E70 4.0d driver side rear view mirror help.

[Huxsta]

We bought our great car earlier in the year and enjoyed every mile. Now it's colder I've noticed that the drivers side does not defrost like the nearside one does. (Doesn't defrost itself at all!! ) Having pulled the glass to check for an open circuit I have noticed that it isn't wired up. Now a visit to the dealers today has enlightened me that the mirror glass I have is not the correct one for my car. It has 2 small car speaker type spade terminals sticking out the back, but my wiring harness has 4 wires going into the female socket (awaiting the mirror to be plugged into). It now seems to me that the previous owner put this on instead of the proper glass. WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT YOU ASK........? Well my dealer has just quoted me a very good price...£311plus vat.  I did type that right ......£311 plus vat 

[Beefcake-2001]

Can you not pop the glass out of the side that works correctly and look at the wiring.

[Huxsta]

Sounds simple!! However the correct mirror glass comes with like a white flat ribbon already attached to the back of the glass and the male part of the plug ready to just plug n play. I had a bit of a look yesterday with my volt Meter and found I could only get a fluctuating voltage from the brown and the black wires, and no other combinations produced anything. I tested it with the key in the dash but not with the car running etc, and Max voltage was approx 3 volts. Reading up on Google I came to the conclusion that the voltage fluctuates depending on the ambient temperature. Was about 7C yesterday here so could I assume that due to the 'mild' temperature it maybe wouldn't kick out say 12 volts as it's not necessary?????
Didn't want to wire it up just yet incase I wake up to a flat battery.

[Nat]

Hi,

You think thats expensive.......? You wait till your rear view mirror goes south.
To be fair I havent heard/seen any E70 internal rear view mirrors , but on the E39 the liquid runs and leaves a 2 tone mirror that doesnt work/dim , and its glaringly obvious its kaput. If you are really unlucky its drips on the gear stick and if you have titan line trim a new one is NLA and then splashes on your centre console etc etc.
New mirror sir ? That will be over £400...!
So many failed I think a few people started a repair ervice.

Point of the story.......well £311 is cheaper, but have a look see if anyone is doing outer mirror repairs.

Its shockingly expensive.

Nat.