Manual or Automatic Dimming Rear-view Mirror?

[pantheroc]

I cannot stand the automatic dimming mirrors. What's your preference?

[Mr. Man]

If your asking how we use ours it's Auto

[FordNut]

I used to have a MkVII, it had an automatic dimming mirror that wasn't photochromatic, it had a miniature motor that physically moved the mirror to the night position. I kind of liked that type better than the new type.

[MOTOWN]

i love it, and keep mines on!

[tremblay]

20% tint and the dimming mirror is great

[Ladyhawke]

I like the auto too.

[MERCMAN]

The point is moot if your tint is dark enough to render them useless:up:

[SID210SA]

I have 35% tint in fron and20% in back....still love the feature.

[Ken]

The point is moot if your tint is dark enough to render them useless:up:Mine too!

Ken

[SC Cheesehead]

I used to have a MkVII, it had an automatic dimming mirror that wasn't photochromatic, it had a miniature motor that physically moved the mirror to the night position. I kind of liked that type better than the new type.

I like the auto-dimming feature, but the motor-driven style sounds slick. How did it work? Was there a sensor that picked up light coming from the from the rear, or did it sense low light conditions in the car or outside to trigger it?

[FordNut]

It had a photosensor eye like the OEM one, but it was below the mirror by the switch instead of being part of the mirror. Whenever a car would come up from behind it would change, then when there was nobody behind you it would switch back.

[Joe Walsh]

I like the auto-dimming mirror!
It definitely helps preserve my night vision, especially when some numbnut is following you with their high beams on....
or a retard ricer with 6 misaligned purple fog/driving lights.

(I'm going to pirate one from an junkyard Explorer and retrofit it into my Ford Ranger.)

[RF Overlord]

Although I like the idea of an auto-dimming rear-view mirror...I don't think the one in the Marauder works very well...it takes too long to react and it doesn't "dim" enough.

...and no, mine isn't broken...both The Blackbird and Phoebe work the same.

[CBT]

Although I like the idea of an auto-dimming rear-view mirror...I don't think the one in the Marauder works very well...it takes too long to react and it doesn't "dim" enough.

...and no, mine isn't broken...both The Blackbird and Phoebe work the same.

Same here, every now and then I angrily reach up and punch that button about 12 times. Guess I should just tint the windows. Been saying that since 2004. :rolleyes:

[FordNut]

Although I like the idea of an auto-dimming rear-view mirror...I don't think the one in the Marauder works very well...it takes too long to react and it doesn't "dim" enough.

...and no, mine isn't broken...both The Blackbird and Phoebe work the same.

Find one of the older type ones with the motor, they work a lot better.

[RoyLPita]

I never used mine till about a year ago. I had a large convex mirror in front. BTW, the mirror I have does not have an on/off switch.

[jeffrt]

I love the auto mirrors. My 07 F-150 I had before the Marauder had it on the driver's outside mirror too, which was great with such a large mirror.

[bosscj72]

I think this is a great feature and helps at night quite a bit. This is my first car with it and I am very pleased it is there! My windows are tinted too so that may help too but I wish all my cars had it! Guess I may be searching for those Explorers too in the junkyards!

[YankeeMarauder]

Manual all the way. One less thing to break. I am all for creature comforts, but I can flip a dimmer and pump my own breaks lol

[guspech750]

Its ok. I wish it would darken more or just give me the flip lever style. Ford should have also put that feature on the side mirrors too. All the mirrors should dim.

[B.C. Bake]

With all thous HID lamp assemblies out there, and rid en your bumper in traffic I like the auto dim.....:beatnik:

[4rgone]

I have tint so it doesnt make much difference but I like auto as it is one less thing I have to worry about while driving. What I really wish they would have put on the car was auto dimming driver and passanger side mirrors.

[SC Cheesehead]

I have tint so it doesnt make much difference but I like auto as it is one less thing I have to worry about while driving. What I really wish they would have put on the car was auto dimming driver and passanger side mirrors.


Roger that...

