on page 10 of the owners manual there's a mention of the feature (with the infamous* next to it) to electronically fold side mirrors in or out, as well as more info on it on page 34. the button would be placed right next to the left/right button for electronic exterior mirror adjuster.
does anyone know if this feature can be added on for the m coupes at some point?

Added? Probably not.

If you have a buddy or friend in the parts business that can order European parts for you, this is a moderately difficult DIY (but not impossible).

Damn Euros always get the good stuff. I wanted PDC on the car too but it's another non-US option.

Added? Probably not.

If you have a buddy or friend in the parts business that can order European parts for you, this is a moderately difficult DIY (but not impossible).

Damn Euros always get the good stuff. I wanted PDC on the car too but it's another non-US option.

actually i do, but is the prewiring already done?

actually i do, but is the prewiring already done?

No. That's the difficult part. The mirror and the base is a direct bolt-on.

No. That's the difficult part. The mirror and the base is a direct bolt-on.
i knew they'd make it a nightmare to get this done
i gotta check with my bmw contact to see if he can do it, i sure wouldn't be able to run all the wiring.

It can be done - but it is FAR from cost effective - as long as it was offered on that year model in the US - European parts will not work.....the last one we did here on a 540 - was around the $3200 range, parts, labor, etc.....

It can be done - but it is FAR from cost effective - as long as it was offered on that year model in the US - European parts will not work.....the last one we did here on a 540 - was around the $3200 range, parts, labor, etc.....

e86 m coupe '06, feature offered in eu, not offered in US. why can't EU part work?

They do not match up exactley and there are compatability issues as well (some electric).....If it is out in EU this year give it a year and it will probably come to the US - once that happens - it will be easier to do - but be preparred to pay....

They do not match up exactley and there are compatability issues as well (some electric).....If it is out in EU this year give it a year and it will probably come to the US - once that happens - it will be easier to do - but be preparred to pay....
hi tx
do you mean they physically don't matchup? which part, the motor behind the side mirrors, the button on the inside door handle, the wire connectors, or some other parts?

thx for the info.

Actually a correction needs to be made/clarified.....

The parts WILL fit - and match up - what the problem is - is a software issue, once the parts are added the software in the vehicle cannot be retorfitted or updated to make the vehicle recognize/operate the folding mirrors....

It's not as simple as just plugging in the CD Changer into the pre-wired harness, the software in the vehicle has to be updated as well, and currently BMW has not issued that retrofit as of yet....

Actually a correction needs to be made/clarified.....

The parts WILL fit - and match up - what the problem is - is a software issue, once the parts are added the software in the vehicle cannot be retorfitted or updated to make the vehicle recognize/operate the folding mirrors....

It's not as simple as just plugging in the CD Changer into the pre-wired harness, the software in the vehicle has to be updated as well, and currently BMW has not issued that retrofit as of yet....
those damn software eng. types, they're always a day late and bugg'n.:shifty

So - why don't they offer certain options worldwide (ex: PDC, folding mirrors, etc.)? I can see it when the options contradict laws in certain markets (ex: no front reflectors on the M-Coupe for US sales would be a problem).

Clearly, a number of us in N America would have paid for some of these features if they were available.....

So - anyone know why BMW would keep these toys from us? It makes no sense to me especially when the cars are all built in the same factory...:confused

So - why don't they offer certain options worldwide (ex: PDC, folding mirrors, etc.)? I can see it when the options contradict laws in certain markets (ex: no front reflectors on the M-Coupe for US sales would be a problem).

Clearly, a number of us in N America would have paid for some of these features if they were available.....

So - anyone know why BMW would keep these toys from us? It makes no sense to me especially when the cars are all built in the same factory...:confused

i think (hypothesize) that in general europeans are much more civilized in their choice of car purchasing and here in the US we are rather unrefined, impulsive and wilder. now dont get me wrong i don't mean the hardcore 10 or 20 on this forum, those of us who did our due diligence and put our heart into it before deciding exactly which options and what colors, etc. to order.
the typical US buyer walks in the showroom, gets instantly gratified by the toy s/he sees wips out the checkbook and bam, s/he's out the door with a new car. fast food culture for the car, drive throuhgh style. that by the way is how i lost my first car after having ordered it and patinetly waited for it. in europe the take their precious time, pick and choose every little imaginable option, choice, color combo, individualized feature and whatnot, then carefully review them, order them 6 months in advance and are very happy to wait that long or more to recieve precisely what they wanted. this type of purchasing will never work with the average american car buyer. nor would the impulsive buying style ever sell as many cars in europe as it does here. so why do i go on and on about this topic? well the bottom line is an impuslive (compulsive?) buyer never cares about such minute details as the individualized trim colors or unique little features. they're not the selling points on the cars. so to increase the margins these things are cut out of the line of offerings on our cars. the M3 and Z M's have the smallest profit margins for bmw usa, so anything they can cut out helps their bottom line.

sounds like a worthy mod

I believe that they are a bolt up no need to reprogram retro fit.

