Z4M Coupe Rear View Mirror Leak

[pcoppala]

Howdy,

I been an avid reader of this site since I purchased my 2007 Z4MC back in January. The information and general help on this forum is outstanding. That being said, I'm hoping someone can help me with this:

This afternoon, when I was leaving work I noticed something funny about my rear view mirror. It appeared to have some sort of delamination from the back of the mirror. A quick search revealed this is the dreaded "leaking mirror" common to other BMWs. Upon reading warnings about the fluid that could leak out and destroy my interior, I promptly removed the mirror to ensure that wouldn't be the case.

I found several threads where E46 owners were replacing their mirrors with Z4 mirrors because they seem to be less susceptible to this problem. Then I noticed the Z4 mirror isn't a perfect oval like mine.

Does my mirror appear to be factory, or has someone swapped my mirror out? Should I repair my mirror, or should I replace it with the non-oval mirror?



Z4 Mirror vs. E46 Mirror:
(taken from E46 Fanatics)

[bignosejim]

You might be able to get it repaired by contacting sybesmas.com of Holland, MI at 616.392.6911 or 800.456.4265 (tollfree).

I remembered this from mcoupebuyersguide.com website. They may be able to repair it for around $95. (At least they will repair Z3 M Coupe's rearview mirrors)

Anyhow it's worth a shot.

[3002 tii]

Not sure if you have the e46 mirror but I know dealers did replace the z4 mirror with e46 if the customer complained about the lack of remote range (the e46 mirror was considered a 'fix').

[pokeybritches]

I thought all coupes came with the oval mirrors. The coupe mirror I bought is oval.

radar-mirror.com may be able to repair it as well.

[pcoppala]

I've been searching through google images and I've found something interesting. I see the non-oval mirrors in EU spec cars Z4s, but I find the oval ones in US spec. I'm not sure if this explains some of the confusion or if it's just a coincidence.

US Z4MC (oval mirror)


Swedish Z4MC (non-oval mirror)

[KevinC]

I had my E46 mirror fixed @ radar-mirror.com. 1-day turnaround, great service. He also does a ton of other cool mirror-related stuff, such as integrating radar displays, gauges, backup camera displays, etc. He can also add Homelink to your oval Z4 mirror, which I also had done (though it's pricey).

Edit - he's in Texas, and I see you are too.. should be lightning-fast for an in-state repair turnaround.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by pcoppala

I've been searching through google images and I've found something interesting. I see the non-oval mirrors in EU spec cars Z4s, but I find the oval ones in US spec. I'm not sure if this explains some of the confusion or if it's just a coincidence.

Not true...BMW switched to the non-oval sometimes in mid-07. My US specs '08 coupe is non-oval.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by XMetal

Not true...BMW switched to the non-oval sometimes in mid-07. My US specs '08 coupe is non-oval.

^This. My 12/06 build is oval; wife's 06/07 build isn't.

Good info here on fixes!

[pcoppala]

Originally Posted by XMetal

Not true...BMW switched to the non-oval sometimes in mid-07. My US specs '08 coupe is non-oval.

Thanks this is the info I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Finnegan

^This. My 12/06 build is oval; wife's 06/07 build isn't.

Good info here on fixes!

So does anyone have an idea if the new-version mirror is less susceptible to this problem? I'm concerned a repair will only fail again in the future. I'd hate for it to fail while I'm away and destroy my interior. I dug around and I think this is the part number for the new mirror:

51-16-9-142-225

This website indicates it replaces the oval mirror (my mirror has the "old part number" on it)

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/51169142225/

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by pcoppala

Thanks this is the info I was looking for.



So does anyone have an idea if the new-version mirror is less susceptible to this problem? I'm concerned a repair will only fail again in the future. I'd hate for it to fail while I'm away and destroy my interior. I dug around and I think this is the part number for the new mirror:

51-16-9-142-225

This website indicates it replaces the oval mirror (my mirror has the "old part number" on it)

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/51169142225/

at almost 500 you are better off sending yours in for repair 5 times. The odds will be 5 repairs probably gets you about 20 years of service out of your mirror whereas a new mirror probably only 3-4.

[pcoppala]

Originally Posted by shakib

at almost 500 you are better off sending yours in for repair 5 times. The odds will be 5 repairs probably gets you about 20 years of service out of your mirror whereas a new mirror probably only 3-4.

That's assuming the new mirror has the same problems. Maybe BMW fixed the issue and that's why the new design part # has superseded the oval one?

I guess I was hoping to receive some feedback as to whether the newer mirror has the problems before I made a decision on the repair. IMO a couple hundred dollars extra is worth it to guarantee that I'll have a mirror that won't leak and possibly destroy my interior.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by XMetal

Not true...BMW switched to the non-oval sometimes in mid-07. My US specs '08 coupe is non-oval.

