Topic: Auto dimming mirrors. Useful?

[Ice]

Curious.  Do any of you have auto dimming mirrors on your cars (most of them come with a compass)?  My parents old car had a manual mirror dimmer where you'd flip the toggle on the mirror and it'd be allot darker.  Really useful with some of those really agressive SUV drivers out their with their huge headlights that blind your rear vision.  I've noticed that any of the new cars I've driven/looked at do not have this manual feature.  Some of them have the option of the auto dimmer....does this even work in the big SUV tailgating scenario? Curious.

[ovr50]

I have an auto-dimming mirror on my 535 and, while it does a better job than the one that was on wife's Solara (now gone), it still doesn't dim the lights behind enough in some cases. Auto-dimming mirrors are one of the few new features that I could live without. The old manual-flip kind did a superior job and if you're too lazy or weak to flip the mirror, maybe it's time to hang up the skates....

[KRS]

I've noticed that any of the new cars I've driven/looked at do not have this manual feature.  Some of them have the option of the auto dimmer....does this even work in the big SUV tailgating scenario? Curious.

 Just curious what cars you've looked at that didn't have dimming mirrors? When I was looking at new cars last July and August, I never encountered any that you couldn't flip to dim glare

[initial_D]

I used the manual flip switch if the lights behind me start to glare too much. Never pay too much attention on the auto dimming feature, it is a feature I could do without.

[airbalancer]

It sure would not  be a be a must have option
I usually find the reflection for the side view mirror to be worst then the rear view mirror

[tpl]

My A4 dimmed the outside and the inside mirror automatically. the BMW just does the inside mirror, the Fit does neither.  For me I prefer the BMW way., the Audi solution meant you could see nothing behind you..

[airbalancer]

My A4 dimmed the outside and the inside mirror automatically. the BMW just does the inside mirror, the Fit does neither.  For me I prefer the BMW way., the Audi solution meant you could see nothing behind you..

Do we care what is behind us

[tpl]

If it has  ecilop  or ecnalubma written on the front we do indeed care.

[sailor723]

If it has  ecilop  or ecnalubma written on the front we do indeed care.

Even with the mirrors dimmed I can always notice the red and blue lights

My SRX dims all but you can disable that feature for the sideview mirrors

[The Mighty Duck]

If it has  ecilop  or ecnalubma written on the front we do indeed care.

Ambulances actually have "ambulance" written backwards, so it can be read properly when seen in a mirror. 

[Ice]

I've noticed that any of the new cars I've driven/looked at do not have this manual feature.  Some of them have the option of the auto dimmer....does this even work in the big SUV tailgating scenario? Curious.

 Just curious what cars you've looked at that didn't have dimming mirrors? When I was looking at new cars last July and August, I never encountered any that you couldn't flip to dim glare

I have to admit its been a while but the 08 Civic, 09 Corolla, 08 Mazda3, 08 Lancer GTS, 08 Accord doesn't have it...

Unless I was missing something.  I have to admit I wasn't looking too closely but I was configuring a 09 Corolla on the Toyota website last night and I came across this again.  Curious if its worth getting installed or if its usually not that useful.  The compass isn't a bad little side feature either but I have an excellent sense of direction so its rarely needed and if I really needed a compass then I've got those too.  But I was curious.

[tpl]

If it has  ecilop  or ecnalubma written on the front we do indeed care.

Ambulances actually have "ambulance" written backwards, so it can be read properly when seen in a mirror. 

Exactly Demo.    It has ecnalubma    written on it.    Did I say what I saw in the mirror.   Jeez.. Kids today 

[Turbo Bob]

I had the internal dimming one on the Z4, I found it very useful, but it could be caught out by tunnels, corrected itself quickly though.

I would pay for it again if it was on an options list.

[airbalancer]

If it has  ecilop  or ecnalubma written on the front we do indeed care.

Ambulances actually have "ambulance" written backwards, so it can be read properly when seen in a mirror. 

Exactly Demo.    It has ecnalubma    written on it.    Did I say what I saw in the mirror.   Jeez.. Kids today 

 

[Cord]

I love auto dimming mirrors. The ones I've been using react quickly and dim effectively. I miss it when I drive my wife's car which doesn't have them.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I'm not a fan of auto-dimming rear view mirrors. I don't mind the bright light, and like the truer colours. Ultra rarely would I ever flip on my manual mirror.

In the Ram it auto dims and you can press it to turn off, but per ignition cycle. So I usually find myself turning it off every time I drive at night at some point if it's a long enough trip. The truck has tinted windows and with it on I can still see out fine, just don't prefer it.

[aquadorhj]

I drove around in my sister's mercury sable in NJ.  It had auto dimming rear view mirror.

On highway like I95 in the evening, that mirror drove me crazy, because I couldn't see anything back.   Especially because US doesn't mandate DRL, I could literally nothing due to morons not turning their lights on at night.

I'm not a fan of the feature.  I didn't like it in my father's chrysler either.

[Allen]

my TL has auto dimming and it works well.. not a must have feature on my shopping list though

[KRS]

I have to admit its been a while but the 08 Civic, 09 Corolla, 08 Mazda3, 08 Lancer GTS, 08 Accord doesn't have it...

Unless I was missing something.  I have to admit I wasn't looking too closely but I was configuring a 09 Corolla on the Toyota website last night and I came across this again.  Curious if its worth getting installed or if its usually not that useful.  The compass isn't a bad little side feature either but I have an excellent sense of direction so its rarely needed and if I really needed a compass then I've got those too.  But I was curious.

 I can assure you the 08 lancer GTS does have manual Rear view mirror dimming, there is a little flip lever in the middle of the mirror. I suspect, but can't say for sure, that all the cars on your list would and that you must have missed it. I would be frankly amazed if a 1967 Rambler Rebel ( one of which I owned when in high school) would have a dimmable rear view mirror as standard but an 2008 Honda Accord wouldn't.

 I've never had a vehicle with auto dimming mirrors and it always seemed to me an unnecessary bit of technology though if I ever drove a car with it it's possible I may find its a nicer option then I thinking it is.

[1TSX]

Our TSX has a auto dimming rear view mirror. I could care less about it...if it came with a manual one, I'd be fine with it. The auto dimming mirror does have a better look to it though.