Side mirror auto-tilt in reverse

[BarronTG]

I'm one of those wiring freaks that love installing any and every electronic feature possible... Looking for some feedback from anyone as to how to find a mirror 'module' that tilts the passenger mirror down when put in reverse. I have found out with the help of Jeremiah that the newer BMW's that have this feature will not be a good candidate. This feature is evidently embedded in the memory seat module and is not wired simply. So I am either looking for an aftermarket option (havent found one yet) or use a module out of another type of car (GM for example). Anyone have any ideas? Once I can find a module that could possibly work, I can then dive into a junk yard!

[StereoInstaller1]

Ah, way simpler than that.

Peripheral makes a module that can take damn near any trigger (or loss of a trigger) and do a timed output of pretty much whatever duration you might want, all in low current glory:

http://pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=717&CategoryID=31

Here is a .PDF of the manual, which is HORRID to set up:http://www.pac-audio.com/PACProductD...ons_010505.pdf

Now what I don't know is if you can trigger this (obviously, reverse wire) and have it actuate for say .2 second, then drop the trigger and get a different output for that same .2 second so it goes up automatically...and unfortunately, they guy s who make these got bought out and the tech support staff now sucks ass...

I do have 1 I would sell, or maybe see if your local car stereo shop can order one for ya.

$25 shipped. I also have several window control modules, if ya wanna buy a couple to mess with. I am still working on the whole E36 "2 stage" window switch controllers, that I want to act just like the E36 does...now those will hurt your brain, I tell ya!

[accident]

interesting.

[SimplyDope]

Very interesting. I was actually wondering about this the other day trying to parallel park into a tight spot.

[e30nub]

My friends Mercedes does this and it's pretty awesome. I'd be down for a how-to w/a module. Paging George Graves?

[Wh33lhop]

It would be really cool to see this actually working. I love new tech (even if it is just a timed signal) in old cars.

[george graves]

This actually isn't an easy problem to solve.

Luke with the set up you described, what would happen when you do a quick 5 point parallel park job? What happens if you give it a bit more gas going forward, and the alternator has a bit more current to provide, and the 2 seconds in that direction moves the mirror a tiny bit more each time? How will it know when it was left in reverse and shut off, and switched to 1st? Would it short out if someone tried to manually move the mirror while it was moving on it's own? There are about 1000 different ways that a "dumb" controller wouldn't work.

The controller has to have a brain - and it has to be able to know of figure out where the mirror is.

[e30Matt]

So retrofit the control unit and guts out of an E38/E39 mirror into an E30 housing. Eh? Is there a separate control unit for that automatic feature that you could tie into an E30?

I guess it triggers off the reverse light switch? I've never messed with it.

[BeirBrennerE30]

I have this on my e82 and e92, and while cool, never found it useful.

In new BMWs if you have the mirror adjust switch in the position to adjust the passenger mirror it dissables the tilt in reverse feature. Thought that might be helpful for anyone that is looking to do this.

[parkerbink]

My CLs has this when the mirror control is in the middle position. Put the car in reverse, passenger mirror tilts down, put in any other gear it returns to where it was.

I have no idea where the module is so I can't say if it can be used in other cars.

I find it immensely useful and miss it when I drive cars without it.

[Kershaw]

my brothers e32 has this feature. maybe looking at the e32 would be a place to start?

you could have a contact trigger that trips when you put the gear shifter in reverse.

[e30Matt]

my brothers e32 has this feature. maybe looking at the e32 would be a place to start?

you could have a contact trigger that trips when you put the gear shifter in reverse.

Forgot about the E32s, our '94 740i had auto-tilt.

[e34john]

Annoying in the car cars I've driven that has this feature. I don't think I would ever need it in an E30 but if I had a bigger car. I do want a setup with actuators or something so I can get a Hella backup light to flip down from the back bumper and be hidden when I don't need it.

[e30Matt]

Annoying in the car cars I've driven that has this feature. I don't think I would ever need it in an E30 but if I had a bigger car. I do want a setup with actuators or something so I can get a Hella backup light to flip down from the back bumper and be hidden when I don't need it.

Go to Advance Auto Parts and pick up a couple of the 1156-based 50W replacement bulbs from the shop light section. I've got them in my car, cures the "I can't see shit when I'm backing up" problem. I don't think I even had to bump the fuse up, they just went straight in.

[e34john]

^
Shoulda mentioned it's for my truck when I am the middle of nowhere, but I don't want to have a huge spotlight hanging off my rear bumper. When I am in the BMWs I just stick my head out the window and hope I don't hit anything on the passenger side, did that with my E34 when I was running 10-15 percent tint.