E46 mirror motor running constantly
E46 mirror motor running constantly
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Duke Caboom

Original Poster:

2,121 posts

229 months

Friday 8th January 2021
quotequote all
I have received today my e46 (330ci M Sport convertible) with memory seats. Car is great, other than the passenger side mirror runs constantly. The driver's side door and adjusts and folds as it should. The seats move into their memory positions but the mirrors don't move with them.

Have done a research. Found lots of suggestions and miricle cures bit I'm not sure I trust them all.

Anyone care to suggest an order of things to try, please.

Thanks

d_a_n1979

13,859 posts

102 months

Friday 8th January 2021
quotequote all
The motor is damaged/cogs are damaged and will likely need replacing

It can be a faffy job, but plenty of How To's on Google/Youtube etc

Also consider getting a used but known working replacement, that's what I did for my E39 touring as fiddly jobs like this and me do not gel well laugh

Duke Caboom

Original Poster:

2,121 posts

229 months

Saturday 9th January 2021
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply.

Other suggestions are from my research switch, wiring in driver's door and seat memory module.

Without meaning to appear rude, how confident are you? Is just that I don't want to start adding more unknowns.

Thanks

d_a_n1979

13,859 posts

102 months

Saturday 9th January 2021
quotequote all
Duke Caboom said:
Thanks for the reply.

Other suggestions are from my research switch, wiring in driver's door and seat memory module.

Without meaning to appear rude, how confident are you? Is just that I don't want to start adding more unknowns.

Thanks
Well my E39 touring passenger side mirror was fine; but the drivers side; the mirror would close, but I'd have to guide it with my hand and the motor would run for around 20 seconds after, if not longer, making a bloody horrible noise.

That all pointed to worn gears; and they're a faff to replace IIRC.

As said, there are How To's on the internet; but not something I'd tackle, so I found a used but working replacement and zero issues since smile

Duke Caboom

Original Poster:

2,121 posts

229 months

Sunday 10th January 2021
quotequote all
Turns out I should have asked "e46 mirror has total mind of its own"! Sometimes It folds, sometimes it folds and won't come back, it adjusts, doesn't adjust, dips when reverse selected, what ever position the switch is in, sometimes it comes back up, sometimes it doesn't.