Driver's Side Mirror Vandalized?

lkevinl · 02-15-2007, 03:54 PM

So I go to the movies to catch a flick with my wife on Valentine's day evening, come out, hop in my ride and while driving notice that my driver's side mirror is bent BACKWARD towards the engine compartment! I have the motorized mirrors that can be folded in with the push of a button. The mirror folds toward the door normally. I don't usually use this feature but I'm thinking that it might be a good idea now.

I'm guessing someone either accidentally bumped into it as they were getting into their car or someone A$$ intentionally did this.

When I stopped at a light, I pressed the button and the mirror attempted to fold in and it actually looked like it did but when opening them up again, it only opened part way. Pressed the button again to retract them and heard a click. Pressed again to open and this time it opened into the correct position.

Later when I parked I checked and it seems like it would take a lot of force to bend the side mirror backwards. It's frustrating when people have complete disregard for your personal property!!!

Ado · 02-15-2007, 04:24 PM

Yeah I got that feature as well.

Sorry to hear about the incident it sucks when someone touches your baby.

I actually just picked up my car about 2 hours ago. I especially asked for this feature because my mirror was blown off by an oncoming car on my old BMW.

One thing I noticed was that you have to press the button to slide the mirrors in and out. I would have thought that it would be automatic when you turn the car off. I drove a Lexus a little while back and their was automatic.

Ghunger · 02-15-2007, 04:24 PM

I'm not exactly sure right now, without going out to my car but... I'm pretty sure the mirrors have a safety feature so they can swing either way if they get hit and you just have to rotate it back into position. I know it works if they get pushed to the rear.

lkevinl · 02-15-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghunger

I'm not exactly sure right now, without going out to my car but... I'm pretty sure the mirrors have a safety feature so they can swing either way if they get hit and you just have to rotate it back into position. I know it works if they get pushed to the rear.

Yeah, it does seem that the mirror can be pushed back (towards the engine) without breaking as mine seems to be fine now.

I've seen the auto-folding feature on a Lexus. It seems this could be a simple software option in i-Drive but apparently it doesn't exist yet. The mirrors do open at speed if you have them closed. When I was trying to fix the driver mirror at the stop light and had it folded in, after the light turned green and I started moving at about 25MPH, they opened themselves.

As I mentioned, at first it didn't re-open all the way and I was heading to LAX to pick up a friend. I thought that with all the cops there, I'd be a big target with my missing front plate and a malfunctioning driver's side mirror!

TTG · 02-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Sorry that this happen to you but I don't think your car was vandalized. Some idiot probably just bumped into it.....

bmwexecutive · 02-15-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTG

Sorry that this happen to you but I don't think your car was vandalized. Some idiot probably just bumped into it.....

True. I can imagine a bunch of teenagers walking along together, one guy in front of the group turns around to walk backwards and talk at the same time and slams his back into the mirror while walking backward. Seems pretty plausible.

MacAttack · 02-16-2007, 12:46 AM

I flip my mirrors back and up towards the engine when I manually wash the car. It doesn't hurt the internal motors. I just manually flip it back into position when I'm done and the automatic mode still works fine which I do everytime I park.

GregL · 02-16-2007, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacAttack

I flip my mirrors back and up towards the engine when I manually wash the car. It doesn't hurt the internal motors. I just manually flip it back into position when I'm done and the automatic mode still works fine which I do everytime I park.

Really? Thats good to know.

SoYank · 02-16-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

True. I can imagine a bunch of teenagers walking along together, one guy in front of the group turns around to walk backwards and talk at the same time and slams his back into the mirror while walking backward. Seems pretty plausible.

I was imagining some lady with 65 inch hips trying to squeeze between the cars.

PMP · 02-16-2007, 11:04 AM

I pictured two "little people" walking hand in hand after a romantic meal at the mall food court looking lovingly into one another's eyes and the WHAMMO the dude puts his noggin right into the rear view mirror and ends his evening early.

lkevinl · 02-16-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMP

I pictured two "little people" walking hand in hand after a romantic meal at the mall food court looking lovingly into one another's eyes and the WHAMMO the dude puts his noggin right into the rear view mirror and ends his evening early.

There was no forensic evidence to support this.

Good to know about the mirrors flexibility.

I'm sure that if someone really broke something, they'd never leave a note, especially on a Bimmer.

LEDZEP · 02-16-2007, 12:44 PM

It is good to know that the mirror can withstand the forward folding. I would caution that it is probably best to manually move it back into normal postion though instead of letting the motor do it... just in case. I'm sure the plastic gear in there would be easy to strip.

audiphile · 02-16-2007, 12:59 PM

same thing just happened to me. The mirror is fine now - it reset to its proper position after folding/unfolding a few times.

lkevinl · 02-16-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

It is good to know that the mirror can withstand the forward folding. I would caution that it is probably best to manually move it back into normal postion though instead of letting the motor do it... just in case. I'm sure the plastic gear in there would be easy to strip.

