Auto Dimming Driver Mirror?

physicshogon · April 13th, 2012, 03:36

According to the NA owner's manual, the driver's side rear-view mirror should be auto dimming just like the center rear-view mirror. In mine it's not and when I asked the service department of my local dealer they told me "manuals are written very general so not everything in there applies". Personally, I think that's a load of crock b/c the manual SPECIFICALLY states that it's the NA version of the manual. And even more so, I own the SEL Premium so of all the cars, it shouldn't be optional on the SEL model.

Do ANY of you have the auto dimming driver side mirror?

TheGrove · April 13th, 2012, 04:07

I read that as well, but mine sure doesn't look like it dims. My bet is that it was a feature that was written into the manual but never made it to production.

tdiatlast · April 13th, 2012, 04:11

I don't believe ours has it either.
As for "load of crock", sadly, your service department is correct. All manufacturers make changes, for whatever reason, that don't get into the owner's manual. There's not a lot you can do about it, because there's probably a prominent statement somewhere in the manual that says something like, "everything written in this manual is subject to change."

Dismayed · April 13th, 2012, 06:54

My mirror has a little green light on it that comes on at night (SEL Premium). I assume that it senses the ambient light and adjusts reflectivity. Seems to work fine.

physicshogon · April 13th, 2012, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dismayed

My mirror has a little green light on it that comes on at night (SEL Premium). I assume that it senses the ambient light and adjusts reflectivity. Seems to work fine.

Are you referring to your CENTER rear-view mirror or the drive-side one?

TomB · April 13th, 2012, 07:30

"subject to change" is always the disclaimer. Those manuals are written MONTHS before the vehicle is even made. I have found several discrepancies or versions of controllers because of production changes.

skinnyb · April 13th, 2012, 08:11

Hmm just read my manual and the OP is right it does mention a driver door auto dim mirror. Mine does not dim but my inside mirror never dims because the amount of light coming in thru the tinted glass has never been enough to activate the interior mirror. From what I read in the manual, the driver mirror is controlled by the interior mirror. Very interesting I have never seen an auto dim outside mirror.

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VeeDubTDI · April 13th, 2012, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnyb

Hmm just read my manual and the OP is right it does mention a driver door auto dim mirror. Mine does not dim but my inside mirror never dims because the amount of light coming in thru the tinted glass has never been enough to activate the interior mirror. From what I read in the manual, the driver mirror is controlled by the interior mirror. Very interesting I have never seen an auto dim outside mirror.

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My dad's Lexus RX400h has dual outside auto-dim mirrors - they work very well.

I wonder if adding it to the Passat is as simple as buying a dimming mirror element and plugging it in. I'm sure someone will stumble across the part numbers in ETKA soon enough.

physicshogon · April 13th, 2012, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeeDubTDI

My dad's Lexus RX400h has dual outside auto-dim mirrors - they work very well.

I wonder if adding it to the Passat is as simple as buying a dimming mirror element and plugging it in. I'm sure someone will stumble across the part numbers in ETKA soon enough.

Negative, you'd have to replace ALL the mirror hardware (including the glass) and re-program you ECU for it to function b/c it's photochromatic glass that does the dimming.

TheGrove · April 13th, 2012, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by physicshogon

Negative, you'd have to replace ALL the mirror hardware (including the glass) and re-program you ECU for it to function b/c it's photochromatic glass that does the dimming.

Excuse me, can you quit removing all doubt.

If you could get it to work I extremely doubt I would have to change the shell the mirror is in. Yes the glass is photochromatic but that is exactly why VeeDub said you would have to purchase the new mirror element. The wiring is possibly already there and the ECU could already be programmed. But even if the ECU needed programming I'm sure Ross-Tek will find where you need to flip the bit.

physicshogon · April 13th, 2012, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGrove

Excuse me, can you quit removing all doubt.

If you could get it to work I extremely doubt I would have to change the shell the mirror is in. Yes the glass is photochromatic but that is exactly why VeeDub said you would have to purchase the new mirror element. The wiring is possibly already there and the ECU could already be programmed. But even if the ECU needed programming I'm sure Ross-Tek will find where you need to flip the bit.

Well when someone gets it to work, let me know b/c I want it!

VeeDubTDI · April 13th, 2012, 12:38

I'm wonder if the glass is already photochromatic and just isn't activated. Perhaps a quick VCDS activation is all that's needed? It wouldn't be the first time VW had a feature on a car that wasn't activated from the factory (rain sensing wipers anyone?)

MyAvocation · April 13th, 2012, 20:07

Just a guess, but a photochromatic mirror should have outputs which fluctuate with light intensity -- either in ohms or mv DC.

dubStrom · August 7th, 2012, 15:16

How effective is the dimming in the center rear-view? I found it glaring in a Subaru Legacy, and was happy when I found that the JSW didn't have one. I might be interested in swapping someone's standard lever dim mirror. I know some Passat's have the manual type. Not sure if you'd have the power connector (I think there's one).

But does it work? In my limited experience, there's nothing like switching it up when a car comes up from behind with blazing headlights!

VeeDubTDI · August 7th, 2012, 15:19

The Passat's auto-dim seems to be very good. It's not intrusive and doesn't dim too much or two little. With 35% tint on the rear window, it still functions very well - it doesn't dim as much as it used to, but that's to be expected given that the amount of light entering the rear window has been significantly reduced.

I also discovered that there is an OFF button if you don't want it to dim at all. Learn something new every day.