[paul e]

I can't tell you how many times I've hip checked the other car's mirror in my garage, and I know it's there.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Eriphill

Haha only the 340 is mine. Have a friend visiting with a 235 and the folding mirrors do actually help free up a little extra space in the garage.

Only a 340 is still very cool.

I use my fold in mirrors sometimes in my garage when I remember. It makes walking between cars a bit easier since my wife has an SUV. I should get it programed to go automatically since I rarely remember to do it.

[GaryUFM]

Back in Blighty...I've always used folding mirrors when driving on rural single or 1.5 track lanes. Makes it easier when passing traffic. Frustratingly, BMWs fold back out over low speeds, but I think this speed can be increased by coding, which I'll do when I get mine (70mph?). Turn onto a lane, flick a switch, in. Come out the other end, flick a switch, out. Easy. Otherwise you have to open your window (if it's raining?), pop it in, and if it's just you in the car, you only get the extra width on the driver's side.

And yes, with a network of roads that are largely built on infrastructure dating back to mediaeval if not Roman times when all they had to worry about were carts and horses, parking on our narrow streets requires folding in the mirror outside to the traffic. Common enough over here to see cars with one mirror smashed to bits. Mirrors that fold on locking are very handy indeed.

(Pics below: note sign in penultimate one indicating road gets even narrower ahead. And that last pic...if only both cars would have had folding door mirrors...! )

[Joe_E]

Folding mirrors are really nice. Today at school some girl walked by and bumped into my mirror pretty hard while i was sitting in the car. When I left to class I folded them up to keep them safe. Want to get them coded soon to make it easier for me to remember

[eluded]

Those folding mirrors are nice here in Italy

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Mine are coded to open & close with the start button.

[RSnic]

While I know how & can easily code auto folding, I have chosen not to.

I do always fold mirrors when I pull into our home'so garage because it is a little tight; also I fold them in some parking areas where room is also at a premium.

Bottom line for me is that folding mirrors are a handy feature

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Mine are coded to open & close with the start button.

Huh, I coded mine to open and close with the comfort access lock and unlock but I didn't see that it can be tied to the start button. I'll have to look for that.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Dan203

I had the folding mirrors on my 135i, and now on my 340i. I only ever use them when pulling up to drive up ATM so I can get real close and reach the keypad. But I've seen several pictures on this forum where people appear to use them every time they park. Also my Wife's Audi TT has an option to fold them automatically every time the engine turns off. But I'm wondering why? What benefit is there to folding them in every time you park?

Tight parking spaces; tight garages; parallel parking on city streets. It's probably overkill to do it every time, but to me, it's all about habits. If I get in the habit of doing it most of the time, then I won't forget in a situation when I do need them folded.

[Minty_]

If you live in a city like SF with busy/narrow street you'd understand. Bicyclists will also appreciate it.

[swchoi89]

Originally Posted by Dan203

I had the folding mirrors on my 135i, and now on my 340i. I only ever use them when pulling up to drive up ATM so I can get real close and reach the keypad. But I've seen several pictures on this forum where people appear to use them every time they park. Also my Wife's Audi TT has an option to fold them automatically every time the engine turns off. But I'm wondering why? What benefit is there to folding them in every time you park?

I don't use this either.... and the mirrors don't auto unfold when i get back in!!

[JamRWS6]

Absolutely necessary, probably not. It does free up space and keeps them from getting bumped. Since I coded them it always folds instantly when locking the car. A nice second check that the car is locked. And it looks cool.

[Dan203]

Originally Posted by HotTea69

2) Parking Lots, people like to swing their doors WIDE open.

In this case I'd rather them hit the mirror then the door. The mirror acts as a sort of shied, in some cases, to prevent door dings.

You guys have all brought up situations I never would have thought of. Living in a relatively small town with wide streets and ample parking I don't run across a lot of these situations.

[brissim]

Originally Posted by Trcb777

It's a quick visual to verify the car is locked

This is the reason I most like them.

Tony

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by HotTea69

2) Parking Lots, people like to swing their doors WIDE open.

That's only going to help in angled parking spots for that problem, though.

[etinifni]

OP, you ever try parking in a huge lot...daily? I know I've been guilty of hip checking other people's mirrors on occasion.

[GPM]

When I picked up my car after having a new set of tires installed the mirrors were folded back. I had to pull over and get out the owners manual to find out how to un-fold them.

Obviously not something for which I have found a need.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by GPM

When I picked up my car after having a new set of tires installed the mirrors were folded back. I had to pull over and get out the owners manual to find out how to un-fold them.

Obviously not something for which I have found a need.

They auto-deploy at 25mph.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by GPM

When I picked up my car after having a new set of tires installed the mirrors were folded back. I had to pull over and get out the owners manual to find out how to un-fold them.

Obviously not something for which I have found a need.

They automatically fold back out at a certain speed, 25mph IIRC or thereabouts which seemed high to me when I read it in the owner's manual. IMHO it should be closer to 10mph.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Dan203

I had the folding mirrors on my 135i, and now on my 340i. I only ever use them when pulling up to drive up ATM so I can get real close and reach the keypad. But I've seen several pictures on this forum where people appear to use them every time they park. Also my Wife's Audi TT has an option to fold them automatically every time the engine turns off. But I'm wondering why? What benefit is there to folding them in every time you park?

Good for when you park in a parking garage in Manhattan with tight spaces. Only works if they actually fold them in like you asked them to though.

https://flic.kr/p/LGX2E3

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

They automatically fold back out at a certain speed, 25mph IIRC or thereabouts which seemed high to me when I read it in the owner's manual. IMHO it should be closer to 10mph.

Agreed. My wife didn't realize this and asked why I wasn't folding the mirrors out after we pulled out. I said they open automagically, but not until 25mph. Her response was

[jtmann]

I rarely fold mine unless I park on the street, my wife's ride does it when she turns it off though. Those mirrors can get pretty expensive if they have cameras or blind spot monitoring in them, so I understand why.