Auto folding mirrors

[R W]

Morning All.
Can anyone advise me about the folding door mirrors, folding automaticaly when the car is locked,& unfolding when opening the car.I have read various threads on the subject but dont seem to be able to find the menue to access this, or maybe my car is not equiped with this facility.
The car is a 2001 E320cdi Avantgarde, It has command & has memory drivers seat but not passengers seat.
Thanks in advance.
R W

 

[panason1c]

I think the 'auto folding' option is only available on the later models.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

my C-class doesn't do it either, you have to press the button. There is another thread somewhere that says the option is in there but can only be accessed via the MB diagnostic computer.

 

[Alfie]

Auto folding mirrors is possible on most of the later cars. Its an option that needs to be enabled via the Star diagnosis. I was present when it was enabled on my business partners W203 yesterday. It works well however you obviously need to have electric folding mirrors in the first place!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

will MB stealers do this if asked, or have you had an Indie do it?

 

[bitonw]

Auto folding mirrors is possible on most of the later cars. Its an option that needs to be enabled via the Star diagnosis. I was present when it was enabled on my business partners W203 yesterday. It works well however you obviously need to have electric folding mirrors in the first place!

I thought that you will need Memory seats for this?

 

[Rory]

I was present when it was enabled on my business partners W203 yesterday.

What age is that car, please?

I have a facelift (Oct 04) W203 and it's been suggested that it should be possible, but the dealer didn't want to know.

 

[Alfie]

I thought that you will need Memory seats for this?

You dont need memory seats. It takes just a few minutes to enable, along with the fuel tank content, date in the cluster, tyre pressure monitor, active cornering etc. All these things can be enabled.

You just need a STAR diagnosis system or access to one. All dealers have these but some will not entertain enabling them. A few independants have STAR machines.

 

[Alfie]

What age is that car, please?

I have a facelift (Oct 04) W203 and it's been suggested that it should be possible, but the dealer didn't want to know.

Your car is capable of having these features enabled. My business partners car is a 2005 facelifted W203.

I suggest you try a different dealer.

 

[Rory]

Your car is capable of having these features enabled. My business partners car is a 2005 facelifted W203.

I suggest you try a different dealer.

Thanks - I do know someone who can do this (and all the other mods you mentioned) in fact he may be the person who did your partners, but he's in the South East and I'm in the North West. Even so, we've attempted to meet a couple of times but fate has kept us apart!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I expect if I had this done it would infringe on my Service Plus contract as the car isn't supposed to be altered in any way

 

[noops]

Would it be possible on a W202?.

 

[panason1c]

Your car is capable of having these features enabled. My business partners car is a 2005 facelifted W203.

Re- my earlier post, i believe the auto fold feature is a programmed option that can be 'enabled' for later vehicles (>2004'ish ?) ...but i dont think that option was programmed into 2001 models and therefore cannot be 'enabled'.

 

[television]

In another post on this subject, this option was dropped due to the design of the folding motors. They are not man enough for the job for the continual folding and unfolding. I think you will find that if you open this option,you will soon be buying new motors or mirrors, and they are not cheap. you only need to fold them on certain parking.

MB did not do this for no reason, its bad enough keeping the reverse dipping function running.

Malcolm

 

[R W]

I think I will go with Malcolm,s advice & leave well alone. I initially thought it would be good to have them working automatcaly, as it is easy to forget to fold them. If Merc say the motors are not man enough then its an easy matter to opperate the switch when needed.
Thank you all for your advice.

 

[Alfie]

In another post on this subject, this option was dropped due to the design of the folding motors. They are not man enough for the job for the continual folding and unfolding. I think you will find that if you open this option,you will soon be buying new motors or mirrors, and they are not cheap. you only need to fold them on certain parking.

MB did not do this for no reason, its bad enough keeping the reverse dipping function running.

Malcolm

Hold on here. There is no way it will wear out the mirrors!!!!!!

Agreed that it will mean the motors are used a little more but lets not forget that some people park their cars on the street every day and therefore probably fold their mirrors in every night. So how does them being folded automatically increase on the wear? It doesnt.

If Mercedes make it an available option then they surely have tested it. If it wore out the motors, then why is it available?

There are many options available to be enabled which are enabled for some markets and not others. Lets not forget the power of the marketing people. Some things are just turned off because they are deemed unsaleable in some countries. Some options (like tyre pressure sensing) are available at a cost at ordering time when they can be easily enabled later for free!

 

[television]

I do not wish to sit in the middle.
Yes there are people who need to fold there mirrors many times when parked, and yes there are many like me who hardly ever need to fold them.
They have been deleted across the whole range and are not shown or listed as an option in any sales book that I have
MB have decieded that as we all have a switch, for long term reliability it is better to switch them off. Why not ask MB their veiw on it.

malcolm

 

[Alfie]

I do not wish to sit in the middle.
Yes there are people who need to fold there mirrors many times when parked, and yes there are many like me who hardly ever need to fold them.
They have been deleted across the whole range and are not shown or listed as an option in any sales book that I have
MB have decieded that as we all have a switch, for long term reliability it is better to switch them off. Why not ask MB their veiw on it.

malcolm

Perhaps then Mercedes will soon be deleting the rain sensor or the wiper motor altogether on the grounds that it might wear out the motor!

I will be contacting MB but in the meantime if anyone wants to have it, then it can be done. Once enabled it is selectable in the menu to be either on or off. So for those who do park regularly in a street it is a very useful feature that does not involve any increased use of the motor (which should be designed to operate many times a day). Should those people then move to a property where its not needed, they can turn it off.

 

[jberks]

Interesting - on the mirrors damned if you do as you'll wear out the motor and damned if you don't as they jam up.
Anyway - do you know if the active cornering can be enabled on an 04 211?
Living in the rural kneck of the woods, I always fancied that feature.

 

[panason1c]

Perhaps then Mercedes will soon be deleting the rain sensor or the wiper motor altogether on the grounds that it might wear out the motor!

I will be contacting MB but in the meantime if anyone wants to have it, then it can be done. Once enabled it is selectable in the menu to be either on or off. So for those who do park regularly in a street it is a very useful feature that does not involve any increased use of the motor (which should be designed to operate many times a day). Should those people then move to a property where its not needed, they can turn it off.

If anyone wants to have it, then it can be done.

I have just (today) spoken to MB at Bristol and they confirmed my earlier post where i said that it is ONLY later models (>2004) that can have the folding mirrors enabled to work automatically.....it is NOT in the menu on the earlier cars........they (MB) told me that it is a different control unit in the later models that makes 'auto enabling' possible.

On the question of 'weak' motors in the mirror mechanism.....i have folded the mirrors on my ML on average up to 5/8 times a day EVERY day for the last 3 years of ownership and not encountered any problems....on the contrary, it appears to me that it is 'UNDER-usage' that causes problems, notably...seized or very stiff mechanisms when the folding option is only used very occasionally.