2004 BMW 325I Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE GLASS, DISTORTING THE CONTACTS VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

I'VE NOTICED SOME DARK TO LIGHT BROWN SMEARS OR SQUIGGLY LINES ON MY REARVIEW MIRROR. I TRIED TO CLEAN IT WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE FAULT IS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MIRROR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY IT ISN'T COVERED YET THE PART CAN COST UP TO $700.00 WITHOUT LABOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUTO DIMMING FLUID LEAKING/FAILING IN THE MIRROR. I CALLED BMW USA AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE NO PLANS TO RECALL THE PART. I'M DISMAYED BECAUSE I HAVE A CHEVY TRUCK WITH AN AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR THAT IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AS THE ABILITY TO SEE WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. I'VE READ ON FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR ARE HAVING...

THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH BI-XENON AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE LIGHT OUTPUT HAS STEADILY DECREASED. LOOKING AT IT FURTHER, BROWN SCORCH MARKS ARE VISIBLE IN THE PROJECTOR WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS ON. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THERE IS ALSO DISTORTION IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE PROJECTOR WHICH LOOKS ALMOST AS IF THE TOP HALF OF THE PROJECTOR HAS MELTED AND DISTORTED. THE LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE PROJECTORS HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A THIN BEAM OF LIGHT RIGHT BELOW THE CUTOFF, WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BEING WORSE THAN THE PASSENGER. PARKED 6 FEET AWAY FROM A WALL, THIS STRIP OF LIGHT EXTENDS ONLY ABOUT 8-12" BELOW THE CUTOFF, PUTTING OUT VIRTUALLY NO LIGHT BELOW THAT. AT NIGHT, IT IS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH NO LIGHT IN THE FOREGROUND; THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. *TR