Automatically fold mirrors when car is locked?

[RyanDe680]

Dumb newb question. I have the foldable mirrors, but can they automatically fold when I lock the car, or is that a coding issue?

[Yas__Plz]

Originally Posted by RyanDe680

Dumb newb question. I have the foldable mirrors, but can they automatically fold when I lock the car, or is that a coding issue?

You have to have your car coded for this function

[BMWjunkie]

But definitely have it coded!

[Spike Spiegel]

Originally Posted by Yas__Plz

You have to have your car coded for this function

Wait, the car comes with the power folding mirror and the motor intact. But the car doesn't come with the code already in place?

Or is this only for a DIY install ?

[yocubed]

Originally Posted by StormRYU

Wait, the car comes with the power folding mirror and the motor intact. But the car doesn't come with the code already in place?

Or is this only for a DIY install ?

Car comes with folding mirrors but from the factory they are only programmed to fold with the push of a button. You can, and many have including myself, code the car to fold the mirrors upon locking the car. This and many other useful features which can be coded but aren't enabled by default.

[Howard_R]

I think the folding mirrors, while nice, is kind of a non issue - they really don't fold that much out of the way.

FWIW I did have mine coded - you can have it set to fold on a long press using Comfort Access, or not to fold with a short press.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Howard_R

I think the folding mirrors, while nice, is kind of a non issue - they really don't fold that much out of the way.

FWIW I did have mine coded - you can have it set to fold on a long press using Comfort Access, or not to fold with a short press.

Completely agree. It's almost laughable how little fold in. Kind of defeats the purpose.

[Blksnowflake]

Folding mirrors are very useful living in urban cities. even though not much it does help in the situations I find myself in.

[Spike Spiegel]

Originally Posted by yocubed

Car comes with folding mirrors but from the factory they are only programmed to fold with the push of a button. You can, and many have including myself, code the car to fold the mirrors upon locking the car. This and many other useful features which can be coded but aren't enabled by default.

But that doesn't make sense to me. Why would they only fold when you press a button located inside the car? Why wouldn't it just fold at the lock/unlock of the car via the remote or key-less entry like every other car that has this feature? Why would BMW not implement that from the factory?

I genuinely don't understand what they were thinking with this. .

[Roch M4]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Completely agree. It's almost laughable how little fold in. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Do you know why the mirror fold only a little bit on M3 / M4 compared to other car? On the X1 for example they fold completely...

They do not fold completely because they mark the exact width of the car. that way if you rely on the folded mirror to clear a small space, for example entering a garage or parking between a concrete pillar, you will not be ending scratching the wide rear fender flares of your nice M3/M4. This is pure German engineering.

[uniqueMR]

Bimmercode

[outatime e46]

I just coded this using BimmerCode last night. I agree that on the M3, they don’t fold in very much. I probably won’t be using it. Still cool nonetheless.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Roch M4

Do you know why the mirror fold only a little bit on M3 / M4 compared to other car? On the X1 for example they fold completely...

They do not fold completely because they mark the exact width of the car. that way if you rely on the folded mirror to clear a small space, for example entering a garage or parking between a concrete pillar, you will not be ending scratching the wide rear fender flares of your nice M3/M4. This is pure German engineering.

Interesting theory. How come this was not the case for the E90 M3?

[Roch M4]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Interesting theory. How come this was not the case for the E90 M3?

Good question! Maybe the F82 is wider than the E90 M3, because technically the mirrors of the F82 can fold more

[Capt Crunch]

Originally Posted by outatime e46

I just coded this using BimmerCode last night. I agree that on the M3, they don’t fold in very much. I probably won’t be using it. Still cool nonetheless.

Can anyone tell me the correct thing to adjust in bimmercode? I checked "fold mirrors with comfort access" and nothing happens, whether I lock or unlock using the door or the fob. Any ideas?

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Capt Crunch

Can anyone tell me the correct thing to adjust in bimmercode? I checked "fold mirrors with comfort access" and nothing happens, whether I lock or unlock using the door or the fob. Any ideas?

If it's what I have on my car, you have to hold your finger on the door handle sensor for a few seconds after it locks in order for the mirrors to fold in. Did you try that? Then the mirrors will unfold automatically upon unlocking.

[Zerp]

Originally Posted by Howard_R

I think the folding mirrors, while nice, is kind of a non issue - they really don't fold that much out of the way.

In the US it might not make any difference but in some countries, specifically Japan, it is not infrequent to make use of such. I’ve been on roads so narrow that power poles can’t be passed without retracting the mirrors. And on two-way roads cars have to retract their mirrors to pass each other.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by StormRYU

Wait, the car comes with the power folding mirror and the motor intact. But the car doesn't come with the code already in place?

Or is this only for a DIY install ?

It's likely a liabilty thing for North America. In Europe, you can fold the mirrors by holding the lock button on the key fob or through comfort access on the door handle. Coding simply activates the European feature on North American cars.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Completely agree. It's almost laughable how little fold in. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Well not really. Unfolded, the mirrors are the widest portion of the car. However, the F8X body is quite wide and when the mirrors are folded, they fit within the body width. There is no need for them to fold more.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Well not really. Unfolded, the mirrors are the widest portion of the car. However, the F8X body is quite wide and when the mirrors are folded, they fit within the body width. There is no need for them to fold more.

But why limit it to simply fit within the body width and stop there? If they tucked in more flush with the doors like most other cars do that would be much more useful for situations where parking space is tight and the car next to you is closer than you would prefer. It would greater limit the chance of a car door opening into your mirror or someone bumping into it as they walk between the cars.

[Zerp]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

....through comfort access on the door handle. Coding simply activates the European feature on North American cars.

Thanks for that! The Japanese market apparently is the same as the European market. It was a hassle to get a smart key out just to fold in the mirrors.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

But why limit it to simply fit within the body width and stop there? If they tucked in more flush with the doors like most other cars do that would be much more useful for situations where parking space is tight and the car next to you is closer than you would prefer. It would greater limit the chance of a car door opening into your mirror or someone bumping into it as they walk between the cars.

Some folks are overthinking this design flaw..
The whole point of the mirrors folding in is prevent damage, not as a marker for the body's width. That's giving the engineers/designers more credit than they deserve.

I believe the reason it doesn't fold in any more is because of the physical limitations, in its design, as every other M mirror I've seen fold more flat inwards, towards the glass. The M2C/M4 mirrors are the only exception.

And as far is auto-folding mirrors not previously being standard in the US market, it's simple to prevent unnecessary wear on the components and possible limit their exposure to warranty claims.

Had it been a legality issue, it wouldn't have
been standard on my friend's Mercedes from 2004 and on all current new BMWs, which is now controllable within the US-spec IDrive menu.