Can you disable photochromatic side mirrors?

dreamspeed · 04-02-2013, 01:23 PM

So i eventually got use to the auto dimming rear view mirror from my last car but I really dislike the auto dimming on the side mirrors.

It's like looking through a tinted window...I rather have higher visibility of the cars around me than worry about someones headlight blinding me.

Is there a way to disable the photochromatic mirror? Thanks

mdosu · 04-02-2013, 01:28 PM

it's pretty useful, give it a try for a bit longer.

dreamspeed · 04-02-2013, 01:39 PM

Duh, I should have searched for auto dimming side mirrors instead of photochromatic side mirrors. So it looks like the only solution is to have it coded out or to put a piece of tape on the sensor (which will probably look horrible

)

I'm ok with the rear view mirror now but the side mirrors still bothers me. It might be because of my astigmatism, even with glasses my "night vision" isn't as good as it could be

tom @ eas · 04-02-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

Duh, I should have searched for auto dimming side mirrors instead of photochromatic side mirrors. So it looks like the only solution is to have it coded out or to put a piece of tape on the sensor (which will probably look horrible

)

I'm ok with the rear view mirror now but the side mirrors still bothers me. It might be because of my astigmatism, even with glasses my "night vision" isn't as good as it could be

They can be coded out, yes.

alee0729 · 04-02-2013, 02:19 PM

Can't you just disconnect the harness on the mirror? You'd lose heat on the mirror as well, but the OP is in LA, so probably not an issue.

luis_m3 · 04-02-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alee0729

Can't you just disconnect the harness on the mirror? You'd lose heat on the mirror as well, but the OP is in LA, so probably not an issue.

+1... they pop out. Unplug them and you should be good to go.

dreamspeed · 04-02-2013, 03:01 PM

Disconnecting the harness seems like a viable option for me....but does anyone know if that will throw an error warning? There are sensors for practically everything on this car and I don't want to hear the stupid gong all the time if i disconnect this.

Actually, wouldn't disconnecting the harness also disable the power folding function and the ability to adjust my mirrors? If so i'll have the rethink if i want to do it or not :P

Andy_H_E92_M3 · 04-02-2013, 10:44 PM

Disconnect the wiring. It won't trigger an error and won't affect tilt or folding.

BPMSport · 04-02-2013, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_H_E92_M3

Disconnect the wiring. It won't trigger an error and won't affect tilt or folding.

+1 (Well, it will trigger an error, but it won't be visible from the car, and it's a non-issue).

dreamspeed · 04-03-2013, 02:02 AM

Cool thanks

FJcruiser72 · 04-03-2013, 09:01 AM

I just put a small piece of black tape over the sensor on the rear view mirror. My tint is so dark that at night time I couldn't see jack shit. Works like charm, I still have the heated sides and I don't even notice the tape (cut in oval shape to match sensor).

Johndong888 · 04-03-2013, 04:57 PM

Just code the thing off. Easiest, non intrusive, oem, and clean!

I am not sure how the mirrors are connected but what if water gets it there and shorts out the connector because it's unplugged...

Andy_H_E92_M3 · 04-03-2013, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndong888

I am not sure how the mirrors are connected but what if water gets it there and shorts out the connector because it's unplugged...

Electrical tape.

Sandye90m3 · 04-04-2013, 01:33 AM

I can't live without them

Johndong888 · 04-04-2013, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_H_E92_M3

Electrical tape.

That would work but it's kind of ugly. THat's why I said coding was non-intrusive

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

I can't live without them

They're perfectly fine if you don't have tint. I think the issues occur when you have any sort of tint. It gets darker than usual.

04-02-2013, 01:23 PM	#1
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 262 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Can you disable photochromatic side mirrors? So i eventually got use to the auto dimming rear view mirror from my last car but I really dislike the auto dimming on the side mirrors. It's like looking through a tinted window...I rather have higher visibility of the cars around me than worry about someones headlight blinding me. Is there a way to disable the photochromatic mirror? Thanks __________________
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04-02-2013, 01:28 PM	#2
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	it's pretty useful, give it a try for a bit longer.
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04-02-2013, 01:39 PM	#3
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 262 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Duh, I should have searched for auto dimming side mirrors instead of photochromatic side mirrors. So it looks like the only solution is to have it coded out or to put a piece of tape on the sensor (which will probably look horrible ) I'm ok with the rear view mirror now but the side mirrors still bothers me. It might be because of my astigmatism, even with glasses my "night vision" isn't as good as it could be __________________
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04-02-2013, 02:19 PM	#5
alee0729 Lieutenant 175 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3, 2018 Tesla 3 Perf Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New York, NY iTrader: (0)	Can't you just disconnect the harness on the mirror? You'd lose heat on the mirror as well, but the OP is in LA, so probably not an issue.
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04-02-2013, 03:01 PM	#7
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 262 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Disconnecting the harness seems like a viable option for me....but does anyone know if that will throw an error warning? There are sensors for practically everything on this car and I don't want to hear the stupid gong all the time if i disconnect this. Actually, wouldn't disconnecting the harness also disable the power folding function and the ability to adjust my mirrors? If so i'll have the rethink if i want to do it or not :P __________________ Last edited by dreamspeed; 04-02-2013 at 03:27 PM..
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04-02-2013, 10:44 PM	#8
Andy_H_E92_M3 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX iTrader: (14)	Disconnect the wiring. It won't trigger an error and won't affect tilt or folding.
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04-03-2013, 02:02 AM	#10
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 262 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Cool thanks __________________
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04-03-2013, 09:01 AM	#11
FJcruiser72 New Member 1 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I just put a small piece of black tape over the sensor on the rear view mirror. My tint is so dark that at night time I couldn't see jack shit. Works like charm, I still have the heated sides and I don't even notice the tape (cut in oval shape to match sensor).
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04-03-2013, 04:57 PM	#12
Johndong888 John 75 Rep 885 Posts Drives: '12 M3, '18 S560, '16 G63 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ iTrader: (9)	Just code the thing off. Easiest, non intrusive, oem, and clean! I am not sure how the mirrors are connected but what if water gets it there and shorts out the connector because it's unplugged... __________________ Current - 2012 AW/FR E92 M3 \| 2014 AW X5 \| 2015 MB S550 \| 2016 RR V8 (White FTW) Mods - BPMTune Stg1/Servo, Euro Visors & Side Mirror, IND Gloss Blk Pkg, OEM Perf. CF Trim/Spoiler, Grills, Lights, Pedals, Umnitza V4 AE, ModeCarbon GTS V1, 19" HRE P40 Sold - 2008 BSM/Black E92 335i
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04-04-2013, 01:33 AM	#14
Sandye90m3 Major 167 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary, CA iTrader: (0)	I can't live without them __________________ M3.E90 JZB *Coded.GTSDCT.BomizValved.TurnerTestPipes.ResDelete .EurochargedTune.AAFilter.HRER40s*
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