This may come across as a bit of a sad story, it involves an SMALL incident that doesn't reflect well on Tesla HK (and i've prob given more than enough criticism about them in the past). Be it confirmation bias on my part, or just being overly demanding or massive generalizing - i hope what i wrote here doesn't come across as another "look, i TOLD you tesla HK is cxxp!" example.
Lately, my girlfriend and I have separately noticed that the rear and side mirror automatically dim themselvs at some time around 6pm daily. I suppose the purpose is to reduce glare of cars of other headlights. However, we have never had a problem with non-dimming mirrors, and with these ones we REALLY struggle to see the lines in the road/ other cars. We would like to disable the auto-dimming feature.
After scouring thru the entire user manual in the car, there was ZERO mention about it whatsoever. We turned to the internet, and some google-fu has shown that a number of owners in the US have asked the same question, and that they've been given a satisfactory answer by other owners on TMC etc. The solution is to:
1) cover up the sensor on the "back" of the rearview mirror - it faces the front windshield
OR
2) cover the sensor on the "front" of the mirror like how it's described here:
Tesla Model S Hidden Features, Tips, Tricks & Tidbits
now i've tried both solutions (in fact, i haven't undone option 1) - but the side mirrors still dim! and with option 2 that made the rearview mirror stops auto-dimming, there's a piece of tape ON THE MIRROR just to do that! ARGH! so my first question is, Does anyone else feel the same about the mirror auto-dimming, and have you found a way to disable it??
Now here's the bit that happened just TODAY. Tesla has set up a road show car (A red P90DL) outside Kornhill/ Aeon near Tai Koo Shing. Now as I walked past it, there seemed to be about 6-7 delivery/tech specialist looking people in tesla shirts. So I walked up to them to ask about the auto-dimming mirrors, and how can i disable them. three separate tesla guys came up to me regarding this, and their answers were, as quoted,
1. "i've never heard of this and it shouldn't be a problem"
2. "i'm sorry, i dont know" (which i really appreciated, honesty is hard sometimes but its truthful)
3. "No, there is no such auto-dimming feature that you claimed on our cars - the mirrors do not auto-dim at all"
now it could be that i was projecting, or the fact that i'm a rather young owner of the model S at 32 years old (i seem to be about the same age as the guys giving me answer 3) but i felt a massive air of condescending tone in his voice, and that he was implying that i was making up bullshit. I dont know, i didn't react to that. but the number 3 guy TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OFF. do i have to chase you and show you my keys and the app on my phone to get you to talk to me? maybe follow up the question and check with headquarter technicians? recommend me to confirm with my sales guy or "delivery specialist" on this particular issue? ask me to elaborate on the problem i was facing?
none. absolutely none, with an almost 180degree turn around to walk away. i felt mildly insulted, but i do not wish to turn this into a witchhunt or a "look, they're shxt" shoutout just because of this little, single, small incident. The guy may not have intended to do that for all i know.
however, i'm feeling a little helpless on this side mirror auto-dimming issue, and a little more disappointed in Tesla's HK division in massive contrast to the great things Tesla have and are aiming to achieve, both on the big humanity scale and on the business/ customer service scale.
/rant.
My apologies for the wall of text. I've given it 12 hours since my encounter at the roadshow before i wrote this, but it still feels significant.
Lately, my girlfriend and I have separately noticed that the rear and side mirror automatically dim themselvs at some time around 6pm daily. I suppose the purpose is to reduce glare of cars of other headlights. However, we have never had a problem with non-dimming mirrors, and with these ones we REALLY struggle to see the lines in the road/ other cars. We would like to disable the auto-dimming feature.
After scouring thru the entire user manual in the car, there was ZERO mention about it whatsoever. We turned to the internet, and some google-fu has shown that a number of owners in the US have asked the same question, and that they've been given a satisfactory answer by other owners on TMC etc. The solution is to:
1) cover up the sensor on the "back" of the rearview mirror - it faces the front windshield
OR
2) cover the sensor on the "front" of the mirror like how it's described here:
Tesla Model S Hidden Features, Tips, Tricks & Tidbits
- DISABLE AUTO-DIMMING MIRRORS: Locate the tiny light sensor on the rear view mirror (facing the driver) which resides on the top edge and 1.5″ left from the center. Place a small piece of tape over it (eg electrical tape) will disable auto-dimming. [SocalTesla]
now i've tried both solutions (in fact, i haven't undone option 1) - but the side mirrors still dim! and with option 2 that made the rearview mirror stops auto-dimming, there's a piece of tape ON THE MIRROR just to do that! ARGH! so my first question is, Does anyone else feel the same about the mirror auto-dimming, and have you found a way to disable it??
Now here's the bit that happened just TODAY. Tesla has set up a road show car (A red P90DL) outside Kornhill/ Aeon near Tai Koo Shing. Now as I walked past it, there seemed to be about 6-7 delivery/tech specialist looking people in tesla shirts. So I walked up to them to ask about the auto-dimming mirrors, and how can i disable them. three separate tesla guys came up to me regarding this, and their answers were, as quoted,
1. "i've never heard of this and it shouldn't be a problem"
2. "i'm sorry, i dont know" (which i really appreciated, honesty is hard sometimes but its truthful)
3. "No, there is no such auto-dimming feature that you claimed on our cars - the mirrors do not auto-dim at all"
now it could be that i was projecting, or the fact that i'm a rather young owner of the model S at 32 years old (i seem to be about the same age as the guys giving me answer 3) but i felt a massive air of condescending tone in his voice, and that he was implying that i was making up bullshit. I dont know, i didn't react to that. but the number 3 guy TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OFF. do i have to chase you and show you my keys and the app on my phone to get you to talk to me? maybe follow up the question and check with headquarter technicians? recommend me to confirm with my sales guy or "delivery specialist" on this particular issue? ask me to elaborate on the problem i was facing?
none. absolutely none, with an almost 180degree turn around to walk away. i felt mildly insulted, but i do not wish to turn this into a witchhunt or a "look, they're shxt" shoutout just because of this little, single, small incident. The guy may not have intended to do that for all i know.
however, i'm feeling a little helpless on this side mirror auto-dimming issue, and a little more disappointed in Tesla's HK division in massive contrast to the great things Tesla have and are aiming to achieve, both on the big humanity scale and on the business/ customer service scale.
/rant.
My apologies for the wall of text. I've given it 12 hours since my encounter at the roadshow before i wrote this, but it still feels significant.