XSeries-forum

Thanks to the E53 folding mirror D.I.Y. posted by Sanj I have been able to fix my E53 electric folding mirrors.

Many of us who have these items on our cars will know that these mirrors often fail. There can be various reasons for this but the most common issue seems to be a failure of the microswitch that sits inside the mirror housing and contacts with the pivoting/rotating part of the folding mirror.

For those with a car so equipped it would be fair to assume that there is a high possibility of you encountering a microswitch failure at some point.

BMW do not currently list the microswitch as a repair part for the mirror housing mechanism. Thus anyone who has a failure currently has a number of limited options.

1) Do nothing.
2) Try to fix it yourself with the potential for mixed results
3) Replace, (or cause to be replaced), the entire mirror unit, (at a cost of many hundreds new from your chosen dealer).
4) As above but sourcing a salvage item in the hope that it is serviceable.


Thanks to information provided by others on here & on xoutpost I have made enquiries into the sourcing of the microswitch as a stand alone item.

Currently & to my knowledge, nobody in the UK or R.O.W. is selling these switches to retail customers.

SAIA Burgess who make the switch only supply the item when bought as a minimum order totalling 400 units.

As a result I have been in contact with a U.K. based distributor for SAIA Burgess. I have made a provisional enquiry in regards to sourcing lower quantity numbers of the switch. I have told the distributor/seller of the desire to source the item & that the item is allegedly a common failure item on the E53 with this option fitted.

The distributor I am in contact with is considering ordering a batch of 400 units with a view to selling them to end customers.

I do not have any details of pricing or availability at this early stage, however, I expect that retail pricing is likely to make the purchase of a new switch far more attractive than buying entire replacement mirror units.

If these can be sourced separately then I will certainly buy at least a couple as I know that this could save me hundreds in event I have to otherwise replace an entire mirror housing.

With this in mind I am keen to ascertain if others would be interested in purchasing these as a "just in case" part for use in future if so required.

Early days & all very much provisional. I will still need to confirm compatibility & maybe see a sample to compare &/or look at any wiring issues.

In the meantime it might be useful if folk who may be interested in buying these could express their provisional interest here.

Good work finding this info , I would be interested if the opportunity arises.
Cheers

Great.......Others please post here if interested.

From a different source I have part no. Burgess V4NCO8. I have contacted Access Electrical www.access-electrical.co.uk/ and await a response. I have tried to fix the microswitch on my car but it is a lost cause. Frankly the switch is of poor design and a failure waiting to happen.

I should mention that I have had considerable difficulty removing the casing from the mirror. I have seen conflicting advice from a number of sources but I think all of them are likely to result in breaking something. As my mirrors are now back together I will not be splitting them to photo but if I get a micro switch I will take shot as I proceed. So for now this is what you do:-

There are clips on the bottom, top and inside edge of the mirror. Where the bottom part of the case meets the black plastic of the main housing is the critical spot as the black plastic has a little peg that the case clips over and you have to push the case edge down below this before the case will move forwards and release the other clips. If you have remarkable finger strength you may be able to do this without a tool but I tried then used a small flat screw driver. Pull the plastic edge of the case bottom immediately adjacent to the black base as much as you can then very carefully insert the screwdriver and prise the case away until it clears the little peg - only about 2-3mm. Once this has pinged below the peg push the lower edge of the case forwards taking to care to release the outer edge of the mirror first. It should come away at the bottom and then release from the top easily. Reverse process to refit.

Thanks

I looked at various guides but also used too mutiple plastic tyre levers & even hand grip to gently and evenly remove mine.

I look forward to your sourcing & fitting update in event you have success

Good Luck

i emailed the company in stateside if they can give me a price..mine still works but since it is a common failure item i might invest in one just in case.

I wish you all the best of luck................I have been posting on the most active thread globally re this & been in communication with another X5 owner stateside who has taken great effort to research supply sources. His conclusion being nobody thus far will supply in anything but wholesale quantities in their hundreds.

Sorry to appear negative but I have run out of steam on this presently - if you do manage to get anywhere then please update us here,

the quote i asked for was for quantity of 100 so we'll see it they give it a thought..

ok let's see