Rear-view mirror compass flashing?

jcolley · 01-11-2008, 03:54 PM

Hi all,

Forgive me if this is a newb question or has been asked before, but I searched the web as well as this site and was unable to find anything about it, nor can I find it in the owner's manual.

I have a 2007 X3 and the compass readout on the mirror began flashing from high to low intensity erratically on the way into our neighborhood one evening. Yes, this is e90post, but I thought it was odd and might be a problem with the X3.

Well, this morning, on the way to work in my 328, the same thing happened. It lasted for a good 5 miles or so and then stopped. I had to think back and make sure my head was straight that it wasn't the same car, but I'm positive it was the X3 last time.

I plan to take the X3 in for service next week anyway and will ask there, but has anyone heard of this before on the e90?

Jim

LEDZEP · 01-11-2008, 06:20 PM

Compass needs to be calibrated. See the manual for instructions or ask dealer to do it.

Ferg · 01-14-2008, 01:54 AM

Had the same problem myself. It clears up, or at least mine has for the time being.

Gort · 01-14-2008, 01:11 PM

Mine has done the disco light thing. It went away by itself and hasn't come back.

BK · 01-14-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gort

Mine has done the disco light thing. It went away by itself and hasn't come back.

+1 Mine only does it to ABBA.

DrGP · 01-14-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gort

Mine has done the disco light thing. It went away by itself and hasn't come back.

I had it happen for 5 mins. Never happened again.

mitchius · 01-14-2008, 06:53 PM

Mine did it twice when the car was new but never again. Do you have a parking permit hanging from the mirror? I read that this could cause it

mstnggt66 · 01-14-2008, 08:32 PM

Mine has done it twice. I thought it was related to the headlights on/off. My mirror was added at the dealer and they did something wrong but it was too intermittent.

I'd really like to find a solution to this.

TeeG · 01-14-2008, 09:47 PM

Mine's done it, then gone away, then done it again, then gone away. I thought it had something to do with the light sensor maybe.

PTinVT · 05-28-2009, 09:01 PM

Mine did it tonight for the first time. I checked the manual and it only discusses how to set the zone/recalibrate it, etc. but not if the flashing indicates that it's time to calibrate. (I've had other cars that change the direction to "C" but that doesn't seem to be a feature on ours)

Has anyone ever had their compass disco-flash during the daytime, or does this only happen at night?

JayKay335i · 05-28-2009, 09:33 PM

Alien abduction!

01-11-2008, 03:54 PM	#1
jcolley Lieutenant 378 Rep 413 Posts Drives: 328 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Maine iTrader: (1)	Rear-view mirror compass flashing? Hi all, Forgive me if this is a newb question or has been asked before, but I searched the web as well as this site and was unable to find anything about it, nor can I find it in the owner's manual. I have a 2007 X3 and the compass readout on the mirror began flashing from high to low intensity erratically on the way into our neighborhood one evening. Yes, this is e90post, but I thought it was odd and might be a problem with the X3. Well, this morning, on the way to work in my 328, the same thing happened. It lasted for a good 5 miles or so and then stopped. I had to think back and make sure my head was straight that it wasn't the same car, but I'm positive it was the X3 last time. I plan to take the X3 in for service next week anyway and will ask there, but has anyone heard of this before on the e90? Jim
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01-11-2008, 06:20 PM	#2
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Compass needs to be calibrated. See the manual for instructions or ask dealer to do it. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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01-14-2008, 01:54 AM	#3
Ferg Master of my own domain!! 153 Rep 1,049 Posts Drives: F82 M4/F15 X5 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Had the same problem myself. It clears up, or at least mine has for the time being.
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01-14-2008, 01:11 PM	#4
Gort Klaatu Barada Nikto 30 Rep 1,169 Posts Drives: 2017 X3-35i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: A Bipolar Planet iTrader: (0)	Mine has done the disco light thing. It went away by itself and hasn't come back.
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01-14-2008, 06:53 PM	#7
mitchius Private First Class 3 Rep 119 Posts Drives: 335xi 6mt Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bucks County, Pa iTrader: (9)	Mine did it twice when the car was new but never again. Do you have a parking permit hanging from the mirror? I read that this could cause it
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01-14-2008, 08:32 PM	#8
mstnggt66 Private First Class 18 Rep 151 Posts Drives: MINI Clubman JCW (306hp) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (2)	Mine has done it twice. I thought it was related to the headlights on/off. My mirror was added at the dealer and they did something wrong but it was too intermittent. I'd really like to find a solution to this. __________________ 2008 BMW 328xi coupe, 6MT Ordered 7/16/07 \| Production Started 8/27 \| Production Complete 9/2 \| On board COURAGE, departed 9/10 \| Arrived SC 9/29 \| Arrived CLE 10/6 \| Picked up 10/8 1966 Ford Mustang GT, 425hp 2005 Nissan 350Z, StopTech brakes - SOLD \| 2002 Acura RSX Type-S - SOLD
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01-14-2008, 09:47 PM	#9
TeeG Private 4 Rep 56 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: new york iTrader: (0)	Mine's done it, then gone away, then done it again, then gone away. I thought it had something to do with the light sensor maybe.
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05-28-2009, 09:01 PM	#10
PTinVT armchair enthusiast 221 Rep 1,019 Posts Drives: 18 340xi, 02 325Cic, 93 850Ci Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Burlington, VT iTrader: (3)	Mine did it tonight for the first time. I checked the manual and it only discusses how to set the zone/recalibrate it, etc. but not if the flashing indicates that it's time to calibrate. (I've had other cars that change the direction to "C" but that doesn't seem to be a feature on ours) Has anyone ever had their compass disco-flash during the daytime, or does this only happen at night? __________________ '18 340i xDrive EB/Dakota, 6-speed manual, M-sport '02 325Cic vert AW/Montana leather, 5-speed manual, premium/removable hardtop '93 850Ci Oxford Green/Parchment, auto '71 Buick Riviera, 455 V8 land yacht
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05-28-2009, 09:33 PM	#11
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	Alien abduction!
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