Power mirrors not working

[youngbimmer]

First off, happy new year to all!

Neither one of my power mirrors are working, though both my power seats work fine. Any known quick fix for this? I’ve seen cases where seat + mirror do not work, but I haven’t found any with just mirrors not working

[CroughtonE32]

By any chance is this problem effecting you back up lights and or the light on your cluster that ells you what gear you're in?

[youngbimmer]

By any chance is this problem effecting you back up lights and or the light on your cluster that ells you what gear you're in?

My gear indicator light is out, and I do not know if my reverse lights work. I will check when I get back from work

[CroughtonE32]

If your gear indicator light is out and you check you back up lights and they're out, check this thread. This was my problem a couple years ago and After changing my shift switch, mirrors, gear lights on cluster and back up lights all came back to life. Especially if you smell something burning where your gear shift lever is. Could be something as simple as a fuse, but if all three things are out, this might be the problem.

Here's the link
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...Failure-SOLVED

[shogun]

Pull the switch in the driver side door and see if there is 12V, maybe the plug is disconnected. Fuses o.k.?

[G46]

theres one time i realize my reverse light did not lit, i checked the bulb, swap it to the parking light, its fine, i thought it was the switch on the gear lever, but i still have gear indicator, and then theres my power mirror not responding. i checked the fuse, it was blown, simple replacement and now my reverse light works, same goes to my power mirror

[kce1900]

My mirrors weren't working either, but I had no problems with backup lights etc. On the driver side I heard some clicks when I put my ear on the mirror housing, but no movement. I replaced the motor and that fixed the problem. On the passenger side, I didn't even hear clicks. The problem there was a wrong mirror. Vehicles with seat memory and without have completely different mirrors. The motor and the wiring are different. However, the plugs are the same except for the number of pins. So, you can install the wrong mirror, but it will never work. BTW, I still have a black passenger-side mirror for cars without seat memory to give away.

@CroughtonE32: When you say "gear indicator light" are you referring to a backlight under the shifter? Not all E32 have that, only US models after 09/91 came with an illuminated gear indicator cover.

[shogun]

also check all the plugs in the seat and mirror memory module under driver seat, often these plugs get damaged. http://www.e38.org/e32/BMW_pdfs/smm.pdf
Not all the plugs are still available, but no big problem.
no longer available
61 13 1 378 442 (blue)
61 13 1 378 443 (yellow)
61 13 1 378 444 (green)
61 13 1 378 445 (brown)
AMP Nr. 6 927 487-1

still available
61 13 1 378 129 (black)
61 13 1 378 441 (white)

get black or white ones, the differences to the others is the color and the triangle hole in the middle of the plugs, all trinagles are in different directions in order not to mix up the plugs. To make them usuable for all positions, just use a 7mm drill and enlarge the triangle to a hole, so the plugs fits all connections.

[CroughtonE32]

My mirrors weren't working either, but I had no problems with backup lights etc. On the driver side I heard some clicks when I put my ear on the mirror housing, but no movement. I replaced the motor and that fixed the problem. On the passenger side, I didn't even hear clicks. The problem there was a wrong mirror. Vehicles with seat memory and without have completely different mirrors. The motor and the wiring are different. However, the plugs are the same except for the number of pins. So, you can install the wrong mirror, but it will never work. BTW, I still have a black passenger-side mirror for cars without seat memory to give away.

@CroughtonE32: When you say "gear indicator light" are you referring to a backlight under the shifter? Not all E32 have that, only US models after 09/91 came with an illuminated gear indicator cover.

Actually I was talking about the light on the cluster that tells you if your in Park, Reverse, Drive Etc. When mine went out, it went out along with my back up lights never going off no matter what gear I was in as well as my mirrors not functioning. When I replaced a burned out shifter switch under the wood by the gear shift everything began to work. I believe this problem was labeled as back up light failure but the other things happened at the same time. Click the thread above in my post and you'll see how it burned up.
Jeff

[youngbimmer]

Thank you all for the responses, unfortunately my car is currently buried in the snow, so I can't do anything until it lets up. Hopefully I will have better luck next weekend.