Hey folks,
I've noticed some older sedans have power-folding sidemirrors as while the o4.. and maybe the later years of the TL do not have power-folding side mirrors.
I was wondering, is it possible to somehow modify the stock mirrors to make them become power-folding?
For an entry-luxary-sport-sedan I think the car should have came with it stock...

 

so why exactly does an entry lux sport sedan need this? where are you driving/parking that you need to fold your mirrors.

which cars have you seen this on?

 

Well not saying that it 'needs' this. Just saying it would've been nice to have it stock. I believe the mirrors are manual-folding.
I live in Montreal QC. It's not really needed here, but after seeing some cars with it [and after seeing some cars with missing side mirrors] I thought it would be a cool mod if it's do-able.
I've seen power-folding mirrors on some cars like
Uh.. Some Chevrolet trucks, I don't know the name.
The JDM 8g Galant has powerfolding mirrors.

 

They have them on the GS350 and the XC90, and the TL really needs to stay competitive against models like these.

 

I've only ever seen that feature on SUV's.

Not to mention that I avoid places so tight that I need to fold in my mirrors to make room. Usually that ends up being next to the fat man with the 78 2-door Eldorado

 

that's funny.... what'll make it worse is he drive off with big dent on the door of TL.... take good care of our babies!!!.... it won't hurt to park a bit further and walk....

as for power folding mirror, it's an interesting mod. Lexus LS has it. but i'll imagine lot of wiring and place to mount that electric motor. have u done the 07-08 outside blinker mirror mod? it might be way way way easier than this one.

 

I'm actually not a fan of the side-mirror blinker. Too many lights going off at once in my opinion.
True it's probably a lot easier, was just curious for an answer about power-folding mirrors.

 

Power folding side mirrors are available on the Audi A4. It's a nice but useless feature IMO.

 

the first gen TLs had this in Japan... but it was only useful there because parking is so scarce over there and they needed to fold their mirrors in to fit into the parking spots...

 

In India, traffic is so bad people drive with their side mirrors folded in. Cars, trucks, buses, bikes, cows, goats, people, all in the same street.

Missed your exit on the freeway? No problem. Stick your hand out the window and make a U-Turn.

Scary.

 

Big Tata trucks lose their wheels and roll over in the road? No biggie, just maneuver through debris, or take a shortcut through the pind roads or closest field.

As for powerfolding mirrors, my cousin has them on the Toureg..they're cool, but pretty pointless for a mod.

 

Actually, I think power folding mirrors would be a great feature to have. BMW and Audi offer them. I only have a single car garage and when I park it in there, it's a little too narrow to open my door so I park it further to one side to give me more room. Typically I have to manually fold the passenger side mirror in...and out again when I leave the garage. It'd be nice to be able to hit a switch...

 

My friend had 'em on his Cayenne and damn they made me jealous haha.

It depends on people's situations, like RamRod's or anyone who lives in a busy city but most TLers have no real NEED for 'em. Wouldnt mind at all having em though

 

most bmws have side mirror that rotate up

 

If you need to fold your mirrors you are parking in a tight spot, more than the mirror worry about that door ding. Now i will tell you were it comes in handy, here in the bronx around were i live, for some idiotic reason they thougt it was a good idea to make super narrow streets 2 way. Literaly there is no line division, so very often while park on the side walk, i fold in the mirror that is stiking out to the street, many times 2 cars come and pass each other and have to come very close to the parked cars.. 4 cars side by side on a narrow street. thats when they take your mirror with them. What sucks is that when i am on the right side, i have to walk around to the passenger side and flip in or out. It would come in handy I guess.. but we can live wih out it.

 

The car SHOULD have came with it?? Like it's a necessity? I don't think so. Not too many luxury cars have them by the way, and there's a good reason for that. Completely useless.
How many times a year do you need to fold your mirrors? Can't you do it by hand? What else the TL SHOULD have? Power-adjusting headrests maybe? Sorry to be sarcastic.

