Dipping side mirror not always activating

[Matticus91]

Hi guys, I have a weird issue with my mirror. My car has the "dipping" feature which makes the passenger side mirror point at the ground to help see the curb while in reverse and parallel parking. It occasionally won't work for a while, and then will start working again. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, and the electric adjustment always functions.

Anyone else have this issue?

[MightyMouseTech]

Had the exact same issue with my E90. Turned out to be just the reverse switch in the transmission. Was a 10 min and $20 fix. Check to see if your reverse lights are intermittent.

[Ric in RVA]

Do you the mirror switch set correctly?

[TheCaptain]

The dip function is only active when the mirror adjustment selector switch is slid over to the right. Not sure if this is what's causing your problem but check the switch.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Do you the mirror switch set correctly?

Originally Posted by TheCaptain

The dip function is only active when the mirror adjustment selector switch is slid over to the right. Not sure if this is what's causing your problem but check the switch.

Had no idea about this, I'll try that!

[Matticus91]

Ok so this is weird, according to what you guys said the switch needed to be to the right, which it was. So I flicked it over to the left and now the mirror dips lol.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by TheCaptain

The dip function is only active when the mirror adjustment selector switch is slid over to the right. Not sure if this is what's causing your problem but check the switch.

You mean the left.

[1smokehouse]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Had no idea about this, I'll try that!

Lol, happened to me too, I never knew what that switch was for until my wife turned it off unknowingly...

[zx10guy]

I've had this same issue too. I can some times get the thing to "wake" by sliding the mirror selector switch back and forth until it starts to dip. Some times, I'll give up for a while and then play with the switch and it'll work again. No logic I could tell so far either.

Also, I've had this happen where I will move the switch to the right when the mirror dip feature doesn't work and it'll work in that setting.

While we're talking about the mirror dip feature, it's maddening to me that the driver's side doesn't do the same thing. Good parking spots don't always have the concrete curb on the passenger side.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Ok so this is weird, according to what you guys said the switch needed to be to the right, which it was. So I flicked it over to the left and now the mirror dips lol.

I thought it was left....but glad you got it sorted!!

[B777flyboy]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

I thought it was left....but glad you got it sorted!!

It is left.

[c1pher]

I had to learn the same thing.

[MightyMouseTech]

Round of RTFM for the boys!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Round of RTFM for the boys!

Rare that I miss something this simple

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

While we're talking about the mirror dip feature, it's maddening to me that the driver's side doesn't do the same thing. Good parking spots don't always have the concrete curb on the passenger side.

So it's been that way since basically forever on BMWs, it was introduced for parallel parking, which would always leave the curb on the passenger side.(if you are parking correctly)

My solution is just pop the door open when the curb is on driver side.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

So it's been that way since basically forever on BMWs, it was introduced for parallel parking, which would always leave the curb on the passenger side.(if you are parking correctly)

My solution is just pop the door open when the curb is on driver side.

You can parallel park on the left on many one way streets.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

You can parallel park on the left on many one way streets.

Yeah and being in the DC area there's a ton of one-way's where you end up with the curb on your right. I agree that it would be super helpful to be able to select which side dips.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

So it's been that way since basically forever on BMWs, it was introduced for parallel parking, which would always leave the curb on the passenger side.(if you are parking correctly)

My solution is just pop the door open when the curb is on driver side.

In addition to what MightyMouseTech said about one way streets, which I have plenty in my area, I always park in end spots in a parking lot. I don't always have the choice to back into a space with curbing on the passenger side.

Plus popping open the door only works so much as I've tried it. The car only allows you to do so much with the driver's side door popped open before it drops the trans into park preventing you from driving in reverse with the door open.

Just because BMW has done it this way forever, doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. My wife's RDX does the mirror dip on both mirrors depending on where the selector switch is. It's such a simple programming thing that there's no excuse not to have this on the driver's side too.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

In addition to what MightyMouseTech said about one way streets, which I have plenty in my area, I always park in end spots in a parking lot. I don't always have the choice to back into a space with curbing on the passenger side.

Plus popping open the door only works so much as I've tried it. The car only allows you to do so much with the driver's side door popped open before it drops the trans into park preventing you from driving in reverse with the door open.

Just because BMW has done it this way forever, doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. My wife's RDX does the mirror dip on both mirrors depending on where the selector switch is. It's such a simple programming thing that there's no excuse not to have this on the driver's side too.

Was about to say, I work at Acura and most of our cars can be switched to either side. Move switch to left, left side dips, move switch to right, right side dips. Not rocket surgery.

And popping open the door on a newer car with a push button auto shifter will slam the car into park.

[Dylanize]

1st world problems lol.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

And popping open the door on a newer car with a push button auto shifter will slam the car into park.

I didn't realize this was a thing

Originally Posted by Dylanize

1st world problems lol.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

I didn't realize this was a thing

Well, on properly designed cars. Apparently Dodge has not figured it out yet, they are currently recalling over a million vehicles because people get out without putting it in park. Many people have died/been injured because of it.