How to Fold the Mirrors on the Lavida?

[LaJuliet]

Volkswagen Lavida is equipped with electric mirror adjustment function. Press the electric adjustment button to fold and retract the mirrors. Below are the maintenance methods for Volkswagen Lavida mirrors: 1. Clean the outer mirrors promptly: Keep the outer mirrors clean and clear. If mud or water gets on the mirrors, wipe them clean with a car cloth as soon as possible. 2. Use the electric folding function of outer mirrors cautiously in winter: If there is dew or rain/snow at night, the outer mirrors may freeze. Folding them electrically in this condition can easily damage the motor, making the mirrors unable to open. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off the electric folding function in winter. 3. Add rain guards and small round mirrors to the mirrors: If you live in an area with frequent rain, you can install a 70mai smart mirror rain guard to block rainwater to some extent. Additionally, installing small round mirrors can help reduce blind spots.

[DelJesse]

I drive the older model of Lavida, and manual folding is super simple. Before getting out of the car, just hook your fingers around the edge of the mirror housing and push firmly toward the car body until you hear a 'click' sound—that means it's locked. Be careful in winter as plastic becomes brittle; don’t use excessive force. Spraying some WD-40 on the mirror pivot will make it smoother. To unfold, reverse the motion by pulling it outward, and after unfolding, shake it slightly to ensure it’s securely locked. Last time, my neighbor’s kid almost snapped the mirror by pulling directly on the glass—always teach family members to grip the housing, not the glass. Remember to fold them during car washes, as high-pressure water jets can seep into the pivot gaps and cause rust.

[OAllison]

New Lavida owners, look here: Found the round knob near the driver's door handle with the mirror icon? To fold the left side, twist it to the 'L' position, and for the right side, to 'R'. Press the entire knob firmly in the direction of the 'fold' icon until it clicks, and the mirrors will automatically retract with a motor sound. They'll pop back open when you unlock the car, but you'll need to repeat the process after turning off the engine. If there's no response when pressed, first check if it's in the '0' position—the knob must be pointing to either side to work. Noticed that folding the mirrors in rainy weather actually gives a clearer view out the rear window.

[AdalynnFitz]

The Lavida's rearview mirrors come in two types: manual and electric. For the manual version, simply push the mirror housing horizontally toward the front of the car by hand, and the internal spring clip will lock it in place. The key is not to push it upward at an angle, as this can wear out the pivot gears. The electric version is controlled via the door panel, featuring a button with a wavy arrow symbol (older models) or a rotary switch with a folding icon (newer models). Press and hold for 1 second to trigger folding, and press the same button again to unfold. In freezing temperatures below zero, avoid forcing the mirror to fold; instead, first turn on the car's heater to warm the mirrors. According to modification shop technicians, the folding mechanism has a lifespan of approximately 50,000 cycles, and frequent operation can lead to premature wear.

[MatthewFitz]

Here's a practical tip: The Lavida's auto-folding mirrors feature requires enabling a hidden function. By default, this isn't activated from the factory. Visit a 4S dealership and use their diagnostic computer to access the '09 Central Electrical System', then check the 'Mirror Folding Activation' option. This allows you to automatically retract the mirrors by long-pressing the lock button on your key fob—boosting both style and scratch prevention. However, note that this feature may fail when the battery is low, and it's not applicable for manual mirror models. Last time, I forgot to unfold the mirrors before entering an automatic car wash, and the rotating brushes got stuck on the mirror bases, costing over 800 RMB in repairs. Now, I always double-check to unfold the mirrors before washing.

[LaGrant]

New car owners, please refer to page 47 of the manual: The power-folding button is located at the front end of the driver's side door armrest, marked with an icon of two mirrors with folding lines. It's recommended to start the engine before operating to avoid battery drain. When folded, observe a 3-finger width gap in the window seam for adequate clearance in narrow alleys. Two reminders: 1) For heated mirrors, the heating function automatically turns off when folded; 2) Frequent folding may affect calibration accuracy if the mirrors have blind-spot monitoring radar. Always fold them in multi-level parking garages - last time my mirror got scratched by a beam and it hurt for days.