[1stMerc]

I have tint so it doesnt make much difference but I like auto as it is one less thing I have to worry about while driving. What I really wish they would have put on the car was auto dimming driver and passanger side mirrors.

Ditto, i hate it when people ride up with brights on and just sit there right in that spot that the side mirrors catch they're head lights.

[Joe Walsh]

Remember the older Cadillacs that had the "automatic" high beams...which were supposed to turn off when cars came the other way?

:mad2:

[Mr. Man]

Remember the older Cadillacs that had the "automatic" high beams...which were supposed to turn off when cars came the other way?

:mad2:
Umm :hmmm: NO! :P

[CBT]

Ditto, i hate it when people ride up with brights on and just sit there right in that spot that the side mirrors catch they're head lights.

I turn my mirror out, right back at them. And when I get an opening in traffic, I'll put enough distance between me and any vehicle behind me not to worry about it.

[FordNut]

Remember the older Cadillacs that had the "automatic" high beams...which were supposed to turn off when cars came the other way?

:mad2:

Used to have that on my MkVII, worked pretty good most of the time for oncoming cars, but it didn't work so well when you came up behind somebody unless they had a chrome bumper to reflect light back at you.

I think it used to be optional on CV/GM too.

[martyo]

I love the auto dimmer.

[ctrlraven]

I like manual better, now if the side mirrors could be auto dimming that would rock! When I would drive with my windows down the light would always blind me so I'd have to put my windows up so the tint would help block it.

[SC Cheesehead]

Remember the older Cadillacs that had the "automatic" high beams...which were supposed to turn off when cars came the other way?

:mad2:


Umm :hmmm: NO! :P

OBVIOUSLY you're one of those youts that's too young to recall this. I had a '66 Park Lane convertible with this feature. :shake:

[CBT]

OBVIOUSLY you're one of those youts that's too young to recall this. I had a '66 Park Lane convertible with this feature. :shake:

The last time I asked you about the '60's I almost got mugged :D

[ahess77]

I work for the company that makes 85% of all autodimming mirrors. Let me know if you have any questions. They work just like they're suppose to.

[CBT]

I work for the company that makes 85% of all autodimming mirrors. Let me know if you have any questions. They work just like they're suppose to.

Is there any way to make it go dimmer than it does?

[fastblackmerc]

Is there any way to make it go dimmer than it does?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the mirrors don't actually dim, the mirror just rotates up slightly to reflect the light to the roof not your eyes.

[FordNut]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the mirrors don't actually dim, the mirror just rotates up slightly to reflect the light to the roof not your eyes.

The older ones like I described and the manual ones do this. The newer ones like on our cars just automatically add a dark tint to the mirror.

[SC Cheesehead]

Is there any way to make it go dimmer than it does?

Yeah, I'd like to get mine to go a little darker as well.

[Joe Walsh]

Yeah, I'd like to get mine to go a little darker as well.

Where's DOOM with his 'TWSS' when you need him?

[CBT]

Where's DOOM with his 'TWSS' when you need him?

LOL!
But seriously. Here's an idea: Tint the mirrors. :beer:

[Big Black Beast]

This is yet another of 100 features I never use or mess with...
As long as there's a mirror,there, I don't care.
Besides, I like to try to guess what's behind me by the light patterns.

[ahess77]

The autodimming mirrors have two pieces of glass with a chemical in between. When a voltage is applied to the inside surfaces of the glass the chemical changes states and blocks the light based on the voltage potential.

If the sensor on the front of the mirror thinks it's dark outside, then the mirror will dim based on the amount of light that reaches the sensor on the rear. The mirror will be darker based on less light to the front sensor or more light to the rear sensor. It won't dim during the day and won't dim in reverse.

If your rear window is tinted, you may think it doesn't dim enough because less light reaches the rear sensor. This mirror was designed to work with the factory vehicle, which did not have rear window tinting.

[pantheroc]

My problem is car lights behind me are still too bright compared to manual mirrors. I have auto mirror on 35% tinted MM and non-tinted 2004CV. They both stink. Yes, I have the Auto turned on and they do dim a little bit. Time to hack them darker.