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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: pauls on 16 January 2019, 19:49:27

Title: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 16 January 2019, 19:49:27
I bought a bmw x3 with electric everything :-X anyway i knew when i bought it the drivers side mirror would not tilt or fold away. That didnt bother me as the passenger side one did , also the passenger one tilted down when put in reverse. That has now stopped working as well. The windows on both sides still work off the drivers switch. Could somebody tell me is they a way of testing the wireing to the mirrors without have to strip the door down. There is only one fuse so i cant see it being that as 1 was workkng.
I do have a multi meter but dont really know how to use it, so would need to know what to switch it to and what i would expect ghe results to be.
 I spoke to local garage and they want £78 a hour to try and identify whats wrong.

Any help would be appreciate.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 January 2019, 20:16:15
Any noise or evidence of attempted working on either mirror when the mirror controls are used? If no, then peel back the rubber tube on the door hinges and look for breakages.  ;)
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 16 January 2019, 20:28:01
No noise or sign off movement
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Andy B on 16 January 2019, 21:15:05
Any noise or evidence of attempted working on either mirror when the mirror controls are used? If no, then peel back the rubber tube on the door hinges and look for breakages. 

A Merc tends to break wiring where the mirror itself folds rather than the main harness to the door .....

but I guess yo already knew that  ::)
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: YZ250 on 16 January 2019, 23:35:13
I bought a bmw x3 with electric everything :-X anyway i knew when i bought it the drivers side mirror would not tilt or fold away. That didnt bother me as the passenger side one did , also the passenger one tilted down when put in reverse. That has now stopped working as well.................

You may already have done so but just check that the mirror selection switch is set to drivers mirror as auto tilt passenger mirror when reversing only works in this position on a beemer.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 January 2019, 05:34:58
Any noise or evidence of attempted working on either mirror when the mirror controls are used? If no, then peel back the rubber tube on the door hinges and look for breakages. 

A Merc tends to break wiring where the mirror itself folds rather than the main harness to the door .....

but I guess yo already knew that  ::)
Manual fold on mine :P
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 17 January 2019, 08:41:10
First thing I did was check the switch was in the right position.
All the functions have just stopped working. I need to find a way of checking the mirror switches to see if the switches are faulty or it's the mirror motors have died
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: STEMO on 17 January 2019, 10:42:34
First thing I did was check the switch was in the right position.
All the functions have just stopped working. I need to find a way of checking the mirror switches to see if the switches are faulty or it's the mirror motors have died
Take it to a dealer. They shouldn't charge you any more than £300 to diagnose the fault.  :)
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: aaronjb on 17 January 2019, 10:56:39
First thing I did was check the switch was in the right position.
All the functions have just stopped working. I need to find a way of checking the mirror switches to see if the switches are faulty or it's the mirror motors have died

STEMO is being his usual self, but if you can get it on to a BMW diagnostic machine that will tell you if the fault is motor, feedback circuit (potentiometers) or switch.. or if it says both motor & pots then it's likely a wiring fault.

Otherwise you're down to belling out each wire in the harness and checking for breakages.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: STEMO on 17 January 2019, 11:00:51
First thing I did was check the switch was in the right position.
All the functions have just stopped working. I need to find a way of checking the mirror switches to see if the switches are faulty or it's the mirror motors have died

STEMO is being his usual self, but if you can get it on to a BMW diagnostic machine that will tell you if the fault is motor, feedback circuit (potentiometers) or switch.. or if it says both motor & pots then it's likely a wiring fault.

Otherwise you're down to belling out each wire in the harness and checking for breakages.
Whadderya mean, me usual self? Helpful and practical, I hope.  :)
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: aaronjb on 17 January 2019, 11:02:26
Whadderya mean, me usual self? Helpful and practical, I hope.  :)

Absolutely  :y :-X
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 17 January 2019, 12:41:44
Total confused now. Went out this morning and I thought I would give it a try. I moved the selector switch a couple of times and all of a sudden the drivers side started working again.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: STEMO on 17 January 2019, 13:00:35
Total confused now. Went out this morning and I thought I would give it a try. I moved the selector switch a couple of times and all of a sudden the drivers side started working again.
Why confused? That narrows it down to the switch.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: STEMO on 17 January 2019, 13:04:44
And, as the power runs through the switch to both mirrors, replacing the switch may cure the fault altogether.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Andy B on 17 January 2019, 13:30:00
Years ago, the driver's mirror on my Omega would move to its setting on the memory button, however if I pressed it again, the mirror would move again to another position. Cleaning up the contacts at various plugs sorted it.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: henryd on 17 January 2019, 13:30:16
As Uncle Stemo says,either the switch or the door harness making and breaking with door movement,try them again with the door open and see if owt changes
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 January 2019, 14:25:07
Some vehicles, DAF to name one, kills the power to the radio and door switches whenever the door is open or reverse is selected...

All that to say, just be mindful that the door switches may not work with the driver's door open ;)
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 17 January 2019, 17:24:58
I have ordered a new switch so will let you know Monday when it turns up :y
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 21 January 2019, 14:41:44
Replaced the new switch today and nothing :(

I surpose its time to strip the door and check the wiring.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: pauls on 21 January 2019, 15:06:14
I forgot to ask. Does the cable cover thing from the door to the car just pull off.
Title: Re: Electric wing mirrors
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 21 January 2019, 16:23:05
Usually but you will need to unplug the loom in order to remove it to improve access to the actual wiring ;)