This weekend I noticed what appeared to be a ~4" piece of black electrician's tape on the back of by rear view mirror. It was starting to come off so I just pulled it off. Instead of it being a simply a piece of tape it has a gold metal film imbedded in it. Seems to be a small antenna or something, but no corresponding contacts on the back of the mirror itself. Anybody know what it is?

Jon L
'06 MINI S Cabrio

 

Might be the autodimmer sensor for the mirror. Does your mirror have a black **** on the bottom? If not, it's the dimmer sensor.

 

Do you have the Homelink feature in the mirror? Strips like that are used to enhance the antenna on the transmitter.

 

I want to know too!!!

 

Sounds like an antenna. In the rearview mirror you can opt to have a automatic garage door opener!
Furthermore there's also the possibility that a previous owner was being very creative when installing his telephone/navigation carkit.


Posting a picture will help understanding the "magical item" :-)

 

It sounds like possibly an RFID chip, or something of that nature, used by the dealer for tracking vehicles in and out of the shop. I have never seen anything like this on any mirrors out of the box.

 

I have an '08 S and no tape on mine.