Interesting. MY 06/06 build car has the non oval mirror pictured above, but the service history says nothing of the mirror ever having been replaced. I bought the car in 4/09.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by chickdr

Interesting. MY 06/06 build car has the non oval mirror pictured above, but the service history says nothing of the mirror ever having been replaced. I bought the car in 4/09.

If your car did not come equipped with the premium package and therefore did not have auto-dimming mirrors, it should have been equipped with the standard non-oval Z4 mirrors. If your car came with premium and therefore auto dimming mirrors, then it came equipped with the oval mirrors from the E46 M3 up until '07.

Check and see if your mirrors auto-dim. Mine doesn't and it's this mirror since new (August '06 build, owned since day it rolled off the transport into the dealership lot).

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by The HACK

If your car did not come equipped with the premium package and therefore did not have auto-dimming mirrors, it should have been equipped with the standard non-oval Z4 mirrors. If your car came with premium and therefore auto dimming mirrors, then it came equipped with the oval mirrors from the E46 M3 up until '07.

Check and see if your mirrors auto-dim. Mine doesn't and it's this mirror since new (August '06 build, owned since day it rolled off the transport into the dealership lot).

Interesting! I thought it was a mid-production build change, but this makes sense. My mirrors (oval) auto-dim, my wife's (non oval) do not dim. I don't have time to look it up now, but I need to check the Z4M build spreadsheet. I thought hers had the premium package, but as we are not the original owners, I don't have the Monroney sticker, etc.

EDIT: I looked up Skelekitty's and my car in the spreadsheet, she has the non-oval mirror, I have the oval mirror, both have the "INT/EXT RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-DAZZLE". Not sure if this is "auto-dimming", but I think it is. On on the other hand, her mirrors do not auto-dim. I wonder if her mirror was swapped out at some point to the non-oval w/o "Anti-Dazzle". Her remote reception is much better than mine.

[krusty]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

I know dealers did replace the z4 mirror with e46 [non-oval] if the customer complained about the lack of remote range

My 07 coupe originally came with the OVAL mirror. I complained about the poor remote reception ... and they changed the mirror, and replaced it with the NON-OVAL one. I enquired about that, and was assured it was the correct part.

My newer 08 coupe came with the NON-OVAL mirror ... which is all consistent with the explanation that BMW changed from OVAL to NON-OVAL in 2007.

[krusty]

Originally Posted by pcoppala

Swedish Z4MC (non-oval mirror)

This is why I prefer the OBLONG (non-oval) mirror ... the shape matches the shape of the rear window. I think it looks more like it has been designed for the Z4 coupe.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by krusty

My 07 coupe originally came with the OVAL mirror. I complained about the poor remote reception ... and they changed the mirror, and replaced it with the NON-OVAL one. I enquired about that, and was assured it was the correct part.

My newer 08 coupe came with the NON-OVAL mirror ... which is all consistent with the explanation that BMW changed from OVAL to NON-OVAL in 2007.

Does your non-oval auto-dim to reduce headlight glare?

[krusty]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Does your non-oval auto-dim to reduce headlight glare?

Just went to make sure using a torch

Nope ... it doesn't seem to auto-dim.

UPDATE: it does have the little sensor at the bottom, above the nose ... as shown in some pics below ... but it doesn't seem to do any obvious dimming when I shine a torch past. Shall have to take it for a night spin and check carefully ...

[GP20]

The roadsters '03-'08 had always come with the non-oval mirrors, auto-dimming or not.

When the coupe first came out, it had it's own oval mirror but people complained about the key remote distance/sensitivity. All '06 coupes came from the factory with the oval mirrors. In '07, BMW then switched the oval mirrors on the coupes to the same non-oval mirrors that the roadsters had been using the whole time and problem solved. That's why some '07 and all '08 coupes came with the roadster's non-oval mirrors.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Does your non-oval auto-dim to reduce headlight glare?

My non-oval does auto-dim. Look for the light sensor just above the "clown nose".

Have you had your rear hatch window tinted? That may also have some effect on the dimming function.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by The HACK

If your car did not come equipped with the premium package and therefore did not have auto-dimming mirrors, it should have been equipped with the standard non-oval Z4 mirrors. If your car came with premium and therefore auto dimming mirrors, then it came equipped with the oval mirrors from the E46 M3 up until '07.

Check and see if your mirrors auto-dim. Mine doesn't and it's this mirror since new (August '06 build, owned since day it rolled off the transport into the dealership lot).

Mine is a PP car and does have auto-dimming mirrors(the non oval one as well as the side mirrors). Not sure what to make of that.

[GP20]

Originally Posted by chickdr

Mine is a PP car and does have auto-dimming mirrors(the non oval one as well as the side mirrors). Not sure what to make of that.

It's got absolutely nothing to do with whether the car has premium package or auto-dimming mirror or not. All roadsters came with non-oval mirrors. Some coupes came with oval-mirrors.