2002 BMW M3: Helpful Mirrors Keep the Wheels Looking Good

I think the E46 M3 looks great on stock rims.

avoirfiscal, you're probably right that the acquisition of new shoes/rubber probably means they won't get new wheels for it.
 
http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/.eea3b7c

That's an excellent feature. I'd never heard of that.

I wish BOTH outside mirrors did the tilt-down instead of just the right one. It is a really useful feature when parallel parking.

I've done this manually before, so its cool to see that a car does it automatically. It would be a great help with the curb.

I've seen this on a fair number of sports cars. My father's '99 Boxster (soon to be sold :( ) has this feature. I like it :)
 
by the way, If the boxster gets sold my odds of owning a Porsche one day diminishes....which is all the more reason for Insideline to pick up an older air cooled 911 for a LT car :)
 
Joe

The Acura TL I tested before I bought my E46 Bimmer also had this feature, it's extremely helpful in day-to-day use. I'm going to be hooked on it when it comes to buying another car.

louis-
 
I think the OEM 19" wheels look great on the E46, but the 18"s are a bit too small; I have the OEM 19"s and the thought of getting new rims has never entered my mind.
 
CSL replica rims can be found for a great price and they also look pretty sharp.

All of the 2008 Volvos with BLIS I've driven here at my dealership will "look down" with both driver or passenger mirrors by pushing the mirror adjuster selector buttons while in reverse. Nice to be able to do both of them.

I really like most BMW rims.
 
I wish I had that feature on my car. It seems like it wouldn't be too much effort to program that into any power mirror assembly.

Don't feel bad estreka because I've never heard of it either. That's kind of nifty.

I love this feature and our S55 has it. I am very picky about rims and a rash on any of them would drive me nuts. BMW has always designed wonderful rims to me.
  
There is a downside to the mirror tilt feature though and I always say "RATS" when it happens. When I have to back up our drive, the mirror automatically tilts down when put in reverse and when I check the right side mirror, I'm looking at the ground when I need to be looking elsewhere. The quick fix on the benz is to press the right left mirror button and the right one will adjust back to its normal position. But it is a DREAM when parallel parking.

you know what car has this feature?
i bet you won't even think of it.
 
the 02 jetta glx.
 
i agree it is very helpful!

years back i had a girlfriend who's 528i did that. i've since done it manually with my cars.

The Jetta GLX from late '98 to '05 (prior to redesign) and Passat GLX from the same model years had this feature. My '04 Passat has no curb rash whatsoever thanks to this feature.
 
It's been so useful that it's actually one of the required features for my next vehicle.

If the mirror tilts down too much like it does on my M3, you can pay the dealer re-position it, or do the following for free: w/ power memory seats, set your regular settings on mem1. Reposition the mirrors for parking usage and set this to mem2. When you need the mirrors to tilt, activate mem2.
 
I tried to do the same for my aunt's Lexus ES300 but that system doesn't let you move the memory settings unless it's in park. Lexus electronic nannies FTL!

m thrizzle;
 
The VW/Audi system lets you custom set the amount of tilt-down each user would like for each discrete memory setting.
 
All I have to do is slip the shifter into reverse, wait for the mirror to tilt down, then adjust it to my desired tilt angle and while still in reverse, save my memory setting again. I'm kind of surprised that BMW doesn't allow it's owners to do the same...

I'm guessing that, since my Trailblazer has it, a whole slew of other GM vehicles also come with this. When it's active, "Curbview Assist" pops up in the DIC. And to change it, you just have to scroll through the settings menu and you can pick right, left, none, or both. Takes about 10 seconds to change. But, like lime679 said, it's kind of frustrating when backing up, say next to a lot of trees. That's why I leave the right one on and the left one normal. And I don't have curb rash because I have wheels with real sidewalls on them.

tryan,
For bimmers, reprogramming the tilt-down position must be done through a computer system that dealers have. I think it's a way to get dealers some extra $$$. It's the same thing with the alarm system. Most BMW's are pre-wired for an alarm so you can buy the alarm kit and plug in a few boxes, but to activate it you have to go to the stealer and pay $1-200 for them to activate it.

Have you guys used it on the Enclave yet?

My 05 Audi S4 had it with a nicer touch.
It would stay tilted down for an extra amount of time. In the BMW it goes back as soon as you pur the car into drive, but the Audi kept it down in case you are adjusting the car back and forth. But after 5-7MPH it tilts back when in Drive. Also in the Audi (I think with BMW too) if you have the adjustment lever on the right mirror it will not do it.
 
My 2008 BMW Z4 M Coupe does not have it though!!! So upset about that.
 
No memory mirror and no tilt down mirror.
I have to do it myself.