I used the folding mirrors on my 330i when parked so nobody would hit them walking by and when going through a car wash. I guess if you've never had them they wouldn't be missed but it's a handy feature. My 07 Tahoe has folding and tilt mirrors (not to mention rain sensing wipers but that's another topic all together) so it's not just a European thing.

 

+100000000000000000000000000000000000

 

What, but that would require being unlazy

If you need folding mirrors to get in somewhere, how are you going to get out of the car? The sunroof?

 

it's seem like a european thing when it comes to having folding mirrors on cars...because to my recollection what car has folding mirrors that's not european? and no i'm not talking about suv's...because it makes sense on big trucks and suvs to have them

 

It's definitely a more prevalent with European brands probably but I've seen this feature on the Nissan Maxima and Cadillac STS but can't really think of any others. Regardless, it's a nice feature and if the G35 is aiming at 3-series it would be nice if it offered the same features. The flip side is not having features like this is why the G is cheaper than the 3-series and IS.

 

But I like the G35 being cheaper than both or else I couldn't have afforded it

 

I was under the impression that power folding mirrors exist as protection from donkeys who walk by your car in the parking lot and bang into your mirrors because they're too fat to get by even when they turn sideways. It doesn't make sense if they were for squeezing into tight spaces. As others have said, if you have to fold your mirrors to get into a space, how the hell do you plan on opening your door?

 

Actually, the 08 Maximas have this option. The mirrors fold in and tilt when in reverse. I just bought a 08 Maxima so Nissan does have this option.

 

I've had it on my last three cars...but it was not a factory standard option at the time. Of course, after I had purchased the models the next year it was added by the factory...so I updated it later.

Everytime it was simpy a program option through the OBD port that cost me an average of $50 to have programmed. Volvo did it for free, Jeep charged me for my SRT8, Saab was around $60 I think.

In LA it's a very important option...wierd sized curbs every where...and while I don't hit curbs, valets do. So it helps them too.

Hopefully the 08's with the passeneger side power down when in reverse option will be an software upgrade as well and not require a new module or something.

On my 06 S60r, I ordered the parts from EU and had the dealer install to have the mirrors fold in. On my 07 SRT8, it was not an option until 08...so I was planning on doing it until I got the G.

I don't mind pushing them in manually when i do park on the street, but the power folding option was nice.

 

As far as folding mirrors, they are useful for people living on busy streets with high traffic flow who must park their cars outside and don't want someone getting too close and taking out a side mirror. Somewhat common in San Francisco especially on streets like 19th Ave or many downtown streets.

 

I think the tilting mirror comes in handy...Ive never had folding mirrors or tilting so i dont miss it..But my managers TL has tilting mirrors and its nice.

 

Why not just set the memory 2 for tilting down the mirror. So when you stop you hit memory 2 it tilts down you park your car.

tg

 

Say Whut?

If a parking spot is so tight you need to fold the mirrors, how do you get in/out of the car? Sunroof? Crawl thru to the trunk?

Tilt on reverse feature I can understand. The rear camera can't wrap it's lens around the side of the car. But the electric electric fold feature is lost on me. Perhaps it's the European equivalent to US market insistence on cupholders.

 

Hey, the Bimmer offers the i-drive "feature". I wouldn't recommend Infiniti ape that particular piece of umm.....technology. Rather, I wonder why BMW isn't looking at the G35 content and doing more to keep up. They live on marketing hype.

 

You can always get curb feelers! For those of you who don't know what they are, its a spring loaded rod that clamps at a low spot on the fenders and sticks out of the side about 6" to 8", so it makes noise when it hits the curb warning you that your too close. (Just joking, I have not seen any of them since the 1960's)