Auto DIM Side Mirrors

[ajuj12]

I got a CLK w209 320. was wondering are both side mirrors meant to be auto dimming?

My right hand side and centre auto dim but left side doesn't, is that normal?

 

[brandwooddixon]

It was certainly the case on my previous 2 E-class (W210).

 

[whitenemesis]

No, just the driver's side dims. Passenger side door mirror is plain glass from the factory

 

[C16RKC]

I have the same thing on mine - my old Jags always used to dim both mirrors which I do miss.

The mirrors themselves are actually different if you look at them, there is actually a black plastic surround on the dimming one. I always wondered about finding a left hand side from a LHS German spec car and lashing a signal cable across so that I could have dimming both sides.... one of those things I'll probable never get around to...

 

[ajuj12]

That is indeed poor, i do a get a lot of glare from the left side!

 

[C16RKC]

Might be different on newer models? Not sure?

After only changing over from Jags recently I love my Mercedes, but they do have a lot of strange compromises I've been finding.... usually things that would not have cost much to make differently too.

Think of the extra labour/planning needed to make two variants of auto-dim circuit (LHD/RHD). If both mirrors dimmed there would be no need? I would have thought the saving in managing the types would have paid for the extra mirror glass and looms.

But hey... nothing in life is perfect!

 

[whitenemesis]

Try German ebay and get a dimming mirror to fit the nearside as suggested above.

 

[television]

Mercedes deem this to be dangerous as it limits the view for things like cyclist etc, no mercedes has this from new, some may have added the feature.

 

[C16RKC]

Ah there we have.... I guess there's a reason for everything.

...and I always thought that star on the bonnet was for lining a cyclist up in your sights as you approached at speed! Perhaps I'm wrong about that after all...

 

[television]

Ah there we have.... I guess there's a reason for everything.

...and I always thought that star on the bonnet was for lining a cyclist up in your sights as you approached at speed! Perhaps I'm wrong about that after all...

Cyclist can come up your inside while waiting at traffic lights. Or you might want to change lanes for instance.

 

[C16RKC]

Thanks Malcolm - I did know what you meant.

I was just trying to be funny... it's a very bad habit of mine I'm afraid... Her indoors has got plenty more training if I am ever to become well behaved.

 

[bigasotonuk]

I was thinking about retro fitting a LHD dimming glass on my old AMG and was told by a very knowledgeable guy that optically the LHD drivers glass was considered dangerous to use on a RHD car as a passenger door mirror glass and this wasn't just the dimming version.
As others have said other manufacturers do both sides, indeed my Audi dims both sides a lot more and reacts a LOT faster too, and I have never felt my vision in the mirrors is deficient, it also has a switch on the RVM to switch the whole dimming system off which I feel is a good thing as some people don,t like the dimming function at all in any mirror.
Though I wouldn't be without it.

 

[s5tuart]

I have the same thing on mine - my old Jags always used to dim both mirrors which I do miss.

The mirrors themselves are actually different if you look at them, there is actually a black plastic surround on the dimming one. I always wondered about finding a left hand side from a LHS German spec car and lashing a signal cable across so that I could have dimming both sides.... one of those things I'll probable never get around to...

You learn something every day. That's saved me asking an embarrassing question when I get my SL serviced next. I only just noticed only having one black plastic surround a few weeks ago! Now I know why.

 

[dozypillock]

I got a CLK w209 320. was wondering are both side mirrors meant to be auto dimming?

My right hand side and centre auto dim but left side doesn't, is that normal?

Same car as me. My mirrors are the same, although my drivers one has leaked a bit, and a new one costs hundreds...
If you come across somebody breaking the same model, I am after several little parts.

Neil

 

[television]

It is easy to spot the difference, the dimming glass has a plastic edge all round, and the standard glass, just the glass edge.

If you have one leaking, do take care as the liquid inside is highly corrosive, and it can remove paint on the door.

 

[davemercedes]

This is the beauty of forums - as s5tuart said, this has also saved me from asking an embarrassing question because I had noticed the same on my C Class.

Thank you!

I could still be tempted to get hold of a LHD mirror though - for driving in Europe where I have found headlight beams on following vehicles a bit too bright on the motorway - as a result I fall for the catch 22 of dipping my left mirror - then find I can't see properly later in town etc.

 

[television]

The chances are you may have to add the extra wire required to dim the glass, plus the glass very expensive, maybe from Ebay Germany

 

[davemercedes]

Good points, Malcolm, thanks.

- Somehow, I think my inbred aversion to (avoidably) parting with money, may prevail and I'll probably put up with dipping the left mirror manually...