Garage Door Buttons Hard to Press

[MaverikDS]

I’m curious if anyone else has issues actually pressing the buttons on the rear view mirror to open up your garage. Mine work fine as long as you can get them to recognize that the button is being pressed. For comparison, on any of my other vehicles with these buttons, it’s very easy to depress the buttons and have them open the garage doors/gates they are programmed to. It’s easy enough to tell when the button is working based off the little green light in the mirror but it’s like I have to hit it with a ridiculous amount of force and holding it in position for an extended period of time (roughly 3 seconds) for it to trigger the garage. I’m wondering if this is just BMW normal or if somehow mine is defective. I’m also wondering if it’s just my unit is replacing the mirror difficult? Is it plug and play or does it require special coding or assigning the VIN to it in order to use the features? I’ve been unable to find this anywhere on the forum/google as results just try to bring up how to program the homelink which I am aware of.

[9jabimmer]

I have had this happen in my 35d, but I unfortunately don’t have a resolution for you. Just confirming that you are not alone.

[Qsilver7]

Pick up a can of electronic contact cleaner that has a “straw”. This will allow you to pinpoint the spray into a crack…then work the button. Perhaps this will bring that button back to working better.

For example doing a google search for ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER (which doesn’t leave residue):

[MaverikDS]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Pick up a can of electronic contact cleaner that has a “straw”. This will allow you to pinpoint the spray into a crack…then work the button. Perhaps this will bring that button back to working better.

For example doing a google search for ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER (which doesn’t leave residue):

That might be a good idea. I have electrical contact cleaner already I might try that on one of the buttons first that I use less. If it works well with it do the other two. If it was easy enough to replace the entire mirror I would prefer to go that route as long as the new one worked well. Just hate how much worse these are vs every other homelink I’ve ever used by other manufacturers.

[X5guyinRI]

I just started having this issue within the last month or so! Mine is so hard to press that I have to grab the mirror with my full hand (fingers wrap around the top of the mirror, thumb wrapping around the bottom and pressing the button) or else I end up adjusting the mirrors position, since I have to press so hard. Glad to know I'm not alone. Watching the thread with interest for a great solution....

[Wardman]

Originally Posted by MaverikDS

That might be a good idea. I have electrical contact cleaner already I might try that on one of the buttons first that I use less. If it works well with it do the other two. If it was easy enough to replace the entire mirror I would prefer to go that route as long as the new one worked well. Just hate how much worse these are vs every other homelink I’ve ever used by other manufacturers.

Did this work? Having same issue and wanted to see if there was an option to buying the entire mirror.

Thx!

[Kzang]

Same issue with mine. I find the issue only happens during the cold temperature seasons. During spring and summer, fall its fine.

[MaverikDS]

I haven’t tried the cleaner yet. I’m not opposed to doing it, just hoping someone with more knowledge chimes in on the replacement option before I risk doing any further damage somehow with it.

Ours is like this year round hot/cold/perfectly comfortable weather lol. I also have to do the full handed grab of the mirror to avoid moving it while trying to depress the button. That means also trying to look behind your hand to see if the light is flashing if you don’t want to just look at the garage door.

[Maverik259]

I feel like mine have always been like this. It doesn’t feel like a failing part to me. More like a poor design. Like if you don’t get your finger pressed up into the rubber grommet to make contact with the switch then it doesn’t recognize anything. Prefer the design on my M5 much better. Press it once and it just works and my favorite is you don’t have to hold it down. It keeps sending a signal for a few seconds. While the X5 I have to hold it down.

[unluky]

Yes - HATE them on the mirror - stupid design. If you try and do it with a finger you have to readjust your mirror afterwards! I grab the whole mirror and use my thumb to press it. After I drive my Audi for a few days I forget and have to retrain myself on the stupid ones in the X5.........LOL

[bje3524]

My 2018 X5 F15 is also hard to press and takes approx 3 seconds of pressing to activate garage door. Annoyed