auto dimming rear view mirror - how do you know it works?

[DV52]

I'm not concerned about the headlights having to be on since they will be, only the above question.
Thx

KiwiME: The anti-dazzle mirror in my Polo looks just like the unit in the pic below. Rear sensor on the bottom RHS (you can just see the button on the bottom of the housing in the pic)

[KiwiME]

Awesome, thanks for the photo. The rear sensor on mine is near the top-centre of the glass. I'll have to check next time I'm out at night but I think they've made an error by moving it to the top.

[KiwiME]

I see on the 'net a number of reports of this feature not working well when you have tinted windows or factory "privacy glass." My Polo has this as a standard feature on the rear and rear-side windows.

There must be new Polo owners out there with this newer model mirror? It may not be a Gentex like the one in DV52's photo above, as I can't find this one on their web site.

If this continues to be a problem for me I'm perfectly willing to disassemble the mirror and see if I can modify the electronics to bias the darkening further.

[DV52]

I see on the 'net a number of reports of this feature not working well when you have tinted windows or factory "privacy glass." My Polo has this as a standard feature on the rear and rear-side windows.

There must be new Polo owners out there with this newer model mirror? It may not be a Gentex like the one in DV52's photo above, as I can't find this one on their web site.

If this continues to be a problem for me I'm perfectly willing to disassemble the mirror and see if I can modify the electronics to bias the darkening further.

kiwiME: have you seen the circuit board in one of these units? I've taken the pic below from a google search. I'm by no means an electronics expert, but I kid myself that I know my way around a soldering iron and surface mount components. But it looks like a daunting task to me (especially without a circuit diagram as a guide)!



But if you do manage to figure out how to modify the sensitivity, then I would be very interested in hearing about your findings!

My suggestion is that you first try the "low tech" solution by placing multiple pieces of translucent sticky tape over the front sensor. If placing your finger over the front sensor doesn't make the mirror dim to its max level, then I suspect that you have other problems. If the mirror does dim, then it's just a matter of finding the correct amount of translucent material to cover the front sensor. Yes, I agree that it's not as sexy as the "pull-the-mirror-apart-and-figure-out-an -electronic-solution method, but it's an easy first try method IMO.

[KiwiME]

... If placing your finger over the front sensor doesn't make the mirror dim to its max level, then I suspect that you have other problems. If the mirror does dim, then it's just a matter of finding the correct amount of translucent material to cover the front sensor. ...

Yeah, it's plenty dark at night here and I think it's not an issue with the front sensor, more that the incident light from cars following some distance behind is not sufficient to dim the mirror much after being attenuated by the rear window tint.
I need to get more experience with it before I decide what to do.

[Splashalot]

If this continues to be a problem for me I'm perfectly willing to disassemble the mirror and see if I can modify the electronics to bias the darkening further.

I wonder if the degree of darkening in these auto mirrors can be tweaked via VDCS (Vagcom)?

[JonW]

I also think this feature in my 6R isnt the best. I often have to move the mirror 'old skool' style as the lights behind are so bright. I dont have any tints and its always been like that, but it does work as Ive seen it dim when it wants, I think the front sensor trick is the fix here and will be taping it today and report back. Wish Id seen this thread earlier, Ive been on the verge of moaning to the dealer about it as a warranty fix for the longest time, I just never remembered when I was there.