side view mirror auto-dim problem
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
side view mirror auto-dim problem
Man, it figures, JUST after my C230 goes out of warranty, problems crop up. I posted earlier about ESP & BAS lights coming on at startup, and now this...
I left work this evening and got in my car, only to discover the driver side mirror was in 'dim' mode and NONE of the other mirrors were. It was still daylight out (~5:30 or so). The mirror returns to normal after I turn the car off.
I did some searching/reading in this forum and see posts about the sensor on the rear-view mirror controlling this function, but nothing on just one of the mirrors going awry.
Any suggestions as to what might be causing this and/or how to fix it?
Are we talking a new mirror (please tell me no)??? Help Pleeeeeasssse?????
Thanks in advance!!!
I left work this evening and got in my car, only to discover the driver side mirror was in 'dim' mode and NONE of the other mirrors were. It was still daylight out (~5:30 or so). The mirror returns to normal after I turn the car off.
I did some searching/reading in this forum and see posts about the sensor on the rear-view mirror controlling this function, but nothing on just one of the mirrors going awry.
Any suggestions as to what might be causing this and/or how to fix it?
Are we talking a new mirror (please tell me no)??? Help Pleeeeeasssse?????
Thanks in advance!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 15
From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The mirror contains a liquid that get dark when you pass a current through it. The sensor in the inside center rearview mirror sends its perception of light from behind and tells the left door module how much current to pass.
I had a problem where the mirror stopped responding, and was light all the time. The mirror glass had to be changed.
Your problem sounds different. The mirror can respond, but gets dark when you start the car. I would first check the door module. A short in the transistor that regulates the mirror current would cause it to be full dark everytime you start the car. A bad connection between the interior mirror and the left door module could cause the fault, but other items would likely fail too because the data is sent to the door on the CANbus loop.
Door modules are about $ 150. at a dealer, but you can get them from the salvage yards (Mercedes are never found in junk yards) for about 50 to 80. You have to be careful to get the exact part number as the unit on your car.
Steve at MBenzNL.com is a trusted source for factory parts, and can get the correct mirror and door module for you.
I had a problem where the mirror stopped responding, and was light all the time. The mirror glass had to be changed.
Your problem sounds different. The mirror can respond, but gets dark when you start the car. I would first check the door module. A short in the transistor that regulates the mirror current would cause it to be full dark everytime you start the car. A bad connection between the interior mirror and the left door module could cause the fault, but other items would likely fail too because the data is sent to the door on the CANbus loop.
Door modules are about $ 150. at a dealer, but you can get them from the salvage yards (Mercedes are never found in junk yards) for about 50 to 80. You have to be careful to get the exact part number as the unit on your car.
Steve at MBenzNL.com is a trusted source for factory parts, and can get the correct mirror and door module for you.
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: vancouver canada
2001 c240, 65 MG Midget...5.0L V8
see if it happens again, the sensor in the rear view mirror measures the light differential beteen inside the cabin and light shining on it. so it could darken the miror during the day also depending on the light
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Well, it stopped doing it the next day. Pretty wierd, in that it was just the driver's side door mirror - the passenger door mirror and the rear-view mirrors were not in that mode.
I'll let you know if I need one, midnight. My car's pewter, can I readily change out the mirror guts?
I'll let you know if I need one, midnight. My car's pewter, can I readily change out the mirror guts?