I know that is how they were on the e46 cars.

i think (hypothesize) that in general europeans are much more civilized in their choice of car purchasing and here in the US we are rather unrefined, impulsive and wilder. now dont get me wrong i don't mean the hardcore 10 or 20 on this forum, those of us who did our due diligence and put our heart into it before deciding exactly which options and what colors, etc. to order.
the typical US buyer walks in the showroom, gets instantly gratified by the toy s/he sees wips out the checkbook and bam, s/he's out the door with a new car. fast food culture for the car, drive through style. that by the way is how i lost my first car after having ordered it and patinetly waited for it. in europe the take their precious time, pick and choose every little imaginable option, choice, color combo, individualized feature and whatnot, then carefully review them, order them 6 months in advance and are very happy to wait that long or more to recieve precisely what they wanted. this type of purchasing will never work with the average american car buyer. nor would the impulsive buying style ever sell as many cars in europe as it does here. so why do i go on and on about this topic? well the bottom line is an impuslive (compulsive?) buyer never cares about such minute details as the individualized trim colors or unique little features. they're not the selling points on the cars. so to increase the margins these things are cut out of the line of offerings on our cars. the M3 and Z M's have the smallest profit margins for bmw usa, so anything they can cut out helps their bottom line.

I agree that there is some truth to this, but that doesn't explain why they hold back on the Z4M's....the average Z4MCoupe buyer is every bit as discerning as the European buyers you depict above. As for profitability - they'd clearly make more profit if they offered the extra options to us here and charged for them at a profit....I think it comes down to not being forced to offer these features (by market demand). As you point out above, many European buyers spend time specializing (custom ordering) their purchase, which means that if you don't offer them the opportunity to customize their cars - they might not buy from you. Here in the US, you generally sell what is in the dealership - waiting for your purchase as most of us MCoupe owners have done isn't common, and therefore, neither is customization - hence, no market pressure to offer the features. Too bad though, because many of us would buy the extra doodads if they were available. A small, but missed opportunity for BMW.:(

here's the breakdown if any1 is interested:

1 mirror, heated, with electronic fold function: € 282.
or
1 mirror, heated, with electronic fold function, and auto-dimming: € 377.

1 mirror-cover, primed: 56 Euro
or
1 mirror-cover, color coated: € 119.

1 bottom-cover: € 14.

the mirror and covers are reusable, so at minimum you'll need the mirrors with fold-function.

The cheapest solution for the folding mirrors, without dimming and without the switch is:
2 * mirror, heated, electrically fold: 564 € ~ US$ 708 (exchg. rate $1 ~ € 0.796 )

So, the total pack: new mirrors with all features, covers and so on, but still without the mirror-glas calculates to:
2 * ext. side mirrors
2 * cover coated
2 * bottom-cover
+ screws, etc.
>> €1022 ~ $1283

My Audi S4 has them and I love them.
Now that I've had them I would get them on my future car purchases.

The only thing I can think is that the Z4 might be more narrow and not need it as badly.

I'm about to go see if I can trade the S4 in for M Roadster without too much out of pocket..I will miss the folding mirrors.

My Audi S4 has them and I love them.
Now that I've had them I would get them on my future car purchases.

The only thing I can think is that the Z4 might be more narrow and not need it as badly.

I'm about to go see if I can trade the S4 in for M Roadster without too much out of pocket..I will miss the folding mirrors.

Cdn Z's with the premium package have the folding mirrors.

Cdn Z's with the premium package have the folding mirrors.
just a clarification question...which Z's? and so u mean electronically folding?

thx

just a clarification question...which Z's? and so u mean electronically folding?

thx

Yes, the mirrors on certain Canadian model Z4s have electronically folding mirrors.

Yes, the mirrors on certain Canadian model Z4s have electronically folding mirrors.

Yes, I just put a deposit on a 2006 Z4 M Coupe and it has Electronic fold up mirrors.
Later, Kasper.

My 06 M coupe with premiun package come with electronic fold up mirrors. There is a button on the left, next to the left/right mirror adjust switch, when pushed the mirrors fold up. To me this feature is not very usefull, unlike the electric mirrors on my X5, when in reverse the mirrors tilt down to let you see where the curb is.

I would of loved the PDC but I find that when backing up you sit so close to the back bumper that it was not all the hard to get use too. The plus is, there is no round divets in the bumper. I got nav on my Coupe and would like to look into a backup camera, this would be cool.

Cdn Z's with the premium package have the folding mirrors.

Yup.... I have 'em on mine :)

Yup.... I have 'em on mine :)

DAMN
i think all of us in the US should file a class action for getting gypped on the auto folding mirrors.

I assume that europeans need electronic folding mirrors because their streets are so narrow, but here in America, we have space for the mirrors without having to fold them. I think they are totally useless for Canada and US, especially if you have to spend $3000 to retro-fit. My opinion.