e46 mirrors, strange behaviour

[B3Svert]

Up until last week my e46 had electric folding mirrors connected to the memory seats. I now have mirrors that randomly dip down (OS) so all I see is the white line in the middle of the road while I'm driving along. The angle adjust button no longer works as it should, sometimes adjusts but not the direction needed, sometimes does nothing. The mirror fold button doesn't fold anymore, but again dips the OS mirror uselessly. The memory buttons also have no effect. I had to resort to pushing the glass into place on Saturday which I am sure did not help long term but allowed me to finish my journey more confidently.

Anyone had this before? Is it a motor replacement job or is this likely to be a wiring/gremlin issue? I've just stripped an e36 saloon and seen the wiring looms from that, God knows what an e46 cab loom would look like

Any ideas chaps?

[MarkwG]

If it's just that side, any chance it's been wacked by someone? If so, that may have damaged the internals. If not, maybe it's gone out of sync somehow - in which case a battery disconnect reset might help?

[B3Svert]

Thanks for the reply, I didn't make it clear in my first post but it is both mirrors that are virtually uncontrollable, although only the OS that moves of it's own accord. This morning when I unlocked the car I heard the motor whirring and watched the OS mirror dip right down as far as it could go, I had not even put a leg inside the car!

My first thought was that it had been knocked but I can't see any damage to the casing or glass. I didn't drive it much recently due to the snow so perhaps water got into the mechanism and froze?

[MarkwG]

Ah, OK: my e46 knowledge isn't that great, mine is an e39 5, but I think the mirror systems & electrics are similar. If they're both mucking about, that sounds like a programming glitch to me - if it's been off road due weather, I'd wonder about the battery? If it's low on charge, you can get some really weird electrical symptoms, until it's back up to speed. I'd disconnect it, charge it, then see what happens. That should reset the lot to factory spec. Good luck.

[B3Svert]

I think you're onto something there, battery has been pretty low. I'll try the reset tomorrow, cheers