible with European AND US X5's. That tells me that something is clearly different. My guess is that to make it compatible in the US X5 you need that retrofit cable and perhaps them same thing is true in principle for a US E39, however they never seemed to make a retrofit cable for that situation.

Did you cover the back sensor and shine light on the front (mirror) sensor?

Thanks Meister, since I purchased the mirror new and I have warranty on it, I'm going to try the retrofit cable.

I did try this, and it is obvious at night with an SUV or truck behind that it is not dimming. It just seems very strange to me that the LED for the alarm and the compass both work fine, just not the dimming. I wonder if it needs a signal from the outside mirrors?

Meister, I've looked up wiring diagrams and I can not find anywhere where they differentiate the euro e39 to the US e39? Would you know if there is a special site to get euro wiring digrams? I'm guessing that the retrofit cable is basically the car side of the 10 pin plug with the wires that you have to splice in to the car. That will not help as I already have a plug on my car. Thanks for your help.

Sorry I don't know where you can get the euro wiring diagrams. Try asking someone on the board who is in Germany or call up a dealer over there and see if they can fax them to you?

Try getting that retrofit cable and see if it helps. It retails for only $29.18 so it's not a huge hit in the wallet if it doesn't work out.