Rear view mirror leaking

**TMAQ** · 02-06-2009, 09:33 PM

I returned to my car today, got in and noticed a strange smell from inside. Didn’t think too much of it as it wasn’t that strong.... was about to put the car in gear and noticed a liquid substance on the gear stick and surrounding area, a few drops worth. Looked up at the rear view mirror and there was a horizontal line from one side of the mirror straight across to the other. The mirror was blurred and there was a liquid dripping from it. Turns out this liquid is mercury from the self dimming function which happens to be toxic and corrosive, handy when it’s dripped on the centre console! Didn’t know about this problem before today, but maybe if I did I would have left a cloth on the centre console (not that you should have too). The heat built up in the car coupled with the age is what i think is the likely cause. Hopefully BM is aware of this problem when I call them tomorrow and can fix under the warranty. Managed to get the liquid off the centre console with some wipes I had in the car but the mercury has left some damage as pictured

**mole** · 02-06-2009, 10:16 PM

Gutted mate, never heard of that before.
You would hope that'd be covered under warranty.

NZ_M3 · 03-06-2009, 12:04 AM

Actuallly this is a well known defect ...

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=faulty+mirror

The mirror is made by a third party supplier - sybesmas electronics or Magna-Donnelly (can't remember which - it's in the thread)

There's a contact detail in the thread above if you can't get BMW to cover it - they will instead apparently.

BMW should cover the damages done to the console also.

Bealo · 03-06-2009, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ_M3

Actuallly this is a well known defect ...

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=faulty+mirror

The mirror is made by a third party supplier - sybesmas electronics or Magna-Donnelly (can't remember which - it's in the thread)

There's a contact detail in the thread above if you can't get BMW to cover it - they will instead apparently.

BMW should cover the damages done to the console also.

I'll say it again... it's good to have you around NZ_M3 you seem to know the lot about these cars.

TMAQ

Goodluck with your warranty claim and let us know how you get on

david · 03-06-2009, 07:00 AM

has same case last year, bmw did not cover that on my side, and costed me around 350£ that damm mirror, comme in on peace and 3 models for E46, be awared when ordering it, I received the wrong one and waited 4 weeks to get the correct one...

**Andyk** · 03-06-2009, 07:04 AM

What a twat of a thing to happen. Surely it's covered under warrenty and if not should be done as good will.

NZ_M3 · 06-06-2009, 03:40 AM

Okay .. update ... Have heard back from Bekki (finally figured out who I was emailing). Seems that you DON'T have to have a failure to get a replacement

So I would suggest those of you that don't want ruined interiors to get the exchange - I know I am.

Contents of the email:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bekki

Good morning Tom (this is Bekki, Stacy is on vacation). I cannot tell you with 100% certainty that your current mirror will leak, but I can tell you that if it does, it could damage the plastics in the vehicle if it leaks fluid. We do not require proof of fault for an exchange if that is the route you would like to take. As far as I know, the mirrors we are exchanging out do not contain the fluid in question. We do carry a one year warranty against any defects if that makes you feel more secure in the exchange. If this is something you would like to do, please fill out the form that Stacy sent you and take the required pictures and we can get that order in process. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns and I will do my best to assist you. Thank you for your interest in our company and have a great day!
Bekki

digi · 06-06-2009, 02:54 PM

I got my rear mirror replaced recently by them also. Service was speedy and fitment was really easy. I paid $75USD service fee and had to pay $100 courier.

As mentioned, no need to wait for it to leak before replacing.

**shimmy** · 10-02-2013, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digi

I got my rear mirror replaced recently by them also. Service was speedy and fitment was really easy. I paid $75USD service fee and had to pay $100 courier.

As mentioned, no need to wait for it to leak before replacing.

Gonna do this when I do my steering wheel.

Yanto · 10-02-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

Gonna do this when I do my steering wheel.

Your steering wheel leaks ?

02-06-2009, 10:16 PM	#2
mole S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex Posts: 1,060 Casino cash: $6209	Gutted mate, never heard of that before. You would hope that'd be covered under warranty. __________________ CSL Solutions

03-06-2009, 12:04 AM	#3
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	Actuallly this is a well known defect ... http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=faulty+mirror The mirror is made by a third party supplier - sybesmas electronics or Magna-Donnelly (can't remember which - it's in the thread) There's a contact detail in the thread above if you can't get BMW to cover it - they will instead apparently. BMW should cover the damages done to the console also. Last edited by NZ_M3; 03-06-2009 at 12:06 AM.

03-06-2009, 07:00 AM	#5
david S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: just across the channel... Posts: 356 Casino cash: $2243	has same case last year, bmw did not cover that on my side, and costed me around 350£ that damm mirror, comme in on peace and 3 models for E46, be awared when ordering it, I received the wrong one and waited 4 weeks to get the correct one... __________________ pleasure is not only in the straight line.....

03-06-2009, 07:04 AM	#6
Andyk Driving it like I nicked it Space Invaders Champion! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chepstow Posts: 2,506 Casino cash: $3997	What a twat of a thing to happen. Surely it's covered under warrenty and if not should be done as good will. __________________

06-06-2009, 02:54 PM	#8
digi S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 486 Casino cash: $4438	I got my rear mirror replaced recently by them also. Service was speedy and fitment was really easy. I paid $75USD service fee and had to pay $100 courier. As mentioned, no need to wait for it to leak before replacing.