A bit of a confusing situation but i feel like my auto dimming mirror works half the time. I know that when a car's head light is pointed at the mirror that it auto dims but theres been plenty of times where i feel the mirror should be dimming but its on normal mode. ( this is at night ).
I don't know if it has to be in an certain angle or what but sometimes when a car really far behind me I notice my auto dimming is on but when a car gets closer and I am still able to see the head lights that it goes into normal mode?
I basically feel like I seen some cars in the same position behind me but sometimes it dimms and sometimes it does not and this all at night.
Is mine faulty?
Anyone have the same problem?

 

nobody else?? =(

 

I have the same issue. It only works intermittently at night, and not to the darkness level I need. If I shine a flashlight at the mirror it will dim so I doubt the dealer is going to do anything about it. I am to the point now I turn my mirror down at night. I wish I could find some electrostatic tint that could stick on glass surfaces, I thought about using that.

 

Did they design it like this? or are they just faulty?

 

I've had 4 cars with an auto dimming mirror, and I've never experienced what you are saying. I had a mirror go bad on me in one of those cars, but it didn't work at all--there was no intermittent problem.

 

Yes, I've experienced exactly what you're talking about, but I think it's the nature of auto-dimming rear view mirrors. Same problem in the Infiniti I owned, but different style mirror - looked similar to the 'new version' they install if you have a TSB replacement.
I haven't taken mine in to the dealer for it though.

 

I didnt see any TSB's on rear view mirrors for the IS250. does anyone havea link?

 

I know there's a TSB for 06-early 07 for excess vibration but I don't ever remember seeing one for the auto dim.

 

My 2008 IS250 has the exact same issue....never had it before. It's been going on for about six months now. I bought it to the dealer, they did the little flash light test. Since it worked with the flash light they would replace it. Then tried to blame it on my tint in my car, even though it worked fine for a year after the tint was installed.

 

I think it might simply be a symptom of old age. My previous vehicle started losing it's ability to dim after several years until it eventually did not dim at all. The unfortunate part is that by the time it gets bad enough that it won't dim even with the flashlight test, you may be out of warranty.

 

Yes that's the one - I was only referring to the difference between the mirrors, including the 'look' (location of buttons, etc) not trying to imply that the TSB was for the auto dimming feature. Sorry for any confusion

 

I've noticed this on my car as well, when shorter cars get close to me and their headlights don't point directly at the eye, the mirror brightens up again. I wish there was a way to put it into manual dimming mode. Maybe you could crack the case open and put a small potentiometer between the eye and board to trick it into thinking its seeing a user-adjustable light level?