Auto-dimming rear view mirror gone fuzzy

[maxrob200]

Hi All

I just noticed that my auto-dimming rear view mirror has gone fuzzy. also noticed a long oval outline in the top half of the mirror. Is there something in the mirror that has bit the dust. Any fixes besides a new mirror which is Big Bucks

Can a standard VW mirror be used in its place

[poozey]

Yeah funny bout that. Mine has the same, not fuzzy but the oval outline in the mirror. Must be an age thing. Haven't even entertained the idea of replacing it. Will watch with interest.

[graeme86]

The rain sensing mirror has a different mount to a normal mirror on the windscreen so they are not interchangeable directly.

Keep an eye on your mirror because you DO NOT want the fluid inside to leak out all over your interior - its rather nasty stuff.

I priced an auto dimming mirror recently and VW wanted over $500 for one. Just ridiculous.

[WhO]

Sounds like your mirror has leaked internally, i'd be keen to attend to it quickly otherwise if and once the electrochromatic fluid leaks out it will make a mess of your interior aka eats it as the fluids corrosive

Cheapest and best option is to get a reconditioned mirror from sybesmas

Have a read of this thread, gives a bit more insight into the problem

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f14/moisture-my-rear-vision-mirror-39642.html

[maxrob200]

Thanks WhO for the info about mirror. I googled sybesmas and they are based in Holland. Went to their site but no email link. will try to contact them via comments form

Seem to be a bit of a problem with these types of mirrors. Where is the good old passive rear mirror nowadays?

[revhead1016]

Mate if your after for replacement. shop around on ebay in UK. I got mine second hand for $70 inc delivery from Uk. Much better than paying 600 new or 300 to 400 bucks for second hand.

[maxrob200]

Thanks for the info revhead1016
Got no reply from sybemas after two emails to them
will give ebay UK a shot as local s/h price was too high

[Teddit]

This is odd. My, "MY03 VW BORA V6 4MOTION" rear view mirror has done the same thing in the last 24 hours??? I have also gone now to the Symbesma site too. As for their location. Its the town of Holland in MI, which is Michigan if I'm not corrected, so that makes it the USA!
I hope they doo respond cause its annoying the sh_t out of me with looking back into it!!

[maxrob200]

The website has no email only a technical contact form which I have filled in twice. I have gone to ebay.uk and bought a new one for GBP70

[BORAV6]

Hey guys mine did the same, just bought one from a wreckers in the Uk via Ebay for $95 AUD delivered!

[whiteVR6]

I have a few second hand ones here if anyone is interested?

[maxrob200]

New mirror arrived today. Followed fitting instructions as per thread and member's help and it's all good

[jamesatfish]

Keep an eye on your mirror because you DO NOT want the fluid inside to leak out all over your interior - its rather nasty stuff.

Late to the thread but just wanted to emphasise this point as someone who has just been bitten by this issue in another VAG car. After a lovely summer's drive to have lunch at a winery in 35º heat I got back to the car to find the fogging mentioned by maxrob200, but didn't think too much of it at the time. When I got home and drove back into the garage the mirror adjusted to the lower light levels and with a 'pop' started dripping fluid.

The result of a few seconds worth of dripping was as follows:



I hate to think what would have happened if it had dripped down without me being in the car, especially as the car is often undriven for weeks at a time.

The mirror was easily fixed by replacing with a standard manual-flip style mirror, but the interior trim will be a much more costly replacement.

[maxrob200]

OMG that looks like pretty deadly stuff! I was told that it was not possible to fit standard flip mirror to cars with rain sensor and auto dimming mirror as the mounting was different

[governor22]

just digging up this thread:

my auto-dimming mirror works fine but the pale green light underneath it has stopped glowing. does this mean the auto-dim has stopped (I can't really tell because of the tinted windows) ? or is the globe in it just buggered ?