Folding Mirrors

[Rescue23]

According to this NZ web site: http://www.volkswagen.co.nz/media/co...sheet_golf.pdf

"Mirror Package (includes Light and Vision package PLA and
electric folding exterior mirrors with curb view)"

is a $350 option on MY11 Golfs.

[Maverick]

But I noticed that the car's side mirrors were folded in - like Lexus and Peugeot's.

I and we, know that VW don't have folding side mirrors as a function, but I was wondering, perhaps this person had some modification or something?

Unlikely, fitting the fold in mirrors will cost you over $1000 and that's if you do all the work including wiring yourself. Door controllers may also need to be replaced and even the mirror control switch has to be replaced.

The owner of the car was a P-plater, so those side-mirrors are a must.

Why? What does being a P plater have to do with this? Will these fold in mirrors magically enable him to miss a tree on the side of the road when he's pissed with 8 mates in the car (including 3 in the boot)?

Then I thought, maybe the person wanted to protect his.her investments and folded the mirrors in manually - but that would be so much effort everytime he parked, not to mention un-folding them when driving off.

Maybe he doesn't mind spending 10 seconds folding them in? Perhaps he only does it when he parks in certain areas? Without asking him who knows.

So I came to the semi-conclusion that he/she must have some mod to the on-board computer that allows folding of the side mirrors.

That's a hell of a conclusion to draw.

Obviously the mirrors slant during if you have Park Assist as a feature, so maybe folding the mirrors are an extension of it?!??

Using the mirror motor which already exists to move the mirror to a set position is a hell of a lot different to adding a motor to enable the mirror to fold along with all the work that goes along with that. They in no way are similar.

[Idle]

Folding mirrors are used more in areas with very narrow streets and little off-street parking, and even there the VW ones wouldn't help much.

Due to their shape, when folded they project almost as far as when extended.

We had a Jap import Corolla from about 1990 that wore them, and they reduced the width of the vehicle quite a bit.

The VW units wouldn't be a viable option here.

[peedman]

Sigh at the nit picking...some ppl just have to be correct!

Retrofitting is pretty complex as well if its the same as the mkv you not only need to buy the mirror with activators but also have to wire it to the door controllers. This thread has good info:

Retrofit electric folding mirrors?

[ratedr]

Peugeots have folding mirrors, but they don't have the reverse tilt function on the passenger side for the kerb... This I think is more critical than auto folding mirrors! When I was in my Pug, I had to manually adjust the tilt down every time I did a reverse park... Pain in the ass! I used to leave it tilted down.. but this is dangerous..

[Ryan_R]

The only thing that baffles me is why someone who owns a car that can park itself would need the auto-dipping mirror more than someone who has to do it themselves

They must be making sure they don't scratch their rims or something =)

[Cossor]

The only thing that baffles me is why someone who owns a car that can park itself would need the auto-dipping mirror more than someone who has to do it themselves

They must be making sure they don't scratch their rims or something =)

I like the auto dipping mirror purely as an aid for parking close to the curb, (Instead of parking out from the curb, and more liable to accidents from passing trucks etc) I do not use auto parking as such, but do rely on ultrasonic sensors re distance, and final view via camera.

However, please note, the autoparking DOES align the car directly in front of the rear car. If the rear car was parked AGAINST the curb, this is where my car could also end up.

OK, none of the above essential, BUT it does make parking just that bit easier.

[sharkablue]

The dipping mirror is great on the GTI if you have the Detroit alloys. None of the parking stuff is ESSENTIAL for parking, but it helps make sure there on that 1 off chance that you dont back into a pole you didnt see in a blind spot. Or scrape your rims on it.

Or God forbid, if a child or animal happen to run behind the car while your reversing.

In all those cases that option just paid for itself.

[Ryan_R]

Gotta say though, it's a pretty good feeling when you nail it yourself (it's not a manuever I have to perform much).