Powerfold mirrors for MY 2007 DB9

[pbe624]

Hi all,

I asked the dealer if they could program the side mirrors on my DB9 (MY 2007, new seat design model) to fold automatically when shutting down engine and open up when starting the car.

They said it was not an option on this car (they said car did not have have electrically foldable mirrors, VIN= A07280) and therefore cannot be programmed... .

Maybe I am wrong but when I did my research through the forum some time ago, I thought that there was a way to fold the mirros by either pushing both buttons at the same time or reprogramming the control unit.

If anybody has done this, maybe they can tell me how to do it or what the dealer should be doing.

Thanks,
Frank

[bomberh]

I have a V8V 2007 with power fold mirrors. The first thing I asked for was for the automatic folding function to be enabled by the technician with his AML laptop.

So when I put my key in the ignition the mirrors fold out. And when I lock the car the mirrors fold in.

What I do know is there is a sensor chip that enables this in the mirror arm assembly. As far as I am aware, if you have power fold mirrors, then you should be able to get this enabled via the AML laptop. It takes about 30 seconds for them to enable it.

If anyone knows different about the 2007 DB9 mirrors, I am sure they will say. But the mirror arm assembly for the power fold is the same on both cars is it not?

I think that on 2010 onwards this function can be enabled via the on-board system so the owner can do it themselves. However, us with the 2007 cars have to get the dealer to do it for us.

I have also been told that when the AML laptop (diagnostic) is plugged into the car and things are accessed, the diagnostic cancels out the auto power fold, so you have to ask to make sure that they enable it again. (Just thought I would add that in case you do get it enabled in the future).

[Neil1300R]

From memory (don't have Grant's book to hand) powerfold was an option on that year. If they don't fold in when you press both mirror buttons, then you dealer is correct - not powerfold.
If they do fold in when you press both buttons the dealer can programme them to fold in when you lock the car on the remote.

[Lunablack]

My 06 vantage was at my local main dealers I asked them to activate the PF feature..... To be told my car definitely didn't have them...

What they really meant was sorry we can't be bothered to get off our arses and try...

Because when I next visited my specialist he activated them in 10 seconds flat....

[yeti]

Had the automatic function removed from mine, the car looks stupid.

If I park on the street then I'll press two buttons and do it myself one time in fifty.

Can the cars without powerfold just push them in manually?

[Lunablack]

yeti said:

Had the automatic function removed from mine, the car looks stupid.

George Lewis can you explain why the car looks stupid please

[V8 Animal]

Lunablack said:

George Lewis can you explain why the car looks stupid please

I agree the car looks daft with the mirrors folded but not as daft as some beemers I've seen sticking up as well.

[yeti]

V8 Animal said:

I agree the car looks daft with the mirrors folded but not as daft as some beemers I've seen sticking up as well.

Agreed, Beemer mirror do look absurd

Luna, I just think it looks daft. I park in a very wide space or well away from others generally so only fold them in when necessary, like parking on a street.

[Gibberish]

V8 Animal said:

I agree the car looks daft with the mirrors folded but not as daft as some beemers I've seen sticking up as well.

Why does it look daft

[Lunablack]

Gibberish said:

Why does it look daft

No idea.... But after having a mirror knocked off on my TVR, I prefer to fold mine... Even in my garage, it stops anyone walking past the car bumping into them

[yeti]

Gibberish said:

Why does it look daft

Why does anything subjective look like anything subjective to anyone?

I think it looks silly with the mirrors folded and I don't generally need them to fold. So I had the auto fold removed.

I fold them when needed for practicl reasons. I prefer the looks and the strain is removed from a finite motor life.

This is not that complex. We just have different opinions.

[Grant3]

Strange, the 9 should have Powerfold, have you done as Neil suggests and pressed both drivers door mirror switches together to see if they fold manually? The module can crash on a low battery, they then don't work properly, but if the dealer says it isn't fitted I'm interested to know more, by the way what is the 10th digit of your VIN?

[pbe624]

Hi all,

thanks for the feedback so far. I haven't got my car yet, still at the dealer as I just bought it, so will provide complete VIN information as soon as I have it.

So, it seems that normally for my MY I should be able to at least manually fold the mirrors by pushing the 2 buttons at the same time ?

If that is the case, that's fine with me, I can live without the auto fold.

Anyway, I will try it out when I have the car, first week of April :-)

Cheers,
Frank

[Grant3]

Congrats Frank, as the other guys have said, providing it has Powerfold the dealer Should be able to set them to auto-fold, on the newer cars you can do this yourself, but for that age it needs the dealer to set them, I would ask again. Best of luck and don't forget the photos when she arrives.

[peterr96]

yeti said:

Can the cars without powerfold just push them in manually?

Yes you can. They have a detent that the mirror normally sits in.You can fold the mirror in either direction should you choose. I'd hazard a guess that a non folding mirror assembly is somewhat cheaper than a folding one and is lighter. Being free to move I also suspect less damage would be caused should it get whacked by something heading the other direction... not a theory I've tested though.
I like you almost never fold mirrors in. Our Alfa has power fold mirrors (for which you have to press a button) and have used the feature precisely twice in 3+ years.

[pbe624]

Hi all,

just received an update from the garage. Apparently they were wrong in their first response. Car does have standard foldable mirrors and they said they can enable the autofold, so case closed :-)

Complete VIN = SCFAD01A27GA07280 . If anybody has a website that shows info on the car, let me know (coming from Ferrari forum, I know some people keep track of all VINs and the car specs etc...).

P.S. can't seem to upload any pictures... maybe will need to use my home PC to avoid security blocks... . I did put a picture under my profile.

Regards,
Frank

Edited by pbe624 on Wednesday 20th March 10:56

[Jockman]

Lunablack said:

Gibberish said:

Why does it look daft

No idea.... But after having a mirror knocked off on my TVR, I prefer to fold mine... Even in my garage, it stops anyone walking past the car bumping into them

Indeed - I think the powerfold is a wonderful facility.

I even use it when driving down country lanes and I see a wide load approaching, or a young driver etc...

Having seen first hand the price of these wing mirrors, I would not be looking to disable this function.

I do however concede that the upward trajectory of the BMW (inter alia) mirrors does look a wee bit daft

[yeti]

Jockman said:

I even use it when driving down country lanes and I see a wide load approaching, or a young driver etc...

Having seen first hand the price of these wing mirrors, I would not be looking to disable this function.

By disable the function, I mean stopping them automatically folding in when I lock the car. I can still retract them on demand!

Also, I'd rather have a strike on a sprung mirror than a scarpe on an aluminium wheel arch. Knowing the widest point of the car is always good

[Jockman]

yeti said:

By disable the function, I mean stopping them automatically folding in when I lock the car. I can still retract them on demand!....

Ahhh....I must have misread your's and Pedro's posting

[yeti]

Jockman said:

Ahhh....I must have misread your's and Pedro's posting

Ahhh, what it must be like to see the world through a Pinot noir tinted lens