Hi

After the really cold night 2 weeks ago (was -12 at 7am) I noticed what looked like a clear buble in the autodim rear view mirror. It slowly grew until a couple of days ago I could see clear bubbles rising through the dark bit of the mirror to this big bubble, and then the whole mirror lost it's darkening ability.

Now it just looks like a normal mirror with a wierd mark on it (looks a bit like glue residue). The surface of the mirror has been flat and the optics seem to have been ok throughout.

Does anyone know what's wrong with it, how (and how much it would cost) to fix it? I want to sell the car, so I don't really want to spend more money on it. :(

Cheers

Duncan

I have had that happen on a 2000MY Passat B5, now that you've mentioned it mine started after similar conditions earlier this year (ie Winter 2009>2010), the fluid is leaking out so its goosed, a new one will cost something like £135. I replied to a similar issue on the Passat forum.

You will also notice that you now get double vision where the fluid is missing.

Edited 28 December, 201015 yr by rum4mo

I have had that happen on a 2000MY Passat B5, now that you've mentioned it mine started after similar conditions earlier this year (ie Winter 2009>2010), the fluid is leaking out so its goosed, a new one will cost something like £135. I replied to a similar issue on the Passat forum.

You will also notice that you now get double vision where the fluid is missing.

It didn't drip any fluid, so I don't know where it's gone! £135 for a mirror? Ouch. Wish I just had the standard dip it yourself mirror!

Cheers

Duncan

It didn't drip any fluid, so I don't know where it's gone! £135 for a mirror? Ouch. Wish I just had the standard dip it yourself mirror!

Cheers Duncan

No, nothing ever drippd "out" of the housing - though in a link I found on another forum, some did actually drip stuff out (America and/or Canada) - the original manufacturer did repair some FOC originally, then they were bought over and the newe company did offer a standard reburbish at something like $200 plus p&p. I think that only one manufacturer made/makes these for VAG and others and its USA based.

Prior to finding all this out, I did attempt to buy one on ebay but the seller would not post out of USA - maybe just as well as the price was something like $160 plus p&p and the part was secondhand - so maybe soon to start leaking!

I even considered buying a seconhand ordinary one via ebay just to get beyond the MOT - though in truth I don't think that we need an interior mirror to pass the MOT as long as door mounted mirrors are intact - could be wrong though and did not want to end up paying dealer price and fitting costs at MOT time.

Edited 29 December, 201015 yr by rum4mo