I agree with this. I was in traffic at the time so my only option was to use the button like "audiphile", mine correct after a couple of times folding in and out.

335Newbie · 02-16-2007, 02:28 PM

How about if it was a really tall couple rushing to their car after a romantic dinner for a mad passionate night of bone jumping, and he catches the mirror in the crotch ending the evening on the spot.

lkevinl · 02-16-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335Newbie

How about if it was a really tall couple rushing to their car after a romantic dinner for a mad passionate night of bone jumping, and he catches the mirror in the crotch ending the evening on the spot.

If so, I'm glad I used the button to fix rather than yanking it with my bare hands!

02-15-2007, 03:54 PM	#1
lkevinl Lieutenant 35 Rep 521 Posts Drives: '07 335i 4dr Sport+Premium+Nav Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So. Cal. iTrader: (0)	Driver's Side Mirror Vandalized? So I go to the movies to catch a flick with my wife on Valentine's day evening, come out, hop in my ride and while driving notice that my driver's side mirror is bent BACKWARD towards the engine compartment! I have the motorized mirrors that can be folded in with the push of a button. The mirror folds toward the door normally. I don't usually use this feature but I'm thinking that it might be a good idea now. I'm guessing someone either accidentally bumped into it as they were getting into their car or someone A$$ intentionally did this. When I stopped at a light, I pressed the button and the mirror attempted to fold in and it actually looked like it did but when opening them up again, it only opened part way. Pressed the button again to retract them and heard a click. Pressed again to open and this time it opened into the correct position. Later when I parked I checked and it seems like it would take a lot of force to bend the side mirror backwards. It's frustrating when people have complete disregard for your personal property!!!
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02-15-2007, 04:24 PM	#2
Ado King Kong 59 Rep 771 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Yeah I got that feature as well. Sorry to hear about the incident it sucks when someone touches your baby. I actually just picked up my car about 2 hours ago. I especially asked for this feature because my mirror was blown off by an oncoming car on my old BMW. One thing I noticed was that you have to press the button to slide the mirrors in and out. I would have thought that it would be automatic when you turn the car off. I drove a Lexus a little while back and their was automatic. __________________ 08 E92 M3 - AA ECU, AA Pulleys, AA Air Filter, AA Short Shifter - CURRENT E92 335i - Vishnu V3, Exhaust, Intake, BOV, CDV Delete - SOLD 1991 850i Dinan Twin Turbo - SOLD
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02-15-2007, 04:24 PM	#3
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I'm not exactly sure right now, without going out to my car but... I'm pretty sure the mirrors have a safety feature so they can swing either way if they get hit and you just have to rotate it back into position. I know it works if they get pushed to the rear. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
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02-15-2007, 05:33 PM	#5
TTG ... 936 Rep 4,327 Posts Drives: M340 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [7.84] 2007 335 Coupe (ret ... [9.00]	Sorry that this happen to you but I don't think your car was vandalized. Some idiot probably just bumped into it..... __________________ 2020 G20 M340 xDrive - Portimao Blue - ZDA\|ZPP\|ZPX\|1CR\|1PE\|6NW\|6WD 2016 F10 535i xDrive - AW - Retired 2011 E92 M3 - AW……………....ED April 29th, 2010 - Retired 2007 E92 335i -Space Gray.....ED Oct 19th, 2006 - Retired
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02-16-2007, 12:46 AM	#7
MacAttack Colonel 29 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: fast enough Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Afghanistan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW [0.00]	I flip my mirrors back and up towards the engine when I manually wash the car. It doesn't hurt the internal motors. I just manually flip it back into position when I'm done and the automatic mode still works fine which I do everytime I park. __________________ 2007 E92 335i Coupe: Monaco Blue/Premium/Sports/Winter Package/Nav/CA/6MT/TT/Active Cruise/Active Steering/iPod/Rear Shade/Tint/Short Shifter/OEM Alum Pedals//
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02-16-2007, 11:04 AM	#10
PMP Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sedan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	I pictured two "little people" walking hand in hand after a romantic meal at the mall food court looking lovingly into one another's eyes and the WHAMMO the dude puts his noggin right into the rear view mirror and ends his evening early.
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02-16-2007, 12:44 PM	#12
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 419 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	It is good to know that the mirror can withstand the forward folding. I would caution that it is probably best to manually move it back into normal postion though instead of letting the motor do it... just in case. I'm sure the plastic gear in there would be easy to strip. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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02-16-2007, 12:59 PM	#13
audiphile Private First Class 7 Rep 169 Posts Drives: CORRADO SLC, 07 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	same thing just happened to me. The mirror is fine now - it reset to its proper position after folding/unfolding a few times.
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02-16-2007, 02:28 PM	#15
335Newbie Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 218 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Montego Blue E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rochester NY iTrader: (0)	How about if it was a really tall couple rushing to their car after a romantic dinner for a mad passionate night of bone jumping, and he catches the mirror in the crotch ending the evening on the spot.
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