W211 mirror clicking at 30mph

[E240estate]

Hi all - odd one this; not a problem as such but cannot work it out.

Every time I start the car and drive away, once, the first time I exceed 30mph, the passenger door mirror emits between 3 and 12 rapid clicks or taps. The mirror does not appear to move.

Do not hear it again, regardless of speed, or length of journey, until the next time I get to 30mph after switching the engine back on.

Any clue as to what it is? If its easy I will fix and shut it up, otherwise it is already part of the character of the car!

2003 S211 E320

 

[FlorinM]

Are they power folding mirrors? And if so, do they move as expected?

 

[E240estate]

Are they power folding mirrors? And if so, do they move as expected?

 

[E240estate]

They are, and they do.

 

[FlorinM]

They are, and they do.

Oh ok, no idea what it could be then.

 

[SL03WLY]

Could check the wires where the mirror folds to see if any have worn out and are possibly touching/shorting on something?

 

[24 VRT]

Long shot, but iirc there is an 'auto dip when selecting reverse' option, where the mirror shows you the kerb. It then reverts to its normal position when driving off forwards - although not sure it waits until you hit 30mph to do that.
Anyway, assuming my dementia is not playing games and it turns out that dipping option is not on the S211, then the clicking could be the mirror trying to move itself back into its normal position despite it already being there. (The mirror motor will click if it's trying to move the mirror glass when the glass has reached the limit of its physical 'moveability').
So have a look to see if the reverse autodip option exists - if so, set it up, or de-select it and then see if the clicking you experience continues.

 

[Supernoodle]

My S211 passenger mirror has been making the same clicking noise recently too. I only noticed it happening around the time it stopped folding properly. It will still fold, but only if given a little shove by a helpful passenger.

I hadn't noticed the clicking occurring as I hit 30mph, but I checked today, you're correct. Good observation.

The noise is too loud for it to be the glass tilting mechanism, I can move that and hit the end stops and it doesn't sound the same. It certainly sounds like the folding mechanism.

One thing I haven't tried is if I fold the mirrors and set off, do they unfold when you hit 30mph?

 

[OneForTheRoad]

My S211 passenger mirror has been making the same clicking noise recently too. I only noticed it happening around the time it stopped folding properly. It will still fold, but only if given a little shove by a helpful passenger.

I hadn't noticed the clicking occurring as I hit 30mph, but I checked today, you're correct. Good observation.

The noise is too loud for it to be the glass tilting mechanism, I can move that and hit the end stops and it doesn't sound the same. It certainly sounds like the folding mechanism.

One thing I haven't tried is if I fold the mirrors and set off, do they unfold when you hit 30mph?

Mine don't. You can get them to unfold above 30 , but you can't fold if going over 30.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Sound like it might be a fault in the wiring. My wife's Mercedes has had wire breaking both inside the mirror housing...from repeated mirror folding bending the wires back and forth and inside the rubber boot from the car body to the door. Both fixed with soldering and heatshrink.