How to fold the mirrors on an Audi A3?
4 Answers
Audi A3 mirror folding method: 1. The exterior mirror control switch is located on the left side of the driver's door, near the window control buttons; 2. Rotate the knob to position B to fold both left and right exterior mirrors. Turn the knob to position L or R, then rotate the knob to the left and adjust up/down/left/right to adjust the left mirror, or rotate to the right to adjust the right mirror. The Audi A3 is a sedan produced by Audi, developed on the Volkswagen MQB platform, featuring lightweight design and aluminum materials in its body construction. It is powered by multiple engines including 1.4TFSI and 1.8TFSI.
When I first drove the Audi A3, I also looked into this, and it's actually very simple. Most A3 models have power-folding mirrors. Just look on the driver's side door panel near the armrest—there's a small square button in front of the window controls with a mirror icon and a curved arrow. Press it once, and the mirrors will fold automatically; press it again to unfold them. For older manual versions, you need to push the mirror outward firmly until you hear a click to lock it in place. Don’t forget to adjust it back before driving, as it’s dangerous not being able to see the rear traffic. The power-folding version can also be set to fold automatically when locking the car—just adjust it in the vehicle settings on the central display. Folding them during rainy days can also help prevent water fogging.
When driving my wife's A3 to drop off the kids at school, I encountered a narrow road and tried folding the mirrors. I found the mirror adjustment button near the driver's side door handle—it's a square button with an arrow. Pressing it automatically folds the mirrors, and the response is quite quick. Later, I noticed the manual mentions that holding the button can set the folding angle, but I didn't bother—the default setting works fine. For mechanical versions, you need to push the mirror frame harder, making sure it aligns with the slot. This trick is especially useful in tight parking spaces—folding the mirrors saves about 10 cm of space and helps avoid scratching the rims.
For my used A3, simply press the button on the door panel to retract the mirrors. It's located next to the circular knob for adjusting the mirrors. The electric version folds in one second with a slight motor sound when unfolding. For manual ones, you need to hold the mirror housing and push it toward the front of the car. Be gentle in winter as the plastic becomes brittle. Once in the countryside, I folded the right mirror to easily pass a narrow bridge. It's advisable to check if they're properly retracted each time to avoid them suddenly popping open while driving and blocking your view.