 

door ding - $100 (covers more than 1)
mirror (comes painted) - list price $200+

I live in NYC... where some streets are narrow and people double park... cab drivers drive wide lincoln town cars... occasionally one of them will knock a mirror off... so if I ever forget to fold my mirrors in they would surely knock em off... automatic power folding mirrors where they fold when you hit the lock button would be perfect... also unfold when you either turn the ignition or unlock the doors

 

I would think if you have to fold in your mirrors then you are entirely to close

 

Exactly....it's a convenience feature. Do you NEED power seats, or NAVI, or footwell lighting?.....No, but it's nice to have.

 

My mother in law's Maxima has auto-fold in mirrors. It's like a feature looking for a reason. But I guess if it keeps some a$$hole from keying your car because they accidentally banged themselves on your mirror then maybe there is some value.

Now the electrically heated steering wheel her Maxima has is way cool.

 

These are the kind of streets are park on every day. Now picture a double parked moving van with a UPS truck squeezing by. I fold my outside mirror in EVERY time I park. At least once a week I see a side-view mirror hanging by a wire around my area. So although many would find this feature useless, some would LOVE it.

 

Same type of neighbourhood where I live....totally agreed pikabb!

BTW, I've never seen those bumper pads before.....great idea!

 

Yeah I work in Long Island City myself so you know how crappy that area is...I guess we just have to suffice for doing it the hard way and walking around while manually folding mirrors in.

 

My VW Passat had them too .. worked great ... don't miss them at all. But I do miss the auto wipers and the good quality leather.

 

dis is hott thing 2 do... but f it ill just fold it myself!!!

 

No offense but based on your picture, I think if you'd park closer to the curb, your mirrors wouldn't be as exposed as they are now.

 

I had just finished giving her a bath... That's why she was halfway into the street. Trust me, my wheels are touching the curb when I park.

 

That was quite a lot of interesting posts.
Well, seeing as how Montreal is north of NY... we get just as bad [most likely worst] winters.
Streets with two lanes have turned into a one laner... left+right side for parking.. and the middle for one car to go at a time.
Also the streets in Montreal are all narrow, even the highway roads are narrow!

Someone said that I should be more worried about a fender-bender or something--but when you think about it. When your car is parked, your sidemirrors are more likely to get hit [and go missing--or hang there].

Maybe I was wrong in saying the TL "should" have this mod. But it would be a nice feature too have.
I think it adds to the 'luxary' feel of the car.

Perhaps having this mod could also be used as a 'safety' feature. I know folks who have power-folding mirrors and have rewired it so it would automatically fold inwards when you lock the car.
It's like how some people rewire their windows to automatically roll up--and have the sun/moonroof close when you lock the car.

 

Oh I trust you, but based on the picture, it was obvious that what you needed most was not power folding mirrors but parallel park lessons. <wink>
Take care,

 

Sounds like people are pretty sour on the power folding mirrors subject. But I actually would like them. My garage is a tight fit and I have to reach out the window to fold in the drivers side to prevent clipping the mirror.

Most Acuras that can get them take them from their JDM counterparts. There is no TL in Japan so I am shit out of luck I would assume. Any chance they will come out aftermarket eventually?

 

I go to downtown DC pretty often and auto-folding mirrors would definitely be nice. It's certainly not a make-or-break feature, but when it starts popping up on direct competitors, it would be something nice to have.

I'm sure making the modification to an existing TL would be more trouble than it's worth for the average joe.

 

All you need is the mirrors, a relay, a switch and some wires.

 

This is the only feature my brother in law can throw at my face for his 06 Nissan Maxima...oh and a heated steering wheel. WTF! ...but he wont race me I agree it is pointless cause I'd rather walk than park in a bad spot but theres times when u just cant help it.

 

Everyone is saying that having power folding mirrors is not that important. But is having a cassette deck in a car in this day and age where cd's are even phasing out cause of iPods more important. I'd rather have the power folding mirrors than a damn tape deck which is only taking up space on the center console.

 

maybe they have them in china cause they use the tl over there as police cars.

 

Every time I manually fold my mirrors, I always wish I had this feature. I love it in my other cars.

 

would definitely love to have tthis ....... need it ??????

 

it would have been nice if the tl came